Rx Bandits Mandala Sargent House Records 4 / 5 Rx Bandits has been a band notoriously known for their steady evolution. What originally started over a decade ago as a third-wave ska revival act playing under the name of “The Pharmaceutical Bandits” founding members Matt Embree and Chris Tsagakis have found a niche of progressing [...]

[Read more →]

Portugal. The Man The Satanic Satanist Equal Vision Records 2.5 / 5 The Satanic Satanist, Alaska-native Portugal. The Man’s fourth full-length release in four years was conceived as the soundtrack to vocalist’s John Gourley’s experiences of growing up in the majestic daunting lands of Alaska.  While these intentions feel warm and genuine behind Satanist’s cool [...]

[Read more →]

Grizzly Bear Veckatimest Warp Records 4.5 /5 To say it’s been a good year for Grizzly Bear would be an epic understatement. The band’s third full-length release Veckatimest is one that has launched the New York native four piece from relatively unknown freak-folk beginnings into Billboard’s Top 10 Charts and indie stardom. Listening through Veckatimest, [...]

[Read more →]

mewithoutYou it’s all crazy! it’s all false! it’s all a dream! it’s alright tooth & nail 4.5 / 5 Three years ago, prior to the September 2006 release of mewithoutYou’s third full-length Brother, Sister, the band was known to me by little more than the recognition of “January 1979″. I was intrigued the first time [...]

[Read more →]

Dance Gavin Dance Happiness Rise Records 3.5 / 5 Happiness, the third full-length from Dance Gavin Dance showcases the band somewhat hitting their stride after the travesty of an album that was their self-titled sophomore releases.  They dropped the guy who couldn’t scream, and while the replacement seems to be a tad bit generic, it [...]

[Read more →]