Archive for the Album Reviews Category

Armlock’s ‘Seashell Angel Lucky Charm’: Two Cent Review

Posted in Album Reviews, Reviews with tags on 07/18/2024 by Kurt Orzeck

Melbourne duo Armlock opt for the less-is-more approach to heartfelt lyricism and layered instrumentals to deeply affecting results on their all-too-brief second record. Read my full review via FLOOD.

Idaho’s ‘Lapse’: Two Cent Review

Posted in Album Reviews, Reviews with tags on 07/17/2024 by Kurt Orzeck

Idaho is best known for producing more potatoes than anywhere else in the U.S. In recent decades, it’s become so red that Idaho is now neck and neck with Mississippi as the most right-wing state in the Union. Idaho boasts the most miles of rivers than anywhere else in the country. The majority of its residents are virulently anti-government land conservationists not just suspicious of but resentful toward anyone who isn’t a third-generation Idahoan or older. Along those same lines, what today’s Idahoans feel more strongly about than anything else is their pure, white-hot hatred of Californians. 

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Bangladeafy’s ‘Vulture’: Two Cent Review

Posted in Album Reviews, Reviews with tags on 07/11/2024 by Kurt Orzeck

Bangladefy‘s Vulture reflects a band that, now 15 years old, still isn’t focused on what its two members want their endeavor to be. Read my full review via New Noise.

Huntsmen’s ‘Dry Land’: Two Cent Review

Posted in Album Reviews, Reviews on 07/11/2024 by Kurt Orzeck

Huntsmen expand their sound in such tantalizing fashion that their previous two full-lengths seem so small in comparison. But The Dry Land still misses the mark. Read my full album review via New Noise.

Perchta’s ‘D’Muata’: Two Cent Review

Posted in Album Reviews, Reviews with tags on 07/10/2024 by Kurt Orzeck

The second full-length by Austria’s Perchta is a so-called feminist manifesto—and one of those rare records that not only accomplishes said feat but does so with glorious results. Read my full review via New Noise.

Alcest’s ‘Les chants de l’aurore’: Two Cent Review

Posted in Album Reviews, Reviews with tags on 07/09/2024 by Kurt Orzeck

After a five-year wait, the French blackgaze duo explore the gamut of human emotions as they clear the high bar they’ve set for themselves on their six previous post-metal releases. Read my full review of Alcest‘s Les chants de l’aurore (Nuclear Blast) via FLOOD.

DIIV’s ‘Frog In Boiling Water’: Two Cent Review

Posted in Album Reviews, Reviews with tags on 06/19/2024 by Kurt Orzeck

After laying the smacketh down at a killer show in Boise last week, DIIV will continue supporting their latest album, Frog in Boiling Water, with more tour dates through the rest of the year. And for good reason: Post-rock doesn’t get much better than their latest material. Read my full review on FLOOD.

Babe Report’s ‘Did You Get Better’: Two Cent Review

Posted in Album Reviews, Reviews with tags on 06/18/2024 by Kurt Orzeck

More punk in spirit than in sound, Chicago group Babe Report’s lo-fi debut, Did You Get Better (Exploding in Sound), is endearing if also a bit impatient as they keep things loud, fast, and heavily distorted. Read my full review on FLOOD.

Dusk’s ‘Industrie’: Two Cent Review

Posted in Album Reviews, Reviews with tags on 06/18/2024 by Kurt Orzeck

Dusk, an atmospheric black-metal project from Costa Rica, expect the world to end. But rather than trying to pretend what they believe will happen actually won’t, Dusk seem to have decided to challenge and entertain themselves during the time we all have left. Read my review of their new album, Industrie, courtesy of New Noise.

French Cassettes’ ‘Benzene’: Two Cent Review

Posted in Album Reviews, Reviews with tags on 06/13/2024 by Kurt Orzeck

The San Francisco quartet hits the perfect balance of intimacy and exhibitionism on their short-but-sweet third album of harmony-based indie pop.

One can imagine that, when French Cassettes listened to the final result of their third album, Benzene, the band members quickly realized they were onto something special

Check out my full review of French Cassettes’ brand-new record, Benzene, on FLOOD.