Year: 2014
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
Review: The Hidden Cameras – AGE
My personal favorite part of this venture is the incorporation of string instruments (both the violin and cello) into a synth-heavy sound. This provides an organic sound to complement, as well as contradict, the robotics of the spacey noises. … read more
Review: The Gaslight Anthem – The B-Sides
If you haven’t at least gone through Gaslight’s more polished releases, this is not for you, and is not designed to be your first Gaslight experience. They take a shot at The Rolling Stones’ “Tumbling Dice,” which is an uphill battle they manage quite well. … read more
Review: The Hold Steady – Teeth Dreams
It’s a straightforward rock n’ roll record with a punk vibe and a 1970s rock aftertaste. This is partly due to the addition of guitarist Steve Selvidge, and partly because the session was overseen by producer Nick Raskulinecz (Foo Fighters, Rush). … read more
Review: The Grouch & Eligh – The Tortoise & The...
Hip-hop fans: Place this high on your listening priority. The Grouch & Eligh got their start the DIY way, and have been able to keep a steady fanbase without being attached to a label. … read more
Review: The Honey Trees – Bright Fire
The Honey Trees are more than musicians—they’re enchanters. Becky Flip, Jeremy Larson and Jacob Wick created an album that feels like it was produced in an enchanted forest, much like the one on the album’s cover. … read more
Review: The Forty Nineteens – Spin it
Blasting out with an ‘80s styled, pop-doused, garage-rock assault, The Forty Nineteens bring something different, yet very familiar, to the table. It is almost easy to overlook the notable tracks worth their weight during the initial listen. … read more
Review: Symbol – Online Architecture
Online Architecture is one of the greatest synth-based records to grace my inbox this year. … read more