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
Review: The Breaklites – I ♥ America
This eight-track album sounds like hometown, suburban rap. The flows are great examples of simple hip-hop storytelling with an added ’80s funk-electro vibe. I’ll keep a couple songs on a pregame playlist and the rest are worth listening to for the interesting story and upbeat rhythm. … read more
Review: The Entrance Band – Face The Sun
Maybe it is the thinly veiled (read: shitty) heroin metaphors, or maybe it is the surprisingly sexy female bass player from A Perfect Circle and Zwan, but despite the decent melodies and engaging psychedelic-surf guitars, this album seems dated and uncool. … read more
Review: The Copy Scams – Copy & Destroy
I would have really liked this band when I was a shoplifting, dumpster-diving 19-year-old. Alex Wrekk, author of Stolen Sharpie Revolution and the Brainscan zine, fronts this novelty band that plays lo-fi pop punk songs about zines—a must-listen if you like DIY punk shit. … read more
