| Artist |
Title |
Label |
Received
Date |
I-pod Download/
listened to |
Reviewed
|
Comments
|
Rating
|
| Blane |
Blair |
self-released |
12/30/04 |
|
|
|
|
| They Walk in Line |
Medical Necessities |
Rock Ridge |
12/27/04 |
3/26/05 |
|
Sort of post-punk rock band with
sort of (Pixies-influenced) edgy sound marred by loungy lead
vocalist. Arrangements are a bit overdone on songs that are
not memorable. (3/26/05) |
No
|
| The Moaners |
Dark Snack |
Yep Roc |
12/27/04 |
1/27/05 |
|
|
|
| Zyklon Bees |
Seven Mean Runs |
Speed! Nebraska |
12/27/04 |
|
|
arrived destroyed. |
--
|
| Anubian Lights |
Phantascope |
Rhythmbank |
12/27/04 |
3/20/05 |
|
Lounge space-trip rock with a
decidedly retro feel. It's well-produced, no doubt about it,
and has its moments where I think this could be good racecar/go-go
music. Still, it's hard to recommend because none of these
pop-tarts stand out. Adele Bertei can still belt them out,
though. 3/20/05 |
No
|
| Chris Porro |
Lampreys and Gigolos |
self release |
12/27/04 |
|
|
|
|
| The Rockwells |
Tear It Down |
Migrant |
12/27/04 |
1/16/05 |
|
|
|
| Brazilian Girls |
Lazy Lover EP |
Verve Forecast |
12/27/04 |
1/16/05 |
|
|
No
|
| The Chris Stamey Experience |
A Question of Temperature |
Yep Roc |
12/27/04 |
1/16/05 |
|
|
|
| Pitty Sing |
self-titled |
Or |
12/27/04 |
1/27/05 |
|
|
|
| Built Like Alaska |
Autumnland |
Future Farmer |
12/27/04 |
1/27/05 |
|
|
|
| The Bosch |
Havin' Fun, Soundin' Good |
self release |
12/27/04 |
|
|
|
|
| Todd Stadtman |
Only I Can Save You |
Prix Fixe |
12/27/04 |
|
|
|
|
| Robbers on High Street |
Tree City |
New Line |
12/27/04 |
3/20/05 |
3/25/05
|
Red hot from the mean streets
of NYC, the Robbers have only been churning it out since the
summer of 2002 and already they're this year's "future
of rock" band. I don't know about that, but you could
do a whole lot worse. Their laidback rock-with-an-edge gets
compared to The Strokes but more closely resembles Spoon or
Wheat, with a giddy-up pop-rock sheen that glows from crooner/heartbreaker
Ben Trokan's sweet, sweet swagger. Produced with Peter Katis
(Interpol, Mercury Rev, Get Up Kids), look for Tree City
on a radio near you, eventually. (3/25/05) |
Yes
|
| The Marlowes |
Glue, Glitter and Shine |
Shiny Fly |
12/6/04 |
|
|
|
|
| Nathan Maxwell |
Undone |
Hoodoo Music |
12/6/04 |
|
|
|
|
| Escalator |
Alva Star |
Princess |
12/6/04 |
|
|
|
|
| The Atlantic Manor |
Special Is Dead |
Doo Too |
12/6/04 |
|
|
|
|
| Men of Porn |
Wine, Women and Song |
Small Stone |
12/6/04 |
3/12/05 |
|
|
|
| Strawberry Burns |
The Kitchen Pink |
self-release |
12/6/04 |
|
|
|
|
| Aria |
Metamorphosis |
Koch |
12/6/04 |
|
|
|
|
| Shimmy |
Starting Over |
self-release |
11/26/04 |
|
|
|
|
| Milton and the Devils Party |
What Is All This Sweet Work Worth? |
self-release |
11/26/04 |
3/25/05 |
|
Throwback jangling college
rock that emulates R.E.M. without the style or substance.
