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World’s End Press – Self-TitledLiberation-out now3 / 5 The Melbourne, Australian dance/pop quartet may funkify their beats on their full-length debut, but we are very picky with our funk bass. The chaps go all out, with a setlist a little over an hour, and while some of the tracks here are good, we don’t find them especially brilliant. And when it comes to dance, it needs to be brilliant. The baker’s dozen of tracks does show some life, and they groove right, but we don’t find them to have quite enough energy or strong enough writing to truly captivate us. Of the tracks we recommend,Read More →

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Patty Griffin – Silver BellA&M Records-out now4 / 5 Our first listen to the much-delayed Silver Bell was one of relative disappointment. Compared to American Kid, the Maine-born folk singer’s latest release seemed less immediate, less pleasurable than the absolutely fantastic Kid. (Which we reviewed here.) Initially, we were thinking there was a reason it took thirteen years to get this album out there (you know, a negative reason), but again, that was our first listen. The reality of it is this: it’s different. Instead of going country on Kid, Griffin splays a laid-back, down-tempo rock groove throughout. And the fact of the matter isRead More →

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Static Jacks – In BlueFearless Records-out now2 / 5 This just in: the sophomore LP from Westfield, NJ rock quintet Static Jacks is more entertaining on their album cover than in their actual album. Why must we be so cruel? Let’s face it: you’re money is worth time, and when you spend forty minutes and fifteen bucks on a bland album like In Blue, now you know you’ve gotten hit twice. It’s not awful and the end of the world, it’s just the kind of album that leaves no impression upon us. It is not blue, or red, or even green; it is simply monochromatic,Read More →

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Deer Tick – NegativityPartisan Records–out tomorrow3 / 5 The famed Providence-based rock quintet has come back. They’ve hit up Rolling Stone on several occasions, and make frequent pit stops on our regional radio over here, and here’s the reason why: songs like “Christ Jesus,” “Smith Hill,” and “Ashamed.” And now, on their fifth studio full-length in as many years, “The Rock.” Leadman and writer John Joseph McCauley III is quickly gaining a reputation for quality (and quantity) rock – the man’s been in side projects galore, including the absolutely brilliant collaboration of Middle Brother. And he’s back, at least initially, but we can’t lie hereRead More →