November 19, 2008

The Rumble Strips Girls & Weather [4/5] There’s clearly something to be said for any band secure enough to start their debut album with a statement as unflattering as “I ain’t got no soul.” As it turns out, what singer Charlie Waller means is he’s a heartless bastard, not that his music is soulless. But...

Rookie Of The Year Sweet Attention [2.5/5] Technically their second album as a full band, Rookie Of The Year (who started in 2002 as Ryan Dunson’s solo project) continue to explore various effects and layers as on their 2006 effort, The Goodnight Moon. However, instead of adding levels of diversity to their indie-pop stock pot,...

The Reign Of Kindo Rhythm, Chord & Melody [1/5] Rising from the ashes of post-rock romanticists This Day & Age, this Buffalo quintet replaced departed frontman Jeffrey Martin with TD&A bassist Joseph Secchiaroli and split the difference between jazz-fusion, the atmospheric melancholy of Keane and pre-digested chum that smells like Josh Groban-only Secchiaroli’s radio-ready croon...

The Classic Crime The Silver Cord [3/5] The sophomore full-length from Tooth & Nail artists the Classic Crime follows the well-worn route of beginning on a promising note, then quickly descending into something of a join-the-flock existence. Volleying between introspective brooders on “The End” and “Just A Man,” the band open up a wormhole of...

Malcolm Bauld Covered In Dust [4/5] Malcolm Bauld has been a key figure in Montreal’s punk community for longer than most other members of it have known what punk is, having fronted the Frenetics for a number of years and worked closely with Yesterday’s Ring, Fifth Hour Hero and others. With his new solo album,...

For the flannel-clad, bearded punk who gets sentimentally festive around the holiday season and just can’t get enough from his Chuck Ragan, Tim Barry or Matt Pyror playlists, let’s give thanks to DUSTIN KENSRUE. This week, the Thrice frontman digitally released This Good Night Is Still Everywhere, a Christmas-themed full-length ideal for the merry times–as...