Invisible Guy has posted a very extensive track-by-track review of Volume 2 of the Swedish punk/hardcore comp series "Dimmorna Skingras": http://invisibleguy.wordpress.com/2012/06/30/va-dimmorna-skingras-vol-2/
Pitchfork reviews The Amazing's latest album "Gentle stream": http://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/16842-gentle-stream/
Pitchfork gives high marks to the Neneh Cherry/The Thing collaboration "The Cherry Thing": http://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/16756-the-cherry-thing/
Dusted gives high praise to the Neneh Cherry/The Thing collaboration "The Cherry Thing": http://dustedmagazine.com/reviews/7191
It appears that Pitchfork is open to reviewing 7"s now, that is if you are affiliated with critical-darlings Iceage: http://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/16817-walk-on-heads-ep/
Dusted reviews Finnish experimental sound artist Keuhkot: http://dustedmagazine.com/reviews/7202
Pitchfork reviews WhoMadeWho drummer Tomas Barfod's debut solo record "Salton Sea": http://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/16790-salton-sea/
Though I'm firmly in the camp of "who the fuck cares what that racist murderer Burzum says or does in 2012," Pitchfork has a fairly decent writeup of his latest record that also does a decent job of addressing his shittiness as a person head-on: http://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/16640-umskiptar/
Avant-garde Metal is not too impressed with the self-titled debut from Finnish occult-rockers Jess and The Ancient Ones: http://avantgarde-metal.com/content/beyond2.php?id=180
Sad to say that I'm in agreement; they're a good sounding band on the surface, but it's far too safe sounding and the songs are lacking. puts out a ton of amazing releases, but this is not one of them.
Pitchfork thinks The Hives' new album "Lex Hives" is way too slick: http://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/16703-lex-hives/
PopMatters is a bit disappointed by The Hives' new album "Lex Hives": http://www.popmatters.com/pm/review/159409-the-hives-lex-hives/
ZoopartyZooparty formed in Linköping, Sweden back in '05 and "You must be joking", their third release, is a contemporary pop-punk album that most old-school punks would be crazy not to love on first listen. It has the power and grit of 1970s UK punk with the hooks and slickness of 90s era skate punk. Two icons of the genre, Glen Matlock (Sex Pistols) and Brian James (ex-Damned), contribute their guitar chops to the first two songs respectively, with James appearing again on the final song. Having said that, there is no drop off in quality from track to track and I can't help but think these guest appearances are nothing more than a token of their blessings meant to give the album some extra publicity. Besides, Erik Pettersson, the so-called "creative genius" of Zooparty, more than holds his own when compared to his legendary counterparts. His style reminds me of a young Steve Jones, consistently churning out explosive, catchy riffs that pack plenty of muscle. Petterssons' vocals are exhilarating as well and have an upbeat, tongue-in-cheek charm. The quirky lyrics don't make much sense, but that doesn't lessen the impact of the music. They sound very authentic for a latter-day punk band too, probably because they play each song with such fervent energy and really seem to be enjoying themselves. They don't force it and therein lies the beauty; isn't that what punk was about in the very beginning?
- Doug Ahlgren
PopMatters gives a passing grade to Burning Hearts' latest record "Extinctions": http://www.popmatters.com/pm/review/158173-burning-hearts-extinctions/
Imperial State ElectricYep, I'm one of those closet nerds who owns pretty much every Hellacopters' output since "Payin' the dues" in '97. It always amazes me how one band I recently reviewed for IAT, borrowing the same 70's/80's references -- like the wailing Alice Cooper-Kiss riff thing -- can do it so wrong, while Nicke from The Hellacopters does it so right time and time again. Is it the vocals? I'm thinking that's part of it. Maybe even the guitar sound and makeup-less image. There's always some raw underbelly of punk behind it too, not to mention transcendent dueling guitar solos between a lefty and a righty and a highly educated sense of the blues. But you knew that already. Sure, Imperial State Electric sound like they're continuing on the more mature course of The Hellacopters' final releases, but after a decent debut in 2010, Nicke's once again enlisted his pals in Backyard Babies, The Datsuns and Captain Murphy to release yet another solid album. I wouldn't call it the best or most radical record we've seen this year and I have yet to find anything rivaling my favorite 'copters tunes, but it is hit-worthy and (more importantly?) party-friendly. And it's comforting to know that wise musicians are out there not deviating too drastically from what they do best. Huge respect to Nicke for continually slingin' out something new with something old.
- Ann Sung-an Lee
Pitchfork reviews the new Choir of Young Believers album "Rhine gold": http://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/16650-rhine-gold/
