This tasty little bit for today’s 7-Inch Corner is from the magnificently-named Empire! Empire! (I Was A Lonely Estate). Yes, that’s their full name. I know, it’s a mouthful. The Michigan-based  band’s Year Of The Rabbit 7-inch for some reason, reminds me a bit of a lullaby. A lullaby that’s both sweet but incredibly haunting as well, without trying too hard.

The title track is my personal favorite, and I can see this band developing a growing following. They take the best parts of indie, pop, and a touch of folk music to make their own unique sound, even as this sorta sound is getting popular these days. I’m pretty sure Empire! Empire! (no way in hell I’m remembering the whole name) are a name you’ll be seein’ later.

Tags: 7-Inch Corner, 7-Inchs, Album Review, Empire! Empire!, Review, record review by Costa
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Two weeks ago was one of those bad, bad weeks where it rained when I was on my bike and it seemed that everyone I knew was too busy for me. A good friend called and invited me to come see Blacklisted with her in NYC and I quickly agreed knowing that a good hardcore show would let me forget the bullshit if only for a few minutes. There is a lot of buzz regarding the band’s new album Heavier than Heaven, Lonelier than God (Deathwish), which is by far their most provocative and intensely emotional release to date.

Read more after the jump.

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Tags: Album Review, blacklisted, record review by Lily
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Three out of four ain’t bad. The Gaslight Anthem’s follow-up EP to their super-duper 2007 full-length Sink or Swim (XOXO) retreads much of the same grizzled, Jersey punk their fans have come to love. It works most of the time. The EP’s title track, however, sounds like a watered-down, hastily-written and recorded version of their stronger material. The “shake shake shake shake shake senora” comes too close to the triteness of Fall Out Boy telling everyone to “dance dance.”

Read more after the jump!

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Tags: Album Review, The Gaslight Anthem, record review by Leah
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I hate album reviews. Instead of going into indepth and long-winded sentences about the chord progressions of Generic Band A, I’d rather spotlight albums that I’ve been rocking the shit out of lately and talk about why I have been, well, rocking the shit out of them lately. It’s the record store geek mentality, what can I say? I’m not saying we won’t have our standard album reviews. I’m saying that I’d rather do this from time to time. So screw it, let’s go! So to clarify for those keeping notes, this isn’t an album “review” but rather an album “spotlight.”

Ok, I’ll admit it, up until recently, I really wasn’t the biggest fan nor did I have a clue about the genius of Nick Cave. Yes, I had a greatest hits collection on my iPod and I knew of a few Birthday Party songs here and there but that’s about it frankly. That has changed since hearing his latest full-length Dig, Lazarus, Dig!!! (Mute/Anti-). I was a fan of his Grinderman project and I think this is why I dig this version of Nick Cave so much more than his older stuff. Lazarus is filled with Cave’s usual dry wit and lyrics but the songs are much more bare-boned RNR. 

Follow after the jump for more.

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Tags: Album Review, Album Spotlight, Nick Cave And The Bad Seeds, record review by Matthew
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Great, another record that puts me to sleep. It’s ambitious. I can definitely give History’s Ghosts In The City that much. Unfortunately, that’s about it, because after a while the whole thing just seemed like one, really long song. I don’t know if it’s just because it’s not really my thing or some sort of inherent deal with this record, but the ambient post- -rock/electro leanings of Ghosts left me with an unfavorable impression.

Tags: Album Review, History, News, Review, record review by Costa
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