Uncover Audio

Introducing (2 years late) Turntable.fm

2013-03-25T20:03:00.001-04:00

Have you ever wanted to become a DJ? Me either. A few detailed reasons why…

OK screw the list idea. That picture says it all. THAT’S not something I want to be. That’s not even something I think I can be. Look at that man… Look at his utter disregard for being viewed as a functional and valuable member of society. It’s practically admirable. It’s almost as if someone stopped the photographer and said “Wait… let’s double up on the Bud Lights. No I know he already has one just let me get him another one. Trust me”.

It’s probably for the best anyway. The type of music I listen to isn’t really in high “jockeying” demand. Besides, if everyone who loved music insisted on getting up on stage and playing it for everyone we’d have mass chaos, right? Wrong.

Meet turntable.fm. Launched a little over 2 years ago, this website ingeniously makes listening to music a social experience. Here’s how it works…

1. Sign up

2. Enter a room that matches your musical tastes (or even create your own)

3. Grab 1 of the open DJ spots, drag music from your iTunes library into your queue.

There are typically 5 DJs, each of which take turns playing one song. The beauty of this website is that it's just as much about listening to other people's music as it is about sharing your own. So whether you're DJing or just looking for something to listen to, it meets both demands.

What if I don’t like their music?

You can discreetly let them know. There’s a thumbs up and thumbs down button next to the artist and song title. If enough people vote thumbs down, it gets skipped. This feature eliminates the possibility of someone playing a song repetitively, or a song that doesn't really fit what the room is intended for. If you vote thumbs up, the DJ gets a point. It’s a subtle way of letting them know they’re doing a good job.

What if disc jockeying really isn’t my thing?

No problem, meet your new Pandora radio. It’s just as enjoyable to have your little animated dude stand in the crowd and listen to music. You’re still listening to the genre of music you like, and you’re doing so without the ads. So go about your day, or stay close by and talk to everyone in the chat box.

OK. I like a song someone just played, now what?

There are several links above the song title that directly link you to where you can find it, and purchase it. Or there’s this new thing called Google I CAN’T HELP YOU WITH EVERYTHING.

I've had limited experiences with the site so far. As soon as I started enjoying it, I started this post. But it seems to me like people truly enjoy interacting with each other. Again, you can enjoy the site and its features without saying a single word to anyone. But people want to hear if they played a song you like, and you probably will too.

We definitely live in a participatory culture. Anyone who wants to get rich, do this: figure out how to take something as self-contained as listening to music and then make it a social experience. It’s the age we live in. It’s why every video game can now be played online instead of just against the computer, and why we put our pictures on Instagram instead of in a picture frame. We all now have the means of getting on a stage, take advantage of it.

Top 10 Songs of 2012

2013-01-02T13:09:00.003-05:00

Sorry for the cruel joke of posting my #10 song (which was Hoobastank) and then waiting several weeks to post the rest. Time flies around the holidays. I can assure you list gets better from there. Here are the top 10 songs from this past year.

#10

Hoobastank- This is Gonna Hurt

Hot Water Music- Drag My Body

FYI- look out for the music video to be released for this song tomorrow.

Anberlin- Little Tyrants

House of Heroes- Out My Way

The Menzingers- Good Things

The Early November - Guilt and Swell

Fun. Some Nights

The Killers - Battle Born

The Gaslight Anthem - Keepsake

Make and Do Mend - Desert Lily

Blink182- Dogs Eating Dogs EP

2012-12-18T10:54:00.000-05:00

Did you know the guys from Blink182 are almost 40? Did you know she looks like this now? Yeah… might want to re-think all those thoughts you thought.

The brief backstory behind Blink182 is that they were best friends playing music together and eventually took the world by storm. Then, side projects and the future directions of the band created some serious tension causing them to break up and take their “talents” elsewhere. Mark and Travis created +44, and Tom created Angels and Airwaves. Both bands are shells of their former selves. Some decent songs, sure. But nothing of lasting value.

After Travis was involved in a very serious plane crash and barely survived (16 surgeries, 48 blood transfusions), the band reunited. Fast forward to Neighborhoods, their first release since the breakup. It was OK. It’s been said time and time again, and I still stand by it, Neighborhoods was 65% Angels and Airwaves and 35% +44. It wasn’t Blink182. And it’s completely understandable. Not many people realize the kind of open communication needed to really collaborate on a record. You can teach people to play your music, but if you’re still in that awkward “so.. what have you been doing for the last 5 years” phase, it’s hard to really collaborate on something.

Their newest Dogs Eating Dogs EP shows that collaboration. Does it still sound like A&A and +44? Sure, because that’s the type of musicians they are now. But those influences are diced up and pieced together much better than they were on Neighborhoods.

“When I Was Young” has the type of verse urgency (vergency?) that was missing on Neighborhoods, only to be outdone by the wonderfully executed chorus.

It’s the worst damn day

Of my life.

I made a mess today.

But I’m alright

It just sounds like they're more comfortable writing songs on this EP. “Dogs Eating Dogs” follows suit. It’s the Mark-heavy title track this EP needed. These are without a doubt the strongest 2 tracks on the EP. I’m afraid it begins to drop off song by song after this point.

“Disaster” has its moments, and maybe it’s just trumped by the first two tracks, but it just sounds a bit too much like an A&A song. “Boxing Day” sounds waaay too much like Smashmouth’s “All Star”. This, clearly, isn’t a flattering comparison. It’s listenable, don’t get me wrong, but it’s also not very memorable.

The EP closes out with “Pretty Little Girl”, which is solid until you reach the bridge and find out Yelawolf raps on it. If I were a betting man, I’d say Travis had some say in that. Speaking of Travis, he is the stand out performer on this EP. Forget the vocals/lyrics/guitars, Travis is e-x-c-e-l-l-e-n-t on this EP.

Check this out for nostalgia purposes, it’s worth listening to. Blink182 of the past will never, ever be outdone by Blink182 of the present. But if I were discovering this band for the first time, I’d be keeping tabs on this band.

Rating: 2.5/5 Stars

Newtown: We're Sorry

2012-12-17T21:39:00.001-05:00

I didn't plan on writing about what happened in Newtown. But a song was coincidentally released today that just struck a chord with me.

My Chemical Romance's latest album Danger Days sucked. But before they wrote that album, they wrote/recorded 10 songs that they decided to scrap. So they're releasing those songs 2 at a time every few weeks. The song I heard today is called The Light Behind Your Eyes.

This is a disaster, America. What's happening here? The day after this goes down someone calls in a bomb threat at a Newtown church? The day after that someone fires 50+ shots at a California mall? Thankfully, no one was injured. But stop for a second... what the hell is going on? What's causing this? What's the solution? The problem is bigger than just banning guns (although I am 100% behind that idea.) We need to be kinder to people.

