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Dear and the Headlights- Small Steps, Heavy Hooves Equal Vision Records This quintet from Tempe, AZ is an infectiously soft dose of musical radiance. Small Step, Heavy Hooves is the winter album I need to add blissful injury to seasonal depression insult. Allow me to dissect. Imagine vocals similar to that of Coldplay with an arrangement of melodies similar to the late Hey Mercedes. Add a touch of tempo here and there with a dash of the Red House Painters, and you have Dear and the Headlights. I don’t mean to compare these gentlemen to so many others, as they are very unique, but I do mean to paint an honest picture of how talented they are. The song “Shinned Knees, & Gapped Teeth,” starts out with an intriguing bass line and meanders into a poppy yet folk-like drum cadence that really illustrates the diversity they possess. Let me be one of the first to say that they boys have set them selves up for future fame. PM
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Death Before Dishonor : Friends Family Forever Bridge Nine Records
It's nothing special, I mean your run of the mill hardcore which I do enjoy, only not for very long. As a rule I listen to an album at least once start to finish before reviewing it. This one was very hard for me to pay attention to, after the first five songs I just couldn't keep interest in anything for very long. repetitive, but at the same time it's a heavy barrage of all the elements of solid hardcore album. I'll at least hang on to this one. JD
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Chuck Ragan- Valentine/Do What You Do 7” No Idea Records
I’ve been eagerly awaiting this record since the last one was released and it is as good as I thought it would be. While the last two records seemed to be a little more brooding, this one contains the thoughtful love-type songs. Great acoustic guitar and harmonica combined with Chuck’s rough and honest voice. This singles collection moves in an epic way, like a novel about a hero’s journey, with Chuck Ragan being the soulful punk rock protagonist. I can’t wait for the next 7”. CS
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Orangeburg Massacre- Moorea Pluto Records
These guys project a fresh hardcore sound, unlike many disappointments so far this year. Orangeburg Massacre is mix of bands like Botch or Poison the Well plus an added sporadic accompany of off-the-wall riffs and driving drum beats. The song "Serenity Far Far Later" is a wonderful example of crossover styles between guitarist, and certainly solidifies the sound I think this band is looking to portray. The atypical lyrics really follow the semi-chaotic structure and overall presence of the band. My only complaint is how over done certain parts are played when the don't need to be. Although I enjoy these messy breakdowns, I fear that this band may loose a listener's ear in the jump from solid to sporadic. This band will not just be another Los Angeles hardcore act that falls to the wayside. There is major potential. PM
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Justice Department- Daily Massacre New Eden Records This is the first hardcore album I've ever owned where I cannot read the lyrics in the booklet. Usually you can't understand death-metal band lyrics, but in this case "No ablo español". This fierce vegan driven band is from Madrid, Spain. This mucho (much, very) hardcore mania is enough to make your head spin until you're sick. The art work is nothing but murdered cows and enough "milk is white blood" propaganda to make me hungry. These borderline satanic jams are nothing more than weird chants and morbid symphonies of annoyance. Imagine listening to constant double-bass patterns and sounds of murder played over a walkie-talkie. I think they may be trying to replicate sounds of the assembly line in a cattle-stocked butcher shop on a hot afternoon. American hardcore enthusiasts are not ready for this, but check out New Eden Records for other worldwide hardcore acts. PM
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Smoke Or Fire- This Sinking Ship Fat Wreck Chords “This Sinking Ship” is Richmond, VA Smoke Or Fire’s sophomore effort and pretty much carries on with the same kind of energy portrayed by 2005’s “Above The City”, but has added some more toned down rock elements into the mix. The main noticeable difference between the two records is Joe McMahon’s singing. This time around his vocals are less gruff, but suit the songs perfectly. Musically, the songs are slower and put more emphasis on harmony than their previous fast paced songs. Smoke Or Fire has managed to create the perfect balance between melody and power and while the band definitely has already carved out their own niche, this album finds them really coming into their own. CS
