the pAper chAse – Someday This Could All Be Yours prt 1

The pAper chAse Someday This Could All Be Yours prt 1: Austin Texas’ the pAper chAse are back with the first in a two part follow up to 2006′s Now You Are One of Us. As expected the black humor flows as freely as the blood and gore the lyrics, sometimes sounding like lines from [...]

A Dark Orbit – The Voyager EP

A Dark Orbit The Voyager EP : “Yawn, another dark wave band that should have stopped in the 90s.” I f that was your first thought when reading the name of the band and album, well I can’t blame you. But all is not what is it seems, rather this a metalcore band in the [...]

The Blinding Light – Junebug

The Blinding Light – Junebug It’s been awhile since The Blinding Light have released something. Yet age has not rusted this thrashing machine. Rather this is some of best material the band has put out ever. The musicianship has increased dramatically since The Glass Bullet EP. Brian Lovro still sounds like Scott Kelly of Neurosis. [...]

Amesoeurs – Self Titled

Amesoeurs Self Titled: Neige from Alcest got together with friends and made created this band. It was an attempt to fuse Black metal with shoe-gaze/post-punk, which seems like a bad idea on paper. Well, the actual results are more hit than miss. What really works on this album is when the music is very atmospheric [...]

Isis – Wavering Radiant

Isis Wavering Radiant: One could not be faulted for thinking of this disc as In The Absence of Truth part 2. That’s not a bad thing either. Rather it seems like the musical ideas that Isis developed on In The Absence have been better realized and executed on this disc. There are still heavy parts [...]

Scryer – Necessary Evils EP

Scryer Necessary Evils EP: This is an interesting listen. There is gamut of styles on this album, some work and some not so much. The vocals are usually shouted reminding me at times of Refused. The lyrics are at times cringe-inducingly bad, but these moments tend to be followed up by an awesome musical passage [...]

Kaylan and Sambodhi Prem-Cello Cirlces

Kaylan and Sambodhi Prem Cello Cirlces: Cellos, guitars, keyboards, and various wind instruments drift through these pieces, an album consisting of two musicians taking on various forms of world music. Its a pleasant listen, and these two guys obviously know their stuff. It leans a bit too close to New Age music for my liking, [...]

AMM-Ambient 4: Isolationism

AMM Ambient 4:Isolationism: A unique mix of free jazz, modern classical, and electronic music. This disk is completely improvised, and is extremely pleasant to listen to considering its atonal nature. Piano drums and cello, are augmented by Keith Rowe’s prepared guitar. Rowe plays the guitar by lay it out in front of him and manipulating [...]

Cecil Taylor-The Dance Project

Cecil Taylor The Dance Project: Though his technical prowess has diminished slightly due to his age, Taylor’s feel has only gotten better. He can tickle the keys and he can beat them like a hammer, and he knows exactly when to do each. Rating: 14/15 continued artistic growth points

Bob Dylan-Modern Times

Bob Dylan Modern Times: Dylan’s voice and lyrics ring true,  over well-played, but unexceptional rock numbers. The real issue here is that Dylan’s backing band never loosen up or take any sudden turns. Other than that this is a fitting addition to Dylan’s legacy. Rating: 12/15 Name dropping Alicia Keys