Just because you're a couple professors doesn't mean you know
how to rock. (3/25/05) |
No
|
| Carmine Red |
Still Enough to Leave |
self-release |
11/26/04 |
3/25/05 |
|
Sort of a cross between The Jealous
Sound and Taking Back Sunday-style emo. Vocalist Chi emotes
way too much yearning on songs that lack solid central melodies.
(3/25/05) |
No
|
| Avoidance Theory |
The Shape of Trees |
Schmat |
11/26/04 |
|
|
|
|
| The Sophomore Year |
You Are Here... She is There |
Search and Rescue |
11/26/04 |
|
|
|
|
| Devolver |
Life Science |
Lifeboat |
11/20/04 |
|
|
|
|
| The Stragglers |
Downhill Sunset |
self-release |
11/20/04 |
|
|
|
|
| Two Gallants |
The Throes |
Alive |
11/19/04 |
11/19/04 |
|
See Jan. 29, 2005 blog
entry. |
Yes
|
| The Rosebuds/The Close |
7-inch single |
Goodnight |
11/19/04 |
3/26/05 |
|
|
Yes
|
| Paperdoll |
self-titled |
self-released |
11/19/04 |
|
|
|
|
| Before Braille |
Balance and Timing |
Bad News Bear |
11/19/04 |
|
|
|
|
| various artists |
Music from Thinking XXX |
Emporer Norton |
11/19/04 |
1/1/05 |
1/15/05
|
|
No
|
| Cub Country |
Stay Poor Stay Happy |
Future Farmer |
11/13/04 |
11/14/04 |
|
See Feature/profile
|
Yes
|
| Egon |
All Theory and No Action |
Has Anyone Ever Told You |
11/12/04 |
|
|
|
|
| Motivational Speakers |
Just Add Water |
Whoulihan |
11/12/04 |
|
|
|
|
| Tuesday Conspiracy |
Running from Ghosts |
Rock Garden |
11/12/04 |
|
|
|
|
| Hedaya |
This Is Where I Keep It |
Cleverbedsit |
11/12/04 |
1/27/05 |
|
|
|
| Parker & Lily |
The Low Lows |
Warm |
11/12/04 |
11/12/04 |
|
Droll, droll, droll... (7/10/05) |
No
|
| Colleen Coadic |
You Feel This Good |
12 |
11/12/04 |
|
|
|
|
| BeKay |
The Future of Hip Hop Is Now |
TSOB |
11/12/04 |
|
|
|
|
| Little Brazil |
You and Me |
Mt. Fuji |
11/2/04 |
11/2/04 |
3/25/05
|
Local heroes get it right on a
pop-rock keeper featuring Landon Hedges' quirky, forlorn voice.
(3/25/05) |
Yes
|
| The Donnas |
Gold Medal |
Atlantic |
11/2/04 |
7/10/05 |
|
|
No
|
| Mike Ferraro |
3-song EP |
self-released |
11/2/04 |
3/25/05 |
|
Nice enough three-song folky excursion
by a self-admitted Lou Barlow worshiper, produced by Wayne
Dorell (Yo La Tengo). The kicky first track is a real hand-clappin'
keeper, the last two are snoozers. (3/25/05) |
No
|
| Bermuda Triangle Service |
High Swan Dive |
self-released |
11/2/04 |
|
|
|
|
| The Original Mark Edwards |
Rewind Tomorrow |
Princess |
11/2/04 |
|
|
|
|
| Shesus |
Ruined It for You |
Narnack |
11/2/04 |
|
|
|
|
| Guitar Wolf |
Rock 'n' Roll Etiquette |
Narnack |
11/2/04 |
11/19/04 |
|
|
|
| The Minus 5 |
At the Organ |
Yep Roc |
11/2/04 |
11/3/04 |
|
|
|
| Osgoods |
Automatic Do-Over |
self-release |
11/2/04 |
|
|
|
|
| Grandaddy Artist's Choice |
Below the Radio |
Ultra |
11/2/04 |
11/19/04 |
|
|
|
| UWP |
4-song EP |
Blind Guru |
11/2/04 |
11/19/04 |
|
|
|
| 5 Story Fall |
Leaving Everything Behind |
AED |
11/2/04 |
11/19/04 |
|
|
|
| P. Jones |
For Better or Worse |
self-release |
11/2/04 |
|
|
|
|
| Forty Watt Bulb |
Shovel's Length Short |
Aquarium |
10/23/04 |
|
|
|
|
| The Arcade Fire |
Funeral |
Merge |
