Song a Day

Manchester Orchestra - "Simple Math" (2011)

2011-03-01T07:33:00.000-06:00

So I may be jumping the gun on this one a bit because the album doesn't come out for another two months, but I had to share the new track from Manchester Orchestra. They have long been one of my favorite bands and I was pumped to see that they have finally released their new single, the title track from their third album Simple Math. The song is definitely not something I would have expected given the raw grittiness of their previous album Mean Everything To Nothing. "Simple Math" takes a different direction with the inclusion of strings and some different guitar tones. The band sounds more polished than ever before, but I think it really works. If nothing else, I'm even more intrigued to see what the full length will hold. So until May 10th, we'll have to be content with this. Click on the album art to download the track for free. There's also a really cool video with lyrics here.

Manchester Orchestra - "Simple Math"

Arcade Fire - "We Used To Wait" (2010)

2011-02-15T19:51:00.004-06:00

If you'd never heard of Arcade Fire before this weekend, that probably changed come Monday morning. The vapid, auto tuned pop stars of the day were shocked when a band who actually plays their own instruments walked away from the Grammys with the night's top prize: Album of the Year. It was a long shot for Arcade Fire, the only artists nominated in the category who weren't on a major label. Their third album, The Suburbs hadn't exactly yielded any radio hits either. A concept album about growing up in the suburbs and seeing relationships and the world around you change doesn't really fit in the radio box that's been carved out by Lady Gaga, Katy Perry and the Black Eyed Frickin' Peas. Arcade Fire was no stranger to the Grammys though, with their 2004 debut Funeral and their 2007 sophomore effort Neon Bible both being nominated for Alternative Music Album of the Year. When looking at the competition that The Suburbs was facing, there's no doubt that it was the best album of the year. In my opinion, Album of the Year should go to the work that stands up the best as a collection of songs that work together, and The Suburbs does just that. The album incorporates everything from jangly piano rock to driving guitars and even a Blondie impersonation on the stellar “Sprawl II (Mountains Beyond Mountains).” Now it's true that many of Arcade Fire's hipster fans will look at this Grammy win and see it as cause to no longer support the band. I hope that's not the case, because Arcade Fire will continue to make great music. Next up for Arcade Fire is the release of their short film collaboration with director Spike Jonze. The film is called Scenes from the Suburbs and follows many of the same themes of the album. Clips from the film can be scene in the music video for “The Suburbs.” I think the essence of Arcade Fire was on display Sunday night when, after thanking everyone, front man Win Butler said, “We're gonna go play another song now because we like music.” He then casually placed his Grammy atop his amp and rocked out to “Ready To Start.” The joy was apparent on the face of every member of the band. So if you haven't already, you need to get The Suburbs. Here's my favorite track from the Album of the Year.

Arcade Fire - "We Used To Wait"

The Get Up Kids - "Automatic" (2011)

2011-02-14T07:48:00.000-06:00

No one would have blamed The Get Up Kids for staying broken up. The band had released four pretty solid albums, a number of EPs as well as a live record. They had long been the underdogs of emo, a genre they simultaneously helped create and didn't want to be associated with. The members had all moved on too. Lead singer Matthew Pryor released more albums from his side project The New Amsterdams. Guitarist/vocalist Jim Suptic had released an album with his new band Blackpool lights and keyboardist James Dewees has been touring with My Chemical Romance. And lets be honest, with the band in their mid-30s, it wasn't unrealistic to suggest that maybe they had outgrown their name. Nevertheless, The Get Up Kids made thousands of fans happy last year when they released a new EP entitled Simple Science with the promise of a new full-length to follow. Well the time has come and There Are Rules, the band's fifth proper album has hit stores. One thing that's apparent upon listening to album opener “Tithe,” is that The Get Up Kids are louder and angrier than before. The driving guitars are a far cry from 2002's subdued On a Wire. Dewees and his synthesizers take a larger role than ever before on Rules, especially on tracks like “Better Lie” and the Cure-inspired “Shatter You Lungs.” One of the bigger surprises on the album comes in the form of “Rally 'Round the Fool,” a slow burning five minute track with a 90s industrial sound. It's one of the last bright spots on the record before it begins its lackluster second half. That's not to say the album is disappointing, but it's obviously front loaded with the best material. All in all, it's good to have The Get Up Kids back. There Are Rules proves that the band still has more left to say. Today's track is one of two that features Suptic on vocals. It probably has the best hook on the album and the best integration of keyboards as well.

The Get Up Kids - "Automatic"

OK, since it's Valentine's Day, I would be remiss if I didn't also share with you a Get Up Kids classic from their most celebrated album, 1999's Something To Write Home About. Here is "Valentine."

The Get Up Kids - "Valentine"

Punch Brothers - "Rye Whiskey" (2010)

2011-02-13T15:44:00.002-06:00

Punch Brothers is the newest musical outlet of former Nickel Creek mandolinist/vocalist Chris Thile. I featured a song from their 2008 debut Punch, a couple years ago. Punch Brothers released their sophomore effort Antifogmatic back in July. The album does a great job of blending traditional bluegrass with elements of pop and even rock. In fact, when Thile breaks into the chorus of the opening track “You Are,” it's not difficult to imagine him fronting an indie band with loud guitars and pounding drums. Thile has always had a strong voice with an amazing range, and it shows throughout Antifogmatic. Punch Brothers are experts at the dynamic shift, with songs that turn on dime and take you somewhere you didn't expect. “Rye Whiskey” finds Punch Brothers at perhaps their most traditional on the record, but it is a very fun song that you can't help humming along to.

Punch Brothers - "Rye Whiskey"

Passion Pit - "Little Secrets" (2009)

2011-02-12T14:39:00.002-06:00

At first, I wanted to dismiss Passion Pit as the newest critical darling that didn't actually make good music but only got attention because a few internet tastemakers said so. That being said, I didn't really give them a chance. I even poked fun at their appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live because of the ridiculously high register used by front man Michael Angelakos. But after hearing a few snippets of songs and being intrigued, I picked up their debut album Manners on a whim. Manners is a very fun record that goes in a lot of direction. Most of the tracks have a dancy feel to them. It would be easy to say that an album that relies heavily on synthesizers sounds like the 80s, but seriously the overall vibe of several of these songs does kind of transport you through time. This is helped by the fact that at times you can't help but recall those great 8-bit soundtracks to the Nintendo games you loved as a kid. Passion Pit's sense of melody is all over this record whether it be in the vocals or in the many memorable synth lines. Manners was recently re-released with new artwork as well as cover of the Cranberries' “Dreams” and two acoustic versions of songs from the record. The band are said to be working on album number two, hopefully due out this year. “Little Secrets” is my favorite track from the record because it easily stuck in your head. It's also cool when Angelakos gets a little help from a kids choir in the chorus.

Passion Pit - "Little Secrets"

Steel Train - "Turnpike Ghost" (2010)

2011-02-11T15:16:00.002-06:00

Steel Train have come a long way since their debut full-length in 2005. Twilight Tales From the Prairies of the Sun had a twang to it just as the name might indicate. The album leaned heavily to the alt-country side of things. Granted I only really listened to a couple songs from it and a few clips of others, but it didn't take much to get the gist. Their 2007 follow-up Trampoline went largely unnoticed. It wasn't until I heard today's song on the radio last summer that I remembered Steel Train. I was familiar, however with their frontman Jack Antonoff because of his time spent as the guitarist of one of favorite newer bands, Fun. When first listening to Steel Train's self-titled third record, it becomes apparent that Antonoff took a few cues from his other band. “Turnpike Ghost” is a great tune with a bouncy guitar line and a more eccentric vocal style than previously employed by Antonoff. The whole thing just kinda makes a white boy want to dance. While I haven't really delved completely into Steel Train, I'm in the process of doing so. This is one of the first records that I've really listened to on Grooveshark.com. If you're unfamiliar, Groove Shark lets you stream pretty much any song you can think of. It's like a more focused Pandora. It's the perfect way to get acquainted with new artists and no, they didn't pay me to say any of that, I just think it's that cool. So I suggest you check out Steel Train in it's entirety. There's bound to be more great stuff to discover.

Steel Train - "Turnpike Ghost"

The Black Keys - "Next Girl" (2010)

2011-02-10T15:06:00.004-06:00

The Black Keys' sixth studio album Brothers landed in the top 10 of many critics best of 2010 lists. Unfortunately, I didn't really get into this record until January of this year. Even though I was late to the party, I'm still glad I showed up. Brothers is a truly amazing blues rock record. The duo of singer/guitarist Dan Auerbach and drummer Patrick Carney have honed their skills to near perfection on this record. From the groovy falsetto opener “Everlasting Light” to the Danger Mouse-produced lead single “Tighten Up,” the album is solid all the way through. The sound is definitely more polished than previous Black Keys releases most notably on the midtempo “The Only One,” which like a few other tracks on Brothers features organ. Still, the band really shines when Auerbach's muddy guitar tones are front and center like on today's track. Brothers is an album that really deserves to be listened to front to back, preferably on vinyl. It just has that timeless quality about it.

The Black Keys - "Next Girl"

Fair - "Wayside" (2010)

2011-02-09T08:00:00.000-06:00

Fair is a band on Tooth & Nail Records featuring Aaron Sprinkle , who is probably best known as a producer of emo stalwarts such as Anberlin, Emery, Dead Poetic, Copleand and more. Sprinkle relies more heavily on his pop sensibilities however on Fair's sophomore effort Disappearing World. The album is full of gorgeous melodies and instrumentation slickly produced by Sprinkle himself. Stylistically, it picks up right where 2006's The Best Worst-Case Scenario left off. There are piano heavy tunes like “Take Some Risks” and upbeat guitar rockers like “It's Doubtful.” Lyrically, Sprinkle leans more toward melancholy on this record especially on the outstanding “The Worst of Your Wear,” featuring vocals from Copeland front man Aaron Marsh. Disappearing World is a great example of an outstanding record that hasn't found much of an audience. I encourage you to check it out and pass it along.

Fair - "Wayside"

Bad Books - "Please Move" & "Holding Down the Laughter" (2010)

2011-02-08T07:45:00.001-06:00

Manchester Orchestra and Kevin Devine are two artists I have liked separately for a quite a while. When I heard that they would be collaborating in a new band called Bad Books, I was excited to say the least. When their self-titled debut dropped back in October, I was still pumped, but what I found wasn't necessarily what I expected. The album consists of ten songs, with half penned by Devine and the other half by Manchester front-man Andy Hull. Lead single “You Wouldn't Have To Ask,” is a power-pop gem with hooks galore clocking in at under two minutes. Both writers shine in the ablum's more acoustic moments such as Hull's “I Begged You Everything” and Devine's alt-country masterpiece “Mesa, AZ.” The members of Bad Books are adamant that this is not merely a one-off side project, but the beginning of an actual band that will continue to record and tour. The album serves to tide over Manchester Orchestra fans awaiting that band's highly anticipated third album Simple Math, due out in May. Since Bad Books features songs from two different writers and singers, I thought it only appropriate to provide you with examples of each. So enjoy Hull's “Please Move” and Devine's “Holding Down the Laughter,” then go buy the whole record.

