Year: 2013
Review: TOY – Join the Dots
London’s TOY have already kicked up a stir across the pond, getting themselves on a number of high-ranking “Best Of” lists with their 2012 self-titled debut. … read more
Review: Trentalange – Same Illusion
Opening with slow drums and an upper-register metronomic piano, Trentalange keeps it simple and dark, yet still poppy. … read more
Review: The Thermals – Desparate Ground
Clearly, it doesn’t require a lot of thought to conclude how The Thermals’ long-term survival can be attributed to the singer’s lo-fi punk-saddled rhetoric. Things have been pissing in Hutch Harris’ Cheerios since 2002. Now, his current flavor of the week is relationship drama. … read more
Review: The Tossers
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