Album Reviews
Album Review : Windhand and Satan’s Satyrs Split
I’ve always thought of Windhand as doom metal for those of us that don’t live in a fog of bong smoke; or worship Satan or chase woodland creatures with homemade battle axes in our underwear at midnight. The Virginia 5-pc doom metal band carry with them all the eerie, Gothic vibes that would scare off …
Album Review: Japan Suicide – Santa Sangre
We recently reviewed an Italian band called Unruly Girls and noted that the Italian rock scene was both healthy and creative. And no better sign of this good health is Japan Suicide, whose new album, ‘Santa Sangre’ was released on Valentine’s Day last week. Citing eighties post-punk new wave influences like The Cure and Joy …
Album Review: Ought – Room Inside the World
On their third album, and first for Merge records, Ought augment their anxious, itchy alt-rock with a wider palette of instrumental colours, balancing the agitated highs of earlier records with moments of emotional numbness and tired acceptance. The woozy piano chords which introduce ‘Into the Sea’ establish the introspective mood from the outset. Singer Tim …
Say Psych: Album Review: Mint Field – Pasar De Las Luces
Rating: 7/10 Tijuana is a border town with a storied history – sometimes a history of union, sometimes of violence, that allows it to have a hybrid culture with many vibrant scenes and artists that have defied their borders. Mint Field believe their roots are in the city but are not defined by it. Amor …
Album Review : Superchunk’s ‘What a Time to Be Alive’
Superchunk have been a constant in the indie rock music scene since the early 90s. They helped to define a sound, regionally in the Chapel Hill music scene, and nationally that defined what itmeant to be “college rock”. There’s also the whole DIY ethos surrounding the band, with members Laura Ballance and Mac McCaughan forming …
Not Forgotten: World Party – Egyptology
Life can be strange. 1993’s Bang had flagged up World Party as a band to watch for the rest of the decade. An intelligent retro-pop act, with a frontman that was frequently capable of brilliance, and possessed the ability to stretch his music across genre boundaries, Karl Wallinger and his bandmates should have been held …
Album Review: The Rezillos – Flying Saucer Attack
A timely reissue of Edinburgh`s finest New Wave Beat Group`s classic Cant Stand The Rezillos and Mission Accomplished albums, packaged togeher under the title Flying Saucer Attack. Removed from other punk bands of the day The Rezillos leaned on 1950`s and 60`s rock and roll, garage and Sci Fi themed subjects to propel themselves literally into …
Doctor Bird Reggae Re issues: Ethiopians and Uniques
Cherry Red Reggae Reissues By Leggy Mountbatten Ethiopians Reggae Power/Woman Capture Man UNIQUES ABSOLUTELY THE UNIQUES: EXPANDED EDITION’ Doctor Bird Compilation Following from Novembers Hot Shots Of Reggae reissue, Doctor Bird/Cherry Red reissue more classic Trojan compilations from the vaults. The Ethiopians are one of Jamaica`s t finest and most loved vocal groups responsible for …
Album Review : Fu Manchu’s ‘Clone Of The Universe’
I guess I’ve never been much of a desert rock kind of guy. I’m pretty pale, so the desert holds some pretty painful fates for me. Not even SPF 50 is going to protect me from the raw, naked sun out in Joshua Tree territory, man. I’ll fry like a lobster. Melt some butter and …
Album Review: Twin Peaks – Sweet ’17 Singles
I love Twin Peaks the TV show more than I love damn fine coffee or the best cherry pie in the Tri-Counties. But there is also Twin Peaks the band, who have been gigging since 2010. The Chicago based garage-band were struggling to balance their three year tour with recording. Rather than commit to a …