Tristeza Dream Signals In Full Circles Tiger Style By: Eric G. Finally, an instrumental rock band that doesn’t sound like fourth generation Slint. Tristeza opts for more esoteric soundscapes than the recent crop of boring instrumental bands all clamoring for a piece of Chicago’s prog-rock pie. The music builds subtly with beautiful guitar work and […]

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Knocked Out Loaded EP 7 Elemo By: Eric G. Blonde Redhead has only recently pulled itself away from the enveloping shadow of Sonic Youth references in both its music and reviews. Knocked Out Loaded is the next generation of New York City experimental noise pop, trailing just behind Blonde Redhead, and you can be sure […]

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Boss Hog Whiteout In The Red By: Eric G. You really can judge an album by its cover (to mangle a cliche). Well, Boss Hog albums, anyway. The band's major label debut (five years ago) featured a semi-goth cartoon on the cover that was like a cross between the Umbrellas Of Cherbourg soundtrack and an […]

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The (international) Noise Conspiracy Survival Sickness Burning Heart / Epitaph By: Eric G. Former Refused frontman Dennis Lyxzen gave up punk for sixties mod garage rock? What is going on? His style of music may have drastically changed, but his message remains the same as Bart Simpson’s and Public Enemy’s: fight the power. It’s impossible […]

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The Busy Signals Baby's First Beats Sugar Free By: Eric G. This is not exactly the type of record you’d expect a guy who used to be a roadie for Babes In Toyland to make. Howard Hamilton III patches together analogue electronics with a cut and paste sample style that favors melody over the abruptness […]

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Sgt. Rock Live The Dream Wiiija / Beggars Banquet By: Eric G. If Fatboy Slim hadn’t already cornered the market on stoopid beats and funky samples, Sgt. Rock might be sitting on a commercial goldmine, but, as it turns out, he’s about two years too late. This type of techno party jam funk had long […]

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Bluebird The Two Pacifico By: Eric G. At first Bluebird seems to have one leg in its obvious post-punk roots and the other stretching desperately to reach MTV’s Buzz Bin.’ The thick, thudding bass and the frequent starts and stops give way to the punk shadow that looms large over Bluebird, but the band seems […]

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