Jon Bruhm

While everything that Detroit songman Brendan Benson writes may turn to gold, the notion is not extended to all that he touches. As the recorder and producer of the latest EP by Cincinnati’s The Greenhornes, he’s unable to unleash the magic. Then again, he didn’t have much to work with. Another passe band blatantly trying […]

HelmetSize Matters(Interscope)It’s been seven years since Helmet released a disc of dark and angry tunes. The newly reformed outfit is back, and madder than ever. A direct shot toward the nü-metal that’s tarnished the heavy metal genre, Page Hamilton and co. deliver fierce, driving cuts like “Crash-ing Foreign Cars,” “Enemies” and “Last Breath,” kicking balls-less […]

The Mark InsideStatic/ CrashMapleIn an age when bands are constantly, instantly pegged to specific genres, The Mark Inside defies all generalizations, straying from formulaic rock and taking a walk down an eclectic avenue. From the garage-rock anthem “Sweet Little Sister” to the highly danceable “Coming Back Under Attack,” the deep, bluesy “Dead Already” to the […]

A Perfect CircleaMotion(Virgin) Although their recent album of atrocious political covers was a complete flop, aMotion reaffirms A Perfect Circle as a creative powerhouse. The band places a heavy emphasis on the visual medium, with their videos and live show playing almost as important a role as the songs themselves, and their fusion of alt- […]

Bowling for SoupA Hang-over You Don’t Deserve (Jive)Just like your average teen film soundtrack, Bowling For Soup’s effort is full of bubblegum pop- punk and juvenile lyrics, and your mind might turn to mush if you listen to it on repeat. But it’s a surprisingly decent listen. Overplayed lead single “1985” has been known to […]

American Hi-FiHearts on Parade(Maverick)“Even losers can get lucky sometimes,” sings Stacy Jones on “The Geeks Get the Girls,” American Hi-Fi’s first single from Hearts on Parade. The former drummer of Letters to Cleo and Veruca Salt stepped out from behind the kit to front the pop-punk outfit, scoring a major hit with 2001’s “Flavour of […]

Kings of LeonAha Shake Heartbreak(RCA/BMG)Kings of Leon vocalist Caleb Followill said that Aha Shake Heartbreak contains songs about incidents that he’s ashamed of. This sentiment is passed on to listeners, who will feel the same way about wasting their time. The weakest sophomore effort (or lack thereof) since the Strokes’ Room on Fire, the band […]

Twilight SingersShe Loves You(One Little Indian)When he was in Afghan Whigs, it was no secret that Greg Dulli was a big fan of cover songs. With She Loves You, Dulli presents an album full of his favourite classics, from Fleetwood Mac’s “What Makes You Think You’re the One” to Björk’s “Hyperballad.” The acts he covers—from […]

ClutchRobot Hive/Exodus(Universal)In an era where bands are condemned by their genre through comparisons to other similar-sounding artists, Clutch is exempt from classification. It’s simply impossible to lump this band in with anyone else. Sure, some of its songs may prompt resemblances to The Black Crowes, Black Sabbath, Monster Magnet, Queens Of The Stone Age, Soundgarden […]