The 11 eloquently imperfect recordings on hardcore punks Touché Amoré’s Spiral in a Straight Line harness the anger that shakes them to their core as they take aim at wishful thinking and our imminent demise. Go to FLOOD for my full review.
Archive for the Reviews Category
Touché Amoré’s ‘Spiral in a Straight Line’: Two Cent Review
Posted in Album Reviews, Reviews with tags Touche Amore on 10/12/2024 by Kurt OrzeckOranssi Pazuzu’s ‘Muuntautuja’: Two Cent Review
Posted in Album Reviews, Reviews with tags Oranssi Pazuzu on 10/10/2024 by Kurt Orzeck
Finnish avant-garde quintet Oranssi Pazuzu’s sixth album, Muuntautuja, is challenging from start to finish, managing to heap even more styles onto their mesmerizing blend of black metal and psychedelia. Go to FLOOD for my full review.
A Place to Bury Strangers’ ‘Synthesizer’: Two Cent Review
Posted in Album Reviews, Reviews with tags a place to bury strangers on 10/08/2024 by Kurt Orzeck
Each song on noise-rockers A Place to Bury Strangers’ seventh LP, Synthesizer, is distinct in style and substance, allowing Oliver Ackermann to tap into his emotional self as if looking through a slowly twisted kaleidoscope. Go to FLOOD to read my full review.
State Faults’ ‘Children Of The Moon’: Two Cent Review
Posted in Album Reviews, Reviews with tags State Faults on 09/17/2024 by Kurt Orzeck
The West Coast screamo quartet isn’t afraid to turn down the volume on an otherwise-blistering return to form with their most mature, expansive and explorative record yet. Read my FLOOD review for more.
TR/ST’s ‘Performance’: Two Cent Review
Posted in Album Reviews, Reviews with tags TR/ST on 09/11/2024 by Kurt Orzeck
Five albums and 15 years in, electronic wizard Robert Alfons seeks to start his musical endeavor anew—all the while wondering if a slate can be truly wiped clean. Read my full review of the latest album by his TR/ST project courtesy of FLOOD.
Man or Astro-Man?’s ‘ROYGBIV (Recordings From the BBC)’: Two Cent Review
Posted in Album Reviews, Reviews with tags Man or Astro-Man? on 09/10/2024 by Kurt Orzeck
Containing eight 7-inch singles and a bonus flexi disc of crisp recordings taken from Radio 1 performances throughout the ’90s, this box set embodies the spirit of the space cadets running amok. Read my full review of Man or Astro-Man?’s ROYGBIV (Recordings From the BBC) courtesy of FLOOD.
Midwife’s ‘No Depression In Heaven’: Two Cent Review
Posted in Album Reviews, Reviews with tags Midwife on 09/09/2024 by Kurt Orzeck
On her fourth solo outing under the ambient-slowcore moniker, Madeline Johnston reaches a state of enlightenment as she sounds totally confident about her identity as an artist. Read my review of Midwife’s No Depression in Heaven courtesy of FLOOD.
Decemberists’ ‘As It Ever Was, So It Will Be Again’: Two Cent Review
Posted in Album Reviews, Reviews with tags Colin Meloy, the Decemberists on 08/24/2024 by Kurt Orzeck
With As It Ever Was, So It Will Be Again, frontman Colin Meloy and his merry pranksters prove that all is not lost. Go to Music Connection for my full review of the Decemberists’ As It Ever Was, So It Will Be Again.
From The Vault: QOTSA End Year On A High Note; Josh Homme Reunites With Kyuss Singer In L.A.
Posted in Concert Reviews, Reviews with tags John Garcia, Josh Homme, Kyuss, QOTSA, Queens of the Stone Age on 08/13/2024 by Kurt Orzeck
As has been widely reported but woefully under-discussed in the national conversation about the future of news in the U.S. and around the world, Paramount recently vaporized the online archives of MTV News, which it owns. The vault included thousands upon thousands of news stories, artist interviews and other historically critical pieces of reporting created by me and my former colleagues at the culturally iconic organization.
Paramount’s surprise and shocking move marked the latest in a seemingly unending series of body blows against journalists and exemplified efforts by corporate America to eliminate the trade of journalism, which is already withering on the vine, altogether. (Read the best take on the matter by founder and all-around great guy Michael Alex on Variety‘s website.)
Continue readingFucked Up’s ‘Another Day’: Two Cent Review
Posted in Album Reviews, Reviews with tags Fucked Up on 08/12/2024 by Kurt Orzeck
With the aid of Mike Haliechuk’s ever-improving production, hardcore-punk group Fucked Up’s punchy sound practically jumps out of the speakers on their ferociously live-sounding seventh record. Read my full album review courtesy of FLOOD.
The Bad Penny (beta) 