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Fall Out Boy : Infinity On High Island Records I can't really give a review here, I listened to about 8 of the how ever many minutes there are on the disc. I did hear a drum machine and an intro featuring Jay-Z, which don't get me wrong, I think Jay-Z is pretty fly and everything. I didn't really understand the whole retirement marketing ploy of his, I mean I would be afraid people would hear that and when his next album came out be a little pissed, like "what the hell?" Other than that I totally respect the guy’s ability if you listen to some of the early material, like his work with Big L, there is just huge amounts of talent. The guys like a thesaurus. Anyway, fall out boy....what did you expect? JD
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Self Against City- Telling Secrets To Strangers Drive-Thru Records Wow. This is some of the most mindless and saccharine sweet crap that has ever assaulted my ears. I can’t even describe this sound, but I can say that these guys make Good Charlotte look punk as fuck. These guys look like a gaggle of hair stylists that got lost in a Guitar Center and were somehow mistaken for a band. This band will surely be a hit with the 15 year old girls who love Total Request Live. If we’re hanging out and I say something like “Hey, let’s listen to that Self Against City album”, then you know I have contracted a horrible and incurable neurological disease and you should immediately shoot me in the face. CS
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Sounds Like Violence- With Blood On My Hands Deep Elm Records www.deepelm.com/soundslikeviolence Every once in a while I come across a band that I normally would not be into, and get sucked into a vortex of brilliance. The guitar work is alternately soaring in a blues-rock way and aggressive the next…think mid-nineties Red Hot Chili Peppers channeling At The Drive In. The rhythm section holds up the low end well with some superfluous snare rolls at just the right times. Andreas Soderlund’s vocals really stand out- his singing style strikes me like one of those retro garage band vocalists minus the pretentious cheesiness. When I asked drummer Daniel to describe SLV’s sound, he replied “music that slaps you across the face, attitude and honesty”. I couldn’t agree more. Whether you have the moves or not, you’ll soon be shaking your ass to this great rock record. CS
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The Queers- Munki Brain Asian Man Records The Queers are back at it again with their 15th release! I've honestly not been a big Queers fan since they left Lookout Records, but was excited to hear from them once again now on Asian Man. Asian Man Records has also recently reissued Beat Off. By far one of the best Queers albums next to Day Late & a Dollar Short. If you're not sure what to expect from the Queers and this new album, then think great surf-punk rock styling. They are very much a new age version of the Ramones or even the Clash. The song "Houston We Have a Problem" is an excellent yet silly song about the rotting future of kids and their prescriptions. If you listen closely enough you may even hear Joe Queer (guitar, vocals) give a shout out to long time friend Ben Weasel. All together a very down the middle, solid punk-rock album. Points off for Asian Man Records for not sending all the liner notes and writing "Promo" over lyrics. PM
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Killswitch Engage- As Daylight Dies Roadrunner Records Killswitch Engage is probably the most recognizable band in the metalcore scene right now and music aside, I really respect that they don’t tout the “I’m heartbroken, but I have great hair” shtick that most of their peers carry around. The music seems pretty straight forward and honest- songs about love, loss and the decline of humanity. These guys are talented musicians and they like to showcase it through their beautiful melodic moments in which vocalist Howard Jones croons with his unconventional singing voice, and through their super heavy, riff laden moments in which they make Pantera look like pussies. Honestly, this is not something I would go out and buy personally…my girlfriend is more into this band. However, they are a talented and respectable bunch and I’m not opposed to listening to this album when she throws it in. CS
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Zozobra- Harmonic Tremors Hydra Head Records At the end of your record collection comes a 50-foot effigy burned every year by an excited mob during the Fiestas De Santa Fe in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Or at least that’s what I’ve been told Zozobra means. After listening to song Soon to Follow, and knowing this was on Hydra Head Records, I immediately suspected Caleb Scofield (Cave In vocalist/bassists) was behind these “Harmonic Tremors.” Also bringing with him cosmic guitarist Adam McGrath (Cave In) who’s dynamic structure knows no limit. Zozobra has created a harder more straight forward version of Cave In. They maintain a style with few time changes, but focus on smaller more intricate parts in what seems to be one long chorus. I’m not use to trailing off into relaxing hard music, but Zozobra is a unique circumstance. These spacey guitar parts and dominate bass are sure to sell to just about any crowd. PM
