Lollipop Magazine

Hatebreed – The Rise of Brutality – Review

June 28, 2004

While Jamey Jasta and the boys still lead the charge with fists out and heads down, it isn’t hard to notice the music has become a bit safer and toned down.

Halfway to Gone – Review

June 28, 2004

When attempting to describe Halfway to Gone’s sound, the initial impulse is to use the word “Southern.” Surprising for a group of New Jersey boys.

Subhumans – Live In A Dive – Review

June 21, 2004

UK Subhumans (now mostly members of Citizen Fish) have reformed on occasion to play live. The recording is pretty decent, and covers the range of their career.

Starsailor – Silence is Easy – Review

June 21, 2004

Silence Is Easy, the first album to feature Phil Spector production in 20 years, is Starsailor’s growth spurt, shooting them past most of their contemporaries.

Union 13 – Symptoms of Humanity – Review

June 21, 2004

Union 13 proudly holds up their East L.A. punk roots, performing the majority of songs in English, but their songs in Spanish are just as good.

The Vandals – Live At The House of Blues Anaheim – Review

June 21, 2004

There’s something very gratifying about seeing Josh Freese and Warren Fitzgerald squander their immense talents on a silly band, just to have a bit of fun.

The Start – Death Via Satellite – Review

June 21, 2004

The Gossip without the blues riffs, The Faint without the electro/Goth overtones, and The (International) Noise Conspiracy without the politics.

Pipedown – Mental Weaponry – Review

June 21, 2004

Winners of Duke Crevanator’s prestigious award for “Album that Contains the Largest Amount of Pseudo-Intellectual, Hypocritical Bullshit” for 2004.

Orquesta del Desterto – Dos – Review

June 21, 2004

Massed acoustic guitars, soulful vocals (Stahl is one of the best in the scene), and melodies that evoke the beautiful, wide-open swirl of a desert sunset.

Modey Lemon – Thunder + Lightning – Review

June 21, 2004

Young and full of themselves, so the hyperactive spuzz angle makes some sense, plus they seem to have put some thought into what they’re doing.