10/23/04 |
11/19/04 |
|
See Feature/profile
|
Yes
|
| Adam Richman |
The Patience EP |
Or |
10/23/04 |
|
|
|
|
| Val Emmich |
Slow Down Kid |
Epic |
10/23/04 |
11/3/04 |
|
For some reason, I remember Emmich
being more of a straight-forward singer song writer, but on
relistening to Slow Down Kid (the original release),
this really isn't that much of a stretch, commercially or
otherwise. Now that he's on Epic I suppose it's his duty to
try to write radio/tv hits, which is really what he's done
here in a Goo Goo Dolls sort of way. Stuff has a beat and
is well-played, but we heard it all before a few years ago,
on the radio. 1/30/05 |
No
|
| Boyracer |
Happenstance |
Happy Happy Birthday to Me |
10/23/04 |
|
|
|
|
| The Channel |
self-titled |
C-Side |
10/23/04 |
|
|
|
|
| The Marlboro Chorus |
Youth Medium |
Future Appletree |
10/23/04 |
1/15/05 |
|
|
Yes
|
| So L'il |
Revolution Thumpin' |
Goodbye Better |
10/23/04 |
|
|
|
|
| Men in Fur |
self-titled |
Happy Happy Birthday to Me |
10/23/04 |
|
|
|
|
| Driver of the Year |
Statik |
Future Appletree |
10/23/04 |
|
|
|
|
| Dutch Elms |
Music for Happiness |
Jigsaw |
10/23/04 |
|
|
|
|
| Son, Ambulance |
Key |
Saddle Creek |
10/21/04 |
10/21/04 |
|
See
profile Feb. 16, 2005 Lazy-i profile. |
Yes
|
| Yearbook |
self-titled |
Dunket |
10/21/04 |
|
|
|
|
| Bars |
Introduing... |
Equal Vision |
10/21/04 |
|
|
|
|
| Colleen Coadic |
You Feel This Good |
12 |
10/21/04 |
|
|
|
|
| Landing Gear |
Break-up Songs for Relationships
That Never Happened |
Catlick |
10/21/04 |
|
|
|
|
| Matthew Sweet |
Kimi Ga Suki |
Superdeformed |
10/21/04 |
|
|
See Feature/profile
|
Yes
|
| Matthew Sweet |
Living Things |
Superdeformed |
10/21/04 |
|
|
See Feature/profile
|
Yes
|
| Flood the Sky |
self-titled |
self-release |
10/21/04 |
|
|
|
|
| Aloha |
Here Comes Everyone |
Polyvinyl |
10/16/04 |
10/21/04 |
|
|
No
|
| Low Millions |
Ex-Girlfriends |
Manhattan |
10/16/04 |
11/19/04 |
|
Way too cheesy... (6/10/05) |
No
|
| Quantice Never Crashed |
self-titled |
Death Scene |
10/16/04 |
|
|
|
|
| Grenadier |
Hand Ofensive |
|
10/16/04 |
|
|
|
|
| Best of Seven |
Everything Is New Again |
Hellkat |
10/16/04 |
|
|
|
|
| North of Emerson |
Rock the Hell Out of Rock N Roll |
self-release |
10/16/04 |
|
|
|
|
| Montoya |
self-titled |
Erratic Music |
10/16/04 |
|
|
|
|
| Saint Etienne |
Travel Edition 1990-2005 |
Sub Pop |
10/16/04 |
10/16/04 |
|
|
Yes
|
| Askeleton |
Angry Album |
Goodnight |
10/16/04 |
|
|
|
|
| The Invisible Cities |
Watertower |
Noisyfrog |
10/9/04 |
10/9/04 |
|
|
|
| Pinkeye d'Gekko |
Dry Clothes for the Drowning |
Force MP |
10/9/04 |
|
|
|
|
| Julia Wilde |
Rush |
Ear 4 Music |
10/9/04 |
|
|
|
|
| various artists |
Soundtrack -- Mean Girls |
Ryko |
10/9/04 |
|
|
|
|
| Codeseven |
Dancing Echoes / Dead Sound |
EqualVision |
10/4/04 |
|
|
|
|
| The Atari Star |
Prayer & Protection |
Johann's Face |
10/1/04 |
1/16/05 |
|
|
|
| David Singer & the Sweet Science |
The Stars Burn Out |
Engine Studios |
10/1/04 |
11/3/04 |
|
|
|
| Zykos |
self titled |
Post Parlo |
9/27/04 |
9/28/04 |
|
|
Yes
|
