The Claudettes have produced an album that is a welcome throwback to old-swanky-time piano duels, jam-packed with soul and funk.
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Review: The Fire Tapes – Phantoms
Concert photos of The Fire Tapes show singer/guitarist Betsy Wright and guitarist Todd Milton both using Strats, yet I didn’t get that guitar nerd twitch. … read more
Review: The Flatliners – Dead Language
I’ve got a thing for rough-voiced, fast-paced punk rock. Done right, it resonates in my soul like nothing else. Done wrong, it’s nothing that’s going to change my life, but it’s a damn fine time. I have a hard time criticizing the latter, which is why I’m not going to. … read more
Review: The Growlers – Gilded Pleasures
The second 2013 release from The Growlers picks up right where Hung at Heart left off. Although technically an EP, the nine tracks on Gilded Pleasures play like an LP. … read more
Review: The Coathangers/Audacity – Split 7 in.
The Coathangers are vinyl addicts, releasing a series of 7″ splits every six months through Suicide Squeeze with a variety of punk peers the past couple years. … read more
Review: The Difference Machine – The Psychedelic Sounds of the Difference Machine
The Difference Machine meld together the meditative effect of psychedelia with urgent rhymes about spiritual awakening. Dr. Conspiracy’s King Geedorah–style, trance-like beat is matched with emcee DT’s seamless flows and Reid Richards’ witty lyrical tour through Marvel Comics superheroes in “Marvel.” … read more
Review: The Forum Walters – Lederhosenpunk
This whole album can be summed up in just one word: positivity! It kept me in a good mood right from its arousing intro, kicking right into the upbeat ska/punk title track that possesses me to skank whenever I hear it. … read more
Review: The Head and the Heart – Let’s Be Still
Let’s Be Still is a step away from spontaneous songwriting, intending to be a thoughtful, more mature sequel. In reality, most of the tracks seem overthought and lack musical interest. … read more
Review: The Hunt – The Hunt Begins
Given the “what’s cool” music climate of 2009, this album is visionary: McGandy croons in his lush pogo/post-punk–crossover baritone, almost breaching his voice’s breadth into a holler. “Fifteen Minutes” exhibits rhythmic dynamics that propel the “What have we done to all the young men?!” chorus (which, at least, nods to a street punk gang-vocal motif). … read more
Review: The Icarus Line – Slave Vows
On this, their sixth full-length release, The Icarus Line deliver brain-straining intensity in the form of dirty, spastic guitar flares and embittered lyrics sung in an Iggy Pop kind of quiver. … read more
Review: The Crystal Method – Self-Titled
For their fifth studio album, The Crystal Method created a refreshing twist on what most electronic artists are currently producing, using heavy synth and rock elements to blow the minds and speakers of its listeners. … read more
Review: The Devil Makes Three – I’m a Stranger Here
Few bands can capture the imagination like Devil Makes Three. They invoke deep-woods medicine shows, jumping blues juke joints and midnight hootenannies by moonlight. … read more
