Grade 2- Talk About It (2026)
Posted by KB on 4/24/2026 to
Reviews In Brief
"Talk About It" gives nod to most of the better, influential punk artist; Clash, Rancid, Bouncing Souls, Against Me! Thrashing drums with a plethora of power chords and hard, meandering bass lines with all songs clocking in at under 3 minutes and pop hooks. Instead of railing against the man it mostly beseeches us to take care of ourselves and others. Punk can at times get monotonous with its unforgiving boom-boom-boom. Grade 2 has the booms, but their slight varying from song to song they keep it fresh.
Favorite Songs: Standing in the Downpour, Better Today, Talk About It, Don't Worry About Me
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Brown Horse- Total Dive (2026)
Posted by KB on 4/24/2026 to
Reviews In Brief
Brown Horse's sound is an amalgamation of Drive-By Truckers, Turnstile Troubadours and The Jayhawks. Just enough twang, Americana, dustbowl and brooding to appeal to most alt-whatever fans. Grungy guitars, wailing steel pedal and heartbeat drums frame the slacker-like vocals. "Total Drive" plays like a slow burn 70s western. It pays off for those with the patience to see how it blossoms.
Favorite Songs: Sorrow Reigns, Comeback Loading, Total Drive
Courtney Barnett- Creature of Habit (2026)
Posted by KB on 4/24/2026 to
Reviews In Brief
Ms. Barnett is one of music's current cleverest song writers. She describes her mental condition, whereabouts and ideologies in simple speak with her talking sing style. While "Creature of Habit" isn't her strongest ( which is "Sometimes I Sit and Think, and Sometimes I Just Sit" IMHO) it still deserves attention as it is still a good recording. It has a few toss offs and may require multiple listens for it to resonate, but it should, eventually. Barnett is a modern composer that we all should keep up with.
Favorite Songs: Stay In Your Lane, Wonder, Mantis, Same, Great Advice
Iggy Pop- Brick by Brick (1990)
Posted by KB on 4/23/2026 to
Reviews In Brief
"Brick by Brick" is the founding father of punk and attitude, Iggy Pop's, best solo effort. Hands down. This takes nothing away from the rest of his solid releases. It's just that "Brick By Brick" is killer from the first note of Home to the sincerity of being a champion for the every day man. The array of songs range from crazy in your face rockers to poppy throwbacks. It's unforgivingly brash and rude and also sweet- in an Iggy way. He's not spewing nonsense. He's spewing about homelessness, lost love and the underbelly of the world. His delivery and ad-libs show a range that didn't rear its head prior. He took his Stooges persona and finally honed and defined it to be unabashedly Iggy Pop.
Favorite Songs: Home, Candy, Neon Forest, Main Street Eyes, Butt Town
The Cure- 4-13 Dream (2008)
Posted by KB on 4/23/2026 to
Reviews In Brief
Underrated album. 4-13 Dream is better than you remember. There are songs that could have found a home on "Kiss Me.." or "Disintegration" or even "Head on the Door". Which I think is the problem that the critics and fans had. Which Cure was this? Smith mopes, growls and coos over swirling guitars and mood. I played this on Smith's 67th birthday recently without any expectation- I figured why go to the tried and true all the time- and I was very much pleasantly surprised. Cure fans dust this one off. It deserves more goth love.
Favorite Songs: Underneath the Stars, The Only One, Freakshow, Sleep When I'm Dead, It's Over
Bob Dylan- Empire Burlesque (1985)
Posted by KB on 4/23/2026 to
Reviews In Brief
Dylan's 80's discography has been panned for years. Yes there are a few clunkers but "Empire Burlesque" isn't one of them. Comprised of many "Infidels" rejects, it is a rough and tumble ride through love, despair and politics. Dylan was in the height of his nasally era where he just seemed to one-off songs here delivers the songs as if they mattered. Production was full with abrasive guitar and strong backing vocal and a good dose of echo. Those who have dismissed the Dylan 80's should pop this one on and relisten.
Favorite Songs: Tight Connection to My Heart (Has Anybody Seen My Love), I'll Remember You, Emotionally Yours, Dark Eyes
Cat Clyde- Mud Blood Bone (2026)
Posted by KB on 4/23/2026 to
Ontario's Cat Clyde sounds like she would fit nicely in a deep south greasy saloon but then could flip a switch to sit in at a coffee house open mic. Part chanteuse her quaver is personal and she's not afraid to let her voice travel to where it wants to go. The album boasts of well constructed songs with good use of highs and lows and moments where you could see her extend a song in the right environment demonstrating her variety.
Favorite Songs: Where is My Love, Hold My Hand, Another Time
Remember Sports- Refrigerator (2026)
Posted by KB on 4/9/2026 to
Reviews In Brief
Over the last 13 years Remember Sports has delivered consistent indie power pop-punk. Warbling vocals, thrashing to echo heavy guitars with lyrics that are rife with personal content. Each release gets tighter without losing its rawness. "Refrigerator" leans less into the thrashy and more into cleaner, more pointed execution. If you like "Refrigerator" then I suggest delving into their back catalogue.
Favorite Songs: Across the Line, Bug, Yowie, Soothing/Seething
Sonic Youth- Goo (1990)
Posted by KB on 4/8/2026 to
"Goo" is arguably the best Sonic Youth album with it's meticulous and melodic cacophony. No band has ever created dissonance so perfect with lyrics that are insightful and observant, not just punkish blather. After 26 years "Goo" holds up and should be the syllabus for all bands wishing to bend the constraints of music normalcy. You can do it with thought and -dare I say- structure. I doubt many fans would disagree (maybe they'd pick "Dirty") and I beseech those unfamiliar to rectify that immediately.
Favorite Songs: It must be listened to as a whole.
Langhorne Slim- The Dreamin' Kind (2026)
Posted by kb on 4/8/2026 to
Reviews In Brief
Full disclosure. Past Langhorne Slim releases have done little to excite me... until "The Dreamin' Kind". This album truly feels inspired. Feels like a Midwest town. One second it's raucous, foot stomping Americana, the next it's heartfelt, earnest and pure. The pacing keeps the listener's attention and it never wanes to background music. I may return to older releases to see if I missed something the first time around, but I'm quite glad I took a chance on this one.
Favorite Songs: Loyalty, Stealin' Time, Strange Companion, Haunted Man