"Every day and every hour, every minute, walk round yourself and watch yourself, and see that your image is a seemly one. You pass by a little child, you pass by, spiteful, with ugly words, with wrathful heart; you may not have noticed the child, but he has seen you, and your image. You don't know it, but you may have sown an evil seed in him, and it may grow, and all because you were not careful around the child." ~ Dostoevsky

That quote is from a book called The Grand Inquisitor, and its message is that WE are responsible for what others do. WE are responsible for what Adam Lanza did. I know those words taste terrible, but we'll all be better people if we swallow them.

I'm not defending the sick human being responsible for what happened in Newtown. But I will say that the world is becoming a more violent and selfish place. We splurge on the new Call of Duty, but deny the homeless our spare change because we think THEY'LL spend it unwisely. I did that. I'm as guilty as anyone else.

We'll blame Adam Lanza for what happened in Newtown, and rightfully so. But WE contributed. We contributed to similar acts prior to the this and we'll contribute to future tragedies. The absolute hardest thing to do in the wake of these tragedies is to put any type of blame on ourselves. We mourn, complain, and pray. But WE don't change. We want things to change.

We don't know what others deal with on a daily basis. We don't know what they've been through. If one of those poor kids who witnessed what happened in Newtown grows up and commits a crime because he's mentally unstable, who is truly responsible for that?

We don't know what Adam Lanza went through. Maybe every single person Adam Lanza ever met loved him and was kind to him. Maybe he had every opportunity a young guy can have. But maybe he didn't. MAYBE.. this could have been avoided if we were just a little kinder to each other. If the guy he saw at some convenient store didn't call him a freak. Or if his classmates invited him to some party. Or if his family was more involved in his life.

Sigh... I've been thinking about all this stuff lately.. About what the root of the problem is.. because in a few weeks, life will go on and we'll encounter new problems and our focus will change. But we're going to kick ourselves when something like this happens again. And it will happen again. Don't wait for something to change. Change.

Anyway, I, like everyone else, can't feel worse for these families. When I heard this song I just thought of this whole situation and how helpless we all feel. So, if for some reason you want to feel even worse, listen to this song. Lyrics are here.

Top Songs of 2012:

2012-12-11T15:24:00.000-05:00

#10

Hoobastank

"This is Gonna Hurt"

And it does. It’s extremely painful to have you in my top 10 list, Hoobastank. It’s downright embarrassing. But, I vowed to compile my top 10 songs of the year with absolutely no bias whatsoever. So here you go.

Hoobastank is good at 2 things. 1. Sticking with their ridiculously obnoxious 1990ish band name and 2. Releasing an album every few years that has two stellar tracks on it. And I mean s-t-e-l-l-a-r. This year it was “This is Gonna Hurt” and “You Before Me”, the latter of which I would’ve considered for this list as well but it would have required me to question why on earth I have a music blog.

Regardless of how terrible 97% of Hoobastank’s music is, I can’t think of a song released this year that gets me more jazzed up. It’s just got that “#$% yeah” element.

This song a true testament to how well music can cover up god-awful lyrics. The chorus is literally “This is gonna hurt you more than it hurts me”. But the music suits it perrrrfectly. Enjoy this song, don’t buy the album, and lets both forget this particular blog entry ever existed. K?

2012 Close Calls

2012-12-10T13:44:00.000-05:00

In no particular order, these are the songs that almost cracked my top 10 list. There's a pretty nice variety here...

The Gaslight Anthem – Handwritten

I can go on and on about how great this song (and album) is. But I won’t. It aggravates me that this song isn’t in my top 10 list. That just goes to show you how many great songs there were this year.

…But in reality, I’m trying not to let my inner “fan-boy” take over my top 10 list. Sorry Gaslight, this is tough love.

Side note: Nothing gets me more excited for a song than when a band names their album “X” and then includes a song on that same album called “X”. The ONLY time a band should be allowed to do that is when the song accompanying the album is as good as “Handwritten”.

From Indian Lakes – We Are Sick

Check out my review of this album here. It’s fantastic. After a few weeks with it, I’ve gotten off my high horse, but it still gets regular plays. We Are Sick is very well crafted. It’s an easy song to get stuck in your head. And not in that annoying type of way.

Go Radio – Things I Don’t See

Catchy and cliché. That’s all it is. But this guy has got some pipes. And every once in a while I’m just in the mood for a solid poppy/catchy song. This song shouldn't be on this list, but here it is.

The Mars Volta – The Malkin Jewel

This is going to sound a bit odd, but I’m dying to make a music video for this song. It has, by far, the most climactic ending of any song released in 2012. DON’T just listen to the end, it won’t work that way. Listen to the whole thing.

For some reason my mind always goes to a “Sin City” type place and the end of the song takes me to the end of “Mystic River” type place. It’s disturbing, but you just can’t look away.

And she looks at me in the great outdoors
And you know what she tells me?
“Somebody help me.”

Ps. The rest of the album suuuuuucked.

P.O.S. – How We Land

Ooooooooh snap. A rap song almost cracked my Top 10 list. Whodah thunk? I’m not going to pretend like I know what I’m talking about when it comes to this genre of music. All I know is that this song isn’t about hittin’ up the clubs, and its got great rhythm to it.

Review: Green Day "Tre"

2012-12-05T10:34:00.000-05:00

Alright, everyone back the #$@! off Green Day. Seriously. Enough. Just who do you think you're talking to? Isn't this the same band that, just when you thought Dookie would be the undisputed pivotal release by this band, released American Idiot?

"Dookie > American Idiot" ~ Everyone

I know. But read read read read read. American Idiot was monstrous. And you liked it. It was fantastic. It got overplayed and brought them back to the "mainstream", but the first few weeks with that record you couldn't be more proud of them. You literally watched Billie Joe Armstrong grow up along side you, and now he had made a record so good that it was deemed worthy enough to be made into a broadway musical.

And now? What?.... Go ahead.... Say it... Yeah. You've turned on them like they still somehow owe you something. Listen, if Green Day want to record the sound of them pissing off a balcony into shallow pool of water and sell it for $12 YOU GO OUT AND YOU BUY THAT ALBUM. You owe THEM. Gagillions of other bands that wouldn't exist today if Green Day hadn't inspired them to go out and pick up an instrument owe THEM.

"21st Century Breakdown was a major let down." So what?

"Their newest 3-release effort, Uno/Dos/Tres, has a ton filler." How about you find me a multi-album release that doesn't suffer from the same bloated misfortune.

"I lost respect for Billie Joe Armstrong when I found out he had a drug problem." Fair enough. But you do know they chose the name "Green Day" due to their fondness of Marijuana, right? Besides, people still see her movies, what the hell does one thing have to do with the other?

