Archive for October, 2009

NW Reviews: Malajube – Labyrinthes

October 27, 2009
By nickwan
NW Reviews: Malajube – Labyrinthes

Malajube. I don’t know what it means. And most of their songs (if not all) are in a language where I don’t know what they are even saying. But the language that does shine through is the solid rock these guys have put out with their latest album. Relatively unknown outside of Canada, Malajube has...
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The Slow Life – Be Not Afraid

October 26, 2009
By nickwan
The Slow Life – Be Not Afraid

London might be the slowest big city I can think of. I'm sure there are some major North American cities that could be comparable in social speed (San Francisco, Montreal, Little Rock), but London has always been an international port of slow. It's not so surprising that one of the only decent albums of...
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Russian Circles – Geneva

October 20, 2009
By nickwan
Russian Circles – Geneva

Chicago instrumental rock strikes yet again with their newest release, Geneva. What seperates Geneva from their other albums? Sadly, not much... but much like Bazan's last release, Russian Circles provides a consistancy that is rest-assured for the instrumental-rock scene. This album picks up where Station left off, and bears many similarities to that album. Unlike...
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Tegan & Sara – Sainthood

October 19, 2009
By nickwan
Tegan & Sara – Sainthood

I usually don't do a full track-by-track review of an album... but The Quins are possibly my favorite artists out right now. This album is loud. In almost every way. Volume (particularly bass) and tone of the band/album. The lyrics are still Tegan and Sara-ish, as well as the vocal melodies. The songs themselves are...
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Dead by Sunrise – Out of Ashes

October 18, 2009
By nickwan
Dead by Sunrise – Out of Ashes

This album was a surprise. Usually, I'm not a big fan of "popular by association" side projects. I'm not saying I'm a big fan of this album, fronted by Chester Bennington of Linkin Park, but this album isn't bad. In fact, it's somewhat good. The single from the album, "Crawl Back In", makes you think...
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The Week(s) in Review: 10/4 – 10/17

October 18, 2009
By nickwan
The Week(s) in Review: 10/4 – 10/17

Sorry for the lag, everyone. All seven unique readers were out of their 402 news for the past two weeks due to my exams as well as my quest for the holy album of the year. Now that I'm back for the week, here are some opening statements: Balloon boy - awesome if it is...
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A Place to Bury Strangers – Exploding Head

October 14, 2009
By nickwan
A Place to Bury Strangers – Exploding Head

Not hardcore. Not punk. Not even close. Even the cover is misleading. But this album is actually one of the strangest New York albums I have heard possibly all year. That shoegaze/nu-wave sound isn't only striking for APtBS but it's almost impossible to gravitate away from that sound once you've dug yourself into it....
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Metric – Fantasies

October 13, 2009
By nickwan
Metric – Fantasies

Metric is one of those bands who have kept chipping away at this US music market and always seems to live in the shadow of some other band. Earlier this decade, they were in the shadow of LA's beloved Rilo Kiley. Today, they have had their efforts rewarded by radio, heavily rotating their hit...
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Beirut – March of the Zapotec/Holland

October 13, 2009
By nickwan
Beirut – March of the Zapotec/Holland

This album is an album I really had low expectations for. But. I was wrong and this album is actually a great musical achievement for the Beirut team as well as the eccentric music scene. Beirut's new double EP starts out very bland. Horns, folky guitar, that voice that makes you want to punch a...
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Thursday – Common Existence

October 13, 2009
By nickwan
Thursday – Common Existence

The 2009 release from the band who has put out some of the anthems of the late 90's-early 00's generation. Classics like "Understanding in a Car Crash", "Cross Out the Eyes", and "Autobiography of a Nation". The difference between those songs and the songs on Thursday's latest effort, Common Existence? It's no longer the...
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