Seriously, did no one see this coming?
Granted, I did say a little about how disappointing this album would probably be for Against Me! fans, but I really don’t think they were prepared for the schlock that is New Wave.
First, I have to admit I am not a fan of this band. Nor have I [...]
Against Me! – New Wave (Sire, 2007)
Top Whole Albums – Jawbreaker
Few bands have their final album become their pinnacle (Braid, Refused, D. Plan, aforementioned Knapsack) and even fewer can release 13 songs that cause such an uproar that it basically becomes the reason for the band’s demise.
Although I didn’t get to see it first-hand, apparently fans were enraged that Jawbreaker could release such a “pop” [...]
REM – Eponymous
Maybe it’s unfair to do a review of what is pretty much a “greatest hits” type album, but I just put this cassette (yes, cassette) into my car for the first time in a long long time the other day and it just made me realize how friggin’ awesome REM used to be. See, [...]
Top “Whole Album” Albums (of all time) – Knapsack
Here’s a new installment for a new beginning to Scene, Not Heard as I’ve moved to the city of Sound As Language and Gamecock baseball. Well, at least now one of those. Stinkin’ Heels.
Anyways, I have always appreciated musicians and bands that can write an entire album without what we call “throwaway” or [...]
RIYL: The Swellers
Funny that I had a draft post for this band and someone mentioned them on VLV earlier… anyway, The Swellers are a melodic-punk band from Michigan that completely cater to the Fat Wreck crowd. I’m talking straight up, mid-90’s sounding No Use For A Name-meets-Strung Out. Horse gallop beat, layered harmonic vocals, solos… they got [...]
Portugal. The Man – Waiter: You Vultures! (2006, Public Music/Fearless)
Portugal. The Man. The band name alone confuses me. Not as much as the music, though. I can’t really describe what P.TM sounds like. Portishead? Of Montreal? Maybe if the Blood Brothers smoked weed instead of doing coke? Every song has lots of layers of instrumentation: pianos, drum machines, strings, synthesizers, guitar, and I think [...]
Cold War Kids – Robbers & Cowards (Downtown, 2006)
Lo-fi.
Blues
Funk
Dance
I’m not buying it.
Cold War Kids are trying to mix all the former stuff together. Add in “jailhouse lamentations” for their annoying “Saint John” song. They’re trying to pull the wool over everyone’s eyes with their new take on an old sound. Yeah, they really like Lou Reed too. They’ve checked the list twice, making [...]
The Promise Ring – Wood/Water (ANTI, 2002)
It must be difficult being in a band that thousands of other bands emulate. To be somewhat of a ‘pioneer’ of a sound must really be a chore. I say this because the Promise Ring decided to let out what was a feeble attempt at diversifying themselves from the pop-emo genre they helped, if not [...]
RIYL: North Of America
North Of America hailed from Halifax, Nova Scotia (in Canada, duh) hence the band name. They were around for about 8 years or so but have kind of stopped playing.
Anyways, North of America really like Fugazi. A lot. They released a bunch of albums, some on Level Plane which I think is a fine, fine [...]
RIYL: The Letters Organize – Dead Rhythm Machine
RIYL: Recommended (because) I really Like (it).
Awesome debut full-length from a now-defunct Atlanta punk band. In the vein of Refused’s “The Shape of Punk to Come”. No, I’m not kidding! Also a la The Bronx. On Nitro Records.
Link to:
The Letters Organize (Nitro Records)
The Letters Organize (Myspace)