Listen, I can't sit here and tell you everything Green Day has released recently has been good. But Tre is. It's really good. It's Warning era-ish good. It sounds like they're having fun again. It sounds like it has no concept behind it. It sounds like 3 guys decided to get together and make a Green Day album. And that's all we ever wanted.

Is it going to blow your mind? No, of course not. Green Day isn't that kind of band. They're not trying to challenge you in any way, shape, or form. And before you question whether or not they're challenging themselves, let's not forget they just wrote and released 36 songs within 3 months despite having a catelog that includes over 150.

I would not have had the gall to post this if Tre hadn't closed out their multi-release Uno/Dos/Tre so impressively. It justified all the misses on Uno and Dos. And there were plenty. But Tre brings this band back to the forefront. Did it save their career? Folks... Green Day's career needs no saving. They could have retired many, many years ago. But thanks to Tre, I'm very thankful they haven't.

Rating: 3.5/5 Stars

2012: Top E-v-e-r-y-t-h-i-n-g

2012-11-20T13:15:00.000-05:00

When I was young I used to literally count down the days to Halloween. But it wasn’t the costumes or half-day at school I looked forward to. I couldn't be bothered with painting my face with some God awful makeup or shoving myself into some uncomfortable box people still consider costumes. I wanted candy. I wanted all the candy I could carry. If you gave my some kind of fruit or nutritious substitute, you got NO joke. If you put a basket of candy outside your house with a sign that said "take one", you're in my will.

And while I wasn’t very picky when it came to candy, I usually ate the good stuff. The fun dip sticks, the bottle caps, etc. The stuff that had juuuust enough water and food coloring to make the pure cane sugar take some type of solid form. I'll tell you what, it's amazing that at 26 I’ve only had one cavity, but it makes perfect sense that at 26 I can probably still blend in with a middle school swim team. Eat your veggies, kids.

Anyway, my very favorite part of Halloween was coming home and dumping my pillow case filled with candy on the ground and seeing what I’ve hunted and gathered. I’d quickly flatten the candy volcano so I could see each individual piece and bask in the glory of what was my own, completely unique collection. Just seeing all the different colors and packages put a huge smile on my face. I wasn’t proud, I was simply happy that I had a lot what I loved. And that’s a memory I will forever carry around with me. If you love something, take a moment to admire it. Take lots of them.

Why am I getting all deep and crap? Well for starters it’s Thanksgiving. But more importantly (at least to me) it’s time to compile my 2012 top 10 lists. This isn’t an easy task. And the reason I’m all high on life right now is because I haven’t started narrowing my lists down yet, I’ve just gathered all the contenders and put them one big pile. It’s been such a great year for music. So before I start pulling my hair out trying to narrow this list down, I’m making sure I admire it in its entirety.

Within the coming weeks I’m going to count down my top 10 songs and albums of the year. I’m also going to be giving out a few awards that are unique to Uncover Audio (best vocal performance, best lyrics, best song title, biggest disappointment). I’m still undecided as to what I want to call these awards. But rest assured, I’ll think of something as corny as it is fitting.

If you’ve kept up with my blog, a lot of my picks won’t be big surprises (but trust me, there will be a few). If you haven’t, consider this list your cliff note version of what you missed.

Since this post is kind of a kick in the junk if you were expecting a new song to check out (or if you weren't as lucky when it came to cavities), I’ll leave you with a song I discovered this year that didn't come out in 2012, but it deserves some attention all the same. Get down with your bad self.

Review: From Indian Lakes "Able Bodies"

2012-11-12T11:40:00.000-05:00

From Indian Lakes

Able Bodies

I have this theory when it comes to reading “end of the year" lists. I think, and this has probably already been said, acknowledged, and assumingly admitted amongst the writers that make these lists,... I think these lists generally award the majority of "top spots" to albums that come out closest to the end of the year.

Maybe it's because the music released earlier in the year gets stale. Maybe it gets over played. Maybe you just got over that initial high it gave you. Whatever the reason, it's completely understandable. But it's still not fair to assume those same things won't happen to the newer albums that your brain swears are "different". They'll get stale too. They'll get overplayed. Anyway, that's my theory. And me? Well I'm different. I'm too smart to let that happen to my list. I know better. I definitely know better.

From Indian Lakes is, well.., I don't really know who From Indian Lakes is. 3 Days ago I've never read or spoke those 3 words in that odd succession. And aside from the 1500ish Twitter followers they have, I'd assume many people are in the same boat. They don't have a Wikipedia page. They aren't signed to a label. Their newest album, Able Bodies, has been streaming for days and I STILL CAN'T FIND A TORRENT FOR IT SJFNOSNFOWUIHR92843HR9284Y3R928HFIURBF JFIWUEBFIJWBFIWEBF928H43F937RUBF934UFGIOERHBFIJEBFIE.

Ahem. To put it simply, the "bandwagon" is practically empty. I, like I do with most bands that hit me this hard and this quick, have claimed this band as my own and have already begun whoring them out like they can cure cancer. I swear, the first time I listened to Able Bodies it was like I had stumbled upon the last golden ticket and even though it seemed highly unlikely I’d make it all the way home with it hand, song by song, it led me safely and soundly right to my front door. I waited for it to prove me wrong, but my skepticism was no match for its consistency.

And its consistency is a bit ironic considering the song structures and vocal delivery vary from song to song. It hits you in waves. And much like an actual wave, these songs do a great job of building a ton of momentum only to break down to an acoustic guitar and a calm melody. You know how a television drama (when it’s well done) switches from storyline to storyline and you can’t decide which one you’re obsessed with the most? Able Bodies is like that. It's balanced.

Less analogies, Brandon, less analogies. Able Bodies is one of the most honest and encouraging releases of 2012. It’s… it’s just freakin’ great. The first track Anything impressed me, the last track ‘Till I can Walk floored me. Everything in between is a variation of those same sentiments. I’ll admit, I need more time with this album. Since I’m only going off an online stream, it’s not on my iPod. So it’s not in my car. Or at my work. Or gym. These places typically make my embellishments human and flawed. And they probably will this time as well. But right now I’m enjoying the possibilities for this band. And this album. And I'm wondering if I'll fall victim to my own "year end list" theory.

You can stream the album here. You can pre-order it here (it comes out tomorrow) Here’s a tip: Wait until you can just chill out for a few minutes. Grab headphones, and listen to the last track ‘Till I Can Walk. It truly is exceptional.

Recommended if you like: As Cities Burn, Brand New, Progression, As Tall As Lions, Oceana

Rating: 4/5 Stars

Review: Motion City Soundtrack: Making Moves Vol. 6

2012-11-04T20:14:00.001-05:00

Motion City Soundtrack

Earlier this year I called Motion City Soundtracks most recent release, Go, a bit "childish" at times. Well, I think they might have heard me.

