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REYAN ALI

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Eternal Summers | Correct Behavior

Kanine (2012)
Attempting to construct a simultaneously diverse and great record is a gamble.

By: REYAN ALI | July 03, 2012

Codeine’s careful rock returns to Boston

Slow burn
Bands named after drugs have a spotty history of making music that fits their substances.

By: REYAN ALI | June 26, 2012

Ty Segall Band | Slaughterhouse

In the Red (2012)
Even for a garage-rock record, Slaughterhouse is especially sloppy and overeager.

By: REYAN ALI | June 19, 2012

Liars | WIXIW

Mute (2012)
The sixth full-length from Brooklyn band Liars is an album in the sense that it's been recorded, has a release date, and is worth a review. But with so much improperly used space and so few tangible ideas, the result doesn't feel like an actual album as much as it does a decent demo.

By: REYAN ALI | June 05, 2012

Maps & Atlases stretch out their sounds

Creative canvas
The real joy of listening to Maps & Atlases' music doesn't come from how it sounds but from what it makes you see.

By: REYAN ALI | May 15, 2012

Japandroids | Celebration Rock

Polyvinyl (2012)
When I was a teenager who truly cared only for emotions-on-the-sleeve punk rock, I came up with the dumbest idea: if I ever reviewed records by breaking down individual categories (production, lyrics, whatever), I'd include a grade for "heart" or "passion."

By: REYAN ALI | May 08, 2012

Off! | Off!

Vice (2012)
The single coolest thing about OFF! being a supergroup of sorts is how they're nothing like a supergroup.

By: REYAN ALI | May 01, 2012

Delving into WU LYF’s world of mystery

C.Y.O.A.
Contemporary plugged-in life is a monument to excess.

By: REYAN ALI | April 24, 2012

Reptar get their dance party underway

Youth gone wild
Oblangle Fizz Y'all could refer to one of any number of things: the battle cry of a Martian zombie army, a brand of aardvark repellent only sold in a hardware store in Delaware, or the sound a robot makes when gargling.

By: REYAN ALI | April 10, 2012

Eternal Summers | The Dawn Of Eternal Summers

Kanine (2012)
The Dawn of Eternal Summers is being released by a small record company whose name starts with K.

By: REYAN ALI | April 10, 2012

Contemplating the self with Youth Lagoon

Poster child
Knowing what kind of wall hangings a musician had as a child doesn't always offer clues about his adult personality, but in the case of the Boise-situated creator of hazy pop project Youth Lagoon, Powers's posters provide handy visuals when listening to his song called— wait for it — "Posters."

By: REYAN ALI | March 27, 2012

Lissy Trullie | Lissy Trullie

Xenon/Downtown (2012)
Lissy Trullie sounds simultaneously hungry and tepid, as if Trullie wants to make a big splash, but her album lacks the conviction or vision to make it happen.

By: REYAN ALI | March 13, 2012

School of Seven Bells | Ghostory

Vagrant (2012)
To enter School of Seven Bells' world, you have to share their refined sense of beauty.

By: REYAN ALI | February 21, 2012

Band of Skulls | Sweet Sour

Electric Blues/Vagrant
Band of Skulls aren't innovators, and they probably won't ever be.

By: REYAN ALI | February 15, 2012

From nukes to necro with Toxic Holocaust

Thrash and glow
Once in a while, a name can conveniently give you an accurate sketch of what a band sounds like.

By: REYAN ALI | February 07, 2012

Spreading once again, The Darkness are back

Rendezvous
I don't remember where I was the first time I heard "I Believe in a Thing Called Love," but I do know that I hated it.

By: REYAN ALI | January 31, 2012

Grimes | Visions

Arbutus (2012)
The debut record from Grimes, an alias of the Montreal-based Boucher, kicks off the peculiarity parade by presenting song titles steeped in cutesy affectation.

By: REYAN ALI | January 31, 2012

A Place to Bury Strangers | Onwards to the Wall

Dead Oceans (2012)
Onwards to the Wall clocks in at 16 minutes and 35 seconds, and it could shatter into smithereens at any moment.

By: REYAN ALI | January 24, 2012

The Duke Spirit | Bruiser

Shangri-La Music (2011)
Don't be tricked by Bruiser's title. On album number three, the Duke Spirit are in no hurry to get into a scuffle.

By: REYAN ALI | January 17, 2012

The Toasters look back at early days of stateside ska

30-year-old skank
Despite its seminal role in the creation of first-wave UK punk, ska in America doesn't get no respect.

By: REYAN ALI | January 10, 2012

Doomtree | No Kings

Doomtree (2011)
As of this writing, no one on Last.fm has created a tag for "hyper-paced, ultra-smart, ultra-self-aware, futuristic, planet-hopping indie hip-hop."

By: REYAN ALI | December 06, 2011

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