Bad Books - "Please Move"

Bad Books - "Holding Down the Laughter"

The Civil Wars - "I've Got This Friend" (2011)

2011-02-07T08:00:00.002-06:00

The Civil Wars are a new singer/songwriter duo that is really making a name for themselves since last week's release of their full-length debut Barton Hollow. The group is comprised of Joy Williams, whose early career was as a pop star in the contemorary Christian music world and John Paul White, a singer songwriter who had released a few records of his own. The duo gained notoriety when the title track from their 2009 EP Poison & Wine was featured on Grey's Anatomy. The song is a stunning duet with a back and forth style that plays out like a duel between the singers. When I first heard the song, I knew the Civil Wars had something special. Much ado has been made abou the way Williams' and White's voices interweave so perfectly and it is evident throughout Barton Hollow, an album of whimsical love songs and heartbreaking ballads that mostly deal with relationships. The title track is a departure from the rest of the record, with it's driving Southern-blues acoustic riff and soulful vocals. It's almost a shame that the two didn't explore this side of themselves a little further. Not to worry though, Barton Hollow is a fantastic record through and through. Today's song is a playful tune with a great hook.

The Civil Wars - "I've Got This Friend"

Bon Iver - "Flume" (2008)

2010-03-04T08:14:00.001-06:00

Bon Iver is not so much a band as it is just one guy. The guy in question would be Justin Vernon. Following the dissolution of his previous band DeYarmond Edison, Vernon retreat to a cabin in Wisconsin in the dead of winter and ended up recording the album For Emma, Forever Ago. He adopted the moniker Bon Iver as a play on the French phrase “bon hiver,” which means “good winter.” According to Vernon, he did not intend to write and record an album when he decided to hide out in the middle of nowhere. For Emma is quite a bare bones record, consisting mostly of a somewhat out of tune acoustic guitar as well as drums and other percussion. Vernon's vocal range is impressive, especially when he opts for the higher register as he often does. He's not bad with hooks either, such as on the album's most popular track, “Skinny Love.” I have to say that while I enjoyed this record, I don't believe it's the masterpiece that so many critics would have you believe it is. Yes, it is pretty cool considering one guy recorded everything himself, but it's not necessarily life changing. The record is pretty bleak all around, which is understandable given the setting of the recording. “Flume” begins the album and is one of Vernon's catchier tunes. Bon Iver now performs as a full band when touring. The band's tour dates are currently sparse, so I wouldn't be surprised if Vernon is working on LP2 right now.

Bon Iver - "Flume"

Wild Sweet Orange - "Tilt" (2008)

2010-03-02T18:02:00.003-06:00

Wild Sweet Orange is a great indie band from Birmingham, AL that I recently discovered on Pandora. I'd been meaning to go ahead and pick up their full-length debut We Have Cause To Be Uneasy, but I didn't do so until last week. I shouldn't have waited so long because this is one great album. It's no coincidence that the title comes from a chapter title in the C.S. Lewis classic Mere Christianity. The album is full of spiritual allusions and mentions of God and the Church. I've always been intrigued when bands offer up deeper lyrics than usual and that's the case here. Front man Preston Lovinggood (another great name) is quite open about spiritual struggles and his honesty makes Wild Sweet Orange all the more appealing. Musically, the band has a slight Southern twinge to their guitar tone mixed with plenty of distortion. The acoustic guitar also plays a huge role on songs like “Sour Milk,” a scathing indictment of our parents' generation and their shortcomings. “Either/Or” boasts the catchiest guitar hook on the record while “Seeing and Believing” features one of the better crescendos I've heard in a while. Today's song is one of my favorite, with Lovinggood deftly moving from a whisper to a wail in the chorus. Wild Sweet Orange is currently on hiatus after the departure of a couple members. Hopefully they will forge ahead and continue to create music as excellent as this album.

Wild Sweet Orange - "Tilt"

Emery - "Churches and Serial Killers" (2009)

2010-02-20T15:15:00.000-06:00

Emery is an emo band that has been screaming their hearts out since their 2004 debut, The Weak’s End. Their sophomore effort The Question remains a favorite of mine as far as this genre is concerned. In 2007, they dropped the utterly disappointing I’m Only a Man, which left me wondering if Emery had anything left. Luckily, they proved me wrong last summer when they released In Shallow Seas We Sail, an album I would consider a return to form. I think the most noticeable difference about this record out of the gate is that there is a lot more screaming. I’m usually not a huge fan of that and yes, some of it is still off-putting, however the band seems far more confident with their songwriting now. It’s like they’ve realized what they do well and decided to focus solely on that instead of experimenting too much. Some standouts include “Butchers Mouth,” “Edge of the World,” and “Piggy Bank Lies,” which makes excellent use of the dual vocals of Toby Morrell and Devin Shelton. The album isn’t flawless, but it’s a huge improvement. That being said, you have to at least be somewhat of a fan of the genre to enjoy this record. Today’s song is one of the more melodic tracks with little screaming and even features some strings.

Emery - "Churches and Serial Killers"

Mindy Smith - "Love Lost" (2009)

2010-02-18T18:11:00.001-06:00

Mindy Smith is an excellent alt country artist I’ve featured before, so I’ll spare you the backstory. Her third full-length album Stupid Love, came out last year and is a nice step forward for her. While still embracing her original folksy sound, Smith has found a way to branch out ever so slightly and it pays off. Little things like reverse guitar effects, quirky keyboards and programmed drum beats lift this album slightly out of what you’d expect from Smith. She got some high profile Nashville friends such as Amy Grant, Vince Gill, and Leigh Nash to lend backup vocals. Stupid Love is true to its title and is mostly a breakup album, save for the excellent “True Love of Mine,” a beautiful duet with Jeremy Lister. “Love Lost” is probably my favorite track. It features all the aforementioned elements as well as one of the strongest hooks on the record. Consider this another win for Mindy Smith. She hasn’t disappointed me yet.

Mindy Smith - "Love Lost"

The Temper Trap - "Sweet Disposition" (2009)

2010-02-16T08:06:00.001-06:00

The Temper Trap are a fairly new indie rock band from Melbourne, Australia. Formed in 2005, the band released a self-titled EP in 2006, but their debut full-length Conditions, came out only last year. The album is a great 10 song collection that has a nice Brit-rock feel throughout. Lead singer Dougie Mandagi (great name) has a soaring falsetto that brings a lot of soul to each track. Album opener “Love Lost” immediately makes you want to move with a bouncing keyboard intro that gives way to a wall of guitars. Another standout is “Fader” with one of the catchiest “woo-hoo” choruses you’ll ever hear. My only complaint is that the album gets a little inconsistent in the second half. “Ressurection” sounds like a b-side at best, with distorted guitars that sound out of place compared to the chorus and delay guitars they used up to the point. Today’s song may be familiar to you if you saw (500) Days of Summer. The song was featured on the soundtrack as well as in the film itself. Conditions is a worthy purchase and a promising debut from a band I hope to be hearing more from in the future.

The Temper Trap - "Sweet Disposition"

MGMT - "Kids" (2008)

2010-02-13T14:17:00.000-06:00

MGMT is an interesting indie rock band. The band is a duo consisting of Ben Goldwasser and Andrew VonWyngarden. Am I the only one who thinks those names sound made up? In any event, the two got together in 2005 and released an album under the name The Management. Due to legal reasons, the name was later changed to MGMT. Their proper debut, Oracular Spectacular, came out in 2008 to much critical acclaim. MGMT were a band that garnered a lot of press and because of said buzz, I was skeptical about how good they might actually be. After hearing today’s song in a number of different places, I decided to give the album a chance. There are some real winners on this record such as the poppy opener “Time To Pretend” and the funkadelic “Electric Feel.” In addition to the fun funkiness of these tracks, the band also drops in some interesting songs like “Weekend Wars” that feel a lot like 70s rock. Their sophomore album Congratulations is due out in April and I’m looking forward to see which direction they’re going to lean. “Kids” remains my favorite track from this album because it’s just an incredibly fun song. From the catchy synth line to the soaring chorus and even the background noise of kids on the playground, the song is outstanding.

MGMT - "Kids"

All Get Out - "Time and Place" (2010)

2010-02-11T07:55:00.004-06:00

All Get Out is a great indie band from Charleston, SC that I've featured a couple times before. The band has been around for a few years now, but only have only released two EPs, the second of which was just a reworking of the first with two new tracks. I really like this band, but up until now, they've only actually released seven songs. I suggest you check out their self-titled EP, because it's the best seven bucks you'll spend on music this month. The band recently announced that they will soon be heading to the studio to record their first proper full length and I am eagerly anticipating the results. As a means of tiding over their fans, they stopped by the Daytrotter studios and laid down some new tracks for our listening pleasure. I stumbled across Daytrotter.com a while back and I am greatly impressed with the premise of the site. Every day, they offer up three to four songs from a different band, all of which are recorded live in their studios with no overdubs. A majority of the bands are quite obscure, but they have had some bigger names like Death Cab for Cutie, Fleet Foxes and Thrice stop by. The tracks are available for free download and it's a great way to get some rare music from some of your favorite bands or as a way to get into new bands. In the case of All Get Out, it provided them with the opportunity to release some new music before their record gets done. The three songs from this session are outstanding and I've been humming or singing all of them at some point in the last couple weeks. Daytrotter sessions are usually quite stripped down instrumentally and theirs is no exception. All three songs feature acoustic guitar heavily and I wonder if they'll be amped up on the record. Today's song is the standout for me because the lyrics are great and the tune is infectious. So if you're unfamiliar with All Get Out, check out the EP and definitely the songs from this session. I'll let you know about the full length, as it's on my list of most anticipated records of the year.

All Get Out - "Time and Place"

Lovedrug - "Pink Champagne" (2010)

2010-02-09T07:53:00.002-06:00

Lovedrug have always been a favorite of mine since their 2004 debut Pretend You’re Alive. Being on The Militia Group label, they always seemed to get lumped in the emo category which I think is terribly unfair for such a great rock band. Their sophomore record Everything Starts Where It Ends was just as impressive, adding a even a bit more guitar crunch. In 2008 came The Sucker Punch Show, Lovedrug’s darkest album to date. The album had an ominous feel throughout with lots of piano and some crushing guitar licks. The lyrics bordered on cynical to say the least and it left me wondering just what kind of mental trauma front man Michael Shepard had endured. Early last year, the band released online Sucker Punched: The Alternate LP. It was a complete reworking of The Sucker Punch Show. Faster songs were stripped down, slower songs were sped up, piano replaced guitar and vice versa. It was an excellent reimagining of an already amazing record. Lovedrug showed off their true talent and musicianship. Then in November, they posted 5 new songs on their Myspace. According to the band, these were “crap demos we recorded on our 16 track.” Nevertheless, the songs are quite impressive. For a time, they were available for download from Purevolume.com. Luckily I snapped them up and have been listening non-stop. According to a blog entry from the band, the songs are a preview of a new EP that should be coming out soon. Three of the songs are available on Noise Trade for free (provided you tell five friends about them.) I would suggest checking it out. I can’t wait for the EP, but until then I’ll be enjoying the demos, especially today’s song which boasts some great guitar work and an amazing hook; one of the best I’ve heard from Lovedrug in a while.