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Shinobu- Worstward, Ho! Asian Man Records I don’t know if you can be annoying in a good way but if you can, Shinobu are exactly that. The guitars are jangly and the drums sound like someone broke into your mothers cupboards and started beating on her pots and pans. Singer Mike Huguenor’s vocals sound mildly scratchy and I would say he is obviously influenced by Jawbreaker/Jets To Brazil frontman Blake Schwarzenbach. You know that obnoxious group of teenagers next door that play their Weezer-rock loudly while you’re trying to watch television and you’d get pissed off, but you can’t quit tapping your feet? It’s kind of like that. CS
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xDeathstarx- We Are The Threat Facedown Records This seven piece threat out of California has set a new hardcore standard in the vocal department. Not two, but three vocalist, three front men, three good reason to put the brotherhood of hardcore-chant back into commission. They are literally the Bestie Boys of hardcore, plus a full band on stage. Vocals aside, the music drives like an 18 wheeler with monumental half-time breakdowns. The drum patters are none to complex , but always following the crunch of the rhythm guitar while paying respect to sweet lead guitar measures. All and all, a very down-the-middle NY hardcore sound despite the fact they are from California. I've not seen them play, but I'm sure with their solidarity, and strength in numbers, they are one act that would surely shred a stage with little hesitation. PM
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No Torso- Several Brains Asian Man Records http://box50.bluehost.com/~puredelu/notorso/ Right off-the-bat I had to throw a flag on the field when I heard the trumpets blast. I'm just not a big Ska fan minus the Suicide Machines. Once I swallowed that definitive and very domineering aspect of this album/band I started to enjoy it a little more, and am a big fan of the vocalist Lars Oskarsen. They are much more creative than bands like Catch 22, and are a little less pop and a little more fierce. Not to mention, there are eight guys in the band so it is does have a very full sound, Ska or not. Although, it was the initial shock, I did enjoy the first song "Fight the Blue Horizon," due to the overt drumming and catch opening riffs. The lazy couch potato that listens to Less Than Jake over and over may not necessarily dig the unique styling of No Torso. JE
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Atreyu- The Best Of… Victory Records
What the hell? Is this really necessary? CS
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Means- Sending You Strength Facedown Records “Sending You Strength” starts off with the cacophonous roar of snare hits and guitars that lead into ‘Looking For Life’, the first track and introduction to the flurry of heavy breakdowns, gang vocals and strong harmonious leanings that continue throughout this disc. The clean singing and screamed vocals perfectly compliment each other on this album, especially when layered over top of each other, and the background gang vocals add even further depth into these emotionally charged songs. Each songs soars and crashes with the intense intricacies of post-hardcore bands like Hot Water Music, while the breakdowns and singer Dylan Johnstone’s harsh screams hint at traditional hardcore. This record is highly recommended. CS
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Only Crime- Virulence Fat Wreck Chords You know those washed up arm chair warriors that sit alone at night and rub one off while thinking up their fantasy football teams? Well, if I were to do that only with punk rock bands then I would come up with Only Crime due to the fact that the band members all hail from note-worthy bands in the punk scene. All aspects of the music draw from the influences of the members other bands- the vocal attack of Good Riddance, the melodic hooks of the Descendents and the fury of Bane. “Virulence” from start to finish is a whirlwind of new school melodic leanings with a heaping helping of old school dissonant surf-punk sound of Black Flag. This is an awesome follow up to their debut cd “To The Nines”, and if you have better things to do than spend those cold cruel nights alone memorizing football stats, then follow these steps: 1. Buy this 2. Put in stereo 3. Push play 4. Smile and rock fuck out. CS
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Tom Waits- Orphans Anti/Epitaph Records Tom Waits is an artist I had always heard about, but unfortunately never listened to until now. This album is so chock full of soulful blues and heavy lyrical subject matter that it’s ridiculous. The music ranges from brooding barroom blues to almost raucous Celtic folk tunes. The music feels like it should be playing from a dilapidated old jukebox in the corner of some dusty, dank bar on the wrong side of town while Tom’s voice sounds like he’s subsisted his whole life on nothing but whiskey and cigarettes. I could never imagine pulling all these different musical styling’s together and forming a sound so emotionally captivating. I now have heard the gospel according to Tom, and consider myself a fan. CS