| Blood Meridian |
We Almost Made It Home |
Teenage USA |
9/27/04 |
|
|
|
|
| Graham Perry |
Perryphernalia |
GGP |
9/27/04 |
|
|
|
|
| OPM |
For the Masses |
Suburban Noize |
9/27/04 |
|
|
|
|
| Daddy X |
Organic Soul |
Suburban Noize |
9/27/04 |
|
|
|
|
| Faith Kleppinger |
No Galore |
Two Sheds |
9/27/04 |
10/9/04 |
|
|
Yes
|
| Pitty Sing |
Demons, You Are the Stars in Cars
'til I Die |
Or Music |
9/27/04 |
|
|
|
|
| Neotropic |
White Rabbits |
Mush |
9/27/04 |
|
|
|
|
| The Zyklon Bees |
demo |
demo |
9/27/04 |
10/9/04 |
|
Pure wallet-chain punk rock. It's
a sweet combination of garage with a touch of twang and horror-billy
that rubs raw on a demo that sounds like it was recorded in
1965. 10/19/04 |
Yes
|
| Val Emmich |
3-song EP |
Epic |
9/27/04 |
|
|
|
|
| The Swiss Army |
Private Ambulance |
Women |
9/27/04 |
|
|
|
|
| Okay Paddy |
Hunk |
Prison Jazz |
9/27/04 |
|
|
|
|
| Frog Eyes |
The Folded Palm |
Absolutely Kosher |
9/23/04 |
9/28/04 |
|
|
No
|
| The Autumn Project |
La Luna de Negra |
Zu |
9/23/04 |
|
|
|
|
| The Rubens |
Esmerelda |
Spacebox |
9/22/04 |
|
|
|
|
| Twinkie |
self titled |
Avebury |
9/22/04 |
|
|
|
|
| Andrew |
What's It All About? |
Avebury |
9/22/04 |
|
|
|
|
| The Get-Outs |
Get the Message |
Avebury |
9/22/04 |
|
|
|
|
| Autolux |
Future Perfect |
DMZ/Red Ink |
9/22/04 |
|
|
|
|
| Various artists |
A Situation Presents Itself |
self-release |
9/22/04 |
9/22/04 |
|
|
|
| Groove Pocket |
Everything's Whatever |
self-release |
9/22/04 |
|
|
|
|
| Art Damage |
Fear Before the March of Flames |
Equal Vision |
9/22/04 |
|
|
|
|
| Vaux |
Plague Music |
Equal Vision |
9/22/04 |
|
|
|
|
| Flogging Molly |
Within a Mile of Home |
Side One Dummy |
9/22/04 |
|
|
|
|
| Wolf Eyes |
Burned Mind |
Sub Pop |
9/22/04 |
|
|
|
|
| Frausdots |
Couture, Couture, Couture |
Sub Pop |
9/22/04 |
|
|
|
|
| Damien Jurado |
Where Shall You Take Me? |
Secretly Canadian |
9/22/04 |
9/22/04 |
|
|
|
| Liars Academy |
Demons |
Equal Vision |
9/22/04 |
|
|
|
|
| Dereck |
Dereck 2 |
self-release |
9/22/04 |
9/22/04 |
|
|
|
| Damien Jurado |
Just in Time for Something |
Secretly Canadian |
9/22/04 |
10/1/04 |
|
|
|
| Before Today |
A Celebration of an Ending |
Equal Vision |
9/22/04 |
|
|
|
|
| The Unseen Guest |
Out There |
High-on-Chai |
9/22/04 |
|
|
|
|
| Cheating Kay |
Again the Distance (O Altitudo) |
House of Tears |
9/14/04 |
|
|
|
|
| Sean Russell |
To This Point |
BPL |
9/14/04 |
|
|
|
|
| Books on Tape |
The Business End |
Greyday |
9/14/04 |
9/14/04 |
|
|
No
|
| Bella Parker |
The Things We Say |
self release |
9/14/04 |
|
|
|
|
| Haiku d'Etat |
Coup De Theatre |
Project Blowed/Decon |
9/14/04 |
|
|
|
|
| Afrika Bambaataa |
Dark Matter Moving at the Speed
of Light |
Tommy Boy |
9/14/04 |
|
|
|
|
| Richard Buckner |
Dents and Shells |
Merge |
9/7/04 |
9/7/04 |
|
It's not his fault that
one of his songs made it into one of the most nonsensical
Volkswagen commercials ever made (Why don't the yuppies just
take the old lady with them?). Regardless, it's resulted in
a lot of national attention -- when he played in Omaha recently,
