VOTE "LOUDER"
AUTHOR & PUNISHER – Melk En Honing
Mad scientist makes his own instruments and uses
them to create the most punishing industrial noise imaginable. (8)
BETWEEN THE BURIED AND ME – Coma Ecliptic
BTBAM’s music is quite impressive like a Santiago
Calatrava-designed building is impressive, you look at a Calatrava building
thinking “wow, that’s impressive”, but imagine having to look at a Calatrava
building FOR 70 FUCKING MINUTES STRAIGHT. (6)
BOSSE-DE-NAGE – All Fours
So you like Deafheaven-style hipster black metal and
you’re looking for something new because Liturgy is so 2011? Well here it is, enjoy. (8)
FAILURE – The Heart Is A Monster
90’s cult alternative rock heroes, Tool protégées
and one of Cave In’s major spiritual guides release comeback album after an
18-year hiatus. (7)
FUCKED UP – Year Of The Hare
Another 30-minute long art-punk EP consisting of
just 2 songs. Not as strong as “Year Of The Dragon”. (7)
MISCHIEF BREW – This Is Not For Children
Folk-punk aficionados who enjoy the Dropkick
Murphys, Gogol Bordello, New Model Army and beer will cream their shorts with
this one. (8)
MUTOID MAN – Bleeder
Cave In mainman and Converge drummer go full-on
metal on your ass and this riff-orama sounds absolutely huge. (8)
NIGHT FLIGHT ORCHESTRA – Skyline Whispers
Melodic hard rock shamelessly plagiarizing the
pre-hair metal era of “Perfect Strangers”, “Slide It In” and “Frontiers”. If
you can’t tap your foot and shake your booty to this you’re dead inside. (8)
REFUSED – Freedom
“The Shape Of Punk To Come” almost shaped the punk
to come in 1998, and in a perfect world this divisive comeback album would finish the
job. (9)
VOTE "OTHER"
CRAIG FINN – Newmyer’s Roof
The Hold Steady mainman releases 5-track EP as an
appetizer for solo album coming in September, focuses on a stripped-down, less
epic sound. But those lyrics… (7)
JENNY LYSANDER – Northern Folk
Laura Marling and Anais Mitchell fans should check
this fantastic Swedish lady out. Also for all the weirdos out there who go
ecstatic over obscure late-60’s acid folk, this is in the same vein. (8)
KACEY MUSGRAVES – Pageant Material
“Pageant Material” is “Last In Line” to “Same
Trailer Different Park”’s “Holy Diver”: Exactly the same album as its
predecessor, only slightly less great because it’s exactly the same album. (8)
KRISTIN DIABLE – Create Your Own Myth
The fantasically named Kristin Diable tries to
create her own myth with her Dusty-flavored debut which mostly sounds like a
darker Amy Winehouse. (8)
RICKIE LEE JONES – The Other Side Of Desire
Rickie goes to New Orleans to overcome her
writer’s block and comes up with a decent piece of country- and blues-infused
late-night listening. (7)
TERAKAFT – Alone (Tenere)
If you’re into Tinariwen’s “desert blues” vibe and
groove then this is going to be right up your alley – the two bands sound
virtually indistinguishable, at least to western ears. (7)
VARIOUS ARTISTS – Truckers, Kickers, Cowboy
Angels: The Blissed-Out Birth of Country Rock, Vol. 4 1971
Another fun instalment in this series documenting
the birth and rise of country rock and really, you should buy all of them. This
one’s got Commander Cody, Gene Clark, Alex Harvey, Kris Kristofferson, Johnny
Cash, Flying Burrito Bros, The Band, New Riders Of The Purple Sage, JJ Cale,
Delaney & Bonnie, Little Feat, Ry Cooder, Poco, Sir Douglas Quintet and
many others. (9)
WILLIAM D. DRAKE – Revere Reach
Prog rock in the very English and most bucolic
sense of the term from former Cardiacs keyboardist. Very un-rock ‘n’ roll but
interesting. (7)
WILLIE NILE – The Bottom Line Archive Series: 1980
& 2000
Two live sets from the same venue, separated by 20
years, from a NYC singer-songwriter cult hero who knows how to rock a crowd.
Raw, gritty and street-smart. (8)
