Jonezetta - "Sick In the Teeth" (2008)

Jonezetta quickly became one of my favorite bands in early 2006 when I checked out their four song demo EP after hearing they had signed to Tooth and Nail Records. The songs were incredibly catchy dance rock that somewhat resembled what the Killers and The Bravery were doing but also had a lot more edge. I saw them live and they blew me away and I eagerly anticipated their debut album Popularity. When it finally came out, it spent weeks on repeat in my CD player and I still go back to it often. Needless to say I was stoked to hear that they had a new record coming this fall. After hearing the first song they put on their Myspace, "Paint and Picture," I was a little confused as to where the old Jonezetta had gone. The song wasn't bad by any means, just not as entergetic as before and perhaps less poppy. Of course I still went out and got their sophomore record Cruel To Be Young the day it came out and though it took me a few listens to grow accustomed to their new sound, it has become one of my new favorites as well. The only song from Cruel To Be Young that would even fit on Popularity is "Busy Body," a danceworthy three minute pop gem. Jonezetta still bring the rock on this record but it's far more subtle this time around. There are a couple songs that are even based around the organ if you can believe that. Today's song is a standout to me because of it's quirkiness. "Sick In the Teeth" has an interesting guitar line that somewhat reminds me of Jonezetta's Mississippi brethren Colour Revolt. The song is also helped by guest vocals from David Bazan of Pedro the Lion fame. If you've been a fan of Jonezetta, it may take you a bit to get into this record, but even if you've never heard them before, this is still one of the best indie records to come out this year.


Jonezetta - "Sick In the Teeth"

Straylight Run - "Try" (2008)

Straylight Run have come a long way since their inception five years ago. I won’t go into their history, as I’ve already detailed that in a previous post. As I stated in that post, I was less than impressed by Straylight Run’s second full length The Needles The Space. In retrospect, it wasn’t entirely awful but I knew they were capable of better. That record found the band trying very hard to be different and while they were, it didn’t always translate into good songs. Since the release of that album, the band have parted ways with their label Universal Republic and have parted ways amicably with pianist and sometimes singer Michelle De La Rosa, sister of front man John Nolan. So now the band are without a label and reduced to a three piece but instead of giving up they went into the studio and cranked out an excellent three song EP that gives me high hopes for their future. Un Mas Dos was produced and self released by the band in the form of a digital download as well as a 7” vinyl. I was lucky enough to snag the vinyl when I saw them open for Anberlin a couple a months ago. Even with just three people on stage, the band managed to sound huge and they put on an excellent show. Nolan seems to have remembered how to write hooks on this EP; all three songs are catchy. They are also heavier than anything on The Needles The Space, while still mixing in some great piano parts. The band also branches out with some cool keyboard sounds as well. The intro for “Ten Ton Shoes” is reminiscent of something from an old 8-bit Nintendo game, but it works. “Wait and Watch” is a powerful, though cynical song with it’s chorus “I’m gonna wait and watch the world die.” “Try” is the most lyrically hopeful and musically straightforward of the songs. The only downside of this EP is it’s length but there is no filler here and it makes me look even more forward to Straylight Run’s next full length.


Straylight Run - "Try"

Carolina Liar - "I'm Not Over" (2008)

Carolina Liar is a relatively new rock band that recently released their debut full length Coming To Terms. I have to admit that I don’t know much about the band themselves or their origins but I did learn that lead singer/songwriter Chad Wolf originally hails from South Carolina while the rest of the band members are from Sweden. I first heard of them after hearing today’s song in the Ashton Kutcher/Cameron Diaz disaster What Happens In Vegas (or as I like to call it, What Crappens In Vegas.) Seriously, this song was the only bright spot of the movie and I had to wait til the very end to hear it. After finding out who it was I picked up the record and I must say that while there is nothing really spectacular about it, Coming To Terms is a pretty solid debut. There is plenty of pop sensibility to go around as many of these songs seem ready for the radio, which isn’t entirely a bad thing, but in some cases makes the songs forgettable. Among the standouts are the album’s second single “Show Me What I’m Looking For” as well as “Last Night,” which is reminiscent of The Killers circa Hot Fuss. “I’m Not Over” is the lead off track and easily the best song with it’s catchy chorus and memorable synth line. I have always been someone who will buy a whole album rather than pick and choose single songs from iTunes, but if you were only going to get one from Carolina Liar I would go with this.


Carolina Liar - "I'm Not Over"

Jack's Mannequin - "Annie Use Your Telescope" (2008)

By now you may already be familiar with the story of Jack’s Mannequin. It started as the solo side project of Andrew McMahon, front man of Something Corporate. It has since morphed into a more of a full band as well as more of a full time gig as Jack’s Mannequin has now released their sophomore album The Glass Passenger. You may have also heard about McMahon’s bout with leukemia, which he was diagnosed with right after finishing Jack’s 2005 debut Everything In Transit. He is now in remission and healthy but I think it will be a long time before people stop equating Jack’s Mannequin and Andrew McMahon with cancer. There is no doubt that his experience with the disease the past three years has influenced his music, however McMahon chooses not to dwell on it and allows the songs on The Glass Passenger to encompass broader themes. McMahon also takes bigger musical leaps on this record. Everything In Transit was a great album, but there was little that would distinguish it from a Something Corporate record. I hate to use the word “mature” because it seems overly used when talking about how an artist has changed from one album to the next but I will say that The Glass Passenger is a more grown up record and perhaps more fully realized with more lush instrumentation and excellent production value. McMahon’s piano prowess is still evident on this record but he allows it to be subdued and let the guitar take the lead on songs like “American Love” and the excellent “Bloodshot.” Today’s song is one of the slower ones with a great piano and string melody that holds it all together. The Glass Passenger shows McMahon is one of the best songwriters in alternative music today and I think this album will help be remembered as more than “that guy from Something Corporate that had cancer.” On the album opener “Crashin” McMahon is open about his fear of rejection by fans as he sings “Even if your voice comes back again, maybe there’ll be no one listening.” I think it’s safe to say he can put those fears to rest.


