Album Reviews

Album Review: Boy & Bear – Limit of Love (2015 LP)

Boy & Bear are river-boat slow, that kind of deceptively smooth-flowing pace that looks calm and languid on the surface but is moving quite fast underneath. The Sydney folk-rock quintet’s third album Limit Of Love cruises along easily, keeping a lively enough pace that it doesn’t sink into the doldrums. It is, in short, a…

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Album Review: Neon Indian – Vega Intl. Night School (2015 LP)

The highly praised tribal leader of indie synth returns with his first album in four years. We’re of course talking about Neon Indian and his long awaited LP Vega INTL. Night School, officially available this Friday. Firstly – I need to know: how does one attend this night school? Because they will teach you all…

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Album Review: Ryan Adams – 1989 (2015 LP)

There are many things in life that most people would deem to be unnecessary. Examples of these include public transport that doesn’t work, hot cross buns that look like choc-chip but are actually sultana, and now Ryan Adams’ cover album of Taylor Swift’s 1989. To set the precedent for this review, I personally consider a cover…

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Album Review: Art vs Science – Off the Edge of the Earth and Into Forever, Forever (2015 LP)

Art vs Science are back. And before you go jumping down my throat with the ‘they didn’t go anywhere!’s, the truth is that they did. Regardless of how well received their 2014 EP was, you cannot deny that the Sydney trio at one point trod a tightrope hovering over either falling into a party jam…

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Album Review: CHVRCHES – Every Open Eye (2015 LP)

Scottish electronic trio CHVRCHES received quite a bit of attention from their 2013 debut record The Bones of What You Believe; a highly sporadic record that caught on with ravenous hooks of electronic beats and indie elements, becoming a gamechanger for the alternative scene. With the trio’s sophomore release Every Open Eye, CHVRCHES have created a perfect follow-up: something…

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Album Review: Parkway Drive – IRE (2015 LP)

If there’s anything to go by with today’s metalcore scene, it’s safe to say that some bands have reached a plateau in regards to creativity and sound. After listening to Parkway Drive‘s IRE, this record is truly a cathartic approach to what has been firing them up lately. From politics to the cruel things happening around the…

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Album Review: The Co Founder – Old Programs/New Beliefs (2015 EP)

Meet Hayden Eller. The man behind the music project, The Co Founder and an artist that has produced a moving EP titled Old Programs/New Beliefs. Using his own equipment to produce and mix his own material, Eller shows a fiery passion that has made him create songs that resonate quite well with the raw and honest acoustics. Even…

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Album Review: Gary Clark Jr. – The Story of Sonny Boy Slim (2015 LP)

It often takes a few listens to get into a song, but there’s no denying the sweet moment of that feeling like you’ve heard a new song before. Gary Clark Jr. oozes familiar, old-school sentimentality among creative production, and his latest record The Story of Sonny Boy Slim will delight most and move many. Even…

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Album Review: Lifehouse – Out of the Wasteland (2015 LP)

I’ve always had a soft spot for Lifehouse. Having grown up with the band during my teenage years and listening to records such as No Name No Face, Stanley Climbfall, Who We Are and Smoke & Mirrors, I loved how intimate and honest the songs they created back then and it created a wonderful space of comfort whenever I needed something…

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Album Review: Bring Me The Horizon – That’s The Spirit (2015 LP)

Officially confirmed as seventh act for next year’s Soundwave Festival, much hype has surrounded UK metalcore giants, Bring Me The Horizon, with the announcement taking place on release day of their latest LP, That’s The Spirit. It’s interesting to see how the band have developed over time, looking at their past roots of deathcore in Count Your Blessings and Suicide…

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Album Review: Atomic Tom – ERA (2015 LP)

Taking three years to record, mix and produce, alternative rock/pop outfit, Atomic Tom bring a whopper of a release with their latest offering, ERA. Creating a record themselves surely wasn’t easy, however the passion and optimistic tunes that are on this record are sterling. With the band residing from Brooklyn, New York, it’s safe to say they were…

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Album Review: Ocean Carolina – Maudlin Days (2015 LP)

It’s easy to assume that all bands start off with an influence of some sort. Whether it’s from the music they grew up listening to or the people that have influenced them to start their own band, there is no conventional way of making music; you simply do it because you love it. Carrying over…

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Album Review: Miguel – Wildheart (2015 LP)

Miguel has been setting the bar high with his music. For someone that has a striking ability to apply himself, Wildheart is a sophisticated work of art. Since 2012’s Kaleidoscope Dream, his experimentation with rock music has glued together his songs quite nicely, and the music on this record is no exception. The transition from his slick and contemporary…

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Album Review: Brigades – Indefinite (2015 LP)

Pure Noise Records seem to be pulling out some decent bands in their roster and Brigades was one I kept my eye on. With their fusion of pop punk and hardcore elements mixed together, I was drawn by their music as soon as I stumbled upon their EP, Crocodile Tears and damn was it good. But with their latest…

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Album Review: Counterparts – Tragedy Will Find Us (2015 LP)

The Difference Between Hell and Home was a solid album and Canadian melodic-hardcore outfit Counterparts succeed once again with their latest offering of Tragedy Will Find Us. What strikes as impressive from this band is their ability to make their songs intriguing. Instrumentation in each track is different than the last and each lyric pins right to the core…

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Album Review: Art of Sleeping – Shake Shiver (2015 LP)

I remember coming across Art of Sleeping while lurking through YouTube. Songs like “Colourblind” and “Breathe” blew me away with their incredible sound, having a strong focus on their acoustic and alternative rock roots. I had a feeling that this band would go places but unfortunately their debut album, Shake Shiver felt like a step backwards for the them….

