WHO: Death From Above 1979 WHAT: Is 4 Lovers WHY: DFA1979 is one of those bands that’s both hard to define and instantly familiar when you hear them: giving off an aggressive, threatening aura that’s also easy to dance to. It’s also just two Canadian dudes making all this noise. “Bursting onto the scene” in 2004 with their debut album, then taking a decade-long break, this band has stayed the course with each consecutive release, bringing juicy riffs and heavy...
WHO: Nick Cave & Warren Ellis WHAT: Carnage WHY: Nick Cave has the distinct pleasure of getting better with age. Immense tragedy is hit his life over the years and, though it all, the man (with the assistance of his collaborator Warren Ellis) has produced some of the most introspective, heartbreaking, and powerful music of his career. Their latest effort Carnage fits in perfectly with that trend. It’s haunting, profound, honest, and simmers to a boil. It’s a record that...
WHO: Czarface & MF DOOM WHAT: Super What? WHY: I don’ think there’s a supergroup quite like Czarface and MF DOOM. Maybe the greatest and most underrated MC of all time unfortunately passed away last year (or did he?) and the only good that can come of it is that people would start appreciating his work more. His last collab with Czarface, released posthumously, is both a blessing and a curse. A blessing because it’s some of the most interesting...
WHO: Sleaford Mods WHAT: Spare Ribs WHY: Sleaford Mods are perplexingly difficult to describe, especially considering their music is incredibly simple. Is it working-class speaking over simple electronic drum and bass beats? Sure. It’s also angry, honest, and kind of punk rock. It’s also sounds like rapping and is surprisingly catchy. In short, there’s nothing out there like it. You see where I’m going with this? Their latest Spare Ribs has been called their best work and I might just...
WHO: Jon Snodgrass WHAT: Tace WHY: Yes, there’s a lot of overlap between Jon Snodgrass and the ALL/Descendents universe, but what makes Tace such an important album is that it’s the strongest material Snodgrass has put out in quite a while. Tace is a straight up rock/punk album with a wide range of guests, and punk rock who’s who, contributing instrumental help. It sounds exactly as one would imagine with Snodgrass’ experience: like ALL/Descendents with a south drawl. The only...
WHO: Brook Pridemore WHAT: Metal is My Only Friend WHY: Brook Pridemore has been at it for quite a while, honing his craft. And just when I think he’s outdone himself, he does it again. Metal is My Only Friend has been out for a couple years now but, as I take calm walks enjoying the Fall weather, its brilliance has finally hit me. This is most definitely an underdog of an album that exceeds all expectations. It’s beautifully crafted,...
WHO: Nice Guys WHAT: Self-titled WHY: I’ll gladly say that Nice Guys are the best band in Boston and fight anyone who wants to challenge that. Remember, this isn’t exactly the same band from 5 years ago. They used to stick to the EP format and sounded raw and sloppy as they should being a weedcore band. Nowadays they’re a tight proggy hardcore punk band and have finally bestowed their debut LP on us. It’s punk rock blast, fast, spastic,...
WHO: The Bombpops WHAT: Death in Venice Beach WHY: There probably hasn’t been a band more ready to be the new NOFX. They’re on FAT, their albums sound like they should, and they’ve even stood in for NOFX in their videos. But while it’s easy to write off such a band as being a derivative of a derivative, they quickly showed that they’ve got the genre figured out well enough to make a great record in their debut Fear of...
WHO: Mannequin Pussy WHAT: Patience WHY: It doesn’t happen often that a band comes out of left field to completely blow us away. As a first exposure, Patience absolutely demands the listener’s attention. In a turbulent 25 minutes, it manages to be funny, sad, emotional, desperate, furious, gentle, elaborate, and sharp. It gives you its heart of a platter and leaves you hungry for more trying to decipher how exactly did all the parts fit. The bar has been set...
WHO: The Fleshies WHAT: Introducing The Fleshies WHY: It’s hard to believe that the Fleshies have been gone for 10 years, but 10 seconds into this album and it’s clear why this band is as vital now as ever. Introducing the Fleshies is quite a misnomer for a band who’s been around for almost 20 years but it’s just as gripping as anything I’ve heard from them. It’s fiery, melodic, intense, and raw, and will have you in disbelief at...