Jack's Mannequin - "Annie Use Your Telescope"

The Format - "Dog Problems" (2006)

The Format was a great indie rock duo from Arizona that I loved ever since I heard their song “The First Single” back in 2003. Their debut album Interventions and Lullabies was filled with clever rock tunes that had lots of acoustic guitar, just enough distortion and plenty of hooks to go around. After a long ordeal with their record label, The Format was finally able to self-release their sophomore album Dog Problems in the summer of 2006. I have to admit that at first I was apprehensive about this record. I mean I liked it, but it failed to grab me like the first album did. Dog Problems was much quirkier and employed a myriad of instruments from horns and strings to keyboards of all kinds. There were still a few tight pop songs with solid hooks such as “She Doesn’t Get It” and “The Compromise,” a lyrical stab at the record industry that had scorned the duo. I listened off and on and would sometimes go back to the album, but only to listen to a few songs. A few weeks ago I was on Facebook (as I am far too often now) and someone had posted a line from “Dog Problems” as their status update. I laughed and thought about how crazy the title track was and how it seemed to be quite a departure with it’s circus-like and somewhat Broadway inspired instrumentation. Not to mention the abundance of lyrics sung only in a way that front man Nate Ruess can pull off. I went back and listened to the song and realized how great it was. Then I listened to it again. And again. Then one more time for good measure. “Dog Problems” was on infinite repeat in my head for the better part of week. The tune is definitely infectious. This new found appreciation for the song led me to rediscover parts of the album that I had neglected such as the poppy “Dead End” and the excellent closer “If Work Permits” which starts slowly with acoustic guitar and builds to a rollicking punk inspired tune at the end. I then checked out The Format’s B-Sides and Rarities release which is filled with some great demos, covers and studio outtakes. I also picked up their DVD Live at the Mayan Theatre which was filmed in the summer of 2007. The band plays through Dog Problems in it’s entirety as well as some old favorites from Interventions and a new song. The show is quite unique in that they are backed by full horn and string sections to present the album as it was recorded. They also enlist the help of some of their friends such as the band Reuben’s Accomplice, some members of Steel Train and even Jim Adkins from Jimmy Eat World. The only thing that sucks about my new obsession with all things The Format is that they are no longer together. The band released a statement via their Myspace back in February announcing that they would not be making another record together. No specifics were given as to why. But now the members are on to other projects. Sam Means, who was the musical driving force is now collaborating with Michelle DeLaRosa formerly of Straylight Run on her new project, Destry. Nate Ruess has formed a new band called Fun, with Jack Antonoff of Steel Train and Andrew Dost of Anathallo. Their debut album should be out in the spring. I definitely look forward to checking out these new projects but at the same time I will miss The Format and I hope that maybe we haven’t heard the last of them.

P.S. As an added bonus since I’ve been slacking for so long, I also give you “Swans” which was a new song from the DVD. As far as I know, there is no studio recording of it.


The Format - "Dog Problems"


The Format - "Swans (live)"

Coming Soon...

Alright, alright I haven't exactly been keeping up with this thing like I said I would. It turns out I don't even have enough motivation to do it one week a month. But I do feel bad about that and for that reason (and also to prove to myself that I can actually do it) I'm going to go back to the old format of one song every day for the month of December. There are probably fewer than five people who even remotely care about this, but I'm still going to do it anyway. So if you're paying attention, if you're not paying attention I'm going to give you 31 songs in December because there has been some really great music released in the past few months and I've also kind of rediscovered a few older tunes that I will let you in on. Also i kind of exhausted the Christmas tunes last year so I won't be doing any of those unless I hear something new and it's really good. So once again, December 1, it's back.

Reggie and the Full Effect - "Congratulations Smack and Katy" (2003)

Reggie and the Full Effect began nearly ten years as the side project/alter ego of Get Up Kids keyboardist James Dewees. In 1999, their debut Greatest Hits ’84-’87 was released on the Get Up Kids label imprint Heroes and Villains. That album is a mix of tracks ranging from emo to electro pop to metal tied together with humorous interludes with titles like “Pick Up the Phone Master P.” It’s an interesting listen. Reggie continued in 2000 with their second album Promotional Copy which followed largely along the same lines musically and even introduced more sides of Dewees, such as the fake Swedish metal band Common Denominator on the song “Dwarf Invasion.” (Yes, it’s as ridiculous and hilarious as it sounds.) In 2003, their third album Under the Tray was released. This was when I first became aware Reggie and the Full Effect. Today’s song is a great slice of power pop perfection. In 2005 came Reggie’s fourth album Songs Not To Get Married To, which as the title suggests chronicled Dewees’ divorce. The album retained some of the old Reggie humor with tracks like “Love Reality” and “Deathnotronic” but also showed a more serious side with “Get Well Soon” and “Thanks for the Misery.” There are some great songs on the record, but as you can imagine, it can be a downer. I’ve yet to pick up their recently released fifth album, Last Stop: Crappytown. All of the songs on the album are titled after the subway stops that Dewees would take to get to rehab after he decided to get clean. From what I’ve read, the album is a much more serious departure for Dewees and leans heavily toward his metal influences. I’m sure there are some gems on the record, I just haven’t checked it out yet. In between recording and touring for Reggie and the Full Effect, Dewees also became a touring member of My Chemical Romance and could possibly be joining the band to record their next album. Today’s song is probably still my favorite Reggie tune. It just has a light, summer feel to it and it’s great to sing along with. Plus the video is sheer genius.


