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Josh BerquistReviews
Eric Copeland: HermaphroditeBlack Dice member Eric Copeland's solo debut is a vivid spectrum of giddy delights. [8 October 2007] 
Concentrick: Aluminum LakeTim Green steps aside from The Fucking Champs to release an underwhelming album as Concentrick. [5 October 2007] 
Arthur & Yu: In CemeraArthur & Yu deliver a Lee Hazlewood-invoking debut that is wonderful beyond any expectation. [4 October 2007] 
No Age: Weirdo RippersSwirling static and shimmer into pulses of riotous pleasure, Weirdo Rippers positions No Age as one of the most buzz-worthy and buzz-inducing bands of the year. [26 September 2007] 
Namelessnumberheadman: Wires ReplyReturning way too late to capitalize on the acclaim from their last album, the unfortunately titled Namelessnumberheadman delivers a lackluster effort almost entirely absent of any ingratiating quality. [27 August 2007] 
Jandek: The Ruins of AdventureOne of the most insular and prolific artists ever returns with another unnervingly fascinating work. [19 July 2007] 
Trembling Blue Stars: The Last Holy WriterTwenty years into his career, Robert Wratten returns with another reliably disarming record. [27 June 2007] 
Je Suis France: Afrikan MajikSwelling to nine members, Je Sui France delivers a scattershot third effort of impressive ambition yet underwhelming impact. [14 June 2007] 
Lavender Diamond: Calvary of LightA modestly unlikely Matador signing, Lavender Diamond debut with a humbly humdrum introduction. [14 May 2007] 
Frog Eyes: Tears of the ValedictorianReining in the madness, Frog Eyes sacrifice too much of their enigmatic tension for the sake of refinement. [30 April 2007] 
Deerhunter: Fluorescent GreyDeerhunter's aptly titled Kranky debut Cryptograms earns its name moving from murky swamps of feedback and delay into shimmering swirls of crystalline hooks. [17 April 2007] 
Rock Plaza Central: Are We Not Horses?Inspired by an elaborate concept, this breakthrough album is a homespun epic of humble origins and unbridled imagination. [11 April 2007] 
Various Artists: Imagine the ShapesWhat's Your Rupture? compiles their prior releases for a rollicking album full of infectious angst and giddy angularity. [2 April 2007] 
New Young Pony Club: New Young Pony ClubNew rave really isn't as striking as its prefix suggests. Not so much a revolution as a refinement, the movement as of yet is at most merely the more moneyed and sassy little sister to dance-punk. [16 March 2007] 
Love of Diagrams: Love of DiagramsOnce Love of Diagrams manage to unhinge their voices while keeping a lock down on the groove, their impact will be unnervingly devastating. [4 March 2007] 
Pas/Cal: Dear SirOver the past four years, Pas/Cal has been turning out an intriguing series of EPs. [2 March 2007] 
Tall Firs: Tall FirsEschewing any taint of the term "freak", New York trio Tall Firs are forging a different take on contemporary folk. [1 March 2007] 
Pink Nasty: Mold the GoldSara Beck is asking a lot of any listener. First they have to get through the unpleasantness of her performing name, Pink Nasty, and then they have to contend with some willfully divergent shifts in style. [28 February 2007] 
Dean & Britta: Back NumbersBouncing back from Luna's breakup, Dean Wareham and Britta Phillips return with an incredibly strong set of new songs and obscure covers. [19 February 2007] 
Menomena: Friend and FoeAfter a striking debut, Menomena return with a dumbed down follow up that fails to capitalize on their strengths. [23 January 2007] 
Working for a Nuclear Free City: Working for a Nuclear Free CityWorking for a Nuclear Free City debuts with an album of impressive scope, albeit not entirely flawless execution. [10 January 2007] 
Holy Shit: Stranded at Two HarborsWith a crackling collection of shambolic pop, Holy Shit prove as endearingly sophomoric as their name. [3 January 2007] 
The Blow: Paper TelevisionThe Blow dumb down, reach out, and rise up with their strongest effort yet. [6 December 2006] 
Annuals: Be He MeAt best an ambitious amalgamation of impeccably curated influences, Annuals' debut fails to endear or distinguish itself. [12 November 2006] 
The Plastic Constellations: CrusadesSacrificing feel for precision, The Plastic Constellations deliver a lackluster album full of overwrought prowess and too many missed chances. [23 June 2006] 
Sunset Rubdown: Shut Up I Am DreamingSpencer Krug steps out from under the shadow of Wolf Parade to shine a light on his more morose and introspective inclinations. [11 May 2006] 
Young People: All at OnceAs much as I may like Young People, I really wanted to love them. An uninspiring new album makes that much more difficult. [7 April 2006] 
New Buffalo: The Las Beautiful DaySparse and subdued, New Buffalo's debut eases on by in a waft of pleasantness without any lingering sense of significance. [28 March 2006] 
The Howling Hex: You Can’t Beat TomorrowRestructuring his Howling Hex, Neil Michael Hagerty records a variety show pilot and releases it alongside a slapdash assortment of unassumingly brilliant avant-Americana. [15 March 2006] 
Various Artists: New York Noise 2Soul Jazz goes back downtown to unearth another impressive collection of no-wave, mutant funk, and other assorted dissonance from either side of 1980. [14 March 2006] 
Goblin Cock: Bagged and BoardedPinback's Rob Crow turns in a refreshingly earnest take on metal that eschews obvious sarcasm for outright headbanging. Rock out with your Goblin Cock out. [11 January 2006] 
Kiss Me Deadly: Misty MedleyPoorly produced but inspired and distinct, Kiss Me Deadly debut with an album full of skipping romps and screaming joy. [4 January 2006] 
Guided By Voices: The Electrifying Conclusion [DVD]Guided By Voices say goodbye with a four-hour finale full of fans, friends, and inebriation. [9 December 2005] 
Delia Gonzalez & Gavin Russom: The Days of MarsStrip away all the fun from LCD Soundsytem, extricate the funk from The Juan Maclean, put Black Dice on downers, and what's left? DFA's most leftfield manifestation yet. [7 December 2005] 
The Fall: Fall Heads RollPunk's last lone standing band of any repute returns with an infectious record that secures their certain doom. [30 November 2005] 
Tom Vek: We Have SoundA front-loaded but funky frolic makes for one hell of a debut with an impressive lack of lulls and lows. [10 November 2005] 
The Double: Loose in the AirBalancing destruction with delight, The Double delve deeper into accessibly experimental rock. [2 November 2005] 
Black Dice: Broken Ear RecordS&M, sex with robots, and something else about the efficacy of sound. [7 October 2005] 
Why?: Elephant EyelashWith so many references to semen, suicide, and jerking off, how could this be anything but one of the best records of the year?" [6 October 2005] Arthurfest: Day 2After such an explosive first day how could Arthur and friends possibly round things out? Early on, I began to question when and where this thing would really start happening again... of course it would... [3 October 2005] Arthurfest: Day 1An impossibly perfect convergence of inspired artistry and unconventional aesthetics…. and delicious ice cream too... [30 September 2005] 
Devendra Banhart: Cripple CrowExceeding expectations, Devendra outdoes himself and most of his generation. [12 September 2005] 
Palaxy Tracks: Twelve RoomsVia Chicago, these Austin boys make good but not great. [31 August 2005] 
The Jim Yoshii Pile-Up: Picks Us ApartYou don't have to kill yourself to enjoy this record, but it certainly helps to try. [12 August 2005] 
Federation X: Rally DayExactly who is Dirty Bill and why doesn't he seem to give a damn?" [5 August 2005] |
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