Lovedrug - "Pink Champagne"

Surfer Blood - "Floating Vibes" (2010)

2010-02-06T15:32:00.003-06:00

Surfer Blood are new band hailing from West Palm Beach, Florida. Their surroundings no doubt inspired their name and probably even the album art for their debut Astro Coast. As for their sound, it seems inspired by any number of 50s and 60s surf rock artists. There’s a definite Beach Boys vibe to some tunes on the record. The guitars take precedence on most tracks with waves of distortion and effects sometimes seem to wash out the soaring vocals of front man John Paul Pitts. Astro Coast has a fun vibe throughout and it feels like a summer record. Surfer Blood have garnered a lot of buzz in the last month or so, making them one of the bands to watch in 2010. While the record is enjoyable, I don’t really see what all the fuss is about. They sound similar to many other indie bands that are out right now. I’m not saying I don’t like it, but I’m not going to label them the saviors of rock and roll just yet. Astro Coast is only $5 at Amazon mp3 and it’s definitely worth the price. So go ahead and check out Surfer Blood for yourself so you can say you were listening before they show up on a million critics’ best of lists at the end of the year.

Surfer Blood - "Floating Vibes"

Phoenix - "1901" (2009)

2010-02-04T17:51:00.001-06:00

Phoenix is a French indie band that has seen a rise in popularity in the States in the past year. Their first album United came out 10 years ago. They saw a little success with the single “Everything Is Everything” from their sophomore record Alphabetical in 2004. Last May, they released their fourth album Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix to much critical acclaim. The album is a pretty fun collection of 10 tracks that showcase Phoenix’s excellent pop sensibilities. First single “Lisztomania” starts off the record and immediately gets your toes tapping. Keyboards are prominent throughout the record as well as some additional electronic elements, mainly on the instrumental “Love Like a Sunset Part I.” The record ended up on many critics best of 2009 lists but I guess I was a little late to the table when it came to this record. I do enjoy it and I can see the appeal, but my only complaint is that a lot of the songs have a sameness about them that make them difficult to distinguish from one another. Frontman Thomas Mars doesn’t offer much variety in his vocal delivery and even some melodies seem recycled from earlier tracks. The album is still worth checking out however. Today’s song was the second single released. You may have seen them performing it on late night TV and I think it’s even in a car commercial.

Phoenix - "1901"

Moneen - "Don't Ever Tell Locke What He Can't Do" (2006)

2010-02-02T16:52:00.005-06:00

Moneen is a guitar heavy rock band from the Great White North. They’ve seen more popularity in their native Canada than they have here in the U.S. but there’s really no good reason for that. The band recently released their fourth full length entitled The World I Want To Leave Behind. I haven’t had a chance to check out that record yet. Today’s song come from their 2006 album The Red Tree. Moneen has a knack for excessively long song titles, like the title track from the 2003 record Are We Really Happy With Who We Are Right Now. Today’s song is no exception. If you’re a LOST fan, you already know why I chose this song for today. The song is named for John Locke, a character on LOST who doesn’t really enjoy being told what he can and can’t do. Tonight marks the season premiere of the final season of LOST and even though the lyrics have nothing to do with the show, I thought this would be quite fitting for today.

Moneen - "Don't Ever Tell Locke What He Can't Do"

The Top 17 of 2009 (Because 10 Just Isn't Enough)

2010-01-13T16:54:00.025-06:00

Hello again. I know it’s been forever. I’m not even going to apologize. I think we’ve already established that I’m lazy when it comes to this thing. In any event, I feel it necessary to provide you with a list of my favorite records of 2009. I was going to do the standard 10 item list, but there were several that were hovering just outside the top 10 so I decided to go ahead and do 17, because that seems just random enough. As in previous years, please note that I’m not calling these the top 17 tracks of the year, but these are the albums that I spent the most time listening to. And here we go…

17. Audrye Sessions - Audrye Sessions
Audrye Sessions are one of a couple bands on this list that I had never heard of until this year. I was turned onto their self titled debut after finding that they were touring with one of my favorite bands. I got the record for cheap online and was quite impressed with their sound. Front man Ryan Karazija has a soaring voice that delivers some solid melodies all over the disc. Musically, Audyre Sessions moves from straightforward rock to acoustic balladry to even more epic arrangements such as closer “Dust and Bones.” Audrye Sessions have big things ahead of them and I can’t wait to hear the follow up.

Audrye Sessions - "Julianna"

16. David Crowder Band - Church Music
David Crowder Band have been a staple in Christian worship music for much of this decade. Crowder has always had an affinity for electronic elements in his music, but Church Music takes it to another level. Synthesizers and drum machines take the forefront on many songs, and each track segues seamlessly into the next, giving the album the feel of one big song at times. This song is one of my favorite that DCB has ever released and includes everything that makes them great. Amazing lyrics, melodies, and an epic guitar solo to boot.

David Crowder Band - "God Almighty, None Compares"

15. Silversun Pickups - Swoon
Like many rock fans, I became familiar with Silversun Pickups after hearing “Lazy Eye,” the hit single from their 2006 debut Carnavas. I liked it alright, but never gave the band too much thought. That is until I heard “Panic Switch” from their sophomore release Swoon. The band had amped it up considerably and produced a gem of a song. I bought the record and found that on the whole, it was more mellow than “Panic Switch,” but I enjoyed it nonetheless. This song is one that got stuck in my head and one of the best rockers on the record.

Silversun Pickups - "The Royal We"

14. The Swell Season - Strict Joy
The Swell Season, a collaboration between lead singer of The Frames Glen Hansard and Czech singer/songwriter Marketa Irglova, first rose to popularity in the States following the underground success of the 2007 movie Once, which starred both Hansard and Irglova and their original songs. Now comes their second proper album, Strict Joy, a release that finds them spreading their wings and coming more into their own sound. The duo generally trades off on lead vocals, such as on the Hansard helmed acoustic ballad “In These Arms” and the Irglova led “I Have Loved You Wrong.” Of course the other is always there to provide beautiful harmonies on each song. This an excellent record that I recommend to anyone who loves the singer/songwriter genre.

The Swell Season - "The Verb"

13. Mae - (m)orning
Mae has chosen to go about releasing their music differently in 2009. Absent of a label, the band set out to record and release one track a month for the entire year, compiling every four month section into EPs titled (m)orning, (a)fternoon, and (e)vening. The EP versions of the songs sometimes include extended musical breaks and each EP features previously unreleased music. While the EPs are released on the band’s own Cell Records, they teamed up with former label Tooth & Nail Records for distribution purposes and the retail version of each EP will include a DVD with documentary footage. The (m)orning EP finds Mae sounding more like themselves after the departure that was 2007’s Singularity. Despite being now reduced to a three-piece, Mae sounds as full as ever, with added instrumentation ranging from keys to strings and even flutes on some of these songs. Mae has once a again proven that they are a band with something to say and I look forward to hearing the (e)vening EP sometime in early 2010.

Mae - "A Meldoy, the Memory"

12. Thrice - Beggars
Thrice had a relatively quick turnaround after their epic four-part release The Alchemy Index. Beggars finds the band returning to a more organic sound that was mostly recorded live by the band and engineered by guitarist Teppei Teranishi. Dustin Kensrue’s voice sounds as good as ever, leaving behind the throat shredding for a more melodic growl on some tunes, and letting his voice soar on slower ones like this.

Thrice - "In Exile"

11. Lorien - Esque
Lorien is another band I had never heard of until 2009. This Nashville quintet released quite an impressive debut full length with Esque, a collection of dance worthy rock songs, mixed with a few truly epic tunes that make great use of piano and strings. Lorien is a talented band that deserves your attention in 2010.

Lorien - "Sowing Bad Seeds"

10. Mute Math - Armistice
Mute Math finally released their long awaited sophomore album in August with Armistice. It’s been reported that they scrapped a few albums worth of material before delivering the finished product. The result doesn’t stray too far from their debut, but it could be said that there is a higher energy on this record. It’s really great, but believe me when I say that hearing them on record is no match for their live show. If they come anywhere remotely near you, do whatever it takes to be at the show. You won’t be disappointed.

Mute Math - "Electrify"

9. Brand New - Daisy
Brand New took their time before releasing their fourth album Daisy. It had been three years since their last release and if nothing else, they proved that they can’t be pigeon-holed. Daisy opens with a sample of an old hymn and jaggedly segues into “Vices,” easily the most abrasive song they’ve ever released. After the initial shock wore off, I was able to dig in and find that some of the band I previously loved so much was still there. Even so, Daisy is a much different record for Brand New, most notably in Jesse Lacey’s vocal delivery which involves a lot of yelling this time out. Despite its initial shortcomings, I kept coming back to Daisy over and over again. I guess it was catchy after all. This song is the best on the album and probably the one that most sounds like the Brand New that fans have grown to love.

Brand New - "You Stole"

8. As Cities Burn - Hell or High Water
As Cities Burn had officially disbanded before their third album was even out, but it’s still one of the best collections I’ve heard in a long time. It’s almost impossible to tell that this is the same band that released Son, I Loved You At Your Darkest in 2005. Gone are any traces of their hardcore sound that may have remained on sophomore release Come Now Sleep. Hell or High Water is notable for it’s distinct guitar tone that is somewhat similar to Colour Revolt. Cody Bonnette’s voice and lyrics are more on point than ever, touching on everything from struggles with lust, to televangelists, to the pursuit of fame. It’s a shame that this is the last we’ll hear from these guys, but I have to hope they haven’t given up on music forever.

As Cities Burn - "Pirate Blues"

7. Matthew Good - Vancouver
Matthew Good was back in 2009 with his fourth solo album, this time focusing his attention to his hometown. Vancouver finds Good returning to the big sound that was prevalent on his solo debut Avalanche, with lots of orchestration. “Us Remains Impossible” is one of the most accessible songs he’s ever written, with a hook that sticks in your head. Vancouver is a dark outing for sure, but Good has never really been about sunshine. “The Vancouver National Anthem” remains the standout track for me. It’s a commentary on the state of the city from Good’s viewpoint and it has some killer backing vocals from Pete Yorn.

Matthew Good - "The Vancouver National Anthem"

6. Paper Route - Absence
Paper Route are a band that I knew I’d probably be including on this list even before hearing their full-length debut Absence. I was thoroughly impressed with 2008’s Are We All Forgotten EP and when I heard “Carousel,” the lead single from Absence, I knew Paper Route weren’t going to disappoint me. Absence shines from start to finish with great melodies and all manner of electronic flourishes mixed nicely with guitar and keys. “Dance On Our Graves” closes out the album perfectly with an amazing string breakdown at the end.