Reggie and the Full Effect - "Congratulations Smack and Katy"

Low vs. Diamond - "Actions Are Actions" (2008)

Low vs. Diamond is a cool new indie band from L.A. I say new, but they’ve actually been together a few years but have only recently released their full length debut. Their self titled album came out digitally in April and saw a physical release in late July. I’ve yet to hear the entire record but what I have heard is promising. The band recently performed the first single from the album “Heart Attack” on Letterman. Today’s song is one I heard on the local college station KXUL and it got stuck in my head. The chorus has no words and yet I can’t escape it. I found myself humming it audibly in pubic and feeling dumb about it afterwards. I also particularly like the piano in this song. Low vs. Diamond is a band I plan on checking out more of and I suggest you do the same.


Low vs. Diamond - "Actions Are Actions"

Upstairs Divine - "Come and Go" (2007)

Upstairs Divine is an exceptional indie band from nearby Ruston, LA. I was turned onto them by a friend who constantly raved about their EP and how great they were live. When I finally got Upstairs Divine's self titled EP, the first thing I told her was that they were too good to be from Ruston. Honestly, their music sounds more like something that would be coming out of New York or Seattle, not northern Louisiana. That being said, the EP is a fantastic set of six songs that showcase vocals from both Ben Jones and Bethany Raybourn. The music and vocals remind me of bands like Sleeping at Last and Eisley with equal focus on keys and guitar. I think Upstairs Divine are strongest on tracks where the duo split the vocal duties such as the driving “Prints of Whales” and the more folksy “Vienna.” Today’s song is the last one on the EP and is an epic closer clocking in at nearly eight minutes. It’s a slow building tune consisting mainly of Raybourn’s vocals and light electric guitar until the climax in the last minute and a half. This EP is the perfect soundtrack for late night driving or rainy days like we’ve been having here the last week. The band are no longer performing live, but still maintain their Myspace so perhaps we haven’t heard the last of them. At least I hope not.


Upstairs Divine - "Come and Go"

Jawbreaker - "Jet Black" (1995)

Jawbreaker was one of the most influential bands of the mid 90s emo/punk movement. Countless current bands cite Jawbreaker’s final album, 1995’s Dear You as a favorite and an influence. I’m ashamed to say that I was largely unfamiliar with Jawbreaker until last year when I came across a live recording of Brand New front man Jesse Lacey covering the Jawbreaker song “Accident Prone.” I loved his version and decided to check out the original. I was pleased with what I heard and I kicked myself for not checking out Jawbreaker sooner. I’ve read that that Dear You is the band’s most polished effort, with previous albums having lower production quality and raspier vocals from front man Blake Schwarzenbach. If you ask me, the production on Dear You is still a little rough around the edges but I suppose it gives the album a certain charm. Today’s song is another fantastic one from that album. “Jet Black” begins and ends with spoken word samples of Christopher Walken’s deranged character from the Woody Allen classic Annie Hall. To me the ending is one of the best combinations of spoken words and music that I’ve heard. Post Jawbreaker, Schwarzenbach went on to form the band Jets to Brazil, who have also been a notable influence on the current scene. Dear You was recently reissued on Blackball Records with five bonus tracks.


Jawbreaker - "Jet Black"

Paper Route - "You Kill Me" (2008)

Paper Route is a great band from Nashville that fuses rock with pop and plenty of electronic elements. I first discovered them from this feature on RelevantMagazine.com. I later checked out their Myspace and was easily convinced to pick up their new EP Are We All Forgotten. These five songs have been in heavy rotation for me for the past couple weeks. Every track is great and none of them sound too much alike either. When trying to describe their sound I can’t help but think of bands like The Postal Service, Mute Math, M83 and even Aqualung. Today’s song is probably the most epic. It just feels huge and makes great use of the strings. The lyrics are haunting and the chorus will stay in your head. I’m hoping that this EP is just a precursor to an even more amazing full length in the near future.


Paper Route - "You Kill Me"

Feeder - "We Are the People" (2008)

Feeder is a great band from the UK that I’ve liked for quite a while now. I’ve featured them before actually. The band recently released a new record entitled Silent Cry. I’ve had a copy of for some time now but for one reason or another it has been overlooked. After a suggestion from one of my five readers, I decided to check it out. I was met with the same great hooks anthemic rock tunes I’ve come to expect from Grant Nicholas and co. I’m only one listen in so I don’t really have a favorite track or anything yet but I was particularly impressed by the first song “We Are the People” with it’s huge guitars and soaring vocals from Nicholas. The lyrics to the song also seem to have a lot of spiritual undertones which is something I started noticing about Feeder on their last album Pushing the Senses. Feeder is one of the UK’s best kept secrets and I’m baffled as to why they don’t get more attention here in the States. I’ve always felt that they sound a lot more like Foo Fighters rather than any of their British compatriots. The CD is only available overseas,but Silent Cry is available in the US iTunes store and it comes with two bonus tracks as well. I’m looking forward to listening to this record a whole lot more.


