Year: 2014
Review: Ghetto Ghouls – Self-Titled
After surviving the brutal assault of “Peepshow,” I can see the subtle brilliance that makes Ghetto Ghouls something special. … read more
Review: Gladenfold – From Dusk To Eternity
Even though it sounds like a smooth blend of bands from Spinefarm’s early years, Gladenfold mixes just enough power metal into their synth-driven melodic death metal to breathe life into a genre I had given up on years ago. … read more
Review: Francis Harris – Minutes of Sleep
The presence of tape hiss, vocals, and organic instruments, juxtaposed with drum machine rhythms and synth chords, is very welcome. “Hems,” “Dangerdream” and the title track are my favorites, as they eschew the House rhythms found in the album’s middle and tend more toward atmosphere, which I’m in the mood for right now. … read more
Review: Flying Lotus – Ideas+drafts+loops
Ideas+drafts+loops has nods to Steven Ellison’s signature, off-beat styling, but is also full of experiments and collaborations that show how flexible Flying Lotus is as an artist. There is a lot going on with I+d+l, and with 24 tracks, it is a psychedelic delve into the mind of an electronically inspired madman … read more
Review: Gacha – When The Watchman Saw The Light
This six-part album is a compendium of percussion, gentle guitars and ethereal vocals provided by the lovely Natalie “TBA” Beridze. Gacha’s album seems, to me, like the Georgian’s take on the progression from light into darkness. … read more
Review: Gardens & Villa – Dunes
Much like their eponymous 2011 debut, the new Gardens & Villa album frequently combines lead singer and guitarist Chris Lynch’s flute playing with the synths of Adam Rasmussen that recalls the early-’80s styling of this amalgam, with mostly successful results. … read more
Review: Future Death – Special Victim
Future Death is a relatively new and explosively addictive noise/punk outfit emerging from Austin, Texas. Their new LP, Special Victims, is an assemblage of lo-fi tracks containing chaotic rock tracks thinly glossed with infrequent pop hooks—each delivering a mildly sweet flavor followed by an incredibly sour bite. … read more
Review: Frances England – Paths We Have Worn
I can see it now: Visions of mommies on Pinterest from all over the blogosphere will pin a picture of this “indie-rocker” girl with all sorts of hashtags littering the title: #cute #seriouslyadorable #indiemusic #fashion! … read more
Review: Frantix – My Dad’s A Fuckin’ Alcoholic
Frantix was an early ’80s band from Colorado that blended their own take on hardcore music with standard ’80s rock. They released two 7” records during their run, and this CD collects all of that music with live tracks and unreleased demos into one place. … read more
Review: Fucked Up – Year of the Dragon
Fucked Up Year of the Dragon Tank Crimes Street: 4.21.14 Fucked Up = Fucked Up Grandiosity, punk’s vilest anathema, has practically been Fucked Up’s lifeblood, separating them from their contemps and facilitating one viable single after another. Year of the Dragon marks the sixth in their 12-single Zodiac series, and their most ambitious music since