Paper Route - "Dance On Our Graves"

5. fun. - Aim and Ignite
Never has a band more lived up to their name than fun. It’s pretty much impossible not to smile and tap your toes when listening to any song from Aim and Ignite. Front man Nate Ruess, formerly of the Format, hits new highs with his voice and his heartfelt and clever lyrics. The band is rounded out by Steel Train guitarist Jack Antonoff and former Anathallo mulit-instrumentalist Andrew Dost. The result is a ten song set that is perfect for a sunny day and even better as a cure for a dreary one.

fun. - "All the Pretty Girls"

4. Jars of Clay - The Long Fall Back To Earth
Jars of Clay have long been one of my favorite bands. I think part of the reason for that is that they have the uncanny ability to reinvent themselves on each record while still managing to sound like themselves. This time out, they leaned more in the direction of pop than ever before and the results were stellar. The synths move to the forefront on many songs and there is a distinct 80s feel. At its core, the album is all about relationships and “There Might Be a Light” may be one of the best unrequited love songs ever.

Jars of Clay - "There Might Be a Light"

3. Say Anything - Say Anything
Say Anything had quite a task on their hands when it came to following up their 2-disc 2007 opus In Defense of the Genre. Max Bemis and company came through though, scaling back and writing more straightforward rock songs that are incredibly catchy. Bemis’s acerbic wit is still intact, but his bipolar musical tendencies aren’t as evident, save for a few songs. The album as a whole has a more hopeful feel than any previous releases and Bemis proves to us that he can write songs about being in love too without being cheesy. (Ok, maybe a little, but in a good way, trust me.) “Eloise” is Bemis’s goodbye to a destructive relationship. It may sound dark, but I dare you not to sing along.

Say Anything - "Eloise"

2. Derek Webb - Stockholm Syndrome
Derek Webb threw his label and the Christian music industry at large for a loop when he decided to drop some profanity into one of the songs on his fifth album Stockholm Syndrome. The controversy was interesting, but I fear it might have overshadowed the fact that Stockholm Syndrome is a truly great album that has a lot to say and musically shows that Webb is far more than a singer/songwriter with an acoustic guitar. Samples and drum loops are used throughout and the result is nothing short of impressive. Even if you’ve never liked Webb before, Stockholm Syndrome is a worth your time.

Derek Webb - "I Love/Hate You"

1. Manchester Orchestra - Mean Everything To Nothing
Manchester Orchestra are easily my favorite band making music today. I know they’re young and only have two albums under their belts, but these guys play with the confidence and cohesion of a band that’s been together for 30 years. Andy Hull proves his worth lyrically and vocally on this record with a talent that seems to far exceed his age. Above all else, Mean Everything To Nothing is a rock record in the purest sense. It even made my hard to please older brother admit that rock and roll might not be dead just yet. The band is just as incredible in concert and they’re doing a headlining run in the U.S. this spring. Don’t miss it if you get the chance. “Shake It Out” is one the many standout tracks on the record and my pick for song of the year.

Manchester Orchestra - "Shake It Out"

So there it is. Late at usual, but you’ve come to expect that. There is always great music to be found and I encourage you to seek it out yourself and don’t just listen to what the radio shoves in your face over and over again. There’s more to come here in 2010 so please stay tuned.

Lorien - "Make the Deadye Miss" (2009)

2009-09-16T22:40:00.004-05:00

Lorien is a relatively new rock band that formed in Nashville. Their debut record Esque hit stores back in February and for me it’s been the surprise hit of the year. I had never heard of Lorien until one night this summer when I flipped on the local college station (which I can rarely bring myself to do anymore) and heard today’s song. I was immediately hooked by back and forth male and female vocals courtesy of Kaleb Jones and Cara Pollack. When I got home, I checked out their Myspace and liked what I heard and made an impulse buy of the album. Easily the best money I’ve blindly spent on music this year. Esque is a great album through and through. From the dance rock of “Sowing Bad Seeds” to the melodramatic, piano heavy “Do the Regret,” Lorien deliver on every level. While the record is mostly guitar driven there are plenty of keyboard and string flourishes to keep the mix interesting. There are many gems on Esque and I think Lorien is a band that you should start liking now, because they could get huge soon.

Lorien - "Make the Deadeye Miss"

Thrice - "Doublespeak" (2009)

2009-09-14T08:02:00.000-05:00

Thrice have come a long way in their 10 years together. What started out as a hardcore band playing heavy songs at breakneck speed with plenty of double kick drum has morphed into a band that borrows from all subgenres of rock to create something really unique. Frontman Dustin Kensrue has grown increasingly confident in his vocal ability with each release, trading the screaming delivery of albums past for a more rootsy, gravelly vocal style when needed. That’s not to say he can’t still growl with the best of them. That was evident on the Fire disc of Thrice’s four part Alchemy Index project released in 2007 and 2008. The scope of that project was so broad that Thrice felt the need to become more focused for their next release. So they opted to self produce their new record and record it in their practice space turned studio with guitarist Teppei Teranishi behind the boards. The result is the 10 song Beggars, an album that showcases all of the things Thrice have learned to do well together. While touching on a lot of areas explored in the softer moments of The Alchemy Index, Beggars is still a very heavy record. The guitars hit with a distinct crunch and the overall sound is more organic and raw and less polished. The album was originally set for an October release but was pushed up due to an unforeseen leak of the record. It was released digitally in early August and the physical version will be in stores tomorrow. The CD version will include b-sides and remixes as well as a cover of The Beatles’ “Helter Skelter” that I am very curious to hear. I honestly expected Thrice to wait a bit longer after The Alchemy Index to make another record but they’ve proved that they didn’t need an extra time to create something great. I haven’t fully been able to soak this one up as much as I would’ve liked. However, if I had to pick a standout track it would today’s song. “Doublespeak” features an interesting piano lines as well as one of the best hooks on the record. I recommend checking out Beggars and definitely get the CD version for all of the bonus material.

Thrice - "Doublespeak"

Derek Webb - "Black Eye" (2009)

2009-09-11T18:04:00.000-05:00

Derek Webb has never been a stranger to controversy. The former member of Christian folk group Caedmon’s Call incited the ire of some Christian book stores in 2003 and they even refused to carry his solo debut She Must and Shall Go Free because one song contained the word “whore.” Nevermind that they sold Bibles that contained the same word, but I digress. Webb continued to be honest however, always saying the things that most were afraid to. He tackled legalism and materialism on 2005’s Mockingbird and his 2007 album The Ringing Bell made a bit of a political statement with “A Savior On Capitol Hill.” So it wasn’t entirely unheard of this spring when Webb informed his fans via his twitter and website that he was having issues with his record label about the release of his latest album Stockholm Syndrome. The information that Webb offered up was cryptic and fans were left wondering what it was all about. Slowly, fans began deciphering the codes embedded in the messages and found their way to secret websites with mp3s and even more cryptic videos with Morse code. There was even an elaborate nationwide scavenger hunt. I won’t go into all the details, but it was quite entertaining. Webb had taken it to the next level and the buzz about Stockholm Syndrome was growing. But being the skeptic that I am, I wondered if there was actually ever any “trouble with the label” or if this was all just some clever marketing ploy. Well it turns out that the label did in fact have a problem with the record. More specifically a single track entitled “What Matters More” which actually contains profanity while dealing with the difficult subject of how the Church at large treats the gay community. It’s a tough subject and one that definitely needs addressing. It could be debated ad nauseum whether or not it was necessary for Webb to curse to get his point across, so we won’t even get into that. In the end, the label and Webb made a compromise. Webb would be allowed to sell the original version of the record containing “What Matters More” on his website, but all commercial versions released to retailers would not contain the track. The album was released digitally in July and just saw a physical release earlier this month. The record itself is the most unique of Webb’s career. With the help of Caedmon’s bandmate and programming mastermind Josh Moore, Webb delves into the electronic side of his music. A side that was only briefly introduced on his One/Zero Remix album. There are samples and drum loops galore along with some really funky bass lines. One thing you won’t find much of is Webb’s signature acoustic guitar. It only shows up a couple of times and even when it does, it’s not in the forefront. The album is solid lyrically and lot of the songs have a depth to them that takes a few listens to get the full picture. Today’s song is where the album gets its title from and is a great tune about how we end up loving and pledging allegiance to things that hold us captive. You also can’t help but want to dance a little at the end. Luckily, you don’t have to take my word for it. The whole album is streaming right now at derekwebb.com. So check it out and see for yourself. That’s also the only place to purchase the full un-edited version of the record.

Derek Webb - "Black Eye"

Mute Math - "Armistice" (2009)

2009-09-09T18:00:00.000-05:00

Mute Math have been wowing audiences with their brand of electro rock for quite a few years now. The New Orleans foursome put on a fierce live show and gained a wider audience a couple years ago when their single “Typical” became a hit, largely due to the incredible video. Fans have been anxiously waiting for nearly 3 years for a new record from Mute Math and in August that finally became a reality. Armistice is the result of endless tweaking and retweaking by the band to get everything just like they wanted. In fact the word is that they actually scrapped an entire album’s worth of material and restarted from scratch. Interestingly, the result isn’t too much of a far cry from their self titled debut, albeit the band sounds much tighter and more comfortable in their own skin this time around. There’s a good mix of high energy songs like opener “The Nerve” and more introspective tunes like “Pins and Needles” and “Lost Year.” There are also a lot more keys this time around. They’re never overbearing though, rather they are interwoven in the songs and tie them together. A standout track would have to be “Electrify,” a high energy love song with rapid fire vocal delivery from front man Paul Meany and a chorus that sticks with you. Today’s song is the title track and it features some outstanding percussion from drummer Darren King and some nice horns courtesy of New Orleans’ own Rebirth Brass Band. It also probably has the best hook on the record. Armistice is an excellent sophomore album from one the most original bands out there today. Even if you weren’t into them before, you should take a chance on this. And if you get the chance to see them live, don’t miss it.

Mute Math - "Armistice"

Taking Back Sunday - "Summer, Man" (2009)

2009-09-07T17:52:00.002-05:00

Taking Back Sunday have been a favorite of mine for seven years since they broke onto the scene with Tell All Your Friends, an album that would become the blueprint for tons of emo wannnabe bands. Despite all the attempts by plenty of dudes with sideways haircuts, no one ever quite captured that same sound. Even TBS themselves weren’t content to stay in the same place and they continued to evolve with 2004’s Where You Want to Be and moved a little more into the mainstream with 2006’s Louder Now. In that time, Taking Back Sunday has been through 3 guitarists and as a result their sound has somewhat changed. Their newest record New Again lives up to its name by sounding like a band that is refreshed and looking forward and not backward. The energy is kept high throughout the record especially on the title track and first single “Sink Into Me.” New guitarist Matt Fazzi lends some secondary vocals like TBS’s previous guitarists were known to do, but he’s not nearly as prominent, meaning front man Adam Lazarra’s signature wail carries most of the weight. Lyrically, Lazarra is probably more straightforward than he’s been in the past, touching on things like drug abuse, his failed engagement and the band’s split with former guitarist Fred Maschinero. For the most part, the hooks are still there and the album only stumbles in a few places, such as the mostly forgettable ballad “Where My Mouth Is.” Today’s song is fitting for Labor Day, as it’s about the end of the summer and all the feelings that go along with that. On the whole, New Again may not be as great as the Taking Back Sunday of old, but it’s still a very solid record with plenty to like.