Feeder - "We Are the People"

Number One Gun - "Wake Me Up" (2008)

Number One Gun is a rock band from California that now consists of just front man Jeff Schneeweis. The band started out in 2002 and released their debut Celebrate Mistakes on Floodgate Records. The record was a pretty straightforward take on the pop punk/emo genre that would become widespread in the next couple of years. It was a great record, but not really a standout record. In 2004 the band signed with Tooth & Nail Records and released their sophomore album Promises for the Imperfect, ten polished tracks with a little more edge and much slicker production courtesy of resident Tooth & Nail wiz Aaron Sprinkle (Anberlin, Emery, The Almost.) In 2007 it was announced that the band would be breaking up and Schneeweis would continue to record, but under the name The North Pole Project. I’m not clear on all the details, but somewhere along the way, Tooth & Nail decided it would be better to release the album under the name Number One Gun and title it The North Pole Project. Despite being labeled as Number One Gun, Schneeweis is the only remaining member and played nearly everything on the record. This was very similar to what happened with Watashi Wa. The album was released in January and also consists of ten tracks. It’s just about what you would have expected listening to the previous two records. That’s not a bad thing though. There are a few slower numbers such as “The Best of You and Me” and “The Different Ones.” However, the crunching guitars are back on songs like the opener “The Massacre” and the more lyrically biting “Thank You Ending.” Overall, the album reminds me very much of Acceptance, a great band that unfortunately broke up a few years back. Today’s song is one of the more melodic and poppy tunes, but it still rocks quite a lot.


Number One Gun - "Wake Me Up"

M.I.A. vs. Modest Mouse - "Paper Fire" (2008)

Ahh, the mash-up. It’s become a trend in recent years for producers to take two songs that seemingly have little to do with each other and put them together to create something new and at times as cool or cooler than the originals. Usually, this involves using the music from one song and overlaying the vocals from another and interchanging verses and choruses. If you have access to the master tracks of each of the songs, a lot can be done to create something entirely new. Today’s song is my first attempt at the mash-up. The idea for this came about after seeing the trailer for the new Seth Rogen movie Pineapple Express. I really dug the song in the trailer and found out it was “Paper Planes” by Sri Lankan indie hip-hop artist M.I.A. from her 2007 album Kala. I had never been too impressed with her work in the past, but this song was just cool to me. After listening to it several times, something jumped out as familiar to me. The bass line just seemed like something I had heard before, I found myself humming a melody and I realized that some elements of “Paper Planes” sounded eerily similar to “Fire It Up” from the 2007 album We Were Dead Before the Ship Even Sank by Modest Mouse. With the help of Adobe Audition 1.5 software, I was able to try my hand at doing a mash up. Of course I didn’t have the masters of the songs, so I couldn’t get this exactly right, but I don’t think it’s bad for a first try. Check it out.


M.I.A. vs. Modest Mouse - "Paper Fire"

Colour Revolt - "Naked and Red" (2008)

Colour Revolt is an indie rock band hailing from Oxford, Mississippi. Their southern roots show through in their raw, bluesy guitar style that dominates their debut full length Plunder, Beg, and Curse, which was released back in April. I first heard of them a few months back when they were mentioned somewhere online alongside one of my favorite bands Manchester Orchestra. I downloaded a couple of their songs and was intrigued but I kind of forgot about them for a while. A little later, at the suggestion of a friend, I went back and listened again and got absolutely hooked on today’s song. “Naked and Red” begins with guitars that remind me of mewithoutYou and builds to a barrage of screeching guitars, crashing cymbals and some serious wailing courtesy of front man Jesse Coppenbarger (what a great last name.) The lyrics are cryptic and filled with religious allusions. The rest of the album follows in much the same way, with a few softer tracks such as “Moses of the South.” Colour Revolt are definitely a band all their own. They don’t really sound like much of anything else that’s going on right now, and that’s a good thing.


Colour Revolt - "Naked and Red"

Relient K - "At Least We Made It This Far" (2008)

Relient K is a band that has always been good about treating their fans to a constant stream of new music. Since I started listening to them back in 2003, they’ve had eight releases, which include EPs, Christmas albums, and a 7” vinyl single, with the titles of all of them showcasing the band’s penchant for wordplay. They’ve somewhat outdone themselves with The Bird and the Bee Sides, which is actually two releases in one, clocking in at 26 tracks. The first 13 comprise The Nashville Tennis EP, which finds the band shifting between their pop punk roots and a newfound knack for alt-country. I think it’s a stretch to call 13 tracks an EP, but you have to consider that only three of the songs are over three minutes in length and some are barely over one minute. There are some gems on this release such as “The Scene and Herd,” an open letter from front man and lead songwriter Matthew Thiessen to the “scene” that they’ve reluctantly become a part of. Musically, the track hearkens back to some of their earlier work, with chugging guitars and breakneck drumming. Also of note is “The Lining Is Silver” and “There Was No Thief,” which is an updated version of “The Thief” from their 2005 Apathetic EP. The second half of the album is where the b-sides come in. Most of these songs have been released previously on various EPs or singles, with some new ones thrown in as well. It also marks the first time that the four tracks from the 2003’s The Vinyl Countdown have been available outside the original 1500 pressings of the 7". Today’s song is one of the more alt-country leaning tracks that shows that Relient K is far from a one trick pony. The Bird and the Bee Sides is a must own for any Relient K fan.


