December 2013
Review: Dale Cooper Quartet & the Dictaphones – Quatorze Pièces...
Quatorze Pièces de Menace starts with near perfect treatise explaining a term like “dark jazz” to the masses. This 20-plus minute opus tracks a slow-build progression from dark ambience to slow industrial clang, to Birth of the Cool–era Miles Davis cool jazz, to swells of post-rock guitars and swathes of noise. … read more
Review: Dave Hause – Devour
The Loved One’s current and Paint It Black’s former guitarist has also been putting out solo material since his stint performing on the PIB 2009 revival tour. It’s obvious that Hause knows how to create a large scope with his songs since each of them are emotional epics that tell Americana-type stories. … read more
Review: Brief Lives – Whistleblower 7”
I prefer the B-side, “No Voice.” This track captures the DC punk sound better by slightly upping the speed with a steady thumping beat and quick guitar creating the backing the vocals call for. … read more
Review: Cage the Elephant – Melophobia
Drawing on more classic rock influences, CTE attempt to distance themselves from the Pixies-esque sound on their previous album, Thank You, Happy Birthday, instead opting for a much more refined sound. … read more
Review: Callow – Blue Spells
The overly mesmerizing disposition of Blue Spells won’t sober up lovesick music listeners like garden-variety pop songs would, but serves more as a “hair-of-the-dog” cure and further inebriates them via beautiful minimalistic slowcore. … read more
Review: Blitzen Trapper – VII
Blitzen Trapper = The Eagles + Pavement + Fleet Foxes … read more
Review: Breathe Owl Breathe – Passage of Pegasus
Breathe Owl Breathe = Destroyer + David Bowie … read more
Review: BL’AST! – BLOOD!
Dave Grohl. Is there anything he can’t do? He’s a well-known singer/songwriter, has “former Nirvana drummer” on his résumé, and now he’s resurrected the ’80s hardcore band BL’AST! by mixing a collection of unearthed tracks in their newly released album. … read more
Review: Blackout – We Are Here
While this may sound like a formula for your garden-variety sludge, Blackout spare no opportunity to reimagine the genre. Oh yeah, and don’t forget your bong. … read more
Review: Beaten to Death – Dødsfest!
There is something significantly and singularly charming about the low-fi melodies Beaten To Death employs alongside genre staples like pig squeals, demon growls and face-blasting double bass. … read more
Review: Bad Religion – Christmas Songs
Although I can’t say exactly what I was expecting from this record, I have to say, other than its oddball appeal, the jovial seasonal tunes didn’t really scratch the itch I got when I first heard about this project. … read more
Review: Bakers Dozen/Kombatants – European Invasion
Here are two European punk bands, firmly rooted in the Oi! traditions of writing solid (if not a teensy bit derivative) songs about braces, boots, beers, birds and (foot)ball. … read more