For their newest release, Motion City Soundtrack (MCS) teamed up with MAD Dragon Records, Drexel University’s student run record label, to close out their "Making Moves" project, which is a series of 7" releases from other emerging artists. Not only did Motion City Soundtrack close out this series, but they produced each of the preceding Making Moves releases.

MCS’s 7'' offers 2 brand new tracks along with a cover of Rilo Kiley's "Pictures of Success". The 7" starts out with a track called "Severance", or, as I refer to it as, "exactly what was missing on Go". It's clear MCS used this as an opportunity to stretch out their creative talents and remind fans that they're no one trick pony.

Justin Pierre's vocal delivery on "Severane" is a sincere accomplishment in and of itself. But as the ringing guitar chords slowly give way to the songs powerful conclusion you realize how much ground this band can cover in a single song. This is MCS firing on all cyclinders. THIS is why MCS are tough to beat.

"If I get caught, promise me you'll run and you won't stop."

The 2nd track, "Major Leagues", is the fun-loving, happy-go-lucky, bouncing-off-the-walls MCS we've all come to grow and love. As much as I love to see this band experiment with new song styles, it's important that MCS never forget what their identity is. And trust me, they haven't.

"I made it to the big time major lagues. I made it but I don't know what it means."

The 7" closes with their cover, "Pictures of Success". Despite being the weakest track on the 7", it's nice to see MCS tackle a song like this. It's nice to see them strip themselves down and step completely out of their comfort zone. The musicianship of the band seems to grow with every single release. They never seem to be content with what they've done or what they've accomplished. They continue to challenge themselves, yet, they continue to be the band that fans still haven't gotten enough of.

Check out "Major Leagues" below and see for yourself. Pick this up, you won't regret it.

9 Seconds Songs

2012-09-07T11:16:00.001-04:00

It takes the average person 9 seconds to determine whether or not they like a song enough to listen to it in its entirety. 9 seconds. So after a few chords, the vocal introduction, and a lyric or two, we've made up our minds on the next 3 minutes or so. Does that sound fair?

When is the last time you made up your mind on a TV show 9 seconds into its pilot? Or 9 seconds into a movie? And yes, I understand the discrepancy in time with my analogy. TV shows are 30 minutes to an hour and movies are longer, but if you're turned off 9 seconds into an artist's song, how likely are you to check out their 50 minute album?

I blame Twitter, among other things. Our attention spans are shorter, and I get that. I don't sit through something I get a first bad impression of, that's why first impressions are so incredibly important. But because of my impatience and my insistence of the media wowing me right out of the gate, I almost missed out on the likes of Mad Men, Breaking Bad, Manchester Orchestra, and Crime in Stereo. Some of my favorite TV shows, movies, and artists were originally a square peg trying to fit into a round hole. And being patient and persistent often results in a wider perspective of what I (we) can appreciate.

My blog post today are songs you can write off within 9 seconds, and songs you need to sit through if you want to appreciate them. A few of them you'll know what you're getting right off the bat. If you don't like seconds 1-9, you won't like seconds 10-350. But the others are rewarding the longer you listen to them. You may not "get" them until the last 9 seconds. So, how much time do you have?

9 Second Songs

Motion City Soundtrack- Everything is Alright

It's the catchiest song this band has ever wrote, and the stripped down chorus welcoming you into this song makes the full band version that much more familiar when you reach it. But if you don't like it the first time you hear it, you won't like it on repeat 3 minutes later.

Rise Against- Worth Dying For

Despite this band weakening with every release, a few of their songs still seem to pack a punch. Right away you know you're in store for an urgent, forceful song. You either like Tim's vocals or you don't.

Circa Survive-Get Out

To this day, I don't think I've been more excited for an album based off a single. It just slaps you across the face from the first second and doesn't let up. Wish I could say that for any single song off their new album, Violent Waves, which I'll spare from an in depth review.

The Slow Roasters

Manchester Orchestra- Pride

I almost wrote this band off. I almost did. Andy Hulls voice was too different. The music was too slow. But they eventually evolved into one of my favorite bands. The end of this song will make you want to pick up a guitar even if you don't know how to play a single note. If you insist on skipping the beginning, start the song at the 3 minute mark. Turn it up loud.

O' Brother- Easy Talk (Open Your Mouth)

Definitely not one of the most uplifting songs. But I'm a sucker for a repetitive ending and a slow build up. Some artists abuse it, but when it's done just right, it's mesmerizing.

The Dear Hunter- Red Hands

I almost didn't use this song because the whole song is so damn good. Every second of it. But the end gives me the chills every time I listen to it. I think I posted this song on here in the past. I'll probably post it again in the future. It's just that good.

So oh OH oh Cold

2012-09-06T21:40:00.000-04:00

I gotta start updating this blog more often. I spent so much time combing over each one of my posts when they were for school, I feel like I need to put a lot more time into doing this than I actually do. That's half of it. The other half is that I've been really disappointed with a string of releases recently. There's just nothing to talk about.

Circa Survive, Minus the Bear, and Yellowcard all weren't what I was expecting. And those are 3 bands I usually rely on for consistency. None were terrible, and maybe I need to spend more time with them. But, for right now, all those bands I grew up with are taking a back seat to...

Further Seems Forever

Chris Carrabba was the lead singer of FSF before he became Dashboard Confessional. And FSF suits him better. How to Start a Fire is one of the best albums I've ever heard. And even though Chris wasn't on the vocals for that album, these other bands members were. 4 albums, 3 different singers, and not a weak link. Try telling FSF that a front man makes or breaks a band.

HRVRD

Forget Circa Survive (OK, don't do that). But with a disappointing release from Circa and a very promising release coming from HRVRD, I'm watching this band closely.

Go Radio

Heard this band and song for the first time today. It's very radio friendly (Go figure... see what I did there?) It's a little too poppy for my taste, but the guys got a damn good voice. And these lyric videos are great, I don't care what anyone says. It got enough of my interest to download the album when it leaks.

If anyone is borderline obsessed with a new release, let me know. My iPod's been on shuffle way to much lately.

The Early November- In Currents

2012-07-06T15:03:00.003-04:00

Bias is a terrible, and often unavoidable thing. In order to review an album objectively, you really need to disregard everything that band has ever released in the past. Sometimes certain releases are scrutinized based on how well it fits into the artists catalog. I never understood that.

The Early November and lead singer Ace Enders made waves last year when they brought back a band that many people never wanted to see go away in the first place. Personally, having never listened to the band before, I couldn't care less. But I could only see their news updates on reputable music websites so many times before I started seeking out the updates myself.

To say I'm happy I kept up with TEN would be an understatement.

