Year: 2013
Reviews: Front Line Assembly – Echogenetic
Returning somewhat to their early 1990s sound, but with a detour through dubstep—it’s sort of impossible not to get that particular peanut butter wub in your electronic chocolate these days—Echogenetic is a very workable, even strong bit of electronic industrial/ebm. … read more
Review: Wordsmith – The Blue Collar Recital
His flow is clean with simple drumbeats and keys, looped with soulful samples that bump the tracks to an almost gospel status. The “day in a life” approach makes The Blue Collar Recital personal and powerful without being over the top. … read more
Review: Xiu Xiu – Nina
This is obviously a work of love. This homage to the late, great soulstress Nina Simone is beautiful and stark. … read more
Review: Young Turks – Where I Rise
“I don’t give a shit, your music means nothing! Your actions speak even less,” yells Matt Koenig at the beginning of “Territo(royally) Pissed.” … read more
Review: Wartorn – Iconic Nightmare
Iconic Nightmare doesn’t fail to entertain, what with the leads in “No Sanctuary, No Salvation” and the barking crustoleum of “Permanent Blackout” and “Knee Deep in Blood,” but it’s certainly not leading the charge into territory that hasn’t already been exhaustively mined by the same label (Martyrdod? Wolfbrigade?). … read more
Review: Wild Belle – Isles
With an interesting mash-up of eclectic styles—including trip hop, reggae and ska—siblings Natalie and Elliot Bergman’s debut is equally unique. … read more
Review: Victory
Robert Fleming is the multi-instrumentalist behind Victory. He touts a 60s Brit rock sensibility and sports a rockabilly pomp—two promising signs for any music reviewer. Sadly, Victory is Music is indicative of neither. Don’t get me wrong, Fleming could pass as an authentic Britt Daniel sound-alike and can strum a hollow-body exceptionally, but it’s hard to notice at first, since every single song on the album is scrubbed and drenched with kitschy production. … read more
Review: Victory – Victory is Music
Robert Fleming is the multi-instrumentalist behind Victory. He touts a ’60s Brit rock sensibility and sports a rockabilly pomp—two promising signs for any music reviewer. Sadly, Victory is Music is indicative of neither. … read more
Review: VietNam – an A.merican D.ream
The sophomore album from this Brooklyn rock group is a wild ride, with dark, psychedelic tones festering throughout the record. At its best, you can settle down into the groove of certain songs, but the majority of the tracks tend to be misguided with no clear direction. … read more
Review: Waxahatchee – Cerulean Salt
On her first album, American Weekend, Katie Crutchfield (P.S. Eliot, Bad Banana) sang personally devastating songs about the great universals—love and loss. There she showed off an enormous songwriting talent that was nurtured on cross-country tours. … read more