Taking Back Sunday - "Summer, Man"

mewithoutYou - "Every Thought a Thought of You" (2009)

2009-06-09T17:37:00.003-05:00

mewithoutYou have always been a pretty polarizing band. From first the first listen of their 2002 debut [A-->B] Life, it’s clear that they march to a slightly different drummer. The most distinctive thing about mewithoutYou early on was front man Aaron Weiss’ vocal approach of half speaking/half yelling his lyrics. Imagine intense spoken word poetry set to heavy guitars. The band progressed this sound on their sophomore effort Catch for Us the Foxes, becoming a little more accessible with the addition of memorable melodies here and there. Even so, mewithoutYou were still in a league of their own. No band was or is currently doing anything like that. Their 2006 record Brother, Sister was more along the lines of Foxes, but furthered their experimentation with the addition of a few instruments. Weiss even saw fit to actually sing on a few tracks and it wasn’t half bad. It furthered solidified them as one of the most original bands in the scene. Many were anticipating the release of mewithoutYou’s fourth full length, wondering whether it would be a maturation of the sound they had come to love or if it would be a reinvention of sorts. The band fueled more speculation by choosing to work with producer Dan Smith, best known for his work with neo-folk favorites Danielson and Sufjan Stevens. The result is the verbosely titled It’s All Crazy! It’s All False! It’s All a Dream! It’s Alright. The title as well as many lyrical themes come from the teachings of former Philadelphia based Sufi mystic Bawa Muhaiyaddeen which is interesting considering the fact that mewithoutYou had always embraced heavily Christian themes on their previous records. Lyrically, the record is still quite spiritual and has Christian themes throughout, however it seems much more vaguely defined and more about love and God’s creation in general instead of Christianity per se. Musically, mewithoutYou step out on many limbs to which they have previously not ventured. Gone is the notion of two guitars, bass and drums making up an entire song and instead the band has expanded their sound with all sorts of horns as well as wind and stringed instruments. This record is without a doubt a total departure from the mewithoutYou of the past. Weiss’ signature vocal style is all but gone and replaced with a more timid singing style, save for “Bullet To Binary (Pt. Two)” which is a lyrical call back to “Bullet To Binary” from [A-->B] Life. Personally this record has been difficult for me to get into. I have always been a fan of bands reinventing themselves and not making the same record twice, but I feel like mewithoutYou took the concept a little far with It’s All Crazy!.... The album is still quite good but it lacks the originality of their previous efforts in that it sounds like what a lot of indie bands are doing these days as opposed to the fresh sound that mewithoutYou had created all on their own. That being said, the record is not without bright spots. Today’s song is the lead off track and is less of a departure than some, except maybe for the keyboards. Weiss even rattles off some Arabic as he did on a few tracks from Brother, Sister. mewithoutYou are still a great band, but I just think this record will be one that will divide some long time fans.

mewithoutYou - "Every Thought a Thought of You"

Paper Route - "Wish" (2009)

2009-06-08T23:07:00.004-05:00

Paper Route are innovative electro-pop band from Nashville that quickly became one of my favorite new artists last year. Their EP Are We All Forgotten was in constant rotation for me for the latter half of 2008. I was eagerly awaiting the day they would finally release their first full length record. At the end of April the wait was over and Paper Route delivered in a big way with Absence, a diverse collection of 12 songs that find the young band at their strongest. The vocal combination of keyboardist/percussionist J.T. Daly and guitarist Andy Smith is seamless and works incredibly well with the music. Lyrically, Absence focuses heavily on failed relationships and can at times be overwrought with emotion, but I think that at least makes Paper Route honest. There’s also a distinct spiritual element to some songs such as “Are We All Forgotten” and the epic closer “Dance On Our Graves,” in which Daly sings “Will I know it when I see it? Will I know it when you’re here?” and is then accompanied by a beautiful string and drum breakdown which is the perfect close to the record. Musically, the album ranges from piano heavy tracks like the opener “Enemy Among Us” to the more hip hop-esque “Gutter.” There’s truly something for everyone here. In my opinion, Paper Route are at their best when combining all of these elements, such as on the heavier lead single “Carousel” which also features a good deal of electronics and is high energy with a catchy piano line throughout. Today’s song was one that stood out the first time I heard it when I saw the band live about a month before Absence released. I recognized it immediately after hearing it on the record and found myself singing along before the end. “Wish” is a great example of everything Paper Route does well, from the excellent dual vocals to the meshing of guitar rock and electronics, it’s just a fantastic song.

Paper Route - "Wish"

Jon Foreman - "Your Love Is Strong" (2008)

2009-06-07T23:06:00.003-05:00

Jon Foreman is a name you probably recognize by now. He’s made his name in the last 15 years as the front man of San Diego Christian rockers Switchfoot. I’ve been a Switchfoot fan for years, but I was a little late to the party when it came to getting in on Foreman’s recent solo ventures. Beginning in the Fall of 2007, Foreman ambitiously released four EPs, one for each of the four seasons and titled them Fall, Winter, Spring and Summer. The music and lyrics of each of the EPs somewhat mirror the mood of the season of the disc on which they’re included. Each of the EPs find Foreman far more stripped down than anything he’s done in the past with Switchfoot. The songs rely heavily on the acoustic guitar but also include all manner of stringed instruments and even a few keys and horns here and there. All four EPs are worth checking out but Foreman simplified things a bit for the casual fan and released Limbs and Branches, comprising choice cuts from each of the EPs as well as two new songs. Today’s song is one of my favorites of the whole collection and is basically a paraphrase of the Lord’s Prayer. It’s a simple reminder that no matter how out of control we may feel about our lives, God’s love is strong and that is enough.

Jon Foreman - "Your Love Is Strong"

Superdrag - "Sucked Out" (1996)

2009-06-06T15:00:00.000-05:00

Superdrag are a band that are considered by some be one of the original purveyors of power pop, an extra catchy brand of rock and roll. The band saw some success in this genre with their 1996 debut Regretfully Yours. I’m actually a tad embarrassed to say that I was ignorant of Superdrag’s existence until just a few years ago when I came across today’s song on an online list of favorite 90s songs. I was somewhat familiar with front man John Davis, having played a track from his 2005 self titled solo debut on college radio, but I was unaware of his roots. I checked out this song and blown away by it’s catchiness and wondered how I had missed it before. I especially love the line “look at me, I can write a melody, but I can’t expect a soul to care.” The band released a few more records before going on hiatus in 2003. They recently reunited to release Industry Giants on their own label earlier this year. I haven’t checked out any of that, but I find myself going back to this song every now and then when I need about three minutes of fun.

Superdrag - "Sucked Out"

fun. - "At Least I'm Not As Sad (As I Used To Be)" (2009)

2009-06-05T20:50:00.000-05:00

fun. is the new project of former Format singer Nate Ruess. The Format were one of my favorites in their time, but sadly called it quits after just two amazing records. I was excited to hear that Ruess was again working on music, this time with the help of Steel Train guitarist Jack Antonoff and former Anathallo multi-instrumentalist Andrew Dost. The band just finished up their debut full length entitled Aim and Ignite and it’s due for an August release. They are currently on tour supporting Manchester Orchestra and I had the good fortune of getting to see them last week. fun. put on an amazing high energy show with excellent musicianship and harmonies galore and it certainly whet my appetite for the new record. They even threw in a few Format songs just for good measure and they were amazing. Today’s song was excellent live, as Ruess taught the crowd the incredibly catchy chorus before they began and everyone was singing along by the song’s end. The band put this song up for free download a few months back and have since taken it down but it can be streamed on their myspace page. I usually don’t post songs from records that aren’t already out but I wanted to give you the jump on this one so you can be ready for Aim and Ignite when it comes out in a couple months. Trust me, you’re gonna want a copy after you hear this.

fun. - At Least I'm Not As Sad (As I Used To Be)

The Decemberists - "The Wanting Comes In Waves/Repaid" (2009)

2009-06-04T18:43:00.001-05:00

The Decemberists are an excellent indie rock band from Portland, OR and one of few indie bands in recent years who have managed to make the jump to a major label without compromising their sound. In 2006 they released The Crane Wife, an album full of story songs that musically ran the gamut from folk to prog rock and lyrically encompassed everything from a Civil War era love song to the Japanese folk tale on which the three part title track was based. The literary lyrical leanings of front man Colin Meloy have taken even further flight with The Decemberists’ recently released The Hazards of Love which can best be described prog rock musical theater. Throughout 17 tracks including preludes, interludes and reprises, Meloy weaves the story of doomed lovers William and Margaret and the evil Rake and the Queen that try to foil them. You make think this all sounds like pretty heady stuff and you’d be right, but the Decemberists have a way of making it all work. The band turned up the distortion a great deal on this record with songs like “A Bower Scene” as well as today’s tune, but that’s not to say they’ve forgetten their folksy side. There is a seamless transition between nearly every track, giving the listener the sense of one giant song. Several riffs and melodies are repeated throughout the record in different songs giving it a pretty consistent theme. Since the songs work so well together, some of them just seem odd outside of their original context, which could hinder the accessibility factor of The Hazards of Love, but long time Decemberists fans won’t be disappointed. Though this record can be a tad eccentric in places, it’s filled with solid songwriting throughout and that is evident in today’s song. The excellent portrayal of The Queen comes from Shara Worden of the band My Brightest Diamond. Her voice plays well against Meloy’s and coupled with an outstanding guitar riff, it gives the song a great classic rock feel. I can’t say that everyone would like this album, but if it’s approached with an open mind, there are some really great songs to be found here.

The Decemberists - "The Wanting Comes In Waves/Repaid"

Jars of Clay - "Scenic Route" (2009)

2009-06-03T22:53:00.000-05:00

Jars of Clay have consistently put out excellent music ever since their self titled debut came out nearly 15 years ago. “Flood” was of course their big hit and one of the first times a “contemporary Christian” band crossed over to the pop charts. Many casual fans may have written them off as a one hit wonder after that, but they’ve continued to release quality albums again and again. One thing that I’ve always loved about this band is their ability to change their sound completely from album to album and yet still sound like themselves. On 2002’s The Eleventh Hour, they delved into a more straightforward rock sound than they had before and then turned the tables one year later, releasing the heavily acoustic Who We Are Instead. Each was great in its own right, marked by front man Dan Haseltine’s unique voice and lyrical deftness. The band made a huge stride forward in 2006 with Good Monsters, an album that found them more guitar heavy than ever with songs like “Work” and “Dead Man (Carry Me).” That album was excellent and when looked at in retrospect, one can see that it laid the groundwork for what would be The Long Fall Back To Earth, the latest album from Jars of Clay. The band are at the top of their game here on their poppiest record to date. There is a thread of 80s influence that runs throughout The Long Fall, from Charlie Lowell’s keyboards to the chorus and delay effects on the guitars from Steve Mason and Matt Odmark. Lyrically, the songs deal more with relationships than on previous Jars efforts where the focus is usually in relation to God. That’s not to say that Jars are heading away from their Christian roots. After all, God did create human relationships too and they are worthy subject matter. “Closer” is a great love song that really wouldn’t be out of place on pop radio right now. Other highlights include “Boys (Lesson One)”, a song from a father to a son and “There Might Be a Light,” a plea to an unrequited love interest. Today’s song is a standout for me because of its great lyrics and catchy melodies. It’s a little slow to start, but the payoff is worth the wait. The beauty of The Long Fall Back To Earth is that long time Jars of Clay fans will not be disappointed, but even if you haven’t liked them much in the past, there is enough difference in the sound of this record to make it worth a shot. Check it out and see for yourself.

