90 Day Men It (is) It) Critical Band Southern By: Eric G. At first you think "oh, Jesus, not another Chicago-based band of wank-officers trying to pull that whole U.S. Maple bullshit on me again", but further listening shuts your fat mouth before you utter something like that out loud. 90 Day Men don't pander […]

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The Black Heart Procession Three Touch And Go By: Eric G. The Black Heart Procession has cemented its place in the hall of doom over the course of its past three records with a dramatic blend of country, blues, and heart-wrenching soul mining. Each song is a slow journey to the center of despair. The […]

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The Clientele A Fading Summer EP March By: Eric G. A Fading Summer is the perfect title for The Clientele’s debut American EP. The Clientele’s shimmering 1960’s-style pop has a dark undercurrent, but it’s so restrained that you just sit mesmerized by the reverb-drenched melodies. The vocals are heavily accented, enveloping each syllable with a […]

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Sunday's Best Poised To Break Polyvinyl By: Eric G. This is the type of record that your girlfriend will steal within one week of your purchasing it, and you probably won't even care. Sunday's Best sounds a tad too earnest and sensitive for those who like their rock on the abrasive side. Sure, there are […]

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Trans Am Red Line Thrill Jockey By: Eric G. Each record by Trans Am over the past five years has been a progression until Red Line. With twenty-one songs of self-referential indulgence, the band barely even steps outside of the parameters of its previous output on its fifth album. This is disappointing because Trans Am […]

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The 6ths Hyacinths And Thistles Merge By: Eric G. It's hard to hear these songs without Stephin Merritt's baritone droning alongside. His lyrics, equal parts sentimentality and acerbic wit, draw as much attention to themselves as his tinny arrangements do, and his voice seems inextricably bound to their performances. The 6ths is more of a […]

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Radio 4 The New Song And Dance Gern Blandsten By: Eric G. Bored by the cliquish and self-indulgent path of modern punk rock, Radio 4 rejects such trappings by turning back the calendar to 1979 when bands like The Clash, Gang Of Four, Wire, and The Fall were writing the book of fiery post punk. […]

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