Destry - It Goes On
It Goes On Straylight Run co-vocalist/pianist Michelle DaRosa (ne Nolan) likely sent a shock to fans' system when she abruptly announced her departure from the band in June 2008 to work on a solo record. The resulting effort, It Goes On, is a more polished and full-band effort than one might imagine from DaRosa–and as she and...
Arctic Monkeys - Humbug
Humbug It's a cruel fact of life that everybody has to grow up. Just ask Roger Daltrey, who has to croak, "I hope I die before I get old," every night onstage, while secretly hoping that his legs don't give out on him. England's Arctic Monkeys are now on their third full-length, and they seem...
Brian Bonz & The Dot Hongs - From Sumi To Japan
From Sumi To Japan Brian Bonz's voice is so angelic that it sounds perfectly acceptable when the NYC schoolteacher sings, "I'm just next in line with the sharpest knife and the desire to make these children die" ("Dee The Dinosaur"). A disciple of the celebrated circle of friends that includes Brand New and Kevin Devine,...
Dead Swans - Sleepwalkers
Sleepwalkers Dead Swans blatantly sound like a band born into modern U.S. hardcore; the only thing surprising about them is their English–not American–upbringing. Frankly, that's fine with us, as a sound this fierce and full doesn't come around often. Resembling a potent blend of Blacklisted's …The Beat Goes On, Give Up The Ghost's We're Down 'Til...
Death Before Dishonor - Better Ways To Die
Better Ways To Die In all honesty, the tough-guy hardcore plied by the likes of Hoods, Sworn Enemy and Boston bruisers Death Before Dishonor ran itself ragged by failing to stir the pot. But seeing as how everyone else is into thrash metal and Motörhead these days, why not add a bunch of beefy dudes...
DevilDriver - Pray For Villains
Pray For Villains Those who remember Dez Farara's nü-metal band, Coal Chamber, probably have a tarnished opinion of his latest group, DevilDriver. But with DD's fourth album, Pray For Villains, any nü grudges against Farara need to be put to rest. Just as Machine Head's The Blackening laid waste to their unfortunate late-'90s nü-rap records,...
Fruit Bats - The Ruminant Band
The Ruminant Band Fruit Bats aren't the only indie band whose latest record sounds like something dropped in from the tail end of the Flower Power era, when the hippies rediscovered country and the weed was kicking in just right. (Oh, hey, what's up, Fleet Foxes?) Where a lot of new bands drop the ball...
Lightning Dust - Infinite Light
Infinite Light King beardo Stephen McBean gets all the attention in perma-bonged psych rockers Black Mountain, but discerning fans know the band's secret weapon is tremolo-voiced singer Amber Webber. Lightning Dust–comprised of Webber and Black Mountain drummer Joshua Wells–began as a side project, but blossom into their own crazily beautiful thing on Infinite Light. The...
Metavari - Be One Of Us And Hear No Noise
Be One Of Us And Hear No Noise Metavari are stuck in a drawer full of early Death Cab For Cutie melodies and emotive electronica. While this could make for a troublesome combination of the predictable and the well worn, the group are able to play their music with strong conviction and a solid backbeat....