What I was rewarded with was 12 songs that fit together so well it made me order the Vinyl. Now, to be clear, I don't just order any album on vinyl. I'd be broke. I want vinyl that keeps me listening from start to finish. In Currents is that album.

Life is an ocean and it moves like this
So you'll get what you asked for
In love is the current drifting from your hands
All you want, all you're after
I see the cruel in your eyes like current in oceans

The lyrics found in In Currents paint such a vivid picture when you're listening. A common trap many artists fall in to is sacrificing honesty for what we consider to be forced poetry. But the beauty of poetry is its transparency, and it's easy to see that TEN, chin up, are wearing this album on their sleeve.

Lay me out over a burning fire,
And it burns like glacier melt to a polar bear headed south.

I don't want to do a track by track summary of In Currents. Frankly, I'd have something positive to say about every song on the album. It's an album that has something on it for everyone.

I don't care why The Early November broke up. I care that they're back. I don't care what The Early November did prior to In Currents. I care about In Currents. And so should you.

Rating: 4/5 Stars
Buy it: Amazon

Band of the Week: Matchbox 20

2012-06-14T09:32:00.002-04:00

Men, we're at war. And it's about time we fight back. Let's face it, the 70's are over, love songs are now applicable to less than 50% of us, and females everywhere have discovered that if sex is taken out of the equation we have the attention span of a moth.

Things were cool between us for a while... Sure, there were small gender-jabs here and there (lookin' at you TLC). But now, all of a sudden Kelly Clarkson has an army of women willing to fly a plane into any sports arena, and Taylor Swift might as well be singing to the tune of a rape whistle.

Well I, for one, am getting a little tired of girls playing the victim card. "Where are all the good guys", you ask? Let me tell you. They're the guys walking away from you when you say you're a "bitch" like it's some type of endearing quality. If I were to excuse my behavior by describing it as "just me being dick", then guess what, that makes me a dick.

Maybe I'm still not making any sense... Let's slow things down and look at this from a different angle. Which one of these sentences wouldn't belong on a professional resume?

A. Works hard and manages time well.
B. Willing to travel.
C. Angers easily, blames actions on monthly blood loss.
D. Knowledgeable in all Microsoft products.

If you guessed C, you "get" it. If you guessed anything else, you're either a bitch or a terrible blood drive organizer.

Every time I hear one of those catchy, poppy, man-hating songs I envision a group of drunk girls in club who are loving the fact that they've figured out who to avoid. Well, so have we. For starters, it would be anyone out clubbing.

It's nice to hear an infectious anthem that's on our side for once. And who better to sing it than a musician and band that simply don't get enough credit - Matchbox 20. It's about time we start giving Rob Thomas the respect he deserves. I feel like people tried to label Matchbox 20 as all these different things, and each time they came back unfazed and better than they were before. Few artists are able to channel that criticism into something positive on a consistent basis.

But here we are, 17 years into the career of Matchbox 20, and they're still making music that we're OK with being on the radio. And as any radio enthusiast will tell you (if there are any still out there), that's not an easy feat, and it's all we claim to ask for.

So, without further adieu, this one's for us boys. Women want to be a lot of things. They've taken most of our derogative descriptions of them and proudly embraced them. But trust me, bitches don't want to be called mean.

Review: Oh Snap

2012-06-12T08:16:00.006-04:00

Philmont

"Oh Snap"

My musical tastes have changed greatly throughout the years. Introduced to the alternative scene around the age of 16, my CD player went from Blink, to NFG, to Fall Out Boy, and then slowly started to progress to artists like Portugal. The Man, Mars Volta, Cassino, etc. Reason being? Depth. I wanted to hear bands challenging themselves, and myself. My iPod still shifts to the music I used to listen to, and I still enjoy it, so I started to wonder if I really had a soft spot for these more "poppier" acts, or just had a soft spot for that time in my life and the memories that went along with the songs. I wanted to test that question by reviewing Philmont.

Philmont is a Charlotte based band creating some serious hype with their radio ready pop-punk. Now, by "radio ready," I don't mean groundbreakingly good or hightly contageous. I mean it's good enough to blend in with the rest of the mediocore music that's played on pop stations without pissing anyone off.

The worst thing a band can be is predictable, and there's nothing more frustrating than listening to the first verse and chorus of a song and be able to map out the rest of the song before getting to it. Philmont fits into this category. They're not necessarily a bad band. They are a musically talented, vocally fused band that are probably extremely proud of their Oh Snap EP. And why shouldn't they be? They have successfully created a CD that is like 1,000,000 other releases from young bands trying to get into the same scene, and while that's only a partially sarcastic statement, it really is a decent release. However, who is looking for a decent release that sounds similar to other decent releases?

On the positive side, they are a religiously charged band with some great hooks throughout their songs. And it's not like being a religiously focused band makes them good, but since they're very similar in sound to so many other bands, it helps them stand out by not writing songs about broken hearts. "The Difference" is probably their biggest standout of the EP. Sure, it's not going to blow your mind, but it's an enjoyable listen. "Another Name" is also a good track -- it slows things down and is kind of the "guilty pleasure" of Oh Snap.

I can see Philmont succeeding with this sound, like many bands do. They're catchy, but bland. Keeping in mind that they're still young and learning, I think with a little experience they'll expand their creativity, mainly because all the other elements are there (vocals, guitars, etc). However, I don't see myself checking back with these guys. Oh, and by the way, "Oh Snap"? ...I mean, really?

Rating: 1.5/5 Stars
Recommended if you like: Just Surrender (compliment to Philmont, not Just Surrender), Hawthorne Heights' Fragile Future, Any pop-punk that makes the radio
Buy It: Amazon

Review: How to Start a Fire

2012-06-08T08:16:00.001-04:00

Further Seems Forever

How to Start a Fire

It's very rare that a band releases 3 full lengths, all of which featuring a different lead singer than the one before it. I chose to review Further Seems Forever's 2nd release because Jason Gleason (lead singer) delivers the vocal performance of his career.

How to Start a Fire is at times beautiful, and at others, angry. And while "Insincerity as an Artform" exemplifies all these elements, you'd be doing yourself a disservice by not exploring the rest of the album. Listening to the record will make you wonder why so many bands have trouble releasing a NATURAL record. What do I mean by natural? It comes across in every single track that Further Seems Forever weren't worried about how they would be classified or scrutinized. In fact, I wouldn't be surprised if many people have trouble enjoying How to Start a Fire due to so many current releases being over-produced, over-thought, and too far left or right. Anyone who wants to call this record a Rock record, or too poppy, or too slow, or too hard, or too melodic, well, you're all correct.

