REVIEW: SIGUR RÓS – MEÐ SUÐ Í EYRUM VIÐ SPILUM ENDALAUST (2008)
When the track details emerged with an English song included, the latest artistic endeavor from Sigur Rós ratcheted expectations after 2005’s Takk…and 2007’s Heima film (one of the most visually stunning cinematic films of recent memory). Með Suð Í Eyrum Við
REVIEW: FOUR STAR ALARM – SELF-TITLED EP (2006)
Small, yet gearing up to start setting them off with their upcoming debut album, Four Star Alarm is one of the few Chicago punk bands that has risen through dozens of Chicago punk denizens to treat those who listened with a remarkable debut EP. The self-titled EP (Thick Records, 2006) is a
REVIEW: PAST LIVES – STRANGE SYMMETRY (2008)
Strange symmetry. An awkward correspondence. Although you wouldn’t label the music awkward in the common sense, but as unconventional or perhaps hesitant in the deconstruction and construction of melodies unsure of what could be. The Seattle-based specter of The Blood Brothers‘ remains,&nbs
REVIEW: DOOMTREE – SELF-TITLED (2008)
The Minneapolis collective unveiled their long-anticipated debut. Aside from anthologies of efforts, the self-titled album is first studio album, polished by the artistic visions of five rappers and four producers. Last week I reviewed their previous effort, False Hopes (Doomtree
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-year album drought w
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: 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: 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