May 2005 – Page 11 – Lollipop Magazine

The Mad Caddies – Live From Toronto: Songs in the Key of Eh – Review

May 16, 2005

A great sampling of their five albums with Songs in the Key of Eh that, despite it being only audio, really has the energy of a live show.

Solace – Greatdayforup – Review

May 16, 2005

Solace are one of the best rock bands in the land, but due to almost comically bad luck, they’ve yet to reach the heights of which they’re capable.

The Donnas – Gold Medal – Review

May 16, 2005

Gold Medal, produced by Avril Lavigne’s co-conspirator Butch Walker, is an album devoid of any of the grit the band once possessed.

Saves The Day – Ups & Downs: Early Recordings and B-Sides – Review

May 16, 2005

They’ve gone from pop punkers to a melodic hardcore band to indie rock trendsetters, and their musical path is all captured on Ups & Downs…

Hello Goodbye – Review

May 16, 2005

Sweeeet drum machine beats and synthetic keyboard solos, ala old school Nintendo music with a dash of Ozma and a pinch of The All-American Rejects.

Drawn and Quartered – Return of the Black Death – Review

May 16, 2005

Around since the late ’90s playing pretty standard death metal: Guttural vocals, heavy downstroked guitar riffs, machine gun fire drum beats, etc.

Good Charlotte – The Chronicles of Life and Death – Review

May 16, 2005

Veering from their hook-injected punk to take an edgier, more eclectic approach, and their influences are obvious. A bizarre mix, because somehow, it works.

Greatdayforup – Solace – Review

May 16, 2005

Greatdayforup writes snappy and memorable songs, surprisingly so for a heavy rock band, and stomps the fuck out of them with a brutally heavy non-metal attack.

Sonata Arctica – Reckoning Night – Review

May 15, 2005

Guitar work is fantastic, the song-crafting is good. Power metal’s inherent cheesiness factor is present throughout. Like a bad guest, it overstays its welcome.

T. Raumschmiere – Blitzkrieg Pop – Review

May 12, 2005

Ya wouldn’t dare name yer album this without some head-bobbing yahoo on there. And T. Raumschmiere is no dummy. Not a showoff, not a wanker, he’s a madman.