Joshua Hammond

REVIEW: The Manchurian Incident – Hungry Hungry Hippocampus

Artist: The Manchurian Incident Album: Hungry Hungry Hippocampus Genre: Post-Hardcore Sometimes it’s hard to remember that a review isn’t about personal preference. It isn’t CD shopping at Target, where one can gravitate towards the genre selection of choice. Without fail, there are always going to be bands that fall in the lap of the music […]

the wonder years ben campbell soupy

The Wonder Years Release Deluxe ‘Suburbia I’ve Given You All And Now I’m Nothing’

After the jump, you can stream the deluxe version of Suburbia I’ve Given You All And Now I’m Nothing by The Wonder Years. Fans will enjoy the bonus tracks, previously unavailable.

Album Review: Calvin Harris – 18 Months

Artist: Calvin Harris Album: 18 Months Genre: Pop What you take away from Calvin Harris’ new album 18 Months, really depends on what you’re looking for when you’re listening. The fifteen tracks are all over the place in terms of sound. Set up like a Chinese buffet, the LP hits as many angles of the […]

LIVE REVIEW: Stars – Lawrence, Kansas 10/9/2012

I am always amazed by the contrast in some of my experiences with a band. Prior to walking into The Bottleneck, a modestly-sized yet historic Midwest venue in Lawrence, Kansas, my only experience with Stars had been at Austin City Limits in the company of 35,000 people. Yet, even in such overwhelmingly unimpressive conditions, the […]

REVIEW: Bad Books – II

Artist: Bad Books Album: II Genre: Indie Rock/Pop Label: Favorite Gentlemen I’ve never been a man with little to say about the things that I am passionate about. Therefore, explaining to you exactly why Bad Books works in 750 words or less borders on being damn near impossible. Hell, if we’re being honest, I’d struggle […]

REVIEW: Young Buffalo – Self-titled EP

Artist: Young Buffalo Album: Young Buffalo EP If all of the pens in my house ran dry and I could only scratch one word to describe Young Buffalo, persnickety would be the word I would scribble down. This isn’t actually because the band is persnickety. The words flawless, epic, catching, hipster and dance-hall all seem […]

REVIEW: Murder By Death – Bitter Drink, Bitter Moon

Artist: Murder By Death Album: Bitter Drink, Bitter Death Genre: Americana, Punk, Alt. Country Label: Bloodshot Records I’m never been accused of being a man with nothing to say. Words tend to flow out of me, fluttering effortlessly toward my word count. Regardless however, it is very rare that I feel the need to pen […]

REVIEW: Green Day – Uno

Artist: Green Day Album: ¡Uno! Genre: Powerpop, Pop-punk, Punk Label: Reprise Records The only way to describe my relationship with Green Day is life changing. Hell, it actually borders on being the single most defining relationship I’ve ever had in music. As the first band I would ever support financially through funds I had earned, […]

REVIEW: Bob Dylan – Tempest

Artist: Bob Dylan Album: Tempest Genre: Bob Dylan Label: Columbia Let’s just put into context what a writer is up against when asked to break down the music of Bob Dylan. The album crooning through my Koss headphones will mark the 35th album released by the man. That’s 3 more albums than I have years […]

REVIEW: Stars – The North

Artist: Stars Album: The North Genre: Indie, Indie-Pop, Dance Label:  ATO Records In terms of music, I can sort of remember Canada always being the butt of all the industry jokes. With the spotlight shining on products like Alanis Morissette, Bryan Adams, Celine Dion, Barenaked Ladies, and Sarah McLachlan, the sample size making the airwaves […]

REVIEW: Yeasayer – Fragrant World

Artist: Yeasayer Album: Fragrant World Genre: Indie Label: Secretly Canadian Just for a second, picture the modern indie scene as a middle school with each band representing a different stereotype of student. Animal Collective, the younger brother of Flaming Lips, would of course represent the weird kid who was often caught eating glue in the back […]

Desaparecidos

REVIEW: Desaparecidos – ManiKKKopa / Backsell

Artist: Desaparecidos Album: ManiKKKopa/Backsell Genre: Post Hardcore Label: Saddle Creek Records I’m not a strong man. Anyone who has ever met me would support the fact that my weapon of choice is my silver tongue and not my iron fists; the pen is mightier than the sword and  whatnot. Yet regardless of this fact, there […]