Tom Haugen

 Banner Pilot – Souvenir Though not as immediately memorable as their earlier work, these Minneapolis punks have greater lasting power on their most diverse album to date. If outfits like Jawbreaker, Against Me, Alkaline Trio, or Dillinger Four are in your interests, Souvenir should be, too.  Various Artists – While No One Was Looking: Toasting 20 Years Of Bloodshot Records The list of artists on this compilation is nothing short of mouthwatering, and the concept of the artists covering songs from the early days of Bloodshot Records is clever. Four of the best songs from the first Ryan Adams album are…

I think I could more easily make a list of the Top Ten Albums I Was Disappointed With this year than the ten I enjoyed. Of course, there was still truly great music released in 2013, but many of my most anticipated discs fell really short. With new albums from Banner Pilot, Against Me, Beck and a shelved Johnny Cash recording that is resurfacing, 2014 looks promising...  The Front Bottoms - Talon Of The Hawk One of New Jersey's finest, the quirky, clever, and funny indie rock here is as adventurous as it is memorable. You'll see this one on…

It sure did seem to me that a lot of average albums came out this year. Maybe it's the relative ease at which music can be recorded these days and the even easier way it can be released, but I often found myself thinking most band's full lengths would have been better off as four song EPs. Have we come to a point where the convenience of producing music has led to an abundance of mediocrity? Of course I only heard a fraction of the music that was released in 2012 and didn't spend any time with discs by Green…