Archives

Jason Isbell – Jason Isbell and The 400 Unit

Jason Isbell – Jason Isbell and The 400 Unit The Point: “Jason Isbell and The 400 Unit” is a solid work and shows progress from “Sirens Of The Ditch”. While I find myself craving some less polished material to play against the smooth southern sound of Isbell, its absence does not greatly detract from the album. This effort seems to be most effective on...

Psychic Ills – Mirror Eye

Psychic Ills – Mirror Eye Psychic Ills are a four-piece group based out of New York City. They are known for playing shows that consist of noisy space-jams with like-minded bands like Gang Gang Dance and Black Dice. On Mirror Eye, their proper follow up to first album Dins, (Early Violence, a collection of two early Eps, along with a...

The Expendables – The Expendables

The Expendables – The Expendables The Point: Even if Cali-Reggae isn’t your cup of tea, their self-titled album is certainly worth a check. It’s like a drunken beach party for your...

The Knux – Remind Me In 3 Days

The Knux – Remind Me In 3 Days Although The Knux will be put in the “hipster rap” section at the record store, (if there is one), their debut “Remind Me in 3 Days” is more like that hipster kids’ older brother who stole his adirol and hit on his girlfriend before pounding red bull-vodkas in a 7-11 cup on the to the...

Kanye West – 808′s & Heartbreak

Kanye West – 808′s & Heartbreak I really like Kanye West. He’s a self-centered ego-maniac with delusions of grandeur and I don’t care. In fact, I think I like him more because those things. I can’t really come up with a sound explanation as to why this is. He’s reached music’s pinnacle as a producer and MC all by age 30,...

Kid CuDi – A Kid Named CuDi

Kid CuDi – A Kid Named CuDi We don’t know much about Kid CuDi yet, but be prepared for complete media saturation of the man who is to be Kanye West’s newest protégé. However, do not take this as negative commentary, because the Kid from Cleveland can rhyme with style to boot. After releasing his first mixtape, “A Kid Named CuDi”, Kid...

..And You Will Know Us by the Trail of Dead – The Century of Self

..And You Will Know Us by the Trail of Dead – The Century of Self “The Century of Self” is being billed by the press machine’s of, “..And You Will Know Us by the Trail of Dead”, as their return to glory. After the group released “Source Tags & Codes” in 2002 the general consensus was that Trail of Dead was going to be a significant power in the music...

Heartless Bastards – The Mountain

Heartless Bastards – The Mountain The Heartless Bastards’ output is a lot like the evolution of the universe. Ever since the supernova eruption of their 2005 debut “Stairs and Elevators”, a fierce and tightly wound delta blues rave-up that seethed punk energy, their releases have become progressively more expansive and cooled off. 2006’s “All This Time” toned down the trio’s...

Rebelution – Courage To Grow

Rebelution – Courage To Grow The Point: Keep an eye on Rebelution because their initial success has been intense and they show great potential for the future. Courage To Grow is an impressive debut roots-rock reggae album that is well worth checking out and is a promising first step for a highly driven and versatile...

Another Damn Disappointment – Relentless

Another Damn Disappointment – Relentless It’s very trendy to be “That Band” that doesn’t fit in one genre, musical category or style. Every band wants to be different, unlike all the others; a very understandable goal. However, what we usually get, as listeners, is a jack of all trades–master of none. That is why a “Relentless”, the latest release by...

The Pains of Being Pure at Heart

The Pains of Being Pure at Heart Every few months a band who is unknown even in its local music scene defies the work ethic of its peers and finds listenership across the country thanks to a wave of marketing and media coverage. These indie Hannah Montanas incessantly nag us on every blog and online magazine for a few weeks until they...