Jawbreaker - 24 Hour Revenge Therapy: A bit more mellow than previous albums, but on the whole is very complete and ejoyable.
The Jealous Sound - Kill Them With Kindness: Good enough live for me to download their album. Good enough album for me to recommend listening to it.
Jerry Seinfeld - I'm Telling You For The Last Time: They'll be lots of smirking, but little laughing and in the end you're better off buying the first 3 seasons on DVD.
11.30.2004
11.29.2004
Review(s): Interpol, Jawbox, Jawbreaker
Interpol - Antics: I've tasted love's second culinary creation only to find parts of it stale and other parts not sweet enough.
Jawbox - Novelty: Post-punk is post-punk is post-punk. You either like it or you don't. I still don't get it.
Jawbreaker - Unfun: It's like Green Day, but with more talent and insight (American Idiot excluded).
Jawbox - Novelty: Post-punk is post-punk is post-punk. You either like it or you don't. I still don't get it.
Jawbreaker - Unfun: It's like Green Day, but with more talent and insight (American Idiot excluded).
11.27.2004
Review(s): Bill Hicks, Hood, Howlin' Wolf
Bill Hicks - Rant In E Minor: There are a few tracks that bog down this comedic collection, but on the whole it's wildly hilarious.
Hood - Cold House: Nearly-engaging electronic music, good overall ambience, very well paced, but it just doesn't do it.
Howlin' Wolf - Howlin' Wolf/Moanin' In The Moonlight: Being a fan of traditional blues, anything that tries to make it something that it isn't gets little recognition, so I'm not recognizing these two albums.
Hood - Cold House: Nearly-engaging electronic music, good overall ambience, very well paced, but it just doesn't do it.
Howlin' Wolf - Howlin' Wolf/Moanin' In The Moonlight: Being a fan of traditional blues, anything that tries to make it something that it isn't gets little recognition, so I'm not recognizing these two albums.
11.26.2004
Review(s): Girls Against Boys, Series 7 OST (Girls Against Boys), Heart Attack
Girls Against Boys - Nineties vs Eighties: A little too much drone going on.
Various Artists - Series 7 Soundtrack: All but two tracks are Girls Against Boys, but they seem to have progressed and learned a major chord or two. It's still not good, but at least it's something. The real savior is the cover of Joy Division's Love Will Tear Us Apart.
Heart Attack - Last War 1980-1984: An 80's punk version of The Ramones with just enough Black Flag and political awareness to make it interesting.
Various Artists - Series 7 Soundtrack: All but two tracks are Girls Against Boys, but they seem to have progressed and learned a major chord or two. It's still not good, but at least it's something. The real savior is the cover of Joy Division's Love Will Tear Us Apart.
Heart Attack - Last War 1980-1984: An 80's punk version of The Ramones with just enough Black Flag and political awareness to make it interesting.
11.24.2004
Review(s): Girls Against Boys x2, Girls Against Boys vs Guided By Voices
Girls Against Boys - Freak*On*Ica: Too much electronic instrumentation takes away from the momentum they seemed to be building in my 'acceptable' category.
Girls Against Boys - You Can't Fight What You Can't See: A weak first half is not entirely saved by a strong(er) second half.
Various Artists - Girls Against Boys vs Guided By Voices: The Bout of the Century: I don't know about Bout of the Century, but the first half is a little too boring while the second half is more of the same from Guided By Voices.
Girls Against Boys - You Can't Fight What You Can't See: A weak first half is not entirely saved by a strong(er) second half.
Various Artists - Girls Against Boys vs Guided By Voices: The Bout of the Century: I don't know about Bout of the Century, but the first half is a little too boring while the second half is more of the same from Guided By Voices.
11.23.2004
Review(s): Girls Against Boys x2, Richard Hawley
Girls Against Boys - Cruise Yourself: With each passing track, I find myself enjoying this band more and more.
Girls Against Boys - House Of GVSB: Boredom, or familiarity, sets in as the fourth GVSB album I've listened to in a row. Sadly, I've got 5 more, but those will wait until I forget what they're going to sound like.
Richard Hawley - Late Night Final: If all easy listening was this good, I'd listen to a lot more easy listening.
