Various Artists “Bad Scene, Everyone’s Fault – Jawbreaker Tribute” (Dying Wish Records) Has there ever been a punk/indie band that hasn’t at one time covered a Jawbreaker (or Jets to Brazil) song? I remember thinking the band I was in…
Keelhaul “Subject to Change Without Notice” (Hydra Head) Keelhaul play super heavy, thrashy music, mostly driven by the instruments and their chaotic, staccato riffs, rather than any real vocals. Sound interesting? Well, you’re an idiot. Sorry, that was uncalled for.…
Landmine Spring “Are We the Culprits?” (Candlelight) Seventy-five percent metal and twenty-five percent hardcore, Landmine Spring tears through “Are We the Culprits?” with all of the subtlety of a wet fart. A really, really long wet fart. I mean, who’s…
Lazarus ““Songs For and Unborn Son”” (Temporary Residence) Solo work by Trevor Montogmery of the Drift and Tarentel. This is really mellow, melancholy, singer-songwriter stuff given a kind of electro-ambient, post-rock treatment. Think Elliot Smith, if he was from Chicago.…
Leng Tch’e “Manmadepredator” (Willowtip) Belgian grind-core. Belgian grind-core mixed with leftist politics. Belgian grind-core that tries to be humorous. Belgian grind-core, comedy written in English. Belgian grind-core funny men writing in English fail to be funny except by unintentional language…
Deep Rooted “Iomos Mardad” (All Natural) Ever since “Common” kicked the door down and put “Shytown” on the hiphop map, Chicago has been getting busy. First of all, who ever feels this CD, is going to be able to hear…
Lyrics Born ““Later That Day”” (Quannum Projects) Wake the town and tell the people about the brand new musical disc from Lyrics Born. Funky, soulful, skillful, thoughtful, Old School, New School, booty-shakin’’, neck breakin’’, Hip to the micky fickin’’ Hop.…
Soul Position “8,000,000 Stories” (Fatbeats / Rhymesayers) On this CD, MC Copywrite shows himself to be a lyricist of extreme range and depth. Not only does he come off different on every other song, but he keeps the comedy popping…
Deep Concentration 4 “Wrecking The Floor” (Deep com/Om Records) Off the top! This CD/comp has “Madd Club Bangers”. Some tracks outshine others, but all said it, has strong production all the way through. The 15 cuts that make up the…
Giving Chase “Nothing Ever Changes” (Jump Start) Merging hardcore and punk rock has become more and more common over the recent years, the only problem is that there are only a handful of bands that do it well. Giving Chase…