album reviews

REVIEW: The Appreciation Post – ‘Slip Away’

Artist: The Appreciation Post Album: Slip Away Genre: Pop Punk Release Date: 1/21/2014 Sometimes great bands are like old friends from high school. You might not think about them every day, but you know when you do get a chance to catch up that it’s bound to be a good time. Such is my relationship […]

A Lot Like Birds Feature

REVIEW: A Lot Like Birds – ‘No Place’

Artist: A Lot Like Birds Album: No Place Genre: Post-hardcore Label: Equal Vision Records Among the several post-hardcore albums to have been released over the past couple of years, A Lot Like Birds sure did make their mark when they released their 2011 Doghouse Records debut, Conversation Piece. More than simply being just another album that earned […]

REVIEW: New Found Glory – ‘Kill It Live’

Artist: New Found Glory Album: Kill It Live Genre: Pop Punk Label: Violently Happy / Bridge Nine New Found Glory have held a firm footing on the alternative music scene for the better part of 15+ years, and in that time, they haven’t released one live album prior to Kill It Live, and they went […]

The Sheds I'll Be Fine

REVIEW: The Sheds – I’ll Be Fine

Artist: The Sheds Album: I’ll Be Fine Genre: Hardcore Ska-Punk Label: Mediaskare Records “I used to be cool, calm, and collected, now everything upsets me, leaves me empty,” sings out vocalist Mac Miller of The Sheds on the introductory title track of I’ll Be Fine. Just like that, the song sets just the right tone […]

Relient K 2013

REVIEW: Relient K – ‘Collapsible Lung’

Artist: Relient K Album: Collapsible Lung Genre: Pop-Rock, Rock Label: Mono VS Stereo Let’s not beat around the bush here: when any band takes more than three years to put out an album with original material, people get skeptical about the quality of it. Introducing several co-writers and two producers to the mix can be […]

Living With Lions Feature

REVIEW: Living With Lions – Some Of My Friends Appear Dead To Me

Artist: Living With Lions Album: Some Of My Friends Appear Dead To Me Genre: Pop-Punk Label: Pure Noise Records One of the realities of being in a band with other people is knowing that there are always going to be outside factors that will influence your  bandmates’ willingness to keep their efforts in at 100%. […]

Paramore Feature 2013

REVIEW: Paramore – Self-Titled

Band: Paramore Album: Paramore Label: Fueled By Ramen There is plenty to cover with this introduction. I could start by mentioning how it’s been nearly four years since Paramore released their last full length effort, Brand New Eyes. I could say that because of various momentum hits, like the Farro brothers’ departure under the most […]

REVIEW: The Strokes – Comedown Machine

Band: The Strokes Album: Comedown Machine Label: RCA Genre: Garage Rock If the whole of your research were to stem strictly from the interwebs, one would have to surmise that The Strokes’ new album Comedown Machine was, without question, the worst album ever created in the history of modern music. This, however, is nothing more […]

REVIEW: Eric Clapton – Old Sock

Artist: Eric Clapton Album: Old Sock Genre: Blues Label: Bushbranch Releasing an album composed almost entirely of covers might seem like a strange decision. It runs the risk of implying that you’ve run low on ideas or – even with two new songs included – that you’ve become jaded and cynical and would rather indulge […]

REVIEW: Within The Ruins – ‘Elite’

Artist: Within the Ruins Album: Elite Genre: Deathcore Label: E1 Music Not as many deathcore bands can match the longevity and work ethic of Within the Ruins. The Massachusetts-based quartet has been a band for nearly a decade. Although the group has about as many years under their belt as they’ve had member changes (no […]

REVIEW: Buckcherry – Confessions

Artist: Buckcherry Album: Confessions Genre: Hard rock Label: Century Media Records Steady and constant in their music, Buckcherry have made few sweeping departures from their formula over the years. Sticking with the recipe that has garnered them widespread fame and chart success is hardly unwise, though it does mean there are few surprises when it […]

REVIEW: The Royal – Origins EP

Artist: The Royal Album: Origins EP Genre: Metalcore/Melodic Hardcore Label: (Unsigned) Even for the Netherlands, a country with an esteemed history of producing excellent artists, this is quite the marvellous debut. The Royal are an up-and-coming five-piece from Arnhem and in Origins, their six-song debut EP, they make the most compelling argument for the preservation […]