ALL THEM WITCHES – House Of Mirrors
It’s almost as if The Black Keys decided to make a Monster Magnet album. (8)
CONVERGE – Hum Of Hurt
Second album this year, apparently both written at the same time. To my ears, “Love Is Not Enough” was their “metal” record whereas “Hum Of Hurt” is their “noise rock” record. Both are excellent, this one a notch more difficult. (8)
DWARVES – Jenkem
Dwarves will be Dwarves – 14 sophomoric, stupid, politically incorrect punk rock songs in under 19 minutes. It’s great. (8)
GODTHRYMM – Projections
Classic, quality UK doom metal a-la Solstice, with a few “Peaceville Three” elements thrown in. (8)
SLIFT – Fantasia
Progressive, psychedelic, heavy space rock. People have been comparing them to Hawkwind and Pink Floyd, but I think they could share a bill with Blood Incantation or Neurosis and nobody would bat an eyelid. With better vocals, this could be making year-end lists. (8)
SPARTA – Cut A Silhouette
Those over 40 remember when post-hardcore revolutionaries At The Drive In split into two factions, the afro’d Mars Volta who decided they wanted to be King Crimson and the non-afro’d Sparta who stayed on the post-hardcore path, now reaching album #6 without a dip in quality. (8)
THE OTHER STUFF
BOARDS OF CANADA – Inferno
Even though I find Japanese Breakfast not being Japanese extremely annoying, I don’t mind Boards Of Canada not being Canadian. So I guess it has nothing to do with my autism and it all comes down to experimental occult electronica, when done REALLY right, being more interesting than sunny indie pop. (8)
DEER TICK – Coin-O-Matic
If you like latter-day Springsteen, or what Ryan Adams was doing 20-25 years ago, you’ll certainly enjoy this one. (8)
ELENI MANDELL – Tailspin
L.A. singer-songwriter returns after several years and personal life changes. The music can’t be defined by genre – it’s not folk, it’s not country blues, it’s not jazz, but it’s good. (7)
WILLIE NELSON – Dream Chaser
The guy is literally almost 100 years old, he shouldn’t be able to still record albums as good as this, especially at the rate of three per year. (8)
ZOH AMBA – Eyes Full
Free jazz saxophonist puts the saxophone aside and picks up the six-string for a set of rugged indie folk rock songs. On the surface you might be forgiven for thinking this will be Big Thief-like or something, but it’s actually much noisier than you imagine. (7)