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Album Review: Northlane – Node (2015 LP)

Northlane are one of the heaviest bands known to Australia and the rest of the world. After their career as a band finally taking off in 2011 since their release of Discoveries, it’s become clear that they are just thriving with passion and energy. After the departure of original frontman, Adrian Fitipaldes, ex-vocalist of Sound of Seasons, Marcus Bridge has since…

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Album Review: Normie Rowe – Frenzy! The 50th Anniversary Collection (2015 LP)

There’s two ways you can look at an album like Frenzy! The 50th Anniversary Collection when you plan to review it – either as an album for fans of Normie Rowe‘s music or as an opportunity to expand his music base. Whichever way you look at it, he’s music royalty with an amazing career behind…

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Album Review: Jasmine Rae – Heartbeat (2015 LP)

Jasmine Rae has accomplished a lot in her career since taking out the top prize at Telstra Road to Tamworth in 2008. As a fan of the three-time ARIA-nominated and two-time CMC Music Award winner’s previous albums; Look It Up, Listen Here and If I Want To respectfully, I was excited to hear the new…

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this wild life clouded atmosphere edition

Album Review: This Wild Life – Clouded: Atmosphere Edition (2015 LP)

At the beginning of this year, the pop-punk acoustic duo of This Wild Life made an appearance at Soundwave Festival and needless to say – they held a fantastic set! I remember coming across one of their acoustic covers of A Day To Remember’s “If It Means A Lot To You” and the brilliance of the acoustic vibes that resonated in…

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Album Review: Adam Lambert – The Original High (2015 LP)

Adam Lambert, the runner-up for the eighth season of American Idol, returns; following the success for his first two albums For Your Entertainment and Trespassing and now, the commercial success of his latest single “Ghost Town”. I take a listen to his third album The Original High.

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Album Review: The Getaway Plan – Dark Horses (2015 LP)

If there’s one thing I admire about The Getaway Plan, it’s their resilience that has brought them a successful and flourishing music career. Since the crowdfunding of Dark Horses started, it’s pretty amazing to have seen so much support that was brought by their loyal fanbase. The band made a brave decision on leaving their record label because…

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Album Review: Ta-Ku – Songs To Make Up To (2015 EP)

Within the first few seconds, Perth producer/entrepreneurial barber Ta-Ku has put you into a smoothly lush atmosphere. Displaying his power over composition, Songs To Make Up To is a blissful flow of samples and vocals that evolves so naturally that it goes beyond pleasurable listening. Eliciting such a level of emotion where only half the…

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Album Review: Josh Groban – Stages (2015 LP)

Josh Groban has already proven himself as a capable theatre performer, playing Anatoly Sergievsky in Chess at the legendary Royal Albert Hall along with the London Philharmonic Orchestra and the West End Chorus. So perhaps it’s of little surprise that Stages, his seventh album, is full of songs from the world of musical theatre. It’s…

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Album Review: Dawes – All Your Favorite Bands (2015 LP)

Winter time is the season where you’re prone to feeling down and uninspired. There’s only so much gloomy weather you can handle and this affects the way you work and your mood. It becomes a groveling chore to even get out of bed because of the unforgiving cold that is felt through your skin. Suffice…

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Album Review: The KVB – Mirror Being (2015 LP)

With a handful of impressive LPs and EPs to their name, London duo The KVB have just released their first full length instrumental album Mirror Being on Invada Records. I remember that they first piqued my interest back in 2013 when they toured Australia with the Brian Jonestown Massacre and was so blown away by…

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Album Review: Young Guns – Ones and Zeros (2015 LP)

UK-based alternative rock band, Young Guns are in my opinion, underrated in the scene of music they are already in. To see them go at great lengths with their last two studio records while maintaining a loyal fanbase is an achievement itself. The last time I saw the band live was back in 2012 when they were…

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Album Review: Pennywise – Yesterdays (2014 LP)

Pennywise have been around for ages and it’s amazing to think that they have been one of the influential bands that have shaped the punk rock scene of today. For their music to still mean something, says a lot about their reputation. Being a band for over twenty years and having eleven studio albums, this is…

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from first to last album art dead trees

Album Review: From First To Last – Dead Trees (2015 LP)

Lineup change for a band can impact their musicianship and when looking back at the band’s history, Dead Trees isn’t a strong comeback album from post-hardcore outfitters From First To Last. Comebacks normally mean power and success but it’s hard to ignore the weak points this album encompasses. Some tracks capture a strong reunion within the band and…

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Album Review: Zac Brown Band – Jekyll + Hyde (2015 LP)

Before I get to my thoughts on the album I firstly want to say that even though I’ve never found lead singer/guitarist Zac Brown to be a handsome man and I often don’t say this, but I love the cover art and dare I say, he even looks a bit powerful and attractive on the…

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