I’ve long used the following quip to explain my take on the current status of Dischord Records: the downfall of the label in the last 10 years can be easily summed up in two words and two letters… Q And Not U. Okay, so I know this quickly propels me into a minority among indie rock enthusiasts everywhere, but I just don’t get the attraction. So, upon reading the little background information on Georgie James and discovering half of this duo used to be in that atrocity of a band I was not expecting much. Surprisingly, these two aren’t all that bad it turns out. It’s hard not to think the male/female duo thing might be making a comeback and Georgie James prove that might not be so terrible. Despite seeming a bit scattered in their music direction, these two create an album’s worth of catchy tunes ranging from mod-esque to pretty straight up indie pop. None of these songs will get stuck in your head after the first listen, but they might just make you want to listen to the whole CD over again.
Saddle Creek

From all the hype this album has been receiving, you’d think it was the greatest recording to be released in a decade. Sadly, nothing could be further from the truth… Crime In Stereo have never been a band I found very talented or groundbreaking, be it with their previous lackluster albums or their forced live shows. I’ve always felt they were a bit derivative and uninspired, both characteristics that could also be used to describe Is Dead. While they’ve always skirted being strictly a hardcore band, this album sees the band making huge steps away from that genre. Instead, Crime In Stereo apparently have grandiose plans that amalgamate elements of their hardcore roots alongside bits of indie rock and (oh no) emo. Comparisons to Brand New have been getting thrown around about this album, yet Is Dead is at most nothing more than a poor rip-off of the creativity Brand New offer with each new release. Although I went into listening to this newest Crime In Stereo release with a pre-existing dislike for their music, I honestly gave this a fair shot… it just didn’t win me back to their favor.
Bridge Nine Records

Anti-Matter is among a very distinct group of DIY publications to rise from the hardcore/punk scene and stand the test of time, both in quality and impact. Not only did Norman Brannon’s zine serve as a documentation of the diverse state of affairs during the 1990s, it also captured his inquisitive and passionate love for some of the best bands of the era. Through this collection of interviews he conducted with the likes of Shelter, Sunny Day Real Estate, Quicksand, Snapcase, Elliott Smith, Down By Law, and many more, Brannon provides a great examination of what these musicians were about. Some of the most intriguing interviews (especially those with Into Another and Rage Against The Machine) capture the emotions tied to success and moving beyond the musical confines of hardcore. Any fan of the era will find this to be a plethora of interesting facts and insightful questions… an altogether wonderfully compiled anthology of one of the best zines to ever exist.
Revelation Records

Among the growing breed of epic instrumental outfits, Mono represent the unique perspective only Japanese musicians could demonstrate. This collection, entitled Gone, serves as a great cross-section of their career thus far, giving a chronological example of their progress and constant musical innovations. As the album progresses, Mono’s improvement through the years seems almost astonishing. Each track grows and expands beyond all expectation, often exploding at least once into an all-out chaotic onslaught that still maintains a sense of refinement. By the end of the collection, it’s evident why this group has become so well loved worldwide.
Temporary Residence Limited

I’ve discovered that reviewing music from artists I hold dear proves to be quite a difficult task. With Jimmy Eat World being a band I always tend to find myself enjoying, being critical of Chase This Light doesn’t come easy. Despite this, a few listens later I grasped what I believe these fellows were after… following the insane commercial success of Bleed American (a.k.a. Jimmy Eat World), the band offered up Futures: a dark, brooding album lacking a true “hit”. Futures didn’t bring the highest sales, yet is still a wonderful album that might be my favorite from them. So, where do they go from there? It seems, with Chase This Light as evidence, that Jimmy Eat World want to chase Bleed American’s success. This new effort packs all the great songwriting they’ve become cherished for exhibiting, but doesn’t push as deep as they’re capable of doing. Ultimately, Chase This Light adds another wonderful album to the ever-growing great Jimmy Eat World catalogue, although it’s far from their best.
Interscope Records

Sadly, the title is kind of fitting. If anything, NOFX have become a parody of their former excellence. This set features few older (read: better) songs, way too much unfunny between song banter, and a bunch of short, joke songs. The only thing this live album does offer is a good recording… but who’d want to waste the time listening to it? Seriously, I used to love this band and between this CD and the last time I saw them, I think I’ll pretend they broke up.
Fat Wreck Chords

One of the most intriguing aspects of Thrice has always been their ability to defy easy classification. Alchemy Index Vols. I & II proves that better than ever. Spanning two CDs (basically two EPs), themed fire and water respectively, Thrice venture even further into their own territory and expand the wide range of sounds they tap. Throughout both CDs, the band impressively incorporates the thematic element not just lyrically, but musically as well; the listener gets a sense of fire and urgency from the first disc, while the second has a more fluid, water-like sound. My only strong complaint about this release would be the use of two CDs to present music that would fit on one. I understand the theme warrants such a move, yet it seems so wasteful and borderline pretentious. Even with such discouraging packaging, this is well worth checking out.
Vagrant Records

While the idea of a sampler CD + DVD combo isn’t anything new (especially for Hopeless/Sub City), Change! somehow seems a little different. Maybe it’s the full sized DVD packaging and slip cover… Nevertheless, this one sticks out a little more than your average sampler to me. As per usual, I’m more interested in what the DVD has to offer since most of the CD features songs you’ve likely already heard. The DVD, however, offers a chance to see those videos the big networks often neglect to play in heavy rotation, if ever at all. Showcasing heavy-hitters like Converge, As I Lay Dying, and Job For A Cowboy, the DVD presents some of the highly/overly produced videos circulating these days. On the more impressive side though are the creative endeavors from Boys Night Out (an interesting take on “skeletons in the closet”) and Escape The Fate, who rip-off Van Halen’s “Hot For Teacher” video quite well and kept me watching throughout their otherwise terrible song. For what this is, it’s decent, although some of the best content could probably be heard/seen online.
Hopeless Records