Impressively, it took just two records for what began as a two-person project to achieve its potential as a towering ensemble. Read my brief review of Tribunal’s In Penitence and Ruin on Treble.
Archive for the Album Reviews Category
Tribunal’s ‘In Penitence and Ruin’: Two Cent Review
Posted in Album Reviews, Reviews with tags Tribunal on 04/18/2025 by Kurt OrzeckSuperheaven’s ‘Superheaven’: Two Cent Review
Posted in Album Reviews, Reviews with tags Superheaven on 04/18/2025 by Kurt Orzeck
After a 10-year gap between full-lengths, Pennsylvania rock band Superheaven improved their talents so greatly that their new self-titled record stands as a masterstroke. Read my short review on Treble.
Iron Lung’s ‘Adapting // Crawling’: Two Cent Review
Posted in Album Reviews, Reviews with tags Iron Lung on 04/16/2025 by Kurt Orzeck
The deceptively named Adapting // Crawling harnesses and re-presents the blistering, bombastic, no-holds-barred essence of Iron Lung that established the band—and gave their self-operated record label legitimacy—in the first place. Go to Treble to read my short review of Iron Lung’s killer new record.
Valerie June’ ‘Owls, Omens, and Oracles’: Two Cent Review
Posted in Album Reviews, Reviews with tags M. Ward, Valerie June on 04/13/2025 by Kurt Orzeck
If you’re not at least tempted to dance along to every song on this record, produced by M. Ward masquerading as a pre-notorious Phil Spector, you’d best get your feet, ears and head checked. Read my short review Valerie June’s Owls, Omens, and Oracles (Concord) for Treble here.
Tapeworms’ ‘Grand Voyage’: Two Cent Review
Posted in Album Reviews, Reviews with tags Tapeworms on 04/13/2025 by Kurt Orzeck
Don’t call Tapeworms more “mature”; call them more well-versed in—and more adept at—the priceless art of playfulness. Read my short review of their new album, Grand Voyage (Music Website), on Treble.
Shellac’s ‘At Action Park’ in Treble’s Hall of Fame
Posted in Album Reviews, Reviews with tags Bob Weston, Shellac, Steve Albini, Todd Trainer on 04/13/2025 by Kurt Orzeck
Shellac’s At Action Park was the consummately contrarian, anti-establishment record of the 1990s that didn’t belong in a record store’s hardcore bin. In many ways, the masterwork by Steve Albini, Bob Weston and Todd Trainer was the antithesis of every rock record that had come before it—a Paul Bunyan-size middle finger to the corporate machine regarded at the time as the enemy. Read my lengthy review of one of my favorite records ever for Treble, which inducted it into their Hall of Fame.
Pyramids’ ‘Pretty Pigs’ Single and Video: Two Cent Review
Posted in Album Reviews, Reviews with tags Pyramids on 04/12/2025 by Kurt OrzeckEver walk into a coffee shop and discover that four pigs are standing motionless behind the counter, holding pitchers half-full with milk, as patrons mindlessly guzzle it down by the glassful and a lonely guy sits by himself at a table, looking dejected and singing to himself? Apparently, Pyramids have (and David Lynch probably did too, RIP). That’s the visual that accompanies the melancholic, haunting electro-pop-rock precursor to the third album by the experimental Texas quintet:
They’re supposedly cutting that sound with black metal and God knows what else on the upcoming Pythagoras, but this song doesn’t back up that claim. It does, however, lay an unsettling groundwork for what’s to come.
Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs’ ‘Death Hilarious’: Two Cent Review
Posted in Album Reviews, Reviews with tags Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs on 04/06/2025 by Kurt Orzeck
Take note, fans of sarcastic, heavy noise-rock: Pigs x7 got yer back. Read my short review on Treble.
Sleigh Bells’ ‘Bunky Becky Birthday Boy’: Two Cent Review
Posted in Album Reviews, Reviews with tags Sleigh Bells on 04/06/2025 by Kurt Orzeck
For at least the second time, if not the third, Sleigh Bells make it clear that they’ll always be able to out-party Andrew W.K. Read my short review on Treble.
Glare’s ‘Sunset Funeral’: Two Cent Review
Posted in Album Reviews, Reviews with tags Glare on 04/05/2025 by Kurt Orzeck
Transfixing from start to finish, the debut full-length from South Texas shoegazers Glare is a dynamic, undulating audio portrait of the ups and downs of existence itself.
Go to FLOOD to read my full review.
The Bad Penny (beta) 