Girls Against Boys - House Of GVSB: Boredom, or familiarity, sets in as the fourth GVSB album I've listened to in a row. Sadly, I've got 5 more, but those will wait until I forget what they're going to sound like.
Richard Hawley - Late Night Final: If all easy listening was this good, I'd listen to a lot more easy listening.
11.22.2004
Review(s): Allen Ginsberg, Girls Against Boys x2
Allen Ginsberg - Holy Soul Jelly Roll: Poems & Songs (4 Disc; Moloch!, Caw! Caw!, Ah!, Ashes and Blues): Some of the legacy of Allen Ginsberg has been diminished, but I attribute it mostly to the poor recording technology of the late '50s and the '60s. When he's got his A game, it's wonderful, but sadly, one can only have an A game for but a fraction.
Girls Against Boys - Tropic Of Scorpio: It's always akward when a band has yet to finalize a direction and a sound for their music. This is no exception.
Girls Against Boys - Venus Luxure No. 1 Baby: It's nice when a band finalizes a direction and a sound for their music. Unless you don't like what they finalized.
Girls Against Boys - Tropic Of Scorpio: It's always akward when a band has yet to finalize a direction and a sound for their music. This is no exception.
Girls Against Boys - Venus Luxure No. 1 Baby: It's nice when a band finalizes a direction and a sound for their music. Unless you don't like what they finalized.
11.19.2004
Review(s): The Explosion, Forced Reality, Gang Green
The Explosion - The Explosion/Steal This/Sick Of Modern Art: Nothing that quite matches the energy or intensity of their debut, Flash Flash Flash, not that I thought it ever would.
Forced Reality - 13 Years Of Forced Reality/Forced Reality: Maybe it was cool 13 years ago, because it's not now.
Gang Green - Older...Budweiser/Another Case Of Brewtality: What Andrew WK is for partying (on I Get Wet) Gang Green is to alcoholism, though the final track of the first disc may be the best ode to alcoholism ever written or performed.
Forced Reality - 13 Years Of Forced Reality/Forced Reality: Maybe it was cool 13 years ago, because it's not now.
Gang Green - Older...Budweiser/Another Case Of Brewtality: What Andrew WK is for partying (on I Get Wet) Gang Green is to alcoholism, though the final track of the first disc may be the best ode to alcoholism ever written or performed.
11.15.2004
Review(s): Cave In, Down to Nothing, Bob Dylan
Cave-In - Jupiter/Moons Of Jupiter: Almost enjoyable, but no.
Down To Nothing - Save It For The Birds/Down To Nothing: More of the same hardcore you've undoubtedly heard by now.
Bob Dylan - I Was So Much Younger Then (4 Disc): If the quality was better, it'd be a valuable resource. Because the quality is not good it is important only for it's historical significance. Disc 4, however is a wonderful addition to any fan's library because it showcases early Dylan in a live setting as he manifests his own past to various interviewers.Bob Dylan - I Was So Much Younger Then (4 Disc)
Down To Nothing - Save It For The Birds/Down To Nothing: More of the same hardcore you've undoubtedly heard by now.
Bob Dylan - I Was So Much Younger Then (4 Disc): If the quality was better, it'd be a valuable resource. Because the quality is not good it is important only for it's historical significance. Disc 4, however is a wonderful addition to any fan's library because it showcases early Dylan in a live setting as he manifests his own past to various interviewers.Bob Dylan - I Was So Much Younger Then (4 Disc)
10.09.2004
Review(s): Lauryn Hill, The Hives, Betchadupa, Green Day, Brian Wilson, Cave In x3
Lauryn Hill - The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill: I understand why it is so praised, but it just doesn't do it for me.
The Hives - Tyrannosaurus Hives: Did you like Veni, Vidi, Vicious? (yes) Do you like The Clash? (yes) You'll like this. (I do)
Betchadupa - 3DEP/Betchadupa/Flying Nun Comp Tracks/Sleepy News/Supa Day: If this is the best that Australia has to offer, we might as well blow Australia up (after we rescue Matt Billingsly).
Green Day - American Idiot: More than I ever expected from a Green Day album, but less than I expect out of a truely amazing album. It is very solid and I will be purchasing it and I will be listening to it again.
Brian Wilson - SMiLE: Everything you'd want and wouldn't want in an album that took 35 years to complete. Far too many layers of texture to adequately judge on a single listen.
