Settle
At Home We Are Tourists
By Travis Persaud

The title of Settle's debut album is a telling line. With their diverse sound it's safe to assume they often feel like visitors playing alongside genre-specific bands, or being on a label like Epitaph. But there's no indication of embarrassment over the 12-track album, which glides from power pop, à la early Ozma, to ballads complete with whistling ("Sunday, Morning After). The high points on this album come when they're able to combine their pop influences with aggression ("Kick. Win!) or deadpanned, indier-than-thou vocals ("Naked At A Family Function"). There's certainly enough choice over the 40-plus minutes to please most partygoers but not enough cohesion to breed true fanatics. File under "fun" on your iPod so expectations don't rise beyond that. (Epitaph)
Ganglians - Ganglians / Monster Head Room
The name Ganglians sounds like a discriminatory race of ugly aliens from Doctor Who. Or, you know, a nasty cyst. But they're actually a bunch of hairy dudes from Sacramento, CA that sound like the Beach Boys — had the Wilsons been holed up in unexplored caves instead of pretending they were s ...Read More
The Got To Get Got - Sahalee
After a few years of trying to make the band work from opposite coasts, the Got To Get Got have planted their flag in Halifax. Front-man Mark Mullane took his time looking for the now six other talented musicians, plus a few helpful guests. He began working on Sahalee three years ago with two ...Read More
311 - Uplifter
311 - Uplifter
Acid Mothers Temple and the Melting Paraiso U.F.O. - Lord of the Underground: Vishnu and the Magic Elixir
Amazing Baby - Rewild
Bent By Elephants - Bent by Elephants
The Black Fever - Romanticism
Bloodsport - Goodbye to the Holy Mountain
Boo Hoo - Don’t Die
Bowerbirds - Upper Air
British Sea Power - Man of Aran
Broken Records - Until the Earth Begins to Part
Cage the Elephant - Cage the Elephant
Cause Co-Motion! - Because Because Because
Cave - Psychic Psummer
Charm City Devils - Let’s Rock-N-Roll
Damion Soumi - Damion Soumi
The Dandy Warhols - The Dandy Warhols ARE Sound
Discovery - LP
The Fine Arts Showcase - Dolophine Smile
Flotilla - One Hundred Words For Water
God Help the Girl - God Help the Girl
Hayden - The Place Where We Lived
Howling Bells - Radio Wars
John Vanderslice - Romanian Names
Kasabian - West Ryder Pauper Lunatic Asylum
Kimya Dawson - Alphabutt
The Legends - Over and Over
The Lemonheads - Varshons
Liechtenstein - Survival Strategies in a Modern World
Manchester Orchestra - Means Everything to Nothing
Marcy Playground - Leaving Wonderland… In a Fit of Rage
Masha Qrella - Speak Low: Loewe and Weill in Exile
The Miles - Blood on the Blazer
Never Shout Never - The Summer EP
Oneida - Rated O
Pawa Up First - The Outcome
Pretty Vanilla - 7 Inches Deep
Reverie Sound Revue - Reverie Sound Revue
Settle - At Home We Are Tourists
Sounds - Crossing the Rubicon
The Sounds - Crossing the Rubicon
Still Life Still - Pastel
Sunset Rubdown - Dragonslayer
Tiny Masters of Today - Skeletons
Tom Brosseau - Posthumous Success
Tortoise - Beacons of Ancestorship
We Were Promised Jetpacks - These Four Walls
Wilco - Wilco (The Album)
Hostage Life - Centre Of The Universe
It's unfortunate the words "maturity" and "growth" are stigmas in the world of punk rock. They would be the perfect descriptors for Toronto, ON-based Hostage Life's tertiary release. Maintaining the adage that a band never realize their true potential until their third album, the quintet prove thems... Full Review
Cirque du Freak: The Vampire’s Assistant Dir. by Paul Weitz
In an interesting twist of Hollywood fate, Chris and Paul Weitz have entered the final stretch of 2009 each in control of a major vampire franchise built from the pages of popular young adult fiction.

From one half of the brotherly team who brought us American Pie and About ... Full Review
The Brütal Legend of Tim Schafer
Game designer Tim Schafer is not a well-known man, at least not to the mainstream. But like Buffy creator Joss Whedon, Schafer's a full-blown hero amongst the geek-pop set, his name synonymous with creative vision, critical acclaim, fervent fans and, alas, sub-par sales.... Read More
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