Relient K - "At Least We Made It This Far"

Coldplay - "Death and All His Friends" (2008)

Coldplay are simultaneously one of the most loved and most hated bands in the world. They need no introduction. You’ve heard their music on your radio and your television and playing over the loudspeaker at just about any retail outlet. You’ve also probably already come to your own conclusion about them, so I won’t try to sway you. I will say that while I think Coldplay make excellent music, front man Chris Martin has taken pompous arrogance to a whole new, extremely British level. I had gained a little respect for him after seeing him play an over the top “parody” of himself on the hit show Extras. I thought it was cool that he was able to laugh at himself, but after reading some of the press about Coldplay’s newest album Viva La Vida or Death and All His Friends, I think that maybe he didn’t have to try too hard to come off as such a jerk on the show. That being said, I feel as though Coldplay have made great strides to move forward from the epic piano ballads that have defined them in the past. Viva La Vida uses the piano only sparsely. It’s still there, it just doesn’t dominate the mix on every song. The most notable difference in sound is the way they used percussion, employing everything from handclaps and stomps to tympani. There’s also a generous use of strings on songs like “42” and “Yes.” Today’s song is the last one on the record and I guess could be called one of two title tracks. I like the way that it starts softly and builds to an excellent climax and showcases everything that Coldplay is good at from the piano parts to the huge guitar crescendos. I especially enjoy the bridge. All told, Viva La Vida is a great album. It probably won’t change any of your preconceived notions about the band, but if you’ve ever even been a casual fan, it’s one worth checking out.

Coldplay - "Death and All His Friends"

The New Frontiers - "Strangers" (2008)

It seems to be increasingly more difficult to find new bands to get excited about. I’m not saying there aren’t plenty of bands, because music has a larger presence now than ever. With so many bands all vying for your attention, it can be hard to distinguish and a lot of them end up sounding the same. The New Frontiers are a diamond in the rough for me. The band recently released their debut album Mending on The Militia Group label. The record is filled with eleven tracks of contemplative indie rock that reaches into the alt country realm and holds your attention from beginning to end. The band hail from Dallas and have been playing together for a few years now, previously under the name Stellamaris. I was introduced to The New Frontiers by The Relevant Podcast. You can download the featured episode here. It includes a great acoustic version of “Black Lungs” the opener on Mending. It’s not that The New Frontiers are covering much new ground, but there is a certain earnestness to the music that really grabs me. All of the tracks are well suited for driving across country or just driving around at night and doing some deep thinking. “Strangers” is a standout for me because of the lyrics and the fact that the bridge is almost like a second chorus. As of right now, Mending is only $5.99 on iTunes and Amazon mp3, so there’s really no excuse not to check it out. Trust me you’ll get more than your money’s worth.


The New Frontiers - "Strangers"

Zox - "Anything But Fine" (2005)

Zox is an indie band from Rhode Island who are somewhat unique because of their use of violin. I know what you’re thinking: “Yellowcard uses violin, so it’s not that unique.” And maybe you’re somewhat correct, but Zox incorporates some really cool melodies using the violin that just wouldn’t be as sweet with any other instrument. The band’s unusual name is actually the last name of drummer John Zox. The band have released three albums, one independently and two on SideOneDummy Records, which is mostly a punk label, but don’t let that fool you. Their latest album Line In the Sand came out back in January and I couldn’t tell you much about it because I haven’t really heard it. Today’s song comes from their 2005 release The Wait and is my favorite track on the record. This one is a bit of a slow builder, but the violin is amazing in this song and the lyrics are great as well.


Zox - "Anything But Fine"

Weezer - "Troublemaker" (2008)

Weezer needs no introduction. They’ve been a constant in the alt rock scene since their 1994 self titled debut that yielded hits like “Buddy Holly” and “Say It Ain’t So.” Since then the band has released five more albums. The band’s newest album hit stores earlier this month and is their third self titled record, being dubbed “The Red Album.” The band had been out of the spotlight for a while after seeing great success in 2005 with their fifth album Make Believe. It was rumored at one point that the band would be breaking up but obviously that is not the case. I wasn’t sure what to expect going into The Red Album simply because Weezer has been kind of hit or miss since The Blue Album. That’s not to say they haven’t made some great records, but there have been a few songs on each album I wasn’t particularly fond of. My fears were somewhat alleviated after hearing the album’s first single “Pork and Beans.” It’s classic pop rock from Weezer with great guitar crunch, a soaring chorus and tongue in cheek lyrics from front man Rivers Cuomo. I read somewhere that the song was written in response to the label requesting that Weezer write a radio hit. So Cuomo penned a song about not wanting to write a radio hit. Great stuff. The video makes it even better. I finally got the album earlier this week and while it has it’s moments, I would have to say that so far I’m not completely sold. There are some fantastic songs like “Everybody Get Dangerous” and “Heart Songs.” But then there are some weird experiments like the genre hopping “The Greatest Man That Ever Lived.” By some band’s standards six minutes isn’t that long, but considering that most of Weezer’s tunes clock in at under three, it begins to grow tedious. Also vexing is the fact that guitarist Brian Bell and drummer Pat Wilson take over on lead vocals on a couple of songs. It’s not that they aren’t competent singers, (each has released music with his own side project,) it’s just that it doesn’t seem like Weezer if Rivers Cuomo isn’t singing, even with his creepy mustache and newfound affinity for Western wear. Also of note is that there is a special edition of the album that features four bonus tracks not found on the original version. This is totally worth it if for no other reason than “Miss Sweeny” a hilarious song about an office manager with a major crush on his secretary that almost feels a little like Fountains of Wayne at times. And it’s almost catchier than any of the songs that made the album. Today’s tune is the lead off track and according to Cuomo in the liner notes; it’s a song that says “this is me. This is who I am.” The lyrics are great and the tune is infectious. I would suggest checking this out, especially if you’ve been a Weezer fan for a while, just don’t expect to be blown away.


