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"Lead Us To Reason" by The Black Maria

"Lead Us To Reason" by The Black Maria

Some say that Fugazi were the godfathers of emo. Well if that's the case then Grade were the godfathers and powerhouse of screamo. I think that Kyle Bishop has one of the all-time best screams around. Although on Grade's breakup album, Headfirst Straight To Hell, it seemed like Kyle and the rest of... [More]

Written By: Tyson Cantrell
"Superwolf" by Matt Sweeney/Bonnie

"Superwolf" by Matt Sweeney/Bonnie

Those who were disenfranchised by Will Oldham's decision to countrfy his Palace back catalog last year with Greatest Palace Music, will be pleased to know that it looks like that was just a one-shot deal. Oldham, still working under his Bonnie "Prince" Billy alias, is back to basics with Superwolf,... [More]

Written By: Kyle England
"Knuckle Down" by Ani Difranco

"Knuckle Down" by Ani Difranco

Touring with singer/songwriter Joe Henry last year created an almost serendipitous friendship between Difranco and Henry; and out of that friendship, brought a producer (Henry) onto a Difranco album for the first time in her now 14 album career. And boy, did she ever need a producer after the last t... [More]

Written By: Kyle England
"Worlds Apart" by And You Will Know Us By The Trail Of ...

"Worlds Apart" by And You Will Know Us By The Trail Of Dead

On Worlds Apart, And You Will Know Us By The Trail of Dead have really set themselves up on for a fall. Not only was their previous record, Source Tags and Codes, one of the greatest albums of the new century, (a hard act to follow), but their name itself is such a tedious/pretentious tongue twister... [More]

Written By: Kevin Jones
"Line-Up Announced" by Coachella 2005

"Line-Up Announced" by Coachella 2005

January 31st has finally arrived, and as promised the lineup for Coachella 2005 has been posted. Holy shit people! This lineup may be the best yet! If you've never been to Coachella, it's absolutely incredible. If you consider yourself a concert junkie, and haven't done this yet, find a way to get t... [More]

Written By: Kyle England
"Laced With Romance" by The Ponys

"Laced With Romance" by The Ponys

Okay, right off the bat let me dispense with the two things that bug me about the Ponys. First, they can't spell, can't spell for shit. They misspelled their own damn name! Guys, if you get it wrong on your first record, you're stuck with it for the life of the band. So, there's that. Second, t... [More]

Written By: Jeff Hubbard
"The Great Destroyer" by Low

"The Great Destroyer" by Low

The long tenured slowcore Minnesota Mormons, or Low as they are more formally known, are back with their Sub Pop debut The Great Destroyer. Great Destroyer will surely polarize long time fans of Low because mega producer Dave Fridmann, known for production that is anything but hands-off or slowcore,... [More]

Written By: Kyle England
"I'm Wide Awake It's Morning" by Bright Eyes

"I'm Wide Awake It's Morning" by Bright Eyes

The other day I walked into the music store to harass my friend Adam Mast and ask him annoying questions about what kind of bands were going to do well this year. As we were chatting like a couple of pain-in-the-ass music store know-it-alls I commented on what was playing in his store, "Who the phuk... [More]

Written By: Tyson Cantrell
"Before The Dawn Heals Us" by M83

"Before The Dawn Heals Us" by M83

Like Jean Michel Jarre with a dollup of Steve Reich, or Tangerine Dream being fronted by Kevin Shields, France's M83 is one of the newest alchemists who spin magic out of new age and ambient pop. Their debut album, 2003's Dead Cities, Red Seas & Lost Ghosts, shook me to my very foundation. It was li... [More]

Written By: Kyle England
"Who Is This America?" by Antibalas

"Who Is This America?" by Antibalas

So who is dis Antibalas dem speak of today? Antibalas is an Afrobeat orchestra that serves as the perfect backdrop soundtrack for a heated (or should I say chill) bong rip session. Who Is This America is Antibalas' third - a mixture of reggae, spoken-word tantrums, and jazzy sounds and textures that... [More]

Written By: Tyson Cantrell
"Strangers" by Ed Harcourt

"Strangers" by Ed Harcourt

A few years back while reviewing Ed Harcourt's From Every Sphere album, I praised Harcourt as being one of the best up and coming singer/songwriter talents, but accused his music of being to intricately detailed for it's own good, suggesting that if he were to simplify his approach it would ultimate... [More]

Written By: Kyle England
"Trials & Errors" by Magnolia Electric Co.

"Trials & Errors" by Magnolia Electric Co.

Seeing as how Will Oldham has been busy playing cowboy with his Palace catalog and polarizing fans in the process, and Bill Callahan from Smog has nothing better to do with his time than to change his alias from Smog to (Smog) (what's with that by the way?) this actually may be Jason Molina's year t... [More]

Written By: Kyle England
"The Futureheads" by The Futureheads

"The Futureheads" by The Futureheads

The Futureheads first struck me as kind of an ironic moniker for this Northern England quartet, because at first impression their debut sounds like a tribute to a handful of early 80's British bands. (In order of influence, XTC, the Jam, The Clash and the Knack). True though these comparisons are, a... [More]

Written By: Kevin Jones
"EP" by The Fiery Furnaces

"EP" by The Fiery Furnaces

Matthew and Eleanor Friedberger, the brother/sister duo that brought you the love it or hate it rock epic Blueberry Boat last year, have seen fit to grace fans with a an EP; an odd title for a collection of B sides and unreleased tracks, to be sure, when you consider it clocks in at 10 songs and 41... [More]

Written By: Kyle England
"The Seven Autumn Flowers" by Trembling Blue Stars

"The Seven Autumn Flowers" by Trembling Blue Stars

Robert Wratten, one time lead singer of the legendary twee-pop outfit The Field Mice and Northern Picture Library which have gone on to heavily influence the likes of Belle & Sebastian among others, has finally gotten around to releasing his current band Trembling Blue Stars "Bar None" debut after a... [More]

Written By: Kyle England