Voicst
Voicst 11/11/2010 [4/5] Apparently, Voicst is South African slang for “manic energy.” There’s no shortage of that here, from the power-pop kicks of “Whatever You Want From Life” to “Acts Of Fire,” a dance-punk track that single-handedly explains why the band would leave their homes in Amsterdam (where the good things in life are legal)...
Starflyer 59
Starflyer 59 My Island [5/5] Had Starflyer 59 frontman Jason Martin been a good rock star, he would’ve either sabotaged his band by bailing during their prime or simply run it into the ground well after its 15 minutes had expired. Yet, umpteen years and countless releases later, SF59 still makes great music that yearns...
Park
Park Building A Better _______ [4/5] Given that Park have penned some of most emotionally absorbing rock songs ever to come from Illinois’ cluttered post-emo scene, they should be huge by now. But their technical dexterity and oft-intense lyricism have never been easily digestible or particularly “dance, dance”-able. On this. Park’s third-and least difficult album-those...
Jucifer
Jucifer If Thine Enemy Hunger [3/5] Jucifer are stricken by the curse that nothing they record will ever top their live shows, where singer-guitarist Amber Valentine brings the noise with a 15-amp attack, while drummer Edgar Livengood pounds his kit until he pukes. The nomadic husband-and-wife team-who live out of a Winnebago-waste no time unleashing...
¡Forward, Russia!
Give Me A Wall [4/5] Like a DIY flashback, circa 1980, the four Leeds punks in ¡Forward, Russia! touch all the bases-from forming their own label to making ideological shout-outs to Stalin and Einstein in their oblique lyrics. And sure, a guitarist named Whiskas and numbered song titles that signify their creation sounds a bit...
Boy Kill Boy
Boy Kill Boy Civilian [4/5] It’s impossible to listen to the full-length debut from hotshots Boy Kill Boy and not think of the Killers. Besides the sparkling synthesizers and obvious affection for the Smiths and Duran Duran, the London quartet ooze undeniable confidence in their strident riffs and bigger-than-life choruses in a way that’s very...
The Black Maria
The Black Maria A Shared History Of Tragedy [4/5] There’s been plenty of drama in the Black Maria camp since the release of their 2004 debut, Lead Us To Reason. If the message boards are to be believed, guitarist Kyle Bishop (formerly of screamo pioneers Grade) was unceremoniously sacked from the band he helped found,...
As Tall As Lions
As Tall As Lions As Tall As Lions [5/5] Blame it on the Anathallos, My Morning Jackets or Rogue Waves of the music scene: Three-chord progressions are out, Farfisa organ and dulcimer players are at a premium, and brave musicians everywhere have given themselves permission again to experiment with soul. As Tall As Lions are...
Gatsbys American Dream
Gatsbys American Dream Gatsbys American Dream [5/5] Sure, Atreyu and Dragonforce both released loud records this year, but the angriest record you’ll hear in 2K6 is Gatsbys American Dream. Since 2005’s excellent Volcano, GAD have toured their collective ass off, added two members and, it seems, learned tough lessons about the music industry the hard...