Jars of Clay - "Scenic Route"

The Gaslight Anthem - "Miles Davis & the Cool" (2008)

2009-06-02T21:00:00.001-05:00

The Gaslight Anthem are a rock band from New Brunswick, NJ. It would be hard for any classic rock fan to listen to them and not hear a lot of influence from their fellow New Jersey native Bruce Springsteen. That’s not to say they’re trying to emulate The Boss, but it’s safe to say he’s probably a staple in their record collections. What I’m about to say may not make any sense but try to follow me when I say that The Gaslight Anthem bring to mind blue collar rock and roll. Front man Brian Fallon has a gravel and earnestness in his voice that makes me think he just got off his shift at the factory and now he’s playing his songs in a dive bar because it’s what he truly loves. The '59 Sound has a definite older sound to it but it’s hard to place it in any one decade or era. There is definitely some 50s and 60s influence as the title would indicate, but that’s not entirely it. Any fans of the Killers will also see a resemblance of Fallon’s vocals to those of Brandon Flowers. The album is full of gems throughout but today’s song is one of my favorites.

The Gaslight Anthem - "Miles Davis & the Cool"

Manchester Orchestra - "The River" (2009)

2009-06-01T22:25:00.005-05:00

There are few bands that I absolutely geek out for. There are some that I feel the need to own every last EP, import single, and compilation track to truly have everything that band has ever done. Even though they are a relatively young band with only two full length records under their belt, Manchester Orchestra has become and will forever be one of those bands for me. I first became acquainted with them nearly two years ago after witnessing them play “Wolves at Night” on Letterman . (There is actually good music on TV sometimes.) Shortly thereafter I fell in love with their debut I’m Like a Virgin Losing a Child. There was rarely a week for the next year that I didn’t listen to it in its entirety. Last fall when they posted the “I Can Feel a Hot One” from their Let My Pride Be What’s Left Behind EP, I probably listened to it 10 times a day. I may be coming off a little obsessive, but there’s just something about this band that grabbed from moment one and I haven’t been able stop listening. Needless to say, their sophomore album Mean Everything To Nothing was at the top of my most anticipated list. When April 21 finally rolled around I was ready to be blown away and Manchester Orchestra did not disappoint me. Right out of the gate, “The Only One” brings more raw energy and distortion than any of their previous work and you know you’re in for a ride. As lead singer/guitarist/lyricist Andy Hull proclaims “I am the only one that thinks I’m going crazy and I don’t know what to do,” you can’t help but believe him. This record is undeniably epic and that is quite evident in the dynamic shift in the last two minutes of “Shake It Out.” The first single “I’ve Got Friends” is excellently punctuated by a memorable piano line courtesy of Chris Freeman and one of the strongest songs lyrically, with lines like “The dirtier the sound the best I breathe, I tried to do it all for you it didn’t do anything for me.” In a scene that has so long been lyrically hung up on the dissolution of relationships and the same old “boy pining for girl” whining, Andy Hull is putting everyone to shame with honest lyrics about friendships, pride, abuse, wrestling with God and everything in between. Today’s song is the perfect album closer and does a great job of summing up everything you just experienced beforehand. “The River” is Hull’s desperate plea of repentance as he sings “Oh God I need it, I was wrong again. Take me to the river and make me clean again.” The last verse is a paraphrase of old hymn “Come Thou Fount” where Hull speaks of being prone to wander as he sings “I’m gonna leave you the first chance I get.” That’s the kind of lyrical honesty that isn’t often found even in “Christian” music. Musically, Mean Everything To Nothing is very much a rock record and should put to rest any claims that Manchster Orchestra were ever “emo.” They show influences of everyone from Nirvana (“In My Teeth”) to Pinkerton era Weezer (“My Friend Marcus.”) Still there are several songs that can only be seen as Manchester Orchestra tunes. They have truly solidified their sound on this album and in my opinion it should be considered among the best records of the decade and one that will define their career. I haven’t been able to stop listening. You need to start.

Manchester Orchestra - "The River"

Val Emmich - "Get On With It" (2008)

2009-03-12T18:44:00.003-05:00

Val Emmich is a talented singer songwriter from New Jersey. I was first introduced to him in 2004 while working in college radio. I played “Privacy Attracts a Crowd” from his major label debut Slow Down Kid. Emmich recorded another album entitled Sunlight Searchparty in 2006 after splitting ways with Epic Records. His latest effort is entitled Little Daggers and it takes its name from a lyric in today’s song. I first heard “Get On With It” playing over the loudspeaker at a store in a mall this past December. It was immediately catchy and I was honestly singing along before the song ended. I remembered the lyrics and used good old Google to figure out that it was Emmich. Once I looked at the album cover for Little Daggers, something seemed familiar about him. I realized that he had guest starred on an episode of one of my favorite shows 30 Rock as Tina Fey’s much too young love interest. He’s also been on a few episodes of Ugly Betty. This is the only song I have heard from Little Daggers, but it is an excellent slice of pop rock with a great hook and clever lyrics.

Val Emmich - "Get On With It"

Mae - "Boomerang" (2009)

2009-03-10T08:00:00.001-05:00

It’s been six years since Mae released their debut album Destination: Beautiful on Tooth & Nail. I’ve been hooked on them ever since hearing “Summertime” all those years ago. Since that time Mae has released two other records. In my meaningless opinion, their sophomore release The Everglow will go down as one of the top ten albums of this decade. It’s nearly flawless in execution, with each song perfectly placed in sequence and balancing equal parts rock and pop. Mae had a slight misstep in 2007 with their third album and major label debut, Singularity. It was their first album for Capitol Records and the band went for more of a radio ready rock sound. It was by no means a bad album, but it fell short of the greatness that longtime Mae fans knew they were capable of. Shortly after the release of Singularity, the band parted ways with two of its founding members, bassist Mark Padgett and keyboardist Rob Sweitzer. In 2008, Mae split with Capitol and are now forging ahead as three piece with no label and a new direction. At the end of last year the band self released a DVD documenting the five year anniversary of the release of Destination: Beautiful along with a new recording of “Embers and Envelopes.” The band also announced an ambitious plan: to release one new song every month of 2009 and allow fans to pay what they want, with all proceeds going to charity. Since January 1st, the band has raised over $12,000 for Habitat for Humanity to benefit a family from their area of Virginia. The current project is just the beginning. The band plans to fund other endeavors as the year progresses. You can read all about their plans here. In addition to releasing the songs online one at time, Mae plans to release 3 EPs throughout the year. They will be titled (M)orning, (A)fternoon, and (E)vening, each containing four songs. It’s an ambitious and unique way to go about getting music directly to fans, without label interference. As for the music, I must say I’ve been impressed with the two songs Mae has released so far. The first song, “The House That Fire Built” harkens back to elements of the old Mae that were missing on Singularity. Lyrically the song is one of their most hopeful, all about starting over again and being better than before. “Boomerang” was their release for February and while it is guitar heavy, it’s also one of their more pop oriented tracks with great melodies and even a little saxophone in the breakdown, but not in a bad way at all. Both songs can be downloaded at whatismae.com. In the changing landscape of the music industry, Mae are making their own way and proving that a band that has worked hard to build a loyal fan base and continues to release quality music can make it without a label. They are kicking off their spring tour in April, so be sure to catch them if they come near you. You won’t be disappointed.

Mae - "Boomerang"

Audrye Sessions - "Turn Me Off" (2009)

2009-03-07T17:04:00.002-06:00

Audrye Sessions are a great new band from the Bay Area of California but upon first listen they could easily be mistaken for the next British buzz band. Front man Ryan Karazija’s voice sometimes recalls Matthew Bellamy of Muse or even Thom Yorke of Radiohead. Their debut self titled album is a collection of songs written over the first few years of the band’s existence, some which originally appeared on their self released CD Braille. The band’s sound is mostly guitar driven with some keys and pop elements showing through on songs like “Relentless” and “New Year’s Day.” They also know how to bring the rock on songs like “Julianna” and “The Paper Face.” As much new music as I come across, there are actually very few new bands that I listen to more than once and keep coming back to. Audrye Sessions are the most pleasant surprise so far of 2009. The band are gearing up to head out on tour with one of my other favorites, Manchester Orchestra, which should be an amazing show. Today’s song is the album’s lead off track and a pretty great example of what to expect from Audrye Sessions. For the stellar price of $5.99 on Amazon, there is no excuse to not own this album.

Audrye Sessions - "Turn Me Off"

Mute Math - "Spotlight" (2009)

2009-03-05T07:59:00.000-06:00

Mute Math are one of the more innovative and original rock bands playing these days. The four-piece from New Orleans has been wowing crowds with their unique brand of electronic pop rock since 2003 when they released their debut EP Reset. The band released their self titled full length debut in 2006 on their own label, Teleprompt Records. The band rose to prominence when the video for the second single “Typical” garnered airplay on MTV and Fuse and led to the band making the rounds on the late night talk shows. Their national popularity continued to grow as they brought their energetic live show to thousands at festivals such as Bonaroo and Lollapalooza as well as Warped Tour and their hometown Voodoo Music Festival. Mute Math has been working on their sophomore record for nearly two years now and have finally announced a tentative release of August this year. Today’s song is the title track from the recently released four track Spotlight EP. The song was originally featured on the soundtrack to the movie Twilight back in November. The EP is rounded out with a new b-side as well as an instrumental demo and a remix of “Spotlight.” The song is great and if it’s any indication of what Mute Math are cooking up for LP2, August can’t come soon enough.

