Matt Arado

Matt Arado is an award-winning journalist and entertainment writer who lives in the Chicago area with his wife and two boys. He is also pursuing an MFA degree in creative writing at Columbia College Chicago. He kicks himself daily for never having seen Husker Du, Nirvana or the Jesus Lizard live on stage.

Recent

Pissed Jeans: Shallow (Reissue)

The 2005 debut by this Philadelphia noise-punk band sounds right at home in the fall of 2014.

Music

Purling Hiss: Weirdon

The latest from Philadelphia guitar wizard Mike Polizze gives voice to his catchy, pop-loving side.

Music

The Fleshtones: Wheel of Talent

Nearly four decades into their career, these veteran garage-rockers haven't lost their knack for creating catchy and infectious tunes.

Music

Milagres: Violent Light

There's a lot of beauty on the second album by this Brooklyn band, but the songs suffer from a museum-like coldness.

Music

Pontiak: Innocence

The prolific Virginia power trio delivers an album stocked with enough potent guitar riffs to overcome a few less than inspired ballads.

Music

Hank3: A Fiendish Threat

The latest punk effort from Hank3 takes a rustic approach to the genre, but the songs are more bland than bad-ass.

Music

Flume: Flume Deluxe Edition

The reissue of the acclaimed debut by Australian producer Flume offers enough strong new content for both fans old and new.

Music

Oozing Wound: Retrash

A Chicago trio delivers an exhilarating blast of sneering, snarling, punk-fueled heavy metal.

Music

Ha Ha Tonka: Lessons

This excellent indie quartet from Missouri broadens its sonic palette and creates its richest album yet.

Music

Holograms: Forever

Swedish post-punk revivalists deliver a few killer tracks, but then start to repeat themselves on their sophomore album.

Music

The Microphones: The Glow, Pt. 2

Sometimes, you just have to bow your head to the legions of fans and critics who love an album and respectfully say, "I'm sorry, but it's just not for me."

Music

The Julie Ruin: Run Fast

Feminist punk icon Kathleen Hanna is back with a great new band and sparkling new album.

Music

Come: 11:11 (20th Anniversary Edition)

An anniversary reissue of this Boston band's debut shows that the record's emotional, jagged guitar rock remains fresh and vital.

Music

The Baptist Generals: Jackleg Devotional to the Heart

Ten years in the making, the sophomore album from these Texas folk-rockers is a vibrant and eccentric listen.

Music

Rose Windows: The Sun Dogs

The debut album from Seattle's Rose Windows displays stellar musicianship but never quite breaks free from its classic rock influences.

Music

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