he was simply known as "The guy whose song is on the
Toureg commercial." Too bad this rather limp stab at
alt-country doesn't have the oomph to provide more fodder
for his newfound pitchman status. (5/8/05) |
No
|
| Ian Moore |
Luminaria |
Yep Roc |
9/7/04 |
9/14/04 |
|
Guess he used to be an
Austin blues rock guy a la Stevie Ray Vaughan. You wouldn't
know it from this middle-of-the-road AOR effort that tries
to get by on twang when it lacks interesting melodies, which
is most of the time. (5/8/05) |
No
|
| Piney Gir |
Peakahokahoo |
Greyday |
9/7/04 |
10/9/04 |
|
|
|
| Paper St. |
Music for the Desperate |
self release |
9/7/04 |
|
|
|
|
| '89 Chicago Cubs |
There Are Giants in the Earth |
Slowdance |
8/31/04 |
9/7/04 |
|
See Feature/profile
|
Yes
|
| Now It's Overhead |
Wait in a Line |
Saddle Creek |
8/31/04 |
9/7/04 |
|
One of the better EP/single values
for your money, includes a remix by The Faint and (best of
all) a cover of Magnetic Fields' "The Book of Love,"
which alone is worth the price of admission. (5/8/05) |
Yes
|
| Lismore |
We Could Connect or We Could Not |
Cult Hero |
8/31/04 |
10/4/04 |
|
Great programming, great low-fi electronics; cold, uninteresting
songs sung by a woman with a voice of an adenoidal robot.
Sort of a limp Postal Service meets Gerty or Hooverphonic,
but without their melodies or direction. (7/26/05) |
No
|
| The Eames Era |
The Second EP |
C Student |
8/31/04 |
|
|
|
|
| Kava Kava |
Maui |
Chocolate Fireguard Music |
8/31/04 |
11/3/04 |
|
|
No
|
| The Rosebuds |
Makeout |
Merge |
8/31/04 |
9/7/04 |
|
See Feature/profile
|
Yes
|
| Campground Effect |
The Flight Seat EP |
Local Cannery |
8/26/04 |
|
|
|
|
| Redlight Halo |
Make YourMaker |
Local Cannery |
8/26/04 |
|
|
|
|
| Jonathan Rundman |
Public Library |
Salt Lady |
8/26/04 |
10/9/04 |
|
|
|
| The Neighbors |
Mobile Homes -- 7-inch |
Realm of Records |
8/26/04 |
3/26/05 |
|
|
|
| Winter In Alaska |
Innocence We've Lost |
Viking Funeral |
8/21/04 |
9/14/04 |
|
Other than the "Happy Birthday"
song (Note to attorney: Have they secured rights to record
this? See Snopes),
there's not much here to smile about on this long, rather
droll journey into Cure-inspired neu-emo. Mopey, tonal, rainy-day
music that will put you to sleep. It hits maximum yawn-itude
with the 6-minute "Jersey Girl." While I like slow,
moody stuff as much as the next guy, it's gotta be interesting,
and dynamic (see Low, Red House Painters). It doesn't help
to have a 2-minute introduction designed to put listeners
in a coma. It pumps up after that, but is mangled by lyrics
like "Yearning for the sunrise / I still remember
the tears I cried / When I questioned / Did you miss me /
Like I missed you / If you came back / Would I still be important
to you?" Awww! The rest sounds like watered down
Toad the Wet Sprocket. 9/23/04 |
No
|
| Dura Mater |
self-titled |
Post Replica |
8/21/04 |
|
|
|
|
| Renee Heartfelt |
Magdalene |
Limekiln |
8/21/04 |
|
|
|
|
| BoySkout |
School fo Etiquette |
Alive |
8/21/04 |
|
|
|
|
| Andy Germak |
Anybody Ever Really Know Anyone? |
Rough Diamond |