Cave-In - Antenna: Take away all the distortion, layering, pyschadelia and inovation of The Mars Volta and you'd have this.
Cave-In - Until Your Heart Stops: I appreciate the initiative of trying to do something more with the genre of metal, but I don't appreciate it when it's LAME.
Cave-In - Epicenter/Botch Split/Tides Of Tomorrow:I cannot stand the vocal delivery of this band whatsoever.
The Hives - Tyrannosaurus Hives: Did you like Veni, Vidi, Vicious? (yes) Do you like The Clash? (yes) You'll like this. (I do)
Betchadupa - 3DEP/Betchadupa/Flying Nun Comp Tracks/Sleepy News/Supa Day: If this is the best that Australia has to offer, we might as well blow Australia up (after we rescue Matt Billingsly).
Green Day - American Idiot: More than I ever expected from a Green Day album, but less than I expect out of a truely amazing album. It is very solid and I will be purchasing it and I will be listening to it again.
Brian Wilson - SMiLE: Everything you'd want and wouldn't want in an album that took 35 years to complete. Far too many layers of texture to adequately judge on a single listen.
Cave-In - Antenna: Take away all the distortion, layering, pyschadelia and inovation of The Mars Volta and you'd have this.
Cave-In - Until Your Heart Stops: I appreciate the initiative of trying to do something more with the genre of metal, but I don't appreciate it when it's LAME.
Cave-In - Epicenter/Botch Split/Tides Of Tomorrow:I cannot stand the vocal delivery of this band whatsoever.
10.04.2004
Review(s): Ghost, The Gits, Woody Guthrie
Ghost - Hypnotic Underworld: You'll be bored before you find anything rewarding.
The Gits - Frenching The Bully: Female fronted 'punk' that brings comparisons to the Gorilla Biscuits (vocals) and Three Doors Down (music), but in the end, all of the songs run together and seem to lose focus.
Woody Guthrie - Dust Bowl Ballads: This disc puts into perspective the genius of Bob Dylan.
The Gits - Frenching The Bully: Female fronted 'punk' that brings comparisons to the Gorilla Biscuits (vocals) and Three Doors Down (music), but in the end, all of the songs run together and seem to lose focus.
Woody Guthrie - Dust Bowl Ballads: This disc puts into perspective the genius of Bob Dylan.
9.26.2004
Review(s): The Futureheads, The GC5, The Get Up Kids
The Futureheads - The Futureheads: This quirky acapella-pop record is the best record I've heard this year.
The GC5 - Never Bet The Devil Your Head: Renewing my faith in the value of punk rock is an album for fans for "The Gang's All Here"-era Dropkick Murphys.
The Get Up Kids - Guilt Show: Sacrificing musical maturity for the sake of record sales is something I cannot get behind if I didn't like you before you matured.
The GC5 - Never Bet The Devil Your Head: Renewing my faith in the value of punk rock is an album for fans for "The Gang's All Here"-era Dropkick Murphys.
The Get Up Kids - Guilt Show: Sacrificing musical maturity for the sake of record sales is something I cannot get behind if I didn't like you before you matured.
9.20.2004
Review(s): Evergreen, Faithless, The Fire Theft
Evergreen - Evergreen: The first post-Slint Avante Gardecore album is a mixed affair, but one that will at least warrant another listen.
Faithless - No Roots: I hate this album with much of my being, but I love the single (well, the single edit version).
The Fire Theft - The Fire Theft: If 'Return of the Frog Queen' has the feel of a classic, The Fire Theft's self-titled debut already is.
Faithless - No Roots: I hate this album with much of my being, but I love the single (well, the single edit version).
The Fire Theft - The Fire Theft: If 'Return of the Frog Queen' has the feel of a classic, The Fire Theft's self-titled debut already is.
9.16.2004
Review(s): The Deviants, The Dresden Dolls, Jeremy Enigk
The Deviants - Ptooff!: Put down the drugs.
The Dresden Dolls - A is for Accident: It seems as though nothing they do is an accident as this live collection showcases versions of familiar songs that barely (save for some clapping and laughing) stray from their original.
Jeremy Enigk - Return of the Frog Queen: It's not good, but it's got the feel of a classic.