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Beneath The Sky- What Demons Do to Saints Victory Records So these boys are the next hardcore cut-out to poise all those fevered-egos in black costumes. Let us not ask what demons do to saints, but rather what Victory Record’s President Tony Brummel does to young up-and-coming “hardcore” bands. The same guy that accused iTunes of, "stealing music's soul”, now owns the souls of six more unsuspecting kids from Cincinnati, Oh. All antics aside, these boys start off the song A Grave Mistake like a re-mastered Atreyu song, and then go into a bad vocal frenzy of Zao imposter products. This style of music is more copied than a Jennifer Aniston haircut at an upper-middle class salon. Stop fucking buying all these albums kids! It’s not an identity. It’s an "artsy" beer coaster 3 months later when you’ve discovered how redundant your album collection has become. PM
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Lovedrug- Everything Starts Where It Ends The Militia Group The long awaited follow up to their first album Pretend You're Alive is here. Or at least it will be in March. I acquired a copy "accidentally" at the record store. The art of ambience and beautifully crafted music is still present among Lovedrug, and I didn't expect anything less. The song "Thieving" is by far the gem of this new album. Everything Starts Where It Ends also flaunts a little more diversity in tempo and heavier moments, but doesn't take away from the band's core style. Michael Shepard has become more confident that ever vocally and even more impressive lyrically this time around. Also listen for song "Ghost By Your Side." For fans of Radiohead with out all of those strange acid educed moments. PM
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Scars Of Tomorrow- The Failure In Drowning Victory Records I have been a fan of Scars Of Tomorrow since 2004’s “Rope Tied To The Trigger”, and am glad that in this day and age of metalcore mediocrity you can still find a band in the genre who is aggressive and melodic without sounding like a bunch of mindless copycats who worship at the alter of Poison The Well. With chugging guitars, double bass drum hits that smack you in the face and the growling vocal barrage…these guys surpass the hordes of other bands that exist in the scene. Metalcore has become a joke in the music world, and the whole idea will surely go the way of Grunge…but when the metallic hardcore apocalypse happens, and the dyed black hair and tight pants corpses pile up, Scars Of Tomorrow will be on top of the heap. A great release. CS
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Paulson- All At Once Doghouse Records Paulson is a lot of very strategically place melodies and heavenly keyboards. Vocalist Logan has a very ambient voice, almost too soft rock and “dreamy” at times. A lot of the songs are very vocal and drum driven despite the synth riff and keyboard influences. I have to be honest. I’m ready to take it out of the CD player now, but need more to write. I suppose I’m mild intrigued by the lyrics. Although emo in nature, they are very fitting. Many of the songs just seem to drag like a foot-long cigarette. Not my cup of tea, but then again I don’t drink tea, so check it out for your selves. PM
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Inhale Exhale- The Lost, The Sick, The Sacred Solid State Records I listened to this album three times in a row and I really wanted to like it, but it was not to be. How many songs about being stabbed in the back do we really need folks? If I have to hear another band whining about being fucked over while ripping off Atreyu again…I’m going to mail myself Anthrax. I would prefer the respiratory failure and septicemia over having to listen to the fucking cry baby lyrics with the occasional “tough” screaming parts. If I was a judge and this was a court of law, I would order Inhale Exhale to pay Atreyu one dollar for every time a song off this album is played. I really don’t like hating on bands, but I’m sick of this derivative screamo stuff. Here’s hoping they find their own niche by their next album. CS
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The Shins- Wincing the Night Away Sub Pop Records I would first like to state that I’m not an avid fan of these post-Beatles pop bands, but this bias aside, I actually enjoyed listening to this album. It’s been a while since I’ve heard the phrase “Quite Contrary.” Vocalist James Mercer is surprisingly delightful to my ears, and quite reminiscent of a young Freddie Mercury. Merecer, Mercury, a coincidence, I think not. Wincing the Night Away is definitely an asset to the indie rocker community, summing up a solid rock n’ roll core-belief with synth samples and psychedelic moments that gives even this listener the occasional chill. The bass and drum arrangements frequently pave a pseudo hip-hop sound unlike anything I’ve ever heard. The song Sea Legs is a good example of this. The entire album can be sampled on The Shins Myspace profile. PM
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