Album: Hope and Ruin Label: Bumstead Rating: 3.5/5 Is it fair to criticize a band simply because they refuse to deviate from routine? That’s the question I was asking myself as I listened to The Trews’ fourth album Hope and Ruin. In a way, it’s somewhat egotistical to want a band to alter their
Album: Mazes Label: Sacred Bones Rating: 4.5/5 There comes a time when an album’s expressive creativity transcends simplistic critical analysis. Moon Duo’s Mazes is that album. A hauntingly unnerving rhythmic exploration of space and structure, Mazes’ eight tracks are sonic escapism at its finest. Fusing 60’s psychedelic with minimalist rock n’ roll swagger, the
Album: Swan Label: Suburban Noize Rating: 3.5/5 Battered and bruised, Unwritten Law’s Swan was originally slated to be theSan Diego rockers grand finale as a musical quartet. Having undergone numerous lineup changes and personal struggles (confronted on this album) over their 20+ year history, the band seemingly grew weary of the whole rock n’
Album: Losing Sleep Label: Heavenly Records Rating: 3.5/5 It’s amazing that singer Collins can speak, let alone release a new LP. In 2005, Collins suffered two cerebral hemorrhages that forced him to undergo neurological rehabilitation. Astonishingly through sheer perseverance and dedication, Edwyn wrote and recorded Losing Sleep while still recovering. The result is his
Album: Only Revolutions Label: 14th Floor Rating: 3.5/5 Biffy Clyro’s Only Revolutions is probably their most radio friendly album to date. Filled with massive choruses and bold, soaring guitars, the album proudly embraces a multitude of sound. Though the lyrics are enigmatically bizarre at times, Only Revolutions becomes an intense personal memoir from the