October 26, 2007

Vrktm Excess/Defect [3.5/5] Any album with righteously bad song titles like “Skull Mountain,” “Slay” or “Sword And Fire” has a lot to live up to, which Excess/Defect does fairly well, but probably not how you might think. Don’t let the Dungeons & Dragons nomenclature of the album’s track list fool you into expecting...

The New Amsterdams Killed Or Cured Originally self-released digitally in 2006 free of charge and to little fanfare, Killed Or Cured was overshadowed by the New Amsterdams' proper new album at the time, Story Like A Scar. Hopefully Killed Or Cured’s physical release receives better notice because it’s one of the band’s best and most...

Maps & Atlases Trees, Swallows, Houses EP [4.5/5] As cliché as the expression “Blink and you’ll miss it” is, if you adapt it for your ears, it’s the best possible advice to preface listening to Maps & Atlases’ Trees, Swallows, Houses. The schizophrenic, note-bending attack brought on by the talented four-piece leaves not so...

Look Mexico This is Animal Music [4/5] As cliché as it may be, don’t judge a book by its cover. With song titles like “Dude, You Have A Bazooka” and “Comin’ In Hot With A Side Of Bacon,” paired with pictures of the Tallahassee, Florida, foursome in their skivvies with greasy pepperoni pizza...

Adam Franklin Bolts Of Melody [4/5] This wouldn’t be the worst time to rest on his shoegazing laurels, but Adam Franklin of Swervedriver shows no real interest in hitching his sails to that particular revival-which doesn’t mean you won’t stumble across the occasional squall of electric guitar on Bolts Of Melody. But for...

Editors An End Has A Start [3/5] It was impossible to hear Editors’ lauded 2005 debut The Back Room and not remark on the stadium-sized ambitions that occasionally made their taut new wave soar. The British quartet evidently took those sentiments to heart, however, and a creeping Coldplay-ism on the follow-up threatens to...

Architecture In Helsinki Places Like This [3.5/5] Widely regarded by fans and critics alike as one of the most unique and enjoyable bands to grace the indie-rock consortium in the past few years, Architecture In Helsinki have returned with Places Like This, a quirky but challenging half-hour of off-kilter vocals and disjointed rhythms....