Kuroma
Kuroma Paris [3.5/5]
Hank Sullivant isn’t shy about coming out from behind two successful bands, MGMT and the Whigs, to bring the world his music. In fact, Paris starts off schizophrenically firing on all cylinders. Sure, the first three tracks have those reverb-soaked vocals that are getting old in the world of pretentious indie rock,...
husband&wife - Dark Dark Woods
husband&wife Dark Dark Woods Like an airplane soaring thousands of feet overhead, the music of Bloomington, Indiana’s husband&wife will initially enter your ears as humble and meek, but up close, their sound is astonishingly immense. Dark Dark Woods begins slowly, as “Comp Jam” lingers with a detailed, building instrumental that accumulates into a big climax...
Virgins
Virgins Miscarriage [4.5/5]
We don’t know what’s better?Virgins’ edgy, melodic hardcore, or their spot-on socio-political commentary. To wit, Miscarriage’s opener, “Another’s Gun,” posits the interesting question of what would we do if the U.S. were invaded and occupied by another nation, all enveloped in devastatingly catchy hooks. Elsewhere, the stellar hardcore blast “Burn” lambasts white...
Thursday - Common Existance
Common Existence Watching modern-day screamo sextet Thursday go through their renaissance during the past few years has been nothing short of inspiring. Common Existence is the metaphorical cherry on top of a continually solid, creative output that has allowed the band to progress on their own terms. Having returned to producer Dave Fridmann, who also...
Spinnerette
Spinnerette Ghetto Love EP [3/5]
Fans of the Distillers have been waiting for Brody Dalle’s next musical move since her groundbreaking punk band’s unceremonious breakup in 2006. Spinnerette’s debut, a digital-only EP, is a first taste of Dalle’s current state of mind, offering four propulsive rock songs that sound like direct descendents of the Distillers’...
Reel Big Fish - Fame Fortune & Fornication
Reel Big Fish Fame Fortune & Fornication A decade ago, Reel Big Fish struck gold when they contributed their rendition of A-ha’s “Take On Me” to the soundtrack of Baseketball. From that point forward, RBF have incorporated covers into their live set, which are usually met with enthusiasm. For fans who can’t throw out their...
Only Thunder
Only Thunder Lower Bounds [3.5/5]
Featuring a grocery list of ex-members of underrated bands (the Blackout Pact, Ghost Buffalo and Pinhead Circus to name a few), Only Thunder’s aggressive, gruff style of punk rock logically follows its aggressive, gruff punk-rock lineage. But where members’ past bands sometimes adhered too closely to genre rules and regulations,...
The Loved Ones
The Loved Ones Distractions EP [3/5]
Wishing you had more songs by the Loved Ones on your iPod? No need to be blue: The Philadelphia-based Americana-punk quartet have assembled an EP of two new songs, an old B-side and three covers. “Distracted” is the better of the two new tracks, a midtempo rocker reminiscent of...
Let Me Run
Let Me Run Meet Me At The Bottom [3/5]
Let Me Run follow closely in the footsteps of current Garden State phenomenon the Gaslight Anthem. Though they refrain from blatantly bowing at the altar of Bruce Springsteen, Let Me Run still bear more than a passing resemblance. Like Springsteen (and Gaslight), Let Me Run strive...