This is more traditional than many of the Celtic/punk acts out there, but that’s not to say Chicago’s Tossers ease up on the attitude. Just in time for St. Patty’s day, the Irish fury that is The Emerald City, starting with the rollicking tune “The Rover,” which exults the life of the nomad, whether drunk or sober. … read more
Review: The Knife – Shaking The Habitual
Shaking the Habitual extends beyond the scope of the record—it’s a manifesto for a 21st Century pop culture ontology. … read more
Review: The Uncluded – Hokey Fright
Hip hop meets nursery rhymes with this collab from Aesop Rock and Kimya Dawson. … read more
Review: The Runs – Pretty Girls
Pretty Girls needs more “Hey! Ho!”s and “Gabba gabba hey!”s. The lyrics are extruded from a Joey Ramone-‑like perspective, and the vocals of Scott Free have a similar cadence and tone to Joey. … read more
Review: The National – Trouble Will Find Me
Disclaimer: I really wanted to like this release. Second disclaimer: I fucking loathed it. … read more
Review: The Legendary Pink Dots – The Gethsemane Option
Legendary, indeed. The CD is comprised of seven experimental tracks of dreamy and hypnotic textures (which may signify mystical intent, or may just be what they had—it’s hard to know with this band). … read more
Review: The Mynabirds – Generals: Remixed
With its many great hooks and swagger, Laura Burhenn’s sophomore album under her Mynabirds moniker was a prime candidate for remixing, and the six choices here (expanded digitally from four available on vinyl) are well served. … read more
Review: The Men – Campfire Songs
Breathtaking and unique, it’s a bold (albeit softer) testament to the band’s staying power that should whet the appetites of noobs and longtime fans, stoking the fires of another phenomenal LP. … read more
Review: The Vibrators – Greatest Punk Hits
Countless punk bands have covered these songs, some of which I didn’t even know where originally Vibrator tunes. I suggest you listen to this album first, then listen to some songs by The Clash, then some songs by The Undertones, and from there, you’ll get a nice overview of what punk was like in the mid-70s. … read more
Review: The KVB – Minus One
Minus One’s combination of shoegaze, post-punk and noise is quite an alluring brew. Its melodic sense is a break from the pure heaviness and darkness of their past recordings. Either way, these guys use synthesizers in a way that nods to Suicide and Silver Apples. … read more
Review: The Last – Danger
The lineup is solid—when you pair the Nolte brothers with the powerhouse punk rhythm section of Karl Alvarez and Bill Stevenson, you end up with the sort of alchemy that is both pop-sensible and face-melting. Mike Nolte adds a garage-y organ to traditional pop punk hooks and layered backing vocals to give the songs a 1960s feel. … read more
Review: The Melvins – Tres Cabrones
The Melvins = Butthole Surfers + My War/In My Head–era Black Flag + Lysol-era Melvins … read more