8/21/04 |
|
|
|
|
| The Good Life |
Album of the Year |
Saddle Creek |
8/18/04 |
8/18/04 |
|
See Feature/profile
|
Yes
|
| The Faint |
Wet from Birth |
Saddle Creek |
8/18/04 |
8/18/04 |
|
|
Yes
|
| American Music Club |
Love Songs for Patriots |
Merge |
8/17/04 |
9/14/04 |
|
See Feature/profile
|
Yes
|
| 25%Toby |
Live at the BPL |
Bass Propulsion Laboratories |
8/17/04 |
|
|
|
|
| Year Future |
The Hidden Hand |
GSL |
8/17/04 |
|
|
|
|
| Rich Robinson |
Paper |
Keyhole |
8/17/04 |
|
|
|
|
| halfwayhome |
A Brand New Subdivision |
Death Scene |
8/17/04 |
|
|
|
|
| The Snake The Cross The Crown |
Mander Salis |
Equal Vision |
8/11/04 |
|
|
|
|
| The Rutabega |
These Knotty Lines |
Johann's Face |
8/11/04 |
|
|
|
|
| Carol Blaze |
<<o>> |
self release |
8/11/04 |
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| Mark Burgess and the Sons of God |
Zima Junction |
Pivot |
8/11/04 |
8/17/04 |
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Yes
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| The Great Depression |
Unconscious Pilot |
Princess |
8/11/04 |
10/4/04 |
1/15/05
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Yes
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| various artists |
Sketchbook Vol. 1 |
Burning Daisies |
8/11/04 |
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| The Wanteds |
Let Go Afterglow |
self release |
8/11/04 |
11/19/04 |
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| Blind Jackson |
Album Sampler |
self release |
8/11/04 |
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| The Ordinary |
Don't Let Me Dia a Waiter |
Audiction |
7/30/04 |
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| Arthur Yoria |
I'll be Here Awake |
12 |
7/30/04 |
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| Reneta |
self-titled |
self released |
7/30/04 |
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| David Demordaunt |
Everything that has a Beginning |
Temujin |
7/30/04 |
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| The Waking Eyes |
Watch Your Money |
WEA |
7/30/04 |
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| The Vandalays |
(re)begin |
Slip |
7/30/04 |
10/9/04 |
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Relatively straight-up rock, probably
wants to be grouped with garage bands, but lead vocalist is
too slick and arrangements are too boring. Released in 2003.
2/13/05 |
No
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| The Polyphonic Spree |
Together We're Heavy |
Hollywood |
7/20/04 |
7/20/04 |
09/23/04 |
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No
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| Coastal |
Halfway for You |
Words on Music |
7/20/04 |
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| For Against |
Echelons |
Words on Music |
7/20/04 |
7/20/04 |
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Rerelease of a classic debut by the seminal Lincoln post-punk
band, the CD still holds up 18 years later. A must-have for
any fans of early Factory Records bands whose style they deify.
