Lollipop Magazine

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.

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.

Desert Sessions – 9 & 10: I See You Hearin Me – Review

June 14, 2004

People involved: PJ Harvey, Josh Homme, Dean Ween, Twiggy Ramirez, Chris Goss, Josh Freese, Brian O’Connor, Joey Castillo, and more.

Broadzilla – Lady Luck – Review

June 14, 2004

A thuggish power trio that reminds me of Smell the Magic-era L7. I know, lazy to compare a female rock band to another, but the comparison is apt, I promise.

Can DVD – Review

May 23, 2004

Can DVD does what every band documentary hopes to do: It makes a longtime fan rediscover the albums he thought he knew inside out.

Keelhaul – Subject to Change Without Notice – Review

April 12, 2004

The combined heft and riffage of metal language, the dynamic precision post-core/math-rock shares with prog rock and the ability to jam several ideas into a composition keys this as actual songcrafted rock.

Blacktail – Styrofoam Island – Review

March 22, 2004

Blacktail reminds me of Keelhaul, if the mathy metal influence was replaced by a love of AmRep noisefuckery and/or Touch and Go-era Butthole Surfers.

Black Helicopter – That Specific Function – Review

March 22, 2004

Monstrously sluggish tempos, the thud-heavy, stuttering beats and ponderous basslines keeping more or less the same speed and emotional heft on every track as the guitars drone compellingly and the vocalist intones the words in a spoken monotone.

The Hidden – The Hymnal EP – Review

March 22, 2004

Seven edgy but catchy little numbers, the frenzied but slightly off-center energy of the band’s attack bringing to mind both Fugazi and Di’Anno-era Iron Maiden.

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.