Louisville pals Endpoint and Sunspring pay a surprisingly serious tribute to the music of Rick Springfield. Read more, listen to Endpoint's "Jessie's Girl," and download the full 7" with artwork here.

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Roosevelt's Inaugural Parade broke through the gender barrier to create post-hardcore that was both pensive and surging. Click to learn more and listen to "Darkened Sky" from the band's 1995 7".

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Kansas City's Boy's Life was the flag bearer for a young emo subgenre. Click over to listen to "Worn Thin" from the band's 1993 split 7" with Giant's Chair.

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In 1994 Crank! Records paired Boy's Life with Topeka's Vitreous Humor for a powerful slab of vinyl. Stop in and listen to Vitreous Humor's classic "Why Are You So Mean to Me."

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Calvin Krime's Kids Incarcerated 7" toned down the math, up'd the tension, and completely blew my mind. Listen to "Blood Flows Slow (Fight Song)" and see what I mean.

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Calvin Krime's Pretty in Pink 7" would have made my best releases of 1995 list if I had made one. This EP is an excellent slab of midwestern mathrock, and you owe yourself a listen.

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Proudentall's first 7" exemplifies the band's roots as a complicated and mathy quartet. Listen and find out why I fell in love with this band in 1997.

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Paper Brigade Records documented a slice of the Kansas City scene with this 1998 split 7" featuring The Anniversary and Proudentall.

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Figdish was a fantastic Chicago power-pop band swept up by the majors in the mid 90s. This week I ripped a 7" the band recorded for Happy Tails Records in 1993.

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Wanna hear a story about strange visitors and an all-girl pop band from Champaign? Or maybe you just want to download the Corndolly 7" that I riped this week. Either way, click on.

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I may be a little late, but here is my top 20 songs of 2007. Is my list just as arcane as everyone elses? Find out for yourself.

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Thanks to the magic of my new USB turntable, ripping 7"s to my computer is now a breeze. I'd like to share my good fortune with everyone. We start off with The Big Wheel by Chicago's 8 Bark.

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Ferocious Mopes is the third release from Eric Elbogen's Say Hi To Your Mom project. Its balance of indie intimacy, geeky wit, and big production, makes it a clear winner in the recent bedroom pop glut.

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While Cory Wilkerson of the Andersonville area of Chicago slept, I stole his CDs. Click below to find out why I grabbed each of them and if it was worth it.

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"Something about Sluts and Vampires" is the best band name you've heard in years, but can the band's blending of post-punk and electronic beats live up to their grand moniker?

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Boston's The Douglas Fir return to the early 90s britpop era, meld it with late 80s American Alternative, and create something entirely old fashioned and nostalgic. Click to find out if you should care.

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How do you feel about sensitive solo projects from washed-up indie rockers? Check out my thoughts on Mike Kinsella and his latest release, (the ep) as Owen.

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Brilliant mathy, post-rock goodness or self-indulgent, repetitive, soulless, tuneless, posturing? I say both.

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A strange collection of moods, tones, and styles created by a campy world traveler.

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On March 27th I sat down with the blokes from Clearlake to ask what it takes to be "the quintisentially British band."

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Sometime in the Winter of 01/02 I did a roundup of Kansas City bands I called KC Demo Days. Go ahead, visit the archives.

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Older reviews follow below:
The Life and Times The Flat End of the Earth
The Red Hot Valentnes Summer Fling
His & Her Vanities s/t
Rainer Maria Long Knives Drawn
Pele Enemies
Aloha Sugar
Elvis Costello When I Was Cruel