Lollipop Magazine

Bracket – Live in a Dive – Review

October 28, 2002

Alt-country licks, jazzed-up three-part vocal harmonies, unconventional chord progressions, served on a platter of mid-tempo power pop.

The Code – Alert Aware Involved – Review

October 28, 2002

Venomous ska-punk infused with metal and a little low-cal SoCal. That’s harmony minus sugar. Fierce shit that lazy folk will compare to Op Ivy and Rancid.

Orange Goblin – Coup de Grace – Review

October 28, 2002

The band is still writing heavy, aggressive rock and roll songs, and they’re playing them with the drunken swagger they deserve.

Armchair Martian – Who Wants to Play Boss? – Review

October 28, 2002

Jon Snodgrass returns with the usual revolving door of musicians to deliver yet another painfully honest, soulful, bruised-heart of a country-punk album.

Sunday’s Best – The Californian – Review

October 28, 2002

Making a break for pop territory like many of their (former) emo peers, Sunday’s Best reach their destination, unlike the rest of the herd.

Time Spent Driving – Just Enough Bright – Review

October 28, 2002

As played out as the whole Jimmy Eat World-clone thing is, some bands (like Time Spent Driving) still manage to wring out a decent album from the mold.

Thrice – The Illusion of Safety – Review

October 28, 2002

Thrice execute the goose bumps-givin’ minor shred riffs like closet Exodus fans and convey a flood of raw emotion seldom achieved with technical arrangements.

Sloan – Pretty Together – Review

October 28, 2002

Catchy, instinctual, feels good to sing along to, but strangely intellectual at the same time.

Slick Shoes – Review

October 28, 2002

Much like MxPx only faster, tighter, and generally not as annoying. Slick Shoes play NOFX-style punk, and mostly stopped praising God in their lyrics.

Yeah Yeah Yeahs – Master – Review

October 28, 2002

The problem with this record is that somewhere along the way, Yeah Yeah Yeahs forgot to rock.