The record starts off with a track called "How to Start a Fire" which is quite possibly the most straightforward song on the record. It aggressively starts out the CD, which makes the transition into its second track, "The Sound," that much more refreshing. "The Sound" is the most radio-ready song on the record, and its melody in the chorus will get stuck in your head for days. "Against My Better Judgment" is , simply put, the record's anthem. "I Am" portrays the calmer side to Further Seems Forever. I'm ashamed to say I skipped this song the first few listens. And then I read the lyrics which are some of the most poetic, albeit simple, on the record:

I am the water, I am waves crashing onto you
I am the blank wave, I am the madness,
the loss, the dark, the hunt, the cage, the race
I am rejection, I am redemption
I am desire for obligation,
I am forever, I could be never if that's what you want.
I am the desert, I am oasis for strength,
the weakness for arguments sake
I am rejection, I am redemption,
I am desire for obligation.

After the pounding "Pride War," which probably saw the most light of day thanks to Atticus Volume 2, "On Legendary" is a beautiful balance of everything that this band has to offer. Between the flawless vocals and the diverse tempo changes, Further Seems Forever deliver a standout track which, amazingly, is even topped by "Insincerity as an Artform." Both tracks are very similar, combining different tempos and speeding up at the chorus.

"The Deep" starts out a little bland despite the catchy guitar riff in the beginning. While the track as a whole is put together quite well, and the outro is the song's strongest part, it's lacking that sense of "completeness" that is attributable to the rest of the tracks.

How to Start a Fire, is a layered and thought provoking album. Because of its diversity, it never gets old. In fact, as soon as it gets old, it gets great. After the first listen, it may even seem bland. But after each listen each track becomes more honest and new. How many bands put out records that can be relaxing and energetic within the same song?

Buy it: Amazon

Rating: 4.5/5 Stars

5 Star Album: The Devil and God are Raging Inside Me

2012-06-04T13:49:00.001-04:00

Brand New

"The Devil and God are Raging Inside Me"

The Album

I love music inspired by religion. I just love listening to people express their religious beliefs, whether that be praising God, or ripping the very idea of "H"im apart.

Why? Well, what else is there to sing about? What else is there to even think about? The "supposed" repercussions to abiding by the wrong faith easily puts the rest of my daily concerns in perspective. Personally, I have no idea what to believe. I spend 15 minutes in the cereal isle, so you could imagine my struggle as it pertains to choosing which religion (if any) will lead me to eternal salvation.

That struggle, that internal teeter-totter that moves you up with your innocent childhood beliefs and then quickly slams you down with your adulthood realizations... that nauseating quest for a balance in faith is The Devil and God are Raging Inside Me.

Throughout the album you'll notice a few running themes..
1. Consequences rule our actions. And when they don't, there are consequences.
2. Driving. We do it everyday, and as you probably know, some people shouldn't.
3. Death/The End. What happens? What should happen? And says who?

The Devil and God are Raging Inside Me is 55 minutes of careful frustration. A few songs are steady handed (see: "Not the Sun"). Sometimes it panics (see: "Degausser" or "You Won't Know"). But ironically, the most balanced and calming songs seem the most fit for a straight jacket (see: "Handcuffs" or "Luca").

I can't really express how dense this album is as a whole. 6 years later and I'm still picking it apart. In fact, I'm fairly certain Brand New are doing the same thing, and that's part of what makes it as unsettling as it is fulfilling.

But, and maybe I should have limited my review to this: If there's one album I consider classic, timeless, or flawless, it's The Devil and God are Raging Inside Me. If there's one album I want you to take away from my blog, it's The Devil and God are Raging Inside Me.

The Song
"Limousine", unfortunately, was inspired by true events. Immediately after being the flower girl in her Aunts wedding, a drunk driver crashed into 7 year old Katie Flynn's limousine, killing her instantly. This song reflects upon that tragedy and is written from 3 different perspectives: Katie's mom, the drunk driver, and at the end of song while it's slowly building up, you can hear Katies.

"I'll never have to buy adjacent plots of earth
We'll never have to rot together underneath dirt
I'll never have to lose my baby in the crowd
I should be laughing right now"

This is by far the most difficult song to digest on the album. It's not even a song I look forward to hearing due to its bitterly expressive and forcefully interpretable nature. But this is the world we live in. These are the types of things that make us look to the sky and feel comforted or alienated.

To put it more simply, if you've ever complained about the number of songs that are written about break ups or night clubs, set aside 8 minutes, pull up the lyrics, and press play.

Rating: 5 Stars
Buy it: Amazon
Recommended if you like: Religion, Nirvana, Thrice's Fire or Water, The Fall.

Playlist: Summer

2012-06-01T08:27:00.000-04:00

Ever hear someone say "this song reminds me of ______"? Of course you haven't, because people don't typically associate music with flat lines.

Sorry. But seriously, why do we associate certain songs with certain seasons or moods? Maybe we just hear a song during a particular season and it's stamped with that weather forever. Maybe..

But I think seasons elicit different moods from different people. A "winter album" for me doesn't necessarily mean I listened to it in the winter, it may just mean it's of a dark, reflective nature. Symbolism! There's that Katholic education paying off...

Anyway, I do this a lot. I associate songs with a particular season or mood. It's an uncontrollable response to listening to a song that means something to me. So whenever you're looking for some music that may go well with the weather or your mood, find a playlist for it. I'll have a few suggestions for you from time to time.

Summer

It gets hot quick, doesn't it? One minute you're on your way to work smiling in amazement that your windows are rolled down. The next minute your AC is on full blast and you're cursing at every construction worker delaying your 1 mile commute.

I don't know what it is about the heat that turns us into such babies, but the switch flips quick. Maybe it's the excessive sweating caused by simple tasks like checking your e-mail. Or how getting locked out of the house is no longer just an inconvenience, but a life threatening survival scenario in which suicide would be widely understood within the community.

"No dude.. you don't get it.. it was really, really hot out."

But summer has some positive connotations too. A ton of them actually. And I tend to associate some really good music with summer.

Yellowcard

"Always Summer"

OK this one's easy. But come on, aggressive violin solo? The sun piercing through the trees? Lines like "I left home but there's one thing that I still know, It's always summer in my heart and in my soul"... It just screams summer.

The Dear Hunter

"Black Sandy Beaches"

Few better vocal performers on my iPod. I listened to this song to and from a class I had to take one summer to make sure I finished my bachelors degree on time. I owe this song a lot of my sanity.

Jimmy Eat World

"The Authority Song"

It's on every single one of my Summer playlists. It's just such a happy, "drive with the windows down" type of song.

And since this is completely subjective, what would be on your summer playlist?

Band of the Week: Hot Water Music

2012-05-29T09:11:00.001-04:00

A few weeks ago I talked about Against Me!'s Todd Gabel and his (now her) decision to go public with being transgender. Since then, Laura Jane Grace has taken the stage for the first time as a female, and even announced that Against Me!'s new album will be called Transgender Dysphoria Blues.

