(A&M, 2006) Snow Patrol’s fourth full-length, and second on a major label, is essentially what audiences have come to expect from the band - epic Coldplay-esque rock, soaring vocals, lovelorn lyrics, catchy melodies, and the occasional ballad. Starting with the first chorus of opener “You’re All I Have,” the band establishes what kind of […]

(Kemado, 2006) Okay, yeah. Lansing-Dreiden is an anonymous art collective that doesn’t just make music, they sculpt, write, paint, and do anything else that can be construed as art. That’s been beaten to the death all over the internet in discussion about the band and their latest record, The Dividing Island. But […]

(Kemado, 2006) The Fever know that, first and foremost, a good album must be interesting. Getting trapped in a genre is many bands’ worst nightmare, and their debut, 2004’s Red Bedroom, had them pegged as a dance-punk band just as the dance-punk revival was jumping the shark. There are any number of things […]

(71 Recordings, 2006) “I’m ready for my luck to turn around,” the phrase that gives the first song its title, is the clearly sung opening statement from singer-songwriter Marykate O’Neil on her new record. It’s unfortunate and ironic, really, because O’Neil is clearly not ready for her luck to turn around. Luck, as […]

(Equator, 2006) The Lovely Feathers’ debut is one of the best records of the year. There, I said it. The Canadian indie post-punkers have made a wonderfully energetic, bizarre, catchy, and downright fun album in Hind Hind Legs, and there’s no use denying it. The band’s success is tied largely to their […]

(Eenie Meenie, 2006) Death In The Garden, Blood On The Flowers is indie rock quintet Irving’s second full length album, and its first release since 2003’s I Hope You’re Feeling Better Now EP. Over the last several years, post-punky art rock has made a comeback of sorts, and that seems to suit Irving just […]