REVIEW: THE FAINT – FASCIINATIION (2008)
The Faint‘s self-constructed, self-produced, and self-designed Fasciinatiion(blank.wav, 2008) is that long-desired Tetris piece that fits snug between Blank Wave Arcade (Saddle Creek, 1999) and Danse Macabre (Saddle Creek, 2001). The Omaha five-piece returns after a four-y
REVIEW: ATMOSPHERE – WHEN LIFE GIVES YOU LEMONS… (2008)
Mellow, mature, melodious but not so melancholic. In short, that’s what happens in When Life Gives You Lemons, You Paint That Shit Gold(Rhymesayers Entertainment, 2008). Instead of fighting back against life’s uncontrollable events, one shouldn’t merely roll with the punches but continue
REVIEW: DOOMTREE – FALSE HOPES (2007)
If something is in the drinking water in Minnesota, good luck finding the source in the land of 10,000 lakes. Midwestern hip hop has been on the radar in recent memory headed by the outspoken Kanye West, the Pitchfork-darlings The Cool Kids, and now with the nearly-Ashlee Simpson-chart-top
Review: Johnny Foreigner – Waited Up Til It Was Light (2008)
The wait was definitely longer than expected, but Johnny Foreigner’s debut album Waited Up ‘Til It Was Light (Best Before Records/Nettwerk, 2008) finally hit digital stores in the United States today. How’s the ‘wait’ to ‘well worth it’ ratio? Shortly: !!! T
REVIEW: KISS KISS – KISS KISS EP (2005)
Kiss Kiss emerged out of New York, releasing Reality vs. The Optimist on Eyeball Records in 2006. Their EP (Eyeball Records, 2005) depicts a rougher dose of their mad scientist experimental debut. The five piece descends from a neo-Vincent Price sonic castle enveloped i
Noah & The Whale’s Latest Single
If you could hire Wes Anderson to produce a film and soundtrack to document yourself during those summers you reminisce over first loves and breaking into cold storage facilities, Noah And The Whale has beat you to the punch with indie pop’s contender for best song of the summer. Fe
REVIEW: ALKALINE TRIO – AGONY & IRONY (2008)
Opening the sleeve of Agony & Irony (Epic Records, 2008), you pull out a rather simple, but elaborate disc with the retro font logo of Epic Records. Alkaline Trio’s first release with this label isn’t the pinnacle, nor the penultimate in their catalog, but is the strongest effort s
REVIEW: THE HOLD STEADY – STAY POSITIVE (2008)
A couple years ago, Cursive responded to The Ugly Organ (Saddle Creek, 2003) with a definite political-themed album interspersed with their unique spinning of entangled tales. Intertwining references continued with their fourth album, Happy Hollow (Saddle Creek, 2006).
REVIEW: GIRL TALK – FEED THE ANIMALS (2008)
Gregg Gillis released Feed The Animals (Illegal Art, 2008) today à la the new model, throwing Girl Talk‘s latest online while promising those who pay more will receive an eventual disc. It’s an effective mode to get your work out there now, assuming people know who you are o