Year: 2013
Review: St. Lucia
Virtual one-man band and Johannesburg native Jean-Philip Grobler’s joyous, self-titled EP is something of a small marvel. Following a relatively simple formula of classic beats, infectious melody and a positive vibe presently missing on most radio these days, he has crafted a group of six tracks that are both pleasant and refreshingly memorable. … read more
Review: Small Black – Limits of Desire
In the supposedly genre-less world we live in, being pigeonholed into a nascent musical genre is probably the biggest challenge a 20-something Brooklynite will ever face. Enter Small Black. … read more
Review: Small Multiples – Self Titled
No songs on this EP, put out by Craig Hartley and Eli Friedmann, sound like they belong on the same album together. … read more
Review: Starkill – Fires of Life
The debut album promises a big and bright future for this Chicago-based band. Blending elements from several different subgenres, including power and melodic death metal, this is an album full of blood and fire and battle (which I now dub “warrior metal”), free of clean singing, arranged with occasional symphonic and piano elements that really bring out cinematic properties in the sound. … read more
Review: Streetlight Manifesto – The Hands That Thieve
Their fifth album in the last ten years, The Hands That Thieve is a catchy and encouraging sign that ska has gas left in the tank. Like with all ska reviews, if you’re not a fan, just quit reading right now and kindly fuck off, we don’t care. … read more
Review: Skid Row – United World Rebellion: Chapter One
Simpleton historians cling to the idea that “hair metal” met its final death-blow the second “Teen Spirit” debuted on MTV, but they’d really only be half right. … read more
Review: Sleeping In Gethsemane – When The Landscape Is Quiet...
I don’t like posthumous releases, mostly because they tend to break my heart. … read more
Review: Spectrals – Sob Story
The sophomore album from U.K. band Spectrals is a step up from their 2011 debut record, Bad Penny, as their sound seems more confident and polished. … read more
Review: Sleeping With Sirens – Feel
It’s funny, I never thought about Sleeping With Sirens being an overly poppy band, but after listening to Feel, it’s pretty hard to ignore. … read more
Review: Star & Dagger – Tomorrowland Blues
Three extremely talented and seasoned musicians came together to create this excellent, bluesy stoner rock album. … read more