Lollipop Magazine

Bright Calm Blue – A Direct Approach For Casual Conversation – Review

March 15, 2004

Bright Calm Blue offers up pretty standard math-flavored indie-rock, which is to say it’s aggressive yet melodious, interesting yet formulaic.

Tyondai Braxton – Rise, Rise, Rise – Review

March 15, 2004

Tyondai Braxton has obviously escaped from the same refugee camp (as Parts & Labor), as evidenced by “Stand There,” the best song Parts & Labor never wrote and probably the highlight of the whole disc.

Tunnel of Love – Rock ‘N Roll Bitches – Review

March 15, 2004

They don’t play their instruments, they beat on them. The vocals are just different degrees of screaming. There are no solos, just a three-piece drum set and distorted, open chords.

Pestilence – Consuming Impulse – Testimony of the Ancients – Review

March 15, 2004

As part of the early-’90s jazz/death movement, Pestilence left behind four albums of pure progressive mindfuck that easily shames anything “technical” today.

Pensive – Something About the Stars – Review

March 15, 2004

There is something inherently stirring about that Billie Joe (of Green Day) virile slacker-collegiate sound certain singer boys seem to have, and Pensive has it.

Parts & Labor – Tyondai Braxton – Rise, Rise, Rise – Review

March 15, 2004

A Brooklyn three-piece. Most other reviewers have compared them to other art-rock bands, but those sorts of comparisons imply that they’re some sort of rip-off, which is patently false.

Nova Express – Gimme Some – Review

March 15, 2004

Four piece snarl/blaze classicist swagger rock. Real good singer, decent to damn fine tunes, and a clean, full recording.

Rob Falgiano – Things I Used to Know – Review

March 15, 2004

Rob knows how to write good pop with a touch of rockin’ country twang. He does it with energy and a smile, and throws in some gentle slow jazz sounds and even a little funk for good measure.

Railsplitter- 860 Some Odd Lbs – Review

March 15, 2004

The tough scaly underbelly of ’90s Southern grind (Eyehategod, Buzzoven) taken into a bikerish “don’t let’m grind you down” direction. Ex-Dragbody/Bloodshovel guys.

Helmet – Unsung: The Best Of (1991-1997) – Review

March 15, 2004

A long overdue retrospective of one of the most influential heavy bands of the last decade. This chronicles the almighty Helmet through their full-lengths Strap it On, Meantime, and (the criminally underrated) Aftertaste.