The album was being written well before Laura decided to go public with being transgender; she simply marketed it to the band as a concept album. But now, and this will no doubt continue throughout the course of Against Me!'s career, the band is being accused of milking the story for record sales.

In Comes Hot Water Music

The support that Laura received instantly after RollingStone hit the shelves was overwhelming. Bands from all over voiced their support for Laura. I think the ongoing support is just as important as the initial support extended to Against Me!, mainly because they will be under a microscope for a long, long time.

I wanted to spotlight Hot Water Music this week for 2 reasons.

1.  They were able to sum up my thoughts on the Against Me! story better than I was

"I felt really honored to be a part of a community that was so open-minded supporting people doing things out of the norm, because when I was a kid, that’s what punk was all about. It was a mind-set, about you being exactly who you wanted to be, no matter what your school or your parents or the church said."~ Hot Water Music's Chuck Ragan

2. They just released Exister, which is unbelievably good.

Why am I not reviewing this album? To be honest, I can't really put into perspective just how good it is. Hot Water Music have been around since 1993. They've released over 8 full length albums. I have 1 of them.

In a way, it makes me a perfect unbiased reviewer. Too many people get caught up in what a band has done in the past to focus on what the band is trying to do now. And while I firmly believe that to be true, this particular band is a bit outside my norm. I'm still getting used to the non-stop guitar and the marlboro red-ish vocals, all the while loving both of them.

Better than ever?

Hot Water Music broke up somewhere around 2006. This is their first release since then. It leaves me wondering, is this release so good because they focused so much time, energy, and thought on it? Or is it so good because they went in to the studio, had fun, and released whatever the hell came out of them?

If you're ever struggling to answer that question when listening to an album, you have a really, really great album on your hands.

Buy it: Amazon

Review: Motion City Soundtrack- Go

2012-05-25T08:10:00.001-04:00

This may come as a surprise to you, but there are several days I am annoyed by 95% of the music on my iPod. Sometimes it's all too loud, or too in depth. Sometimes I just don't want to think. Motion City Soundtrack may not be my favorite band, but they are consistently in that other 5% that just sound good whenever. That's not easy to do, you know. Sure, the synthesizer helps. And Justin Pierre's clean, instantly recognizable vocals leading the charge doesn't hurt. But what is it about this band that is always just so easy to digest?

Lyrically, they're perfect for the music they make, but not stellar by any means. Allow me to throw a few lines at you that, when taken out of their musical context, make Justin Bieber look like Shakespeare

"Don't speak, don't think, just take it off."

"You're Chicken Little, I'm the monkey in the middle."

"You better believe it's true. You know I do."

You still reading? Stay with me. This is actually what makes MCR so difficult to figure out. They carefully disguise their weaknesses within their stregnths, and in a weird way, it just all blends together perfectly. Hear for yourself.

Despite such a strong single, this particular album (sadly), falls short of their previous efforts. Their old "endearing" sound comes across a bit childish and forced on "Go". It's actually hard to imagine they missed on writing a complete pop-rock album when listening to tracks like "True Romance" and "Timelines" (both very, very worth listening to).

Songs like "Happy Anniversary" sound promising until you reach the chorus, where you'll discover you've discovered this song a million times before. The uniqueness just isn't there. And when MCR aren't working off their strengths, their weaknesses slowly begin to stack up.

Listen to these, do youself a favor a skip these.

Track Listing
1) Circuits And Wires
2) True Romance
3) Son Of A Gun
4) Timelines
5) Everyone Will Die
6) The Coma Kid
7) Box Elder
8) The Worst Is Yet To Come
9) Bad Idea
10) Happy Anniversary
11) Floating Down The River

Motion City Soundtrack will release Go on June 12th.
Rating: 2.5/5 Stars
Pre-order: Amazon

Band of the Week: Coasta

2012-05-22T08:09:00.001-04:00

I have a confession to make: I download some of my music. Wait. It gets worse. It's not exactly... the downloading, it's not exactly....

You see, the "me" of ten years ago would love 2012. Not only would he be able to preview 1 and a half minutes of each song he's contemplating buying (thanks iTunes), but he could also have the entire album for free with 3 clicks and 5 pacing minutes. Boom. Album artwork, lyric booklet, and each song, dropped right into my iTunes library. If the "me" of 10 years ago had been able to do this back then, the "me" of today would have a speed boat.

Instead, he'd walk over to Gallery of Sound each Saturday morning with his CD player tightly squeezed into his pocket, walking ever so gently to prevent the CD from skipping. And as I'm writing this, I'm realizing my kids will probably never know the harshness of that sound, or the frustration of trying to prevent it. Unborn sons a...

Ahem, where was I? Oh yes... Exit store, unwrap CD, swap with what was in there, misplace old CD for months. Then, depending on how impatient I was, I'd attempt to read the lyrics while walking home. This process is the original form of texting, and yes, it's equally as dangerous around traffic.

I bought some of these $14 albums based off of one song I heard on a sampler. Or a recommendation from a friend. Or just cool band name that was mentioned in same breath as others I enjoyed. Any excuse I had to try and discover something new. Remember, I had just discovered my love for this type of music, so I wasn't waiting for it to come to me anymore, I was going out of my way to get it.

Well I soon found out I couldn't afford it anymore. I was discovering a lot of great music, but there was a lot of crap I bought too. "Why can't I listen to the ENTIRE album first and THEN pay for it if I want it?" Seems like a fair idea, right?

Side note: This is also why I don't trust samples in grocery stores.

Sample Lady: Would you like to try a sample of our honey ham?

Me: Sure!

Sample Lady: Well, what do you think?

Me: It's delicious. I'll take an unnecessary amount of it.

(Drives home)

Me: This ham sandwich is terrible.

Coasta, a new band from Long Island, have made me a sandwich. They made me a sandwich and said "Hey, if you like it, then pay for it." And you'll be happy to know that less than 2 weeks after making their self-released/recorded sandwich, Run For Cover Records decided to buy the entire sandwich shop!

OK, that's enough. My point is, it's much easier to discover these unknown bands nowadays. I don't HAVE to pirate your music if you just let me check it out first. And if you like what you hear, Coasta is polite enough to only charge $4 for their EP (you can pay more if you WANT). That's literally less than the cost of (don't say a sandwich don't say a sandwich don't say a sandwich) a sandwich. Sorry.

Recommended If You Like: Brand New (Coasta's lead singer is Jesse Lacey's Brother), The Shins, The Republic of Wolves.