(5/8/05) |
Yes
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| The New Year |
The End Is Near |
Touch and Go |
7/20/04 |
7/20/04 |
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Yes
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| Radiant Republic of Texas |
Goden Gate Mistake |
Satan Rides Shotgun |
7/20/04 |
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| Bensin |
Leave Your Mark |
Search and REscue |
7/20/04 |
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| patientZero |
Free of Any Mindset |
self release |
7/20/04 |
8/17/04 |
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No
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| Hilliard |
{Inside} Out |
self-release |
7/6/04 |
8/26/04 |
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No
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| The Starvations |
Get Well Soon |
GSL |
7/6/04 |
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| The Presidents of the United States
of America |
Love Everybody |
PUSA |
7/6/04 |
10/9/04 |
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Aren't these the guys who
sang "Lump" sometime in the '90s? I thought they
were gone. Apparently not. They maintain the hick vocals as
well as the clever, rather wordy lyrics. The guitars are there,
too, along with the annoying synth touches that scream "out-dated."
It's high-energy "up" rock with quick vocals but
not as annoying as the detestably cheesy Barenaked Ladies
-- more like
'70s-flavored pop that you could find in your big-sister's
box of 45s. At times this also dawdles in Ben Folds happier
territory, albeit without the keyboard. For you indie purists,
think of this as what Dismemberment Plan would have sounded
like had they ever tried for a radio hit, or latter-day Too
Much Joy or (lest I say it) Cake. Fourteen songs is overkill,
however. 1/16/05
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Yes
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| Paul Westerberg |
Folker |
Vagrant |
7/6/04 |
7/6/04 |
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I love Replacements as much as
the next guy, but Westerberg ran out of ideas after his first
solo album. This comes off as an acoustic rehash of his usual
schtick, and old Paul sounds road weary and bored most of
the time. "Looking Up in Heaven" is an acoustic
rip of his own "Dyslectic Heart." "What About
Mine?" reminds me of an uptempo "Sadly Beautiful."
Hardcore fans will never let go of this guy, and God bless
them for their support because he is a living legend. Just
don't expect the rest of us to come along for the ride. 9/27/04 |
No
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| The Cure |
The Cure |
Geffen |
7/6/04 |
7/20/04 |
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Like just about everyone
else who worshipped The Cure since the '80s I was looking
forward to this as a revisitation of Disintegration
that Bloodflowers never was. Instead, it fiddles with
darkness without ever trying to find a way out. It's atmosphere
for atmosphere's sake, betraying the fact that Robert Smith
doesn't have anything interesting left to say. 1/16/05 |
No
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| Pale Beneath the Blue |
Hologram |
Reach for the Sky |
7/6/04 |
8/17/04 |
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| Daniel Liszt |
Distance |
Engemics |
7/6/04 |
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| Comets on Fire |
Blue Cathedral |
Sub Pop |
7/6/04 |
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08/9/04 |
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Yes
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| Tommy Stinson |
Village Gorilla Head |
Sanctuary |
7/6/04 |
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| David Brookings |
The End of an Error |
Byar |
6/30/04 |
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| The Bubbleheads |
Atomic Fun |
PopPop |
6/30/04 |
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| Dutch Kills |
Nothting Was Ever the same |
Wordclock |
6/30/04 |
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| The Paradise Vending |
All That Ever wasn't |
Emergency Umbrella |
6/30/04 |
1/27/05 |
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| The Show Is the Rainbow |
Correcting Dog Behavior Problems
Using Dog Radartron |
Suckapunch |
6/30/04 |
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| Beep Beep |
Business Casual |
Saddle Creek |
6/30/04 |
7/6/04 |
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See Feature/profile
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Yes
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| Rent Money Big |
Proper Flesh Suit |
Somedaynever |
6/30/04 |
7/6/04 |
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The recording is muddy and flat,
lacking dynamics and doesn't capture the band's manic stage
energy, brought to you in living color by resident mad-boy
vocalist Tim Scahill's channeling the living soul of Iggy
Pop. That said, there's a dark intensity to tracks like "Landslide
Architecture" and "Paying Bills" that take
into consideration the no wave-punkers that came before them
(Pixies come to mind, though they were never this arch) or
at the very least, the Nebraska garage punks from those golden
'90s (Mousetrap comes to mind, though Pat Buchanan never sang
this well).
