Year: 2014
Review: Be Like Max – Just Tryin’ To Fit In…...
For me, when I thought of reckless, social commentary ska-punk, bands like Less Than Jake and Reel Big Fish came to mind—now I can officially add Be Like Max to that list, though I had trouble getting into this album with its first two tracks. … read more
Review: Beck – Morning Phase
Beck, once pop music’s most reliable shape-shifter, now finds himself compelled to rehash his past glories; namely Sea Change. If you ever wanted him to make that record again, your prayers have been answered. … read more
Review: Behemoth – The Satanist
Fans of Behemoth have waited five years for this album, which is ceremonial, sinister and satisfying as hell. “Blow Your Trumpets, Gabriel” begins the ritual with hypnotic percussion and repetitive riffing, then attacks the entranced listener with Behemoth’s signature breakneck speed, accompanied by a diabolical chorus and trumpets.
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Review: Beth Thornley – Septagon
It’ll sucker- punch you in the heart when you least expect it, and that’s powerful. Thornley writes clean songs, simple and to the point with pop-ballad lyrics. The four tracks that make up Septagon may be made-for-TV, but they’re still bona fide. … read more
Review: Benjamin Finger – The Bet
Benjamin Finger The Bet Watery Starve Press Street: 06.01 Benjamin Finger = Steve Reich + Biosphere Starting the album off with “Faintheadedness,” Finger establishes a dark, ambient theme early with eerie, fairy-like vocals and a spacious simplicity delivered through a shy piano melody. The Bet stays pretty minimal throughout, expanding nominally on phrases that lead
Review: Bare Minimum – Hit After Hit
In this corner, an album with a title that so obviously invokes a musical beatdown, I expect its unrelenting arsenal of raw vocals intertwined with the pounding combination of melodic hardcore will leave few dissatisfied … read more
Review: Bee vs. Moth – Shelter in Place
Bee vs. Moth = The Thing + The Ex (instrumentally) + Blues Control … read more
Review: Bell Gardens – Slow Dawns for Lost Conclusions
Bell Gardens = M. Ward + Iron and Wine … read more
Review: Asheru – Sleepless in Soweto
Asheru delivers his vision of global African unity in Sleepless in Soweto, and if it weren’t for the blending of rapid-fire rhymes combined with elements of Afro-beat and American hip-hop, I would have been bored by the amount of R&B present in this album. … read more
Review: Ass to Mouth – Degenerate
Ass to Mouth take the groove-oriented grind approach, which is nice to have some tight riffs that remain in memory. “Sentenced to Grind” and “Drunk & Stoned” give the goods by way of meat-falling-off-the-bone riffs.
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