January 2014
Review: Saffronkeira + Mario Massa – Cause and Effect
Caria and Massa have succeeded in creating a sequence of tracks that functions as a single volume, each supporting the other. “Umorale” is recommended for an idea of Cause and Effect’s general sound: intertwining melodies and drifting percussion traveling beside fluctuating drones and static elements. … read more
Review: Pinkunoizu – The Drop
They’ve combined classic rock-pop characteristics, like drum lines and bursting guitar sounds, but have kept it weird with ghostly vocals, lingering organ chords and unpredictable tone deviation. … read more
Review: Poliça – Shulamith
The album is murky and reverb-heavy and the band really immerses itself into the ’80s new wave synth pop genre without seeming too blatantly retro. “Tiff,” featuring Justin Vernon, is the trailblazing single for Shulamith. … read more
Review: Pro-Pain – The Final Revolution
This is 12 cuts of the heaviest shit the band has done in a while. All the qualities you want in a metal record—riffs, grooves, crazy solos—yeah, it fucking rocks. I can’t find a bad song in the bunch. … read more
Review: Purgation – Exterminated Malfeasance
Behind the louder noises are stellar death metal groove punches and some just-as-stellar sweet bass playing. Looking at this record from the optimistic point of view, it’s damn pleasing, it just takes a few listens of aural adjustments and you get the full devastating effect of it all. … read more
Review: Orrin Campbell – Nocturnal
Orrin Campbell, an 18-year-old rapper from Brooklyn, recorded this debut album in his NYU dorm. It’s downtempo hip hop set to atmospheric spacey beats—call it minimal seapunk, if you like. … read more
Review: PEP – My Baby and Me
Not sure if this is parody or homage, as My Baby and Me is clearly indebted to girl pop groups like The Ronettes and The Shangri-Las, but it brings absolutely nothing new or modern to add anything fresh to what those groups started. … read more
Review: Mt. Royal – Self-Titled
“More” has a certain Peter Bjorn and John feel and is a little more upbeat, though vocals stay in the shadows. “Yes Your Majesty” has great bass that travels over casual synth backings and lazy slide guitar. “Mockingbird” has nice acoustic strums over snappy, quick-paced drums—it reminds me of closing credits for a 007 movie. … read more
Review: Nausea – Condemned to the System
It’s a given that January is going to start with a lot of nausea, but this Nausea is a different kind. It’s the band of grindcore (not the crust punk band) legend Oscar Garcia, who did the vocals on Terrorizer’s World Downfall album. … read more
Review: New Model Army – Between Dog And Wolf
This would be perfect for the road trip to Burning Man, or for any fire performance, as it is packed with tribal drum beats, grungy guitar riffs and a pinch of spaghetti Western twang. The lyrics carry you away and make you think. … read more
Review: Mode Moderne – Occult Delight
For their third LP, Vancouver outfit Mode Moderne have embraced their goth pop style wholeheartedly and created their most confident album to date. … read more
Review: Mogwai – Rave Tapes
If I would have bet you 10 years ago that Mogwai would return to its synth explorations on 2003’s Happy Songs for Happy People and turn into a kinda boring post-rock band that locked itself into a relentless kraut groove, I would be $12.69 richer (adjusted for inflation). … read more