Mute Math - "Spotlight"

Two Tongues - "Crawl" (2009)

2009-03-03T21:52:00.004-06:00

Two Tongues is new super group of sorts comprising members of Say Anything and Saves the Day. It all started when Say Anything front man Max Bemis and Saves the Day singer Chris Conley teamed up for a cover of Bob Dylan’s “The Man in Me” for a tribute album. Out of that collaboration a friendship was born and subsequently the two decided to write and record an album together. The band is rounded out by Say Anything drummer Coby Linder and recently departed Saves the Day guitarist Dave Soloway on bass. On their self-titled debut, Two Tongues have crafted an album of exceptionally tight and catchy rock songs that draw from the strengths of both songwriters. Bemis and Conley trade off vocals on most tracks, taking turns at the forefront. The songs themselves are similar to those found on Say Anything’s debut …Is a Real Boy and are somewhat reminiscent of Saves the Day’s seminal 2001 album Stay What You Are. Both songwriters have a knack for being quite dark lyrically, sometimes even bordering on the disturbing. However, the lyrical content of Two Tongues never veers too far in that direction. The songs mainly deal with relationships and in some cases, such as on “Wowee Zowee,” the friendship between the two. One of the most interesting things to keep in mind when listening is that Bemis has stated several times that Saves the Day are his favorite band and a major influence on his own songwriting. I’m guessing it was a huge thrill for him to be able to write a record with Conley. My only complaint about the record is that it is quite concise. The 13 tracks clock in at just over half an hour, with fewer than half breaking the three minute mark. I suppose that’s alright considering that’s the type of songs the duo write, but it kind of makes it feel like it goes by too quickly. Today’s song is the album opener and one of the stronger tracks in my opinion, although there are no duds. Bemis and Conley continue to stay busy with their day jobs. Saves the Day plan to release Daybreak sometime in 2009 while Say Anything are prepping a self titled disc to also hit stores by the end of the year. I look forward to both of those records, but until then I will continue to enjoy Two Tongues and hope that this won’t be the last collaboration we hear from Bemis and Conley.

Two Tongues - "Crawl"

I Mean It This Time...Really I Do

2009-03-01T22:00:00.002-06:00

So it would appear that I am all talk when I say that I'm going to keep this blog going. I had planned on trying to do it every day in February but you see how well that worked out. I had been doing the third week of every month but that's just too spread out. So I've come up with a solution that I think I'll be able to stick to. I'll be posting new songs every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday. Hopefully I won't be too lazy to come up with 12 songs a month. At this point I pretty much have to do it to prove to myself that I'm not that lazy. So there you have it, new posts starting Tuesday. Stay tuned.

First Wave Hello - "Lay Down" (2006)

2009-02-10T08:11:00.001-06:00

First Wave Hello were an alternative/electro rock band from San Diego. I first became aware of them in spring of 2007 when I saw them open for Ken Andrews. Opening bands are sometimes hit or miss but I had a feeling these guys would be good considering that they were also acting as the backing for Andrews on the entire tour. If he trusted them enough to do that, I figured they had to be at least decent. The band powered through about five original songs that blew away the small crowd that was more than receptive to their electronica laced brand of alternative rock. After the show I picked up a copy of their debut full length The Lord and Its Penguin, which was mixed by Andrews. Today’s song was the standout track for me both on the record and in the live setting. It mixes some excellent keyboard sounds and atmospherics with driving guitars and a melody that stays with you. The band released one more album called God Bless, Devil You in 2007 and are currently on indefinite hiatus according to their Myspace page.

First Wave Hello - "Lay Down"

Anberlin - "Soft Skeletons" (2008)

2009-02-09T07:43:00.000-06:00

Anberlin has been a favorite band of mine ever since their debut Blueprints for the Black Market in 2003. Since then they’ve release three other great full lengths, the latest of which being their major label debut New Surrender. There was a lot of speculation as to whether Anberlin would “sell out” and make a crappy radio rock record that didn’t stay true to the sound that got them where they are. Well all those fears can be put to rest after one listen to New Surrender. I won’t lie, there is something different about the production this time around as the band opted to go with Neal Avron instead Aaron Sprinkle behind the board. It’s not necessarily a bad thing, just different. The songs are just as catchy and rocking as ever with several guitar solos that immediately let you know you’re hearing Anberlin. I got to see them live the same week the record came out and I’m not exaggerating when I say it was one of the best shows I’ve ever seen. The band were in top form and energetic throughout the entire set that included old favorites as well as several new tracks. Front man Stephen Christian was genuinely grateful for the enthusiasm of the crowd as he gushed “This is amazing,” between nearly every song. Today’s song is one of the last on the album and is a great mid tempo song with some really inspirational lyrics. Anberlin are one of the hardest working bands in the scene and are truly nice guys who enjoy what they do. Seeing firsthand the joy they get out of it makes their albums all the more enjoyable for me.

Anberlin - "Soft Skeletons"

Punch Brothers - "I Know You Know" (2008)

2009-02-08T14:47:00.000-06:00

Punch Brothers is the latest project of Nickel Creek vocalist/mandolin player Chris Thile. Thile has surrounded himself with an accomplished set of talented musicians they play music much in the same vein as that of Nickel Creek. The band has been together since the recording of Thile’s 2006 solo album How To Grow a Woman From the Ground. They later renamed themselves Punch Brothers and released their debut album Punch in February of 2008. The centerpiece of the record is a four movement suite entitled “The Blind Leaving the Blind,” Thile’s most ambitious work to date clocking in at over 40 minutes. I had the pleasure of seeing Punch Brothers live in concert this weekend and it was quite an enjoyable experience. The band had an amazing presence in the intimate setting with probably fewer than 500 attendees, all of whom were wowed by musicianship of the group. Punch Brothers put on a truly great show complete with onstage banter and anecdotal humor. The highlight of the night for me was their performance of today’s song. “I Know You Know” is a track I haven’t been able to stop listening to. The odd thing is that it was only included on the iTunes version of Punch as a bonus track. I would say it’s worth it to go ahead and get the iTunes version even if only for this song, not to mention the rest of the album is great as well. Punch Brothers are continuing to tour and are intending to record another album sometime in the near future. As long as Thile’s involved, I’ll be there.

Punch Brothers - "I Know You Know"

Tegan and Sara - "The Con" (2007)

2009-02-07T15:35:00.000-06:00

Tegan and Sara Quin are a twin sister team that have been releasing records for ten years now. The Canadian duo’s first album Under Feet Like Ours came out in 1999 when they were only 19. They gained notoriety in the States following the release of their 2004 album So Jealous, which featured the popular single “Walking With a Ghost.” The song was later covered by the White Stripes for an EP of the same name. Tegan and Sara’s quirky indie rock style is defined by their largely acoustic based arrangements with both sisters trading off on vocals. Today’s song is the title track from their 2007 album The Con which they co-produced along with Death Cab for Cutie guitarist/producer extraordinaire Chris Walla. Tegan and Sara are currently working on an as yet untitled album expected to be released this fall.

Tegan and Sara - "The Con"

The Academy Is... - "His Girl Friday" (2008)

2009-02-06T11:05:00.000-06:00

The Academy Is... have been on my radar since their excellent 2005 debut Almost Here showcased their ability to write incredibly catchy pop rock songs. They changed direction somewhat in 2007 with their sophomore album Santi which employed a more straightforward rock sound but was still quite good. I was thrown off by their new sound at first but eventually grew to like it and I looked forward to hearing more from them in that vein. I was surprised last August to walk into the music store and see Fast Times at Barrington High sitting on the shelf. I wasn’t even aware they were coming out with a new record, but I of course purchased it nonetheless. The Academy Is… took it back to high school in more ways than one on this record. Gone are the retro guitar tones found on Santi. Fast Times is unapologetically poppy and feels much more like Almost Here. You would think that would be good, but there is just something too polished about this record. A lot of the songs sound similar and make The Academy Is… blend in with the nameless and faceless thousands of emo bands out there today. That being said, Fast Times isn’t a lost cause and it works well as windows down driving music to bob your head to. “His Girl Friday” is a pretty clever song with some interesting synth lines thrown in for good measure.

The Academy Is... - "His Girl Friday"

Snow Patrol - "If There's a Rocket Tie Me To It" (2008)

2009-02-05T12:47:00.002-06:00

I’ve been a fan of Snow Patrol ever since hearing “Spitting Games” from their 2004 breakout album Final Straw. Since that time this band from the U.K. has seemed poised to take over the world on the strength of their ubiquitous hit “Chasing Cars” from their 2006 album Eyes Open. That album was huge commercial success, selling over 3 million copies worldwide. Pretty much every track on Eyes Open was phenomenal so Snow Patrol had a lot to live up to with the follow up album. They released their fifth studio album A Hundred Million Suns last October. I was a little unsure when I heard the first single “Take Back the City.” Don’t get me wrong, it’s a good song, but it just didn’t grab me the way Snow Patrol has in the past. It eventually grew on me and I was looking forward to the new record. It’s hard to place why, but A Hundred Million Suns has yet to make a huge impression on me. I mean the songs are good, but for the most part they’re just there. Several songs employ the same repetitive strumming pattern that worked so well on “Open Your Eyes” from Eyes Open, but here it just feels redundant. There are however some interesting tracks such as the epic three part closer “The Lightning Strike,” clocking in at over 16 minutes. Today’s song is the first on the record and is a great example of Snow Patrol on top of their game. A Hundred Million Suns is by no means a bad record, it’s just a mediocre one for a band that is capable of much more.

Snow Patrol - "If There's a Rocket Tie Me To It"

Matthew Sweet - "Sick of Myself" (1995)

2009-02-04T07:51:00.003-06:00

Matthew Sweet is an alternative rocker who has been perfecting his brand of power pop for about as long as I’ve been alive. Sweet started out in the early 80s in the same Athens, GA music scene that gave birth to R.E.M. and the B-52s. His big break came in 1991 with the release of his album Girlfriend, featuring the single of the same name that eventually reached #4 on the Billboard Modern Rock chart. A newer generation was exposed to Sweet as “Girlfriend” was featured as a playable track on Guitar Hero II. Today’s song comes from Sweet’s fifth studio album 100% Fun and was his biggest hit, topping out at #2 on the Modern Rock chart. I first became acquainted with Matthew Sweet while working in college radio. There is just an undeniable catchiness to this song and it got stuck in my head. From the guitar lick to the melody and the clever, self deprecating lyrics, it’s the blueprint for a power-pop hit. Matthew Sweet has continued to make records. He collaborated with Susanna Hoffs of the Bangles for a covers album entitled Under the Covers, Vol. 1 in 2006. Last year he released his tenth proper solo album, Sunshine Lies. I really haven’t kept up with his current music but “Sick of Myself” remains a standard for me when it comes to good clean fun.

Matthew Sweet - "Sick of Myself"

Kings of Leon - "Closer" (2008)

2009-02-03T08:13:00.001-06:00

Kings of Leon are a band I’ve featured before, so I’ll spare you the back story. The band of three brothers and one cousin didn’t waste any time after 2007’s Because of the Times, following up quickly in September of last year with their fourth full length Only By the Night. I had always liked Kings of Leon somewhat passively but after seeing them perform two songs from Only by the Night on Saturday Night Live, I started paying closer attention. The album’s first single “Sex on Fire” has done well at radio and it’s no wonder why. It’s one of their catchiest songs and Caleb Followill’s distinctive wail is at its best. The one that really caught my ear however was “Use Somebody” an anthem of sorts featuring echoing backup vocals that remind me a lot of M83 at times. “Revelry” is a slow burner and one of the more bluesy tracks they’ve done. Kings of Leon have come a long way since 2005’s Aha Shake Heartbreak and at times it might be hard to believe this is the same band. That is no way a bad thing however because I think they are just maturing as song writers and taking their fans along for the ride. This album is solid from start to finish. Kings of Leon still retain that Southern groove that they’ve always had but this is probably their least Southern sounding release. Today’s song is the album opener with some interesting guitar effects and pounding drums that give it an eerie feeling that fits well with the lyrics. With Only By the Night, Kings of Leon have cemented their place among the rock elite in today’s current scene.

