X – The Unheard Music Silver Edition
A wonderful documentary on a legendary and influential punk rock band made better by a great new transfer and some nice extras. A must-have for any X fan. Rating: X – The Unheard Music – Blu-Ray MVD Visual From 1980 – 1985 a small group of aspiring filmmakers decided to follow the legendary punk rock [...]
Actors & Actresses – ARC LP
A collection of songs from the band’s first album remixed and reconstructed by label mates and friends resulting in what feels like new material. A perfect complement to their debut. Rating: Actors & Acresses – ARC LP The Mylene Sheath ARC (which stands for Arrows Remix Compilation) is a full-length LP that contains eight songs [...]
High Value Target 12″ EP
Two Chicago punk legends team up to deliver a very non-punk rock EP that would have been a huge hit on the Wax Trax label. Simultaneously retro and fresh at the same time and well worth picking up. Rating: High Value Target – 12″ EP High Value Target is a new supergroup duo that contains [...]
Dirty Deeds: My Life Inside/Outside AC/DC
A fascinating story of one man’s roller coaster musical career and a great look behind the scenes of the Bon Scott years of AC/DC that was near impossible to put down. Rating: Dirty Deeds: My Life Inside/Outside of AC/DC – book by Mark Evans Bazillion Points When I was in sixth grade, a friend/classmate of [...]
Burning Sons – Reduced to Equality 12″EP
The second release for the Burning Sons is every bit as good, if not better, than their debut and more than deserves the honor of being the first new Mystic Records 12″EP in more than two decades. Rating: Burning Sons – Reduced to Equality 12″EP Mystic Records Last year Milwaukee’s, Burning Sons, was given the [...]
Chris Connelly – Artificial Madness
Chris Connelly returns with his strongest album since his debut album with this post-punk masterpiece. Rating: Chris Connelly – Artificial Madness Relapse Records Chris Connelly has been a staple of the Chicago music scene since the late 1980′s when he moved here to do time with Ministry and Revolting Cocks after leaving the band he [...]
New York Dolls – Lookin’ fine on Television
A nice companion piece to the All Dolled Up DVD though not nearly as essential. Still a nice time capsule from the past. Rating: New York Dolls – Lookin’ fine on Television DVD MVD Visual In the early 1970′s, Bob Gruen and his wife Nadya Beck spent the better part of three years following the [...]
Iggy and the Stooges – Raw Power Live In the Hand of the Fans
Putting the cameras in the hands of hardcore fans resulted in better than normal concert film. Nice extras and a great performance make this a must for Stooges fans. Rating: Iggy and the Stooges – Raw Power Live in the Hands of the Fans DVD MVD Visual Last year through an online contest, six fans [...]
Skinny Puppy – Handover
After a four year wait, Skinny Puppy return with an album that has a little something to satisfy every variety of fan and not only breaks new ground, but revisits some familiar ground from years past. Rating: Skinny Puppy – Handover SPV/Synthetic Symphony It has been quite some time since the last Skinny Puppy album. [...]
Wolves in the Throne Room – Celestial Lineage
The band ups the ante with their most diverse and interesting album to date. The songwriting, production and number of songs have all increased dramatically. The best metal album of the year without question! Rating: Wolves in the Throne Room – Celestial Lineage Southern Lord Wolves in the Throne Room is one of the most [...]
The Jesus Lizard – Club
One of the best reunions ever and a great trip down memory lane of one of the best bands of the early 1990s. Rating: The Jesus Lizard – Club DVD MVD Visual Back in the early 1990s, The Jesus Lizard were one of the best bands around during the noise/indie rock/punk times. They put out [...]
Giants – 7″ EP
The 7″ format gets some love in the form of a stellar four-song EP by one of post-rock’s finest. A must for fans and a great point of entry for the curious. Rating: Giants – 7″ EP The Mylene Sheath Giants are among the many and the finest post-rock bands on The Mylene Sheath. Their [...]
Naked Raygun – 7″ Series Volume Three
Two new songs in the trademark Naked Raygun style proving once again the band still has it in the songwriting department. Rating: Naked Raygun – 7″ Series Volume Three 7″ Riot Fest Records As we are about to embark on the fall of another year Naked Raygun deliver the third installment of their 7″ series. [...]
Banned! Issue #2
Banned! Issue #2 zine http://bannedzine.tumblr.com I can’t tell you the last time I saw an actual printed DIY fanzine. In fact the only zines I ever see around anymore are the mainstays like MaximumRocknRoll, The Big Takeover, and Razorcake. When the internet exploded it sort of made printed zines obsolete. Everyone seems to be reading [...]
Eksi Ekso – Brown Shark Red Lion LP
After changing the lineup and altering their sound the band returns with a complex mix of chamber music and indie rock. Complex, relaxing and most of all, interesting. Rating: Eksi Ekso – Brown Shark Red Lion LP The Mylene Sheath It has been almost three years since Eksi Ekso last released an album and in [...]
Lavinia – There is Light Between Us
A debut EP so strong that it only loses points for not being a full-length! Eerily soothing yet desolate and complex songs that are nothing short of fascinating. Rating: Lavinia – There is Light Between Us LP The Mylene Sheath Lavinia is a new band that features members (both past and present) of Eksi Ekso [...]
Voivod – Warriors of Ice
A very strong live album that also serves as a best-of Voivod with its track list that will please long-time fans as well as providing a good introduction for the unfamiliar. Rating: Voivod – Warriors of Ice Sonic Unyon Metal In the mid 1980s a little thrash metal band from Canada named Voivod made their [...]
Deals Gone Bad – Far From Home
A two song single that really shows off the strong musicianship of this mostly reggae/ska influenced band. Rating: Deals Gone Bad – Far From Home/These Arms of Mine 7″ Deals Gone Bad is a band from Chicago that has been around for a long time and has built up a pretty solid cult following in [...]
The Prodigy – World’s on Fire
A concert film with amazing sound and visuals plus a mini tour documentary and audio CD of the same show make this too good of a package for any Prodigy fan to pass up. Rating: The Prodigy – World’s on Fire DVD/CD Cooking Vinyl The Prodigy are one of the longest running and most successful [...]
Giants/Beware of Safety split 7″
It was two years plus waiting for new material by these post-rock heavyweights and these two songs make it all worthwhile. Bonus points for the nice packaging. Rating: Giants/Beware of Safety – Split 7″ The Mylene Sheath Both Giants and Beware of Safety have put out some amazing records on The Mylene Sheath. The label [...]
Blood Red Baby Blue – The Colors of Chaos
A solid debut by female-led punk with a spattering of other influences. Bonus points for the nice packaging and bonus items.Rating: Blood Red Baby Blue – The Colors of Chaos LP No Profit Records Blood Red Baby Blue is a band from Alabama and I believe this is their first record. They are a four-piece [...]
Macabre – Grim Scary Tales
Macabre celebrate 25 years as a band by releasing a fairly strong album that mixes the classic Macabre style in many songs while also experimenting in more melodic waters with others. The result is more hit than miss. Rating: Macabre – Grim Scary Tales Willowtip Records It’s amazing to think that 25 years ago, this [...]
Indian – Guiltless
Brutal and punishing doom so intense that it is intimidating. Rating: Indian – Guiltless Relapse Records When I saw Indian play last year, they were so incredibly loud and punishing that it was almost physically painful to experience them, that is how powerful they were. They were easily one of the most intense bands I’ve [...]