On "JFKVD" they make the
most out of a fuzzy keyboard then blow it up with power
chords and the whining reframe of "kill the president,"
I think. It's one of the few lines that make it through
the muck. A little more separation would have been nice,
along with a few more breaks, some more change-ups, anything
to crack through the noisy monotony created by every song.
The clear-cut melody at the core of "Ruckus Fuckus"
makes it the best track on the CD -- finally you have something
that you can wag your head to (they call it a hook). More
of this sort of ruckus, please. 9/23/04
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No
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| Constantines |
self-titled |
Sub Pop |
6/30/04 |
8/17/04 |
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Yes
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| Wigglepussy |
Live at the Gallows |
Quan |
6/30/04 |
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| Vago |
The Mariachi EP |
self-release |
6/30/04 |
7/6/04 |
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| Simone White |
The Sincere Recording Co. |
Sincere Recording |
6/30/04 |
7/20/04 |
2/13/05 |
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Yes
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| Q Public |
self-titled |
Atomic K |
6/30/04 |
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| Rounding 3rd |
Everything I Would Say... |
self-release |
6/30/04 |
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| The Kingdom Flying Club |
Sumatra Fox |
Emergency Umbrella |
6/25/04 |
6/25/04 |
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Yes
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| Will Johnson |
Vultures Await |
Misra |
6/25/04 |
3/12/05 |
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Yes
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| Moron Parade |
Dark Nights: Knife City |
self release |
6/25/04 |
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| Tracey's Alibi |
Well Kept Secret |
self-released |
6/22/04 |
7/2/04 |
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| Tilly and the Wall |
Wild Like Children |
Team Love |
6/22/04 |
7/1/04 |
08/9/04 |
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Yes
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| Various Artists |
Bad News Bear Sampler |
Bad News Bear |
6/22/04 |
7/2/04 |
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Three-song sampler by a pseudo
label and I say "pseudo" because they have yet to
release anything but this sampler. That said, if they stopped
now they would by batting 1,000. Track 1, The Ruby Lee's "Broke
Down" reminds me of upbeat Teenage Fanclub complete with
groovy melody, great harmonies and lots o' happy moments.
Track 2 by a couple guys who go by the name Peachcake is electro-dance
by computer nerds who obviously loved New Order and Depeche
-- the perfect combination. Called "Hundreds and Hundreds,"
their take on Hot Topic fashion shows their nerdiness and
obvious wisdom and/or teenage angst and/or your typical anti-scenester
frustration. "I will never understand why you think
you're so cool for being part of this lame fashion,"
they quip. They're right. This is the best of the three. Closer
is old favorite The
Show is the Rainbow doing up "Ning Ning". Darren
Keen is known for his live shows more than his recordings,
probably because the mania hasn't translated, yet. It's a
whole different thing, but I like it. "Charisma was
my career choice / Mom says it could be better."
Good thing he doesn't listen to his momma. If this three-song
demo reflected the actual label direction and stable of artists
we would all be excited. What comes of BNB is anyone's guess,
tho… 8/17/04 |
Yes
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| Rogue Wave |
Out of the Shadow |
Sub Pop |
6/22/04 |
7/2/04 |
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See Feature/profile
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Yes
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| Zelienople |
Sleeper Coach |
Loose Thread |
6/22/04 |
3/12/05 |
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| Icares |
self-titled |
self-released |
6/22/04 |
7/2/04 |
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| Various Artists |
Another Year on the Streets Vol.
3 |
Vagrant |
6/22/04 |
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| Otasco |
This Product Is Extremely Delicious! |
Apocalypse the Apocalypse |
6/22/04 |
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| The Album Leaf |
In a Safe Place |
Sub Pop |
6/15/04 |
06/23/04 |
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Oh it's not bad, and for those
who have never heard of The Album Leaf or Tristeza, it'll
be a revelation. As for the rest of us, we've been there,
done that. And the addition of vocals by LaValle, members
of Black Heart Procession or Sigur Ros doesn't matter much,
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