The Decemberists: The Crane Wife [Album Review]
The DecemberistsThe Crane WifeCapitol Records [2006] Let’s get the obvious out of the way and point out what you probably have already heard about this … Read more
A Shoreline Dream: Avoiding The Consequences [Album Review]
A Shoreline DreamAvoiding The ConsequencesLatenight Weeknight Records [2006] There are certain key items I look for in a quality shoegaze album. 1) Hypnotic ambient sounds … Read more
The Cardinal Sin: Hurry Up And Wait [Album Review]
The Cardinal Sin Hurry Up And Wait Grey Flight Records [2006] Nothing beats a well-executed punk rock debut, and The Cardinal Sin deliver just that … Read more
Rainer Maria: Catastrophe Keeps Us Together [Album Review]
Rainer Maria Catastrophe Keeps Us Together Grunion Records [2006] Look Now Look Again was one of the standout emo records of the late ’90s, and … Read more
Tim Easton: Ammunition [Album Review]
Tim Easton Ammunition New West Records [2006] If you’ve been following Tim Easton’s career, you’ll recognize right away that Ammunition marks a shift. It’s more … Read more
Boy Kill Boy: Civilian [Album Review]
Boy Kill Boy Civilian Universal Records [2006] Does it hurt a band to show up late to the party? That’s the question facing Boy Kill … Read more
Slowlands: Never Was There A Town [Album Review]
Slowlands Never Was There A Town Self-Released [2006] Have you ever wandered into your local indie record store, chatted up the clerk, and walked out … Read more
Gnarls Barkley: St. Elsewhere [Album Review]
Gnarls Barkley St. Elsewhere Downtown Records [2006] St. Elsewhere made history with the smash hit “Crazy,” the first UK #1 single driven entirely by digital … Read more
Irving: Death In The Garden, Blood On The Flowers [Album Review]
Irving Death In The Garden, Blood On The Flowers Eenie Meenie Records [2006] Death In The Garden, Blood On The Flowers finds Irving stepping confidently … Read more
The Vibration: Amarilla [Album Review]
The Vibration Amarilla Sink And Stove Records [2006] Amarilla is the debut full-length from New York’s all-female quartet The Vibration, arriving on the heels of … Read more
The Takeovers: Turn To Red [Album Review]
The Takeovers Turn To Red Fading Captain Series [2006] The Takeovers project sees Robert Pollard collaborating with former GBV bassist Chris Slusarenko, and Turn to … Read more
Psycho And The Birds: All That Is Holy [Album Review]
Psycho And The Birds All That Is Holy Fading Captain Series [2006] All That Is Holy is a lo-fi time capsule that finds Robert Pollard … Read more
Keene Brothers: Blues And Boogie Shoes [Album Review]
Keene Brothers Blues and Boogie Shoes Fading Captain Series [2006] The pairing of Robert Pollard and Tommy Keene on Blues and Boogie Shoes feels like … Read more
The Raconteurs: Broken Boy Soldiers [Album Review]
The Raconteurs Broken Boy Soldiers V2 / Third Man Records [2006] By now, you probably know this is Jack White’s “side project” band. Alongside Detroit … Read more
The Twilight Singers: Powder Burns [Album Review]
The Twilight Singers Powder Burns One Little Indian Records [2006] Time changes everything. In 2000, The Afghan Whigs were still active, The Twilight Singers were … Read more
The Black Angels: Passover [Album Review]
The Black Angels Passover Light In The Attic Records [2006] The Black Angels hail from Austin, TX and took their name from The Velvet Underground … Read more
Ghostland Observatory: Paparazzi Lightning [Album Review]
Ghostland Observatory Paparazzi Lightning Trashy Moped Records [2006] Ghostland Observatory are part of a growing wave of bands fusing synthesizers with rock. A little electro-clash … Read more
Red Hot Chili Peppers: Stadium Arcadium [Album Review]
Red Hot Chili Peppers Stadium Arcadium Warner Bros. Records [2006] Ah, the double album—equal parts ambitious and indulgent. With Stadium Arcadium, their first new release … Read more
Art Brut: Bang Bang Rock & Roll [Album Review]
Art Brut Bang Bang Rock & Roll Downtown Records [2006] By the time Bang Bang Rock & Roll landed in the U.S., Art Brut had already … Read more
Aloha: Some Echoes [Album Review]
Aloha Some Echoes Polyvinyl Records [2006] Aloha is an interesting band—not just musically, but geographically. The members are spread across the East Coast and rarely … Read more
Wolfmother: Wolfmother [Album Review]
Wolfmother Wolfmother Interscope Records [2006] Long live stoner rock! Ask anyone who saw Led Zeppelin in their prime, and they’ll likely tell you it was … Read more
Gomez: How We Operate [Album Review]
Gomez How We Operate ATO Records [2006] Back in 1998, Gomez were hailed as the next big thing out of the UK. Their debut album … Read more
The Whigs: Give ‘Em All A Big Fat Lip [Album Review]
The Whigs Give ‘Em All A Big Fat Lip Self-Released [2006] The Whigs have been picking up steam fast—opening for Franz Ferdinand, Drive-By Truckers, Maroon … Read more
Rhett Miller: The Believer [Album Review]
Rhett Miller The Believer Verve Forecast Records [2006] A little background—Rhett Miller is best known as the lead singer of the Old 97’s, one of … Read more
Pearl Jam: Pearl Jam [Album Review]
Pearl Jam Pearl Jam J-Records [2006] Pearl Jam is the band’s hardest-hitting record since Vs. and easily their best since Yield. The first five tracks … Read more