Weezer - "Troublemaker"

Augustana - "Hey Now" (2008)

Augustana is a rock band from San Diego, but given the brand of rootsy, blues tinged rock they play, you might think they’re from the South. The band gained national popularity a couple years ago on the back of the their first single “Boston,” a piano driven ballad that ended up being featured on the soundtracks of several prime time television shows. Two years later, Augustana is back with a much more defined sound and sense of self than on their debut All the Stars and Boulevards. The new album Can’t Love, Can’t Hurt features ten tracks than find Augustana stripping things down a bit and finding their alt-country side. Singer Dan Layus is more confident this time around. This is especially noticeable on the ballad “Fire,” which features just him and a piano. He also does a great Ryan Adams impression on “Meet You There,” complete with an unnecessary f-bomb, just for good measure. The first single, “Sweet and Low” has the potential to eclipse the popularity of “Boston” if pop radio weren’t so fickle these days. The song is just as good as anything Goo Goo Dolls or The Wallflowers were putting out in the late 90s. Today’s song is the album opener and while it takes a while to get where it’s going, once it does, you see the wait was worth it. This tune is definitely more polished than anything on All the Stars and Boulevards, but I don’t mean that in a bad way. Can’t Love, Can’t Hurt is fantastic album and I’m hoping that Augustana continue in this direction in the future.


Augustana - "Hey Now"

Glen Hansard - "Say It To Me Now" (2007)

Glen Hansard is the lead singer and songwriter for Irish outfit The Frames. He gained new notoriety last year when Once, the indie film he starred in became a cult hit, due in large part to the songs he had penned for the soundtrack. The most notable song “Falling Slowly,” a duet with Hansard and co-star Marketa Irglova, won the Oscar for best original song back in February. I had read several favorable reviews of Once and had it recommended to me by friends and I finally watched it last month. I was thoroughly impressed with this movie, purchasing the soundtrack the next day. To call it a musical would be a misnomer, because the characters do not spontaneously burst into song and dance. It is however a musical in the sense that that the story revolves around two musicians who meet and form a special bond, writing and performing songs together. The best moments in the film come when you see thee songs fleshed out before your eyes, like when “Falling Slowly” is played in an empty music store and the first time you hear “When Your Mind’s Made Up,” being recorded in the studio. If you didn’t know, it would be possible to assume that Once is a documentary, because it is very much shot in that style but that is not the case. Since the filming of the movie Hansard and Irglova have continued to work together, releasing a self titled album under the name The Swell Season and embarking on tours across Europe and North America. Today’s song is a short one, but for me the most raw and powerful tune on the soundtrack. One of my favorite scenes in the movie is early on when Hansard plays “Say It To Me Now” on an empty Dublin street in the dead of night, singing to no one in particular, but belting it out as if he is in front of thousands or maybe even alone with the one to which the lyrics are directed.


Glen Hansard - "Say It To Me Now"

Death Cab for Cutie - "Cath..." (2008)

Death Cab for Cutie is a band I’ve featured several times before, so I won’t go into how great I think they are or how much I love Ben Gibbard’s song writing. I will however let you know all about their latest effort Narrow Stairs. This album is the long anticipated follow up to Death Cab’s wildly successful 2005 major label debut Plans. Any fears you may have had about a major label infringing on the band’s creative control and thus watering down the music can be thrown out the window. Narrow Stairs finds Death Cab at their most experimental and you know they aren’t writing for radio when the first single clocks in at over eight minutes. Of course there is a radio edit of “I Will Possess Your Heart” that excludes the four and half minute buildup of an infectious bass line peppered with random guitar and piano parts, but you only get the full effect when you listen to the whole thing. Lyrically, Gibbard is about as dark and lamenting as ever, finding the beauty of a natural disaster in “Grapevine Fires” and sending a dying romance to its wintry grave in “The Ice Is Getting Thinner.” The album isn’t a complete downer though. “No Sunlight” is the sunniest song you will ever hear about pessimism. On “Long Division,” the guitars are much heavier than anything on Plans. In fact the song wouldn’t be out of place on 2001’s The Photo Album or even their 2003 breakthrough Transatlanticism. I can see how some fans could be thrown off by Narrow Stairs and it took me a few listens to really get into it, but once I did, it stayed on repeat for weeks. If nothing else, you have to respect Death Cab for Cutie for making the record they wanted to make and doing it quite well. Today’s song is one of my favorites mainly because of the guitar in the intro. It’s incredibly infectious and leads into a wonderfully written song about a woman who perpetually makes unwise romantic decisions, delivered like a short story with Gibbard’s unmistakable tenor.


Death Cab for Cutie - "Cath..."

