Lollipop Magazine

T-Model Ford – Bad Man – Review

January 3, 2003

Bad Man is raw like a wound scrubbed with steel wool, jagged like the neck snapped from a bottle of Thunderbird ESQ, and chock full of soul and attitude.

Superdrag – Last Call for Vitriol – Review

January 3, 2003

Their newest release – their second on indie label Arena Rock (and fourth total) – is a shining beacon to all bands who think they know how to rock.

Sparta – Wiretap Scars – Review

January 3, 2003

Sparta has emerged from At The Drive-In’s cocoon soaring like a butterfly, its melodic wings tinged with bitter poetry and howling whirlwinds.

Sinners and Saints – The Sky Is Falling – Review

January 3, 2003

Former members of Blood For Blood, The Ducky Boys, Ten Yard Fight, and In My Eyes make a puzzling move towards arena rock.

Safety In Numbers – Build and Structure – Review

January 3, 2003

The side project of Hot Rod Circuit’s vocalist/guitarist Alan Jackson. As frontman again, he uses HRC’s formula and it works successfully on this debut.

Retisonic – Lean Beat – Review

January 3, 2003

From the ashes of Bluetip and Garden Variety comes Retisonic, a (formerly) two-piece that transforms its album title into effective practice.

Red Animal War – Black Phantom Crusades – Review

January 3, 2003

Black Phantom Crusades is not only the label’s most unique offering to date, it’s a victory in the often-regurgitated indie rock battlefield.

The Chase Theory – In Pursuit of Excellence – Review

November 22, 2002

Though only an EP, …In Pursuit of Excellence packs more chops, hooks, and production value than most indie labels’ entire rosters.

Slowride – Red Animal War – Split – Review

November 22, 2002

The two best non-emo bands on Deep Elm knock it out of the park on this split.

The Prom – Under The Same Stars – Review

November 22, 2002

Spine-tingling piano songs ala Ben Folds/early Elton John that – unfortunately – have California-earthquake-shaky singing all over ’em.