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Reviews
Christopher Owens I Wanna Run Barefoot Through Your Hair
On his first release since 2017, the mercurial Girls frontman has finally captured the magic of his much-loved former band.
David Coleman is impressed...
Aerial M The Peel Sessions
Recorded for BBC’s The John Peel Show on Radio One in 1998, this very brief four-piece iteration of David Pajo’s Aerial M exhibits the beauty of what was and leaves us to lament what could’ve been.
Sean Caldwell reviews...
Horse Jumper of Love Disaster Trick
On their fifth full-length album, the Boston trio accentuate their slowcore sound with sharp, heavier contrasts.
Juan Edgardo Rodríguez reviews...
The Smashing Pumpkins Aghori Mhori Mei
The veteran rockers' 13th album forges a newfound musical identity with lean, metal-tinged psychedelia.
Juan Edgardo Rodríguez reviews...Newsletter
Features
The 50 Best Albums of 2024
It's time to reveal our top albums of the year. A time-honored tradition since 2002, our full list consists of 50 albums selected by the entire No Ripcord staff.
Click here to find out who took the number one spot...
Straight Outta Spalding: How a Lincolnshire power-pop legend ended up on a hip hop classic
Everyone knows the N.W.A. classic, Fuck tha Police — but how well do you know it? Do you know about its secret link to a Lincolnshire power-pop legend?
Read on to find out more...Latest Believe the Hype Pick
Christopher Owens I Wanna Run Barefoot Through Your Hair
I read that the album’s heartbreaking finale Do You Need A Friend might be Owens’ finest ever work, but even that didn’t prepare me for an emotional gut punch to rival the greats. Owens has always had a knack for writing six or seven minute epics, with songs like Hellhole Ratrace and Vomit standing out in the Girls discography. And this is even bigger, bolder and weightier than those classics, its oppressive guitars, soaring gospel backing vocals (previously seen on Vomit), and brutal closing refrain of “If you really wanna know, I’m barely making it through the days” announcing the arrival of a true song of the year contender. An unexpected and truly flooring Roxette reference seals the triumph.
Quick Takes
Being Dead EELS
On their second LP, the Austin duo delivers terse, inventive garage rock with frisky self-confidence.
phoneswithchords The Speed of Time
The Nashville based project of Arthur Alligood breaks on through to the other side.