My Morning Jacket - "Highly Suspicious" (2008)

My Morning Jacket is a fantastic rock band that has been releasing albums for nearly ten years. The group from Louisville, KY has been hailed by many critics and fans as one of the best live bands performing today. This can be seen and heard on the band’s 2006 live CD and DVD Okonokos. I first discovered My Morning Jacket in 2003 after hearing a few tracks from their third album It Still Moves, most notably the single “One Big Holiday.” I liked a couple of the songs but wasn’t really blown away. In 2005 the band released Z a collection of ten songs that immediately won them new fans and put them in the upper echelon of the indie rock scene. Needless to say that their fifth studio offering Evil Urges has been widely anticipated for a couple years now and it’s finally here. I’ve been listening to this record non stop for the past week and I find something new to like about it every time. The band builds off of what they did on Z but doesn’t necessarily stay in the same range sonically. There is a balanced mix of hard rockers and breezy ballads on Evil Urges. One of the better slow songs is “Librarian,” which finds front man Jim James crooning softly as he imagines wooing the librarian he’s been admiring from afar. The lead single “I’m Amazed” is classic MMJ and could fit comfortably on either of their two previous records, featuring some solid Southern rock guitar licks. “Highly Suspicious” is a song that is likely to polarize some of the band’s long time fans. James is almost mimicking Prince as he sings the verses in a high falsetto over some heavy bass and several voices join him to bellow out the title of the song, which is the hook. This is a great one for rolling down the windows and jamming on the air guitar, much to the chagrin of the driver sitting beside you at a red light. It’s not really representative of the album as a whole, but it’s easily my favorite, but will probably leave some fans scratching their heads. Evil Urges is definitely on my short list of best albums of 2008 so far. This is a must buy for sure.


My Morning Jacket - "Highly Suspicious"

All Get Out - "Water and God" (2008)

All Get Out is a relatively new band of four guys from South Carolina. I discovered them after hearing them mentioned in an interview with Manchester Orchestra front man Andy Hull. The band is currently signed to his Favorite Gentleman Recordings, which released their debut EP back in January. The Spitting EP consists of five songs that run the gamut from synth-infused pop, to piano balladry, to straight up guitar rock. After checking out today’s song on the band’s Myspace several times, I went ahead and got the whole EP a couple weeks ago and I haven’t stopped listening to it. Especially of note is the heart felt piano driven closer “Three More, I Guess,” a sparse arrangement that finds front man Nathan Hussey going from a near whisper to an emotional crescendo backed with beautiful female vocals. Today’s song is definitely the reason to get The Spitting EP. “Water and God” has one of the best keyboard hooks I’ve heard in a while and some excellent lyrics as well, with a vocal style somewhere between The Format and The Weakerthans. It’s sure to get lodged in your brain. All Get Out is a very promising new band and I’m eagerly awaiting a full length from these guys.


All Get Out - "Water and God"

Travis - "Re-Offender" (2003)

Scottish band Travis have been releasing albums for over ten years now. They are probably most noted for their 1999 sophomore release The Man Who, which featured their biggest hit “Why Does It Always Rain On Me?” The band has always had a bigger following in the UK than the US, but they did see some moderate success stateside with their 2001 album The Invisible Band which featured “Sing” and “Side” both of which saw significant play on MTV2. In 2003 came 12 Memories, followed by a greatest hits album entitled Singles in late 2004. Last year, the band released their fifth studio album entitled The Boy With No Name. Today’s song is one of my favorites and can be found on 12 Memories.

Travis - "Re-Offender"

Sleeping At Last - "Say" (2003)

Sleeping At Last is a great indie band from Chicago that has been around for a few years now. Their major label debut Ghosts came out in 2003 via Interscope Records after none other than Billy Corgan of Smashing Pumpkins fame turned someone at the label onto them. Ghosts was actually their second record, after the independently released Capture in 2000. The record is filled with excellent pop/rock tracks that all seem to have a huge, dreamy, airy feel to them. It’s hard to explain but I think you’ll see what I mean. The band have since become completely independent once again, self-releasing their third album Keep No Score in 2006. The band gained some national recognition after the song “Quicksand” was featured in an episode of Grey’s Anatomy. Keep No Score is an overall more low key album, with fewer heavy songs and more piano driven tracks. Today’s song is the first track and the only single from Ghosts. It’s still the band’s best work as far as I’m concerned.

Sleeping At Last - "Say"

Secret & Whisper - "The Actress" (2008)

Secret & Whisper is one of the up and coming acts on one of my favorite labels, Tooth & Nail Records. The band had seen some success in the screamo/emo scene before under the name Stutterfly. I vaguely remember seeing a video by them a few years back and I’m pretty sure that I thought it sucked. After getting dropped from their label, their previous lead singer decided to hang it up but the rest of the band moved forward, creating the kind of music they wanted to. The band hooked up with new vocalist Charles Furney and Secret & Whisper was born. When I first heard “XOXOXO,” the first single from their debut Great White Whale, I immediately thought of the band Saosin. I don’t think anyone would disagree that Furney’s vocals bear a huge resemblance to Cove Reber of Saosin and even Anthony Green of Circa Survive, who used to sing in Saosin. Secret & Whisper may not be incredibly original, but that doesn’t mean they’re not incredibly talented. There is some very intricate guitar work going on throughout Great White Whale, with songs ranging from in your face rockers, to more ballad like material. That being said, some of the songs seem to repeat each other and there are a few fillers, but it’s still a solid debut. Today’s song is one of the slower tracks and I think it showcases some cool electronic elements of the band as well as Furney’s impressive range.

