Music
▼ National Reviews
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: Earthless – From The Ages
This is “Free Bird” entered through the outro. Imagine—a dozen layers deep in stoner blues—forgetting there was ever a verse or chorus, or ever any vocals at all, even air to breathe. Imagine tossing the whole structural fuckload and just soloing in brazen différance. To consider this is to glimpse the errance of From The Ages. … read more
Review: Dengue Fever – Girl from the North
The tunes are Eastern-ized Western pop, re-Westernized for a new generation—got that? Truly, what they’ve done is really lovely. The music is twinkly and light, and the vocals are enchantingly foreign (female vocalist Chom Nimol generally sings in her native Khmer). … read more
Review: Doug Keith – Pony
Namely, the best track on the album, “Pure Gold in the ’70s,” rips at the seams midway and bursts open with a J Mascis guitar solo, and from there, the track is a pure slacker anthem, a salute to the children of the ’70s. Pony also has more than enough warmth and attitude to get me through winter. … read more
Review: Color War – It Could Only Be This Way
The beats, crafted by band member Billy J, are clean and resounding, and Lindsay Mound’s layered and dreamy vocals nicely complement the album. But to me, nothing about the album screamed innovation, and it wasn’t all that memorable. … read more
Review: Carlos Cipa & Sophia Jani – Relive
For those of you who enjoy listening to piano while cramming for that big ass final you have the next morning, this duo will certainly calm your nerves. … read more
Review: Chris Wilson – It’s Flamin’ Groovy
The opening track, “All the Action,” bursts out with an upbeat rocking ballad, sung with wailing, western-styled vocals. “She Satisfies” follows with a heavy bass line and sick guitar riffs that no doubt take influence from Keith Richards. … read more
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: Cryogenic Echelon – Taste of Failure
It bridges boundaries, and various types of music lovers will find it appealing. I will most certainly be mixing “Fall of the Reptiles (Grendel Remix)” into my set lists at the club—it’s perfect for the transition from synth pop to industrial. … read more
Review: Corpsessed – Abysmal Thresholds
This album, the first full-length from this Finnish death metal band, is just unrelentingly brutal. Songs travel the gradient between suffocating sludge and insane tempo, with some sporadic keyboard elements that soften certain moments without sacrificing the horrific atmosphere. … read more