Wednesday, October 22, 2008
Rise Against - Appeal to Reason (2008)
Hardcore Punk / Punk Revival / Melodic Hardcore
Rise Against’s stripped-down, bare essentials, roots-of-punk simplicity accounts for most of their charm, but it’s also their undoing in places.
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
Ashes Divide - Keep Telling Myself It’s Alright (2008)
Hard Rock / Stadium Rock / Pop
A Perfect Circle founder Billy Howerdel’s much-lauded skill in creating guitar-borne ambiance goes missing for this disappointing mess of barely-above average stadium rock.
Friday, May 30, 2008
Pitchblend - The Lines of Unreason (2008)
Pitchblend have occupied a coveted position in the underground rock consciousness, grabbing accolades like “Best Unsigned Band of the Year” around the same time like-minded space-rockers/pseudo-shoegazers My Vitriol were tearing up the UK charts. Like that band, they have taken their sweet damn time in putting out new material. Whether due to label pressure, pressure to find a label, or something else, it has proved taxing even on the patience of diehard fans. The question remains: is it worth the wait?
Sunday, August 7, 2005
A Perfect Circle - Thirteenth Step (2003)
Alternative / Metal / Hard Rock
Did someone in A Perfect Circle’s Musicians Anonymous program forget to tell them that six aimless dirges, one elevator-music-esque rape of a melody, and five highly-listenable songs does not a consistent album make?
