Scotch Greens -
Professional: Sadly this folk-punk band no longer exists. Professional is a remarkable album in all accounts; some compare then to Flogging Molly, but I think the comparison, while well directed, is ill-founded since they draw far to much on the deep American south.
Rancid -
B-Sides and C-Sides: This is a very strong compilation of unreleased and bonus material from Rancid over the years. The only downside is the lack of a lyric booklet.
The Black Halos -
We Are Not Alone: A staple to the Vancouver punk scene for over ten years now and they've stayed true to their sound every step of the way. This is very unremarkable yet extremely solid punk-rock done right.
Murder By Death -
Red of Tooth and Claw: I've always loved everything by this indie-country band and this album is no exception. Overall I was hoping for something a little less familiar to their previous album, but it's solid addition to their discography none the less.
The Matches -
A Band In Hope: (get it?) Ever since
Decomposer I've come to never know what to expect from The Matches. Thankfully I have always come to expect something refreshingly original, and in this respect I can not plead disappointment.
Okkervil River -
The Stage Names: After listening to this album on the band's myspace for well over a month I finally picked it up. I'm not a big indie buff but I have found myself recently enjoying some of the more accessible entries into the genre.
Hot Water Music -
Till the Wheels Fall Off: A delightful assortment of (mostly rare) Hot Water Music tracks spanning their entire career. No surprises here, but then again I wouldn't want any either.
Anti-Flag -
The bright Lights of America: Another successful Anti-Flag album on a major label. many people claim that their new direction is watered down, and in many ways that's true. However, this is their catchiest album yet (which is a subject of debate in terms of quality), and the subject matter is as political as ever.
The Raconteurs -
Consolers of the Lonely: I'm not a huge fan of the white stripes, but I've always loved everything in Jack White's side project. Other than the first couple tracks (which are rather bland) this album provides a diverse experience with plenty f highs and lows.
We Are Scientists -
Brain Thrust Mastery: I can't say I've been all that impressed with We Are Scientists' followup effort. They've tried to be different from their old work, but in the process they lost that addictive indie dance punk feeling reminiscent of older Hot hot Heat records.
The Copyrights -
Learn the Hard Way: I'm fairly neutral to this release. On the one hand it provides a good dose of simple punk-pop, the way it should be. On the other hand there's not a whole lot of personal growth here for the band, which leaves me worrying about weather I'll enjoy their next release.
