The Dingees — Sundown to Midnight

8/10 The Dingees return with an album sprouting not too far down the branch from their previous one. Sundown to Midnight features more melding of punk and reggae with touches of dub and ska. It is noticeably darker than it’s predecessor (hey, “Midnight” is in the title!) but continues that album’s themes of street life

The Dingees — Armageddon Massive

8/10 The Dingees’ Armageddon Massive is a fun and highly enjoyable melting pot of punk and reggae splashed with touches of ska and dub. Despite the fact that there are more bands today than ever, you just don’t hear this sort of music anymore. Thank goodness this debut isn’t The Dingees only album. The band’s

The Devil Wears Prada — Dead Throne

7/10 I rarely buy an album just because the cover looks awesome, but in the case of The Devil Wears Prada’s Dead Throne, I made an exception. I’d heard a little of the band before, thought they sounded like generic screamo, and ignored them. Any band who can get Dan Seagrave to paint something that

The Devil Wears Prada — Zombie EP

7/10  The Devil Wears Prada are a sort of screamo-metal band. By that I mean they play heavy music with a bunch of breakdowns, have a screamer, and have a guy who sings high-pitched, computer-touched vocals. The band also has a keyboard player to add additional layers and texture to their sound. Zombie EP is

Derek Webb — I See Things Upside Down

?/10 Derek Webb’s I See Things Upside Down is a difficult album. It is difficult musically. It is difficult lyrically. It came out eight years ago, and I’m still stuck on it. Webb has released five albums since, and I haven’t been able to move on to them. I’ve been struggling to even write a

Derek Webb — She Must and Shall Go Free

8/10 After a successful songwriting career with the band Caedmon’s Call, Derek Webb ventures out alone with She Must and Shall Go Free. Webb states in the album’s first track that he’s “a dangerous crusader.,” which could sound arrogant, but states immediately afterward, “because I need to tell the truth/So I’m turning over tables/within my

Depeche Mode — Violator

6/10 When I was a preteen, my life was pretty simple. Feed my fish. Go to school. Build up to Saturday. Watch Doctor Who on PBS Saturday night.I don’t mean the new, orchestral score-blasted Doctor Who (no offense).I mean the Moogy, scarfy one.Anyway, one day I rode out to Baton Rouge with two of my

Denison Mars — Then Is the New Now

7/10 Solid rock album featuring strong vocals, good instrumental work, and excellent lead guitar lines. Then Is the New Now is a fine example of the early 00’s ridiculous wealth of good Christian rock albums (with several coming from Denison Mars’ home, Floodgate Records), but it could have benefited from beefier production and a little

Demon Hunter — True Defiance

8/10 After two albums that didn’t quite live up to their legacy, Demon Hunter return with their best work in seven years, True Defiance.True Defiance features well-written songs, performed passionately and with skill. From the attitude and spirit of “Crucifix”‘s garage-quality intro, it’s clear that Demon Hunter are making a statement. And while I could

Demon Hunter — The World Is a Thorn

7/10 After an album that ventured a little too far into pop territory, metal vanguards, Demon Hunter, return with some of their heaviest work yet. But while The World Is a Thorn is enjoyable overall, it features a new set of problems that lower it to the same level as its predecessor, and put it