Label: Amnot Records Released: October 2, 2007 Both indie and math rock can easily degenerate into dispassion on their own. Combining the two should increase that possibility exponentially, making Building the State’s latest EP all the more remarkable. Ringing guitars, complex bass lines, precision drumming, indie rock vocals and ambient sound make up layer upon layer of distinct, yet intertwined… Read more »
Label: Columbia Released: October 2, 2007 It’s been a long time since Springsteen has released a truly good album. Granted, he did a nice job with the Pete Seeger covers, but his own material has been dull and decidedly adult-oriented. Magic isn’t a full return to rock form, but it is a step in the right direction. From the opening… Read more »
Label: Astralwerks Released: September 25, 2007 The latest project of New Zealand’s Nick Harte, Shocking Pinks’ self-titled album is actually songs collected from the two previous albums. It’s a rhythm-based indie rock affair whose ambling beats support yet don’t drive it’s layers of ambient noise and dream pop. The album has bits of Joy Division and pieces of My Bloody… Read more »
Label: MVD Visual Released: September 1, 2007 In the days where a huge corporate rock band like Rage Against the Machine reunites to enrich themselves under the guise of protest music, seeing a band who lived their message as DOA did is engaging and inspiring. When DOA was tearing up stages in protest to all they saw wrong with the… Read more »
Label: Ecstatic Peace Released: July 17, 2007 Most of Turbo Fruits’ self-titled album’s strengths and weaknesses can be summarized by simply reviewing one song, their cover of the MC5’s cover of “Ramblin’ Rose.” Both versions attempt to release enormous energy on the listener in the same way that an atomic bomb releases it’s energy on a target. It takes a… Read more »
Label: Action Rezults Records (Available from CD Baby) Released: 2007 To some extent, D’Edwin can get away with his unabashed mimicking of Morrissey, because he hasn’t graduated into the big leagues yet, but there has to be some substance to his music beyond a good Morrissey impression. On No Prognosis, that substance is erratic at best. The opening track, “Secret… Read more »
Label: 13th Planet Records Released: October 2, 2007 In their prime, Prong established a sound that was so unique and intense, that it’s influence can still be felt today. In doing so, they also set their own standard fairly high, making post-prime albums even more difficult for them. Power of the Damager won’t hold up to an album like Cleansing…. Read more »
Label: CD on Black Numbers Records and 7″ on Chunksaah Records Released: August 2007 Oddly enough, even hardcore can over think itself and often enough it ends up getting away from is visceral core as a result. That makes a band like Static Radio NJ refreshing. They aren’t rewriting the genre by any means, but they play straightforward East coast… Read more »
Label: Fantasy/Concord Music Group Released: October 2, 2007 While John Fogerty is not likely to ever match his output in Creedence Clearwater Revival, he still manages to release some very good solo material spaced out over a period of 30+ years. Revival, his latest offering often aims at Creedence and the protest climate of the 60s. The album kicks off… Read more »
Label: Rhino Released: September 18, 2007 There are a few points in rock n roll time and space where everything just comes together and something new is born. Memphis in the mid-50s gave us rock n roll. New York in the mid-70s gave us punk. Seattle in the early 90s gave us grunge. All of these local scenes were the… Read more »