5 Star Album: Jimmy Eat World - "Futures"

2012-05-18T09:49:00.001-04:00

There are 6,113 songs on my iPod at this very moment, all belonging to a band or artist that I keep track of one way or the other. I'm not sure if that's a large number or small number comparatively speaking, but it's what I like to call a "shuffle friendly" number. The problem with handing someone my iPod and letting them roam freely is that they may not give it back with an accurate view of the music I really listen to.

I'm going to be reviewing albums on my blog often. I'm also going to be rating them using a 5 star scale so people can skip over 90% of what I've written in exchange for the cliff note version of my long winded review (I do it too).

But similar to my iPod analogy, I want you to be able to jump right to what I really listen to. Which albums are "do not miss"? Which albums are, in my opinion, flawless?

So I came up with "5 Star Albums". While I encourage you to read all my album reviews, I want to put particular emphasis on the albums that rank this highly.

Jimmy Eat World

Futures

The Band
You've heard this band. Remember "The Middle"? Jimmy Eat World experienced some short lived fame with their album "Bleed American" back in 2001. They've been around for over 18 years and have released 7 full length albums. If you ever come across a big fan of this band, ask them what their favorite Jimmy Eat World album is. Ten minutes later, politely ask them to get to the point and decide already.

The Album
First off, scroll back up and look at the album cover again. Go ahead, I'll wait...

Now, clearly that guy needs to use the telephone. Not "Holy shit someone call 911" needs to use the telephone. More like an "I've been putting this off long enough" needs to use the telephone. That, accompanied with the title of the album, should put enough into perspective for you.

Musically speaking, don't let the aggressive opening guitar riff fool you, Jimmy Eat World typically move at a slow, steady pace. Maybe "slow" isn't the right word, "composed" might be a better fit.

But Futures doesn't really care how slow, fast, or structured the album sounds as a whole. Its the working parts and individuality that compliment each other the way an album should. For every bleak moment..

Kill
"I know what I should do, but I just can't walk away"

There's a refleshingly simply...

Polaris

"I feel that when I'm old I'll look at you and know the world was beautiful"

It's an incredibly honest album that speaks about struggling to make the right move due to the changes that accompany it. Change is hard, even when you know it's for the best.

The Song

"Polaris". A spacey, bass driven, sneakily powerful song. Few chorus's can bust out of a songs shell without losing the songs structure like this one does.

Rating: 5/5 Stars
Recommended if you like: Brand New, Northstar, The Spill Canvas, contemplating change, the Fall.
Buy now: Amazon

Band of the Week: Against Me!

2012-05-15T08:22:00.000-04:00

I'm going to be spotlighting different bands from time to time based upon their recent activity and what's happening in the world of music news. Against Me! was a very easy selection this week.

Before reading any further, press play.

Listening? Good. It's important that you're listening.

Against Me! has been a punk-rock band for over 15 years and regular contributors to The Warped Tour, a national music festival for similar artists. Their most recent album, White Crosses, was their highest charting album to date, peaking at #34 on the Billboard 200.

They're fronted by lead singer Tom Gabel, a happily married man and father to his 2 year old daughter. Which is why it came as a surprise (and that's putting it lightly) that Tom Gabel has come out as transgender and will soon begin hormone and electrolysis treatments.

Yes, the man you're listening to right now.. the man covered in tattoos... the man representing a hard-edged/confrontational/political genre of music.... THAT man, will soon go by the name Laura Jane Grace.

The term "shocked" doesn't quite describe my initial reaction to this story. And the term "courageous" doesn't quite do Tom Gabel justice. Forget about whether or not you agree, socially or religiously, with this life altering decision. Focus on his honesty and his selflessness in exposing it so others can look up to him when they're faced with adversity.

There's no doubt in my mind that people will criticize and attempt to demoralize Tom for this decision. I can't, and won't, claim to know who's right or wrong. I can, however, make one thing clear for anyone surprised, confused, or unresolved in hearing this news. The "punk-rock" genre has always represented the fearless expression of rebelling against closed mindedness. It's about standing up for what you believe in. It's about not conforming for the sake of conformity. It's about letting your voice be heard.

Now, let me ask you this, is there another individual on this planet right now that represents punk-rock more than Tom Gabel?

I encourage you to check out ~~Tom's,~~ ahem (it does still take some getting used to).... Laura's interview in RollingStone this Friday, but I'm going to assume the song below will sum up that interview quite well.

Song: Bamboo Bones

Best Lyric: "What God doesn't give you, you've got to go get for yourself"

Buy Now: Amazon

"People don't care about what your music means to you, they only care about what it means to them"

2012-05-11T07:09:00.000-04:00

When I was about 15 years old, I bought tickets to see New Found Glory at a local venue. This would end up being my first real concert. Knowing full well I couldn't attend a function like this wearing a turtle neck, I bought a New Found Glory T-shirt. (Yes, I know, I broke the cardinal rule. "Don't wear a shirt advertising the band you're going to see." Baby steps people, baby steps.)

How was the concert? I don't really remember to be honest. What I do remember is how I felt in that T-shirt. I remember this "unlocking" feeling. I know it sounds silly, but it truly was one of those pivotal, enlightening childhood moments that wake you up to part of what you suddenly stand for.

All the guitar lessons that immediately followed..

All the paychecks that went directly to local record stores..

All the album art that covered every single inch of my bedroom walls..

All the wallets attached to metal chains that my Uncle Joe relentlessly made fun of me for..

All of that can be traced back to a T-Shirt.

I wish I knew what I did with that T-Shirt. I'm assuming I outgrew it, as I did with the band itself (and thankfully the chained wallets). But even today, just the thought of that shirt represents a world of music I never knew existed. I was thoughtlessly listening to the radio on a daily basis because I thought the radio = music, and that music = radio. Had I known there was an alternative, I can assure you I would've taken the necessary precautions to ensure I wouldn't be able to recite Sisqo's "Thong Song" word for word at the age of 26.

That's why I love describing what I listen to as "Alternative". It's an edgy, completely undescriptive word used to sum up a pool of music that requires some digging if you're going to discover it. The hope for my blog is to do some of that work for you.

Now, just to be clear, I'm not "anti-radio" by any means. I don't dislike the mainstream simply because it's the mainstream. I like passionate, fun, and meaningful music, regardless of what genre or category it may fit in to. So while I do plan on focusing on rock/indie/pop/punk/progressive music, I'm always looking for bands and artists that help challenge my appreciation for what I listen to now, and what I may discover in the future. So suggest away!

That being said, thanks for reading my blog. I look forward to sharing some music that means a lot to me, and may eventually mean a lot to you. And if it does, pass it along. I'll leave you guys with a song by The Gaslight Anthem called "45". You're going to see this band everywhere in 3 months.

Recommended if you like: Bruce Springsteen, Bluesy Punk Rock, the 1950's.
Best Lyric: "I can’t move on and I can’t stay the same."
Buy Now: Amazon