Secret & Whisper - "The Actress"

The New Amsterdams - "Hanging On for Hope" (2003)

The New Amsterdams began as the side project of Get Up Kids frontman Matthew Pryor. Their first album Never You Mind came out in 2000 on Heroes & Villains Records, an imprint on Vagrant started by The Get Up Kids. The New Amsterdams found Pryor writing more stripped down and acoustic folkish songs that wouldn’t have fit in with the Get Up Kids sound. Pryor continued to record New Amsterdams records, releasing Para Toda Vida in 2001 and Worse for the Wear in 2003. After the Get Up Kids split in 2006, The New Amsterdams became Pryor’s main musical focus. He released Story Like a Scar in 2006, which was followed by Killed or Cured, a double album that had been shelved but finally saw the light of day. His most recent effort is last year’s At the Foot of My Rival. I’ve yet to pick that one up but I’m sure it’s great. Today’s song comes from Worse for the Wear, which is probably my favorite New Amsterdams record. Maybe because it’s the first one I heard, but nevertheless I dig it.


The New Amsterdams - "Hanging On for Hope"

Hot Rod Circuit - "Stateside" (2007)

Hot Rod Circuit was a band that I was always somewhat aware of but never really listened to. They started out on Vagrant Records which was also home to some of my favorites like The Get Up Kids, Dashboard Confessional, Hey Mercedes and Moneen. I had heard a couple of Hot Rod Circuit songs, but they didn’t really stand out that much to me. Today’s song comes from their most recent album The Underground Is a Dying Breed. The title is kind of ironic because it was their first release on Immortal Records which is a bit of a step up from the more underground Vagrant, and also because it ended up being their last record together. I heard “Stateside” the other day on the radio and at first I thought it was kind of whiny and emo, which it is, but three hours later I still had the chorus stuck in my head. Since then I’ve listened to it several times and I can’t get enough. When I was looking up Hot Rod Circuit, I came across the video for this song. I immediately remembered that I had seen it several months ago and thought it was hilarious and that the song was pretty cool, however I must have forgotten about it. The band played their last show back in December after having been together fro over ten years. They stated on Myspace that they are compiling a b-sides album that will come out some time soon. I’m usually not one for the internet rumor mill, but I saw in more than one place that Hot Rod Circuit singer Andy Jackson could be replacing Fred Mascherino as guitarist and second vocalist in Taking Back Sunday. I guess time will tell, but until then you can rock out to the pedal steel guitar in this song.


Hot Rod Circuit - "Stateside"

Blink-182 - "All of This" (2003)

I’ve been a casual Blink-182 fan since seeing the hilarious videos for “What’s My Age Again?” and “All the Small Things” from their breakout record Enema of the State. I liked them alright but I had never purchased an album or anything. I even liked all the singles from their next album Take Off Your Pants and Jacket, especially “Stay Together for the Kids.” I guess it was when I heard “I Miss You” from their 2003 self titled album that I decided I needed to get that record. Blink really outdid themselves on what would end up being their final album together. It seemed much darker overall than anything else I had ever heard from them. Some standouts included “Obvious, “Stockholm Syndrome,” and today’s song. “All of This” has one of the catchiest guitar licks on the album and some excellent percussion courtesy of Travis Barker. Oh, and it features vocals from Robert Smith of The freakin’ Cure. It’s one of the best collaborations I’ve heard in a long time. Of course you know that Tom Delonge has now started another band called Angels & Airwaves and they’ve released two albums. Meanwhile Mark Hoppus and Travis Barker have started a band called Plus 44 and they’ve released one record. I enjoyed the new music from each of these bands, but I still hope Blink will some day reunite to make the follow up to Blink-182.


Blink-182 - "All of This"

Atticus Fault - "My First Trip To Mars" (2002)

I’ve been long winded recently, so I’ll keep today short and sweet. I really don’t know anything about Atticus Fault, other than the fact that they recorded one album and it was self titled. I’ve only actually heard one song by the band and of course that would be today’s song. I have to say though that it’s an excellent track. It’s kind of spacey as its name would indicate. It has lots of pop influence but also manages to rock. The band broke up not too long after the release. I wish I could tell you more about them but there’s no Wikipedia entry for them. I’m pretty sure the CD is out of print because their record label MCA either folded or was absorbed a few years back. Amazon has the record available in mp3 format however, just click on the album cover above.


Atticus Fault - "My First Trip To Mars"

Jars of Clay - "Love Is the Protest" (2008)

Jars of Clay are one of my favorite bands of all time and arguably the most successful band to come out of Christian Contemporary Music (CCM.) They rose to national fame 1n 1995 on the strength of the hit single “Flood” from their self titled debut. They’ve been putting out great records ever since. Some may consider them a one hit wonder but that’s not the case at all as they have put out some amazing records over the past 13 years. They are also one of the few bands in my music collection of which I own every recording they’ve released. I’ve tracked down rare EPs, live albums, and b-sides compilations on eBay and other websites. In case you have noticed, I’m a total geek. The band just released Greatest Hits on April 1. As greatest hits albums go, it’s kind of a weak representation of their catalog. With a band like this, it’s difficult to sum up their career using only 13 songs. The real reason for die hard fans to check this out is the inclusion of today’s song, which is new. “Love Is the Protest” is the new single from Jars of Clay and it finds them in great form with a danceable beat and cool guitar work. Dan Haseltine’s voice and lyrics are as great as ever. For someone who is a little more than a casual Jars fan, I would suggest picking up The Essential Jars of Clay which was released last year. This two disc compilation is a more comprehensive look at their career and it features many of the songs on Greatest Hits as well as some rarities that are otherwise hard to find. (And it’s cheaper. Imagine that.) Either way you should get today's song for sure. Jars of Clay are working on a new album due out hopefully by the end of the year. I will definitely bring you something from that when it’s available. You should also go to their website where you will find a very cool cover of The Cars hit “Drive” in the media player at the top right.


Jars of Clay - "Love Is the Protest"