Reviews
Review: The Wonder Years – “The Upsides”
Philadelphia’s The Wonder Years create exuberant, joyful pop-punk with a distinctly bro-ish flavor.
Live! Butch Walker @ Paradise Rock Club (Boston, 3/4/10)
There’s a deep, dark secret I’m going to let you in on: us music critics? We’re also music fans. We have our own biases and tastes. And, for me at least, there are some artists that I am incapable of being even-handed about. For me, Butch Walker is that artist. So you may click over [...]
Review: Two Door Cinema Club – “Tourist History”
Two Door Cinema Club craft a promising, Strokes-y debut.
Review: Monument To Thieves – S/T
If you’re a socially angry, post-college, generally aggro dude like myself, there’s probably nothing that gets you higher than a band like Rise Against that includes scathing political commentary in their music. The straight forward Hatebreed-inspired hardcore of Monument to Thieves’ new self-titled album nails this particular style, with heavy guitars and rampaging vocals broken [...]
Where’s Your Precious First Love NOW?! #1: The Offspring
Jere begins to examine his record collection, starting at the beginning with The Offspring.
Review: Ludacris – “Battle Of The Sexes”
Ludacris makes one for the ladies. But we’re dudes.
Review: Broken Bells – S/T
Shins mastermind James Mercer hooks up with crazy genius Danger Mouse; the result sounds like The Shins falling into the Sixties.
Review: Four Year Strong – Enemy Of The World
Boston pop-punkers Four Year Strong get huge on their third album.
Review: Various Artists – “Almost Alice” (Soundtrack)
If these songs were “inspired” by Tim Burton’s new Alice In Wonderland, maybe it’s not such a great idea to plop down twenty bucks for tickets. This stuff bites, hard.
Review: Liars – “Sisterworld”
Liars return with “Sisterworld,” their most accomplished album to date – a skilled recall of everything that makes their noise so distinctive and special.
Review: Direct Hit! – “#4″
Direct Hit! deliver another stellar EP, digging deeper and getting Assault staffers even more pumped.
Black Friday #3: Danzig – “4p”
Legendary devil-rockers Danzig slow it down and sex it up on their underrated fourth album.
Review: Wu-Tang Vs. The Beatles (Mixtape)
Like Wu-Tang? Like the Beatles? You’re gonna love this.
Review: Gorillaz – “Plastic Beach”
Weirdo cartoon rockers return, assisted by Snoop Dogg and Mos Def.
Review: Ted Leo & The Pharamcists – “The Brutalist Bricks”
Before you pop in the new Ted Leo record, The Brutalist Bricks (his first for indie stalwart Matador), think back to every time you’ve ever complained about a band or artist you liked branching out and trying new things. Remember when Billy Corgan spent some time not rocking, doing his Depeche Mode thing? Or perhaps [...]
Review: Kerretta – “Vilayer”
This New Zealand prog-metal band crafts artful, intricate noise.
Review: Ha Ha Tonka – “Novel Sounds of the Nouveau South”
Missouri band Ha Ha Tonka offer a haunting, ghoulish spin on Southern rock.
Review: The Blacks – In Sickness And Health
Chicago alt-punk legends the Blacks break their ten year silence with an awesome new digital EP.
Review: The Morning Benders – “Big Echo”
California indie-poppers The Morning Benders get an assist from Grizzly Bear’s Chris Taylor on their new record, and the result is dreamtastic!
Review: Alkaline Trio – This Addiction
Assault’s favorite band releases a new record; we shit our pants. Oswald Hobbes explains why.