The Dresden Dolls - A is for Accident: It seems as though nothing they do is an accident as this live collection showcases versions of familiar songs that barely (save for some clapping and laughing) stray from their original.
Jeremy Enigk - Return of the Frog Queen: It's not good, but it's got the feel of a classic.
9.13.2004
Review(s): The Cure, Karen Dalton, The Desperate Bicycles
The Cure - Three Imaginary Boys: Sometimes I hit myself for jumping on the bandwagon late.
Karen Dalton - It's So Hard To Tell Who's Going To Love You The Best: So raw, so emotive, so engaging. Man, do I love the blues.
The Desperate Bicycles - Another Commercial Venture: Punk is supposed to be about the singles and this post-punk band is no exception with this collection showing off several wonderful singles, but nothing that brings it to another level.
Karen Dalton - It's So Hard To Tell Who's Going To Love You The Best: So raw, so emotive, so engaging. Man, do I love the blues.
The Desperate Bicycles - Another Commercial Venture: Punk is supposed to be about the singles and this post-punk band is no exception with this collection showing off several wonderful singles, but nothing that brings it to another level.
9.09.2004
Review(s): David Cross, Crowhate Ruin, Cul De Sac
David Cross - Shut Up, You Fucking Baby: David Cross' punchlines aren't what's funny, it's his little additions, side tracks and tangents that he throws in with the story that'll get you laughing.
Crownhate Ruin - Until The Eagle Grins: SSD ripoff that doesn't get the exposure it deserves based upon the label behind them.
Cul De Sac - Ecim: One of the better pieces of post-rock by a band not name Godspeed or Explosions.
Crownhate Ruin - Until The Eagle Grins: SSD ripoff that doesn't get the exposure it deserves based upon the label behind them.
Cul De Sac - Ecim: One of the better pieces of post-rock by a band not name Godspeed or Explosions.
9.06.2004
Review(s): Bitish Sea Power, John Cage, Charalambides
British Sea Power - The Decline of British Sea Power: If it ends after track 10 it makes the Top 10 of 2003. It doesn't end after track 10.
John Cage - Sonatas and Interludes for Prepared Piano: Oddly-timed piano pieces isn't something to listen to straight through.
Charalambides - Joy Shapes: Absolutely riveting (compared to anything by The Azusa Plane).
John Cage - Sonatas and Interludes for Prepared Piano: Oddly-timed piano pieces isn't something to listen to straight through.
Charalambides - Joy Shapes: Absolutely riveting (compared to anything by The Azusa Plane).
9.02.2004
Review(s): John Coltrane, Animal Collective, David Bowie
John Coltrane - Ultimate Blue Train: This may be my favorite jazz album.
Animal Collective - Sung Tongs: The Books done well.
David Bowie - Low: A nice collection of songs but not the album that 'Ziggy Stardust' was.
Animal Collective - Sung Tongs: The Books done well.
David Bowie - Low: A nice collection of songs but not the album that 'Ziggy Stardust' was.
8.31.2004
Review(s): Can x2, The Chameleons
Can - Monster Movie: Proto-Post-Rock
Can - Tago Mago: Another piece to the puzzle that links Prog to Post-Rock.
The Chameleons - Strange Times: Influential, perhaps. Forgettable, absolutely.
Can - Tago Mago: Another piece to the puzzle that links Prog to Post-Rock.
The Chameleons - Strange Times: Influential, perhaps. Forgettable, absolutely.
8.22.2004
Review(s): David Banner, Blind Faith, Centro-Matic
Banner, David - MTA2:Baptized In Dirty Water: I'd rather spend $18 on a disc with 6 really strong tracks than $12 on a disc with 18 tracks, 6 of which are really strong. This disc has several really strong tracks, but too much filler.
Blind Faith - Blind Faith: The blue balls of Rock 'n' Roll.
Centro-Matic - South San Gabriel Songs-Music/Flashes And Cables: Add Centro-Matic to the ever-growing list of emotionally convincing indie-folk.
Blind Faith - Blind Faith: The blue balls of Rock 'n' Roll.
Centro-Matic - South San Gabriel Songs-Music/Flashes And Cables: Add Centro-Matic to the ever-growing list of emotionally convincing indie-folk.
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