Kings of Leon - "Closer"

Pilot Speed - "Alright" (2006)

2009-02-02T07:59:00.002-06:00

Pilot Speed are a rock band hailing from Canada who seem to be constantly surrounded by change. The band released their first record Caught By the Window in 2003 under the name Pilate. I became aware of that record in the spring of 2006 while working in college radio. At the time, I didn’t realize the album was nearly three years old. When I think about it now, I suppose the label decided to promote Caught By the Window in the U.S. at that time because the band were preparing to release their sophomore album Self Control for Life’s Speed in April 2006 in Canada. In July of 2006, Pilate announced they would be changing their name to Pilot Speed due to legal issues. The band signed with Wind-Up Records in the U.S. and their sophomore album was re-released in the U.S. under the new name Into the West. The re-release featured re-recorded versions of two songs from Caught By the Window, one of which is today’s song. “Alright” was featured in last year’s Kevin Bacon vehicle Death Sentence, which I didn’t see but was told that this song is the only reason to watch the movie. I figured I’d just go ahead and save you the trouble and let you hear it here. “Alright” begins with a lightly strummed acoustic and some piano and develops into a wall of sound with an excellent crescendo. The vocals are at times reminiscent of Augustana and it musically resembles a lot of British rock. Pilot Speed are currently working on their third proper full length with should be out sometime this year.

Pilot Speed - "Alright"

Robbie Seay Band - "Shine Your Light On Us" (2007)

2009-02-01T13:42:00.003-06:00

Robbie Seay Band are one of the few Christian bands I actually listen to outside of a worship setting. That may sound bad but honestly, most modern worship music just isn’t my cup of tea. That’s not to say there’s no merit in it, I guess it’s just a matter of preference. That being said, Robbie Seay Band are a worship band, leading most Sundays at Ecclesia in Houston, where Robbie’s brother Chris is the pastor. I first became acquainted with Robbie Seay Band after the worship band at my church began playing “Song of Hope” from their 2007 album Give Yourself Away. My interest was piqued and I would find myself singing that song all the time. After hearing them play today’s song, I knew I needed to own this record. “Shine Your Light On Us” is an amazing song with a great melody and a truly great worship song. I was not disappointed with the rest of the album either with standout tracks such as the hard driving opener “Rise” and the hopeful “Love Wins.” In fact, the entire record is hopeful and while it is worship music, it distinguishes itself by not falling into the trap of a million repeated choruses and repetitive chord progressions. RSB are talented musicians and I will continue to look forward to what they have to offer in the future.

Robbie Seay Band - "Shine Your Light On Us"

Fleet Foxes - "Blue Ridge Mountains" (2008)

2009-01-25T08:00:00.000-06:00

Fleet Foxes are the latest buzz band to release an album on Sub Pop Records, the trendsetting label based in Seattle. Fleet Foxes self titled debut was released last summer and the band’s popularity has continued to increase ever since, due in part to the success of their first single “White Winter Hymnal,” a brief piece of indie pop gold. Fleet Foxes sound like a mixture of their labelmates Iron & Wine and Band of Horses, as well a little My Morning Jacket. The entire record is very folk oriented and has a distinct older feel to it. It’s almost as if they got in time machine and recorded it in the 70s. Even the cover art looks old. I like Fleet Foxes but to be perfectly honest there is nothing really outstanding about this record. I know that they ended up on about a thousand critics top ten lists last year and the songs are great, but they have a way of blending together with very little distinguishing song to song. It is however a great album to put on when going for a drive. It’s quite relaxing. My first exposure to Fleet Foxes came when I saw them perform today’s song on Letterman. I didn’t catch the beginning of the performance and I was trying to figure out who it was the whole time. When the bridge kicked in about halfway through the song, I was hooked. I later found out it was them and then got lucky and found the album for $5.00 on Amazon.com. Definitely money well spent even if I’m not totally blown away by the record.

Fleet Foxes - "Blue Ridge Mountains"

The Myriad - "The Accident" (2008)

2009-01-24T17:27:00.002-06:00

The Myriad are one of the more innovative bands on the Christian music scene these days. Now I know some people already just turned their brains off when I said “Christian music scene,” but please hear me out. They’re not the average Christian rock band what with having the most played video on MTV2 last May as well as having a song featured on Rock Band. The Myriad have a pretty epic sound that reminds me a lot of Muse and a little bit of Lovedrug. The band has been releasing EPs since 2002 and their debut full length You Can’t Trust a Ladder dropped in 2005. The Myriad signed with Koch Records and prepared to release the follow up, With Arrows, With Poise last May. The result is an excellent collection of rock songs that are at times ethereal and at others danceworthy. They had a minor hit on the Christian charts with “A Thousand Winters Melting” which is the most poppy and hopeful song on the record. Today’s tune is probably the heaviest and in my opinion the catchiest song on the record. Just try to keep yourself from singing along before it’s over. The Myriad are a promising young band and I see no reason why they couldn’t be huge in the future. Just jump on the bandwagon now so you can say you knew them when.

The Myriad - "The Accident"

Ace Enders and a Million Different People - "Rain" (2008)

2009-01-23T17:59:00.003-06:00

Ace Enders and a Million Different People is the new project of former The Early November front man Ace Enders. After TEN called it quits in 2007, Enders never stopped writing songs and began posting demos on his Myspace shortly thereafter. The style of his new music is very much along the lines of the Mother disc from The Early November’s final 3 disc album, The Mother, the Mechanic and the Path. That is to say it’s a little more acoustic in nature, rocking out at times, but with more of an alt-country feel when it does. I’m not saying Enders is trying to be like Ryan Adams or anything, but he’s a little less emo this time around. Enders has yet have a proper release save for a digital only single of his cover of The Verve’s “Bittersweet Symphony.” It can be purchased on iTunes and the proceeds go to benefit VH1’s Save the Music Foundation which preserves music programs in public schools. Enders has stated that the name Ace Enders and a Million Different People comes from the line in “Bittersweet Symphony” that says “I’m a million different people from one day to the next.” Last year, an eight song album named The Secret Wars was put up for free download at fuse.tv. It’s a good sample of what he’s been working on. Today’s song is my favorite of the collection and features and outstanding guitar lick. His first official full length will be entitled When I Hit the Ground and will be out on Vagrant/Drive-Thru Records in March. If The Secret Wars is any indication of what to expect, I’m eagerly anticipating it.

Ace Enders and a Million Different People - "Rain"

Sandra McCracken - "Lock and Key" (2008)

2009-01-22T08:30:00.001-06:00

Sandra McCracken is a name I first became familiar with after reading somewhere that she was married to Derek Webb, a very talented Christian singer/songwriter. I love Webb’s music so it seems like I would’ve taken the time to check out his wife too right? But sadly I had never actually heard her music until I witnessed in person last fall during their stop on the Art Music Justice Tour. The AMJ Tour was put together by Sara Groves and featured McCracken and Webb alongside Charlie Peacock and Brandon Heath. It was a very unique show that blended some great music with lots of great stories about social justice and the role the modern church plays in bringing about justice for those less fortunate around us. I was most excited about hearing Derek Webb and he was the only artist on the tour that I really knew well. But I figured that if Sandra McCracken was good enough to be married to Derek Webb, her music probably wasn’t bad either. And that was a good assumption because her 5 song set was nothing short of amazing. With just a voice and a guitar and with a little background help from her husband, McCracken captivated the small crowd and I became an instant fan after hearing songs like “Broken Cup” from her 2006 album Gravity/Love. After she played a few songs from her latest record Red Balloon, I knew I needed to have it. The album is pretty laid back and was entirely self recorded and self produced in McCracken’s home studio shortly after the birth of her first child. The instrumentation is mostly acoustic but there are some excellent keys peppered throughout and some bluesy electric guitar on a few songs such as “Halfway.” Today’s song was the one that really grabbed me the most in the live setting. “Lock and Key” is a fantastic song about trying to reach out to someone that doesn’t want to be reached. The album version expands on the more stripped down version that I first heard, including drums, keys and a little electric guitar. I think it’s great but I’m also a little partial to the acoustic version and for that reason I’m including it as well. Click on the download link to have it for yourself. Red Balloon has flown pretty much under the radar, even by indie standards but be sure that you don’t let it pass you by.

Sandra McCracken - "Lock and Key"

Sandra McCracken - "Lock and Key (acoustic)" [download]

Underoath - "Too Bright To See, Too Loud To Hear" (2008)

2009-01-21T07:59:00.002-06:00

Underoath are an anomaly for me. I never really got very into the whole metalcore/screamo scene with very few exceptions. Of those exceptions, Underoath are the only band that I’ve gone back to time and again because to me, there is so much more to them than just a bunch of screaming. But don’t get me wrong, there is a lot of screaming. More than ever actually on their latest album Lost In the Sound of Separation. Like a lot of people, I first got heard them when 2004’s They’re Only Chasing Safety came out and blew everyone away. It was a great mix of screaming and pop punk with melodies galore. The band followed up in 2006 with the decidedly heavier Define the Great Line, which scaled back the pop elements and delivered more on the metal side of things, with Spencer Chamberlain’s blistering scream taking center stage. I liked that record but not quite as much as Safety and I was a little skeptical about how I would feel about Lost In the Sound of Separation. Well Underoath makes it quite clear within the first few seconds of the brutal opener “Breathing In a New Mentality” that Chamberlain is at the helm. I didn’t think I would be as into this album, but it grew on me and I came to discover it’s many merits. Underoath has never sounded tighter than they do here. Aaron Gillespie’s masterful drum skills almost make up for the fact that we don’t get to hear his voice as much this time around. There are also so many electronic elements involved that weave all the parts of the songs together as a cohesive unit. And lead guitarist Tim McTague doesn’t slouch when it comes to delivering memorable riffs that are instantly recognizable as Underoath. That being said, Underoath is probably a band that most people have already made up their mind about. And that’s fine. They’re definitely not for everyone. But I chose today’s song because I think it shows a side of their sound that most people wouldn’t immediately think of. This is the lightest song the album and the one that most prominently features Gillespie on the mic. Chamberlain even forgoes his trademark growl for a good portion of the song and shows us that he can actually sing when he wants to. Of course there is some screaming at the very end. I guess it wouldn’t be Underoath without it. However, it works so well in the structure of the song that I think you have to at least appreciate it even if it’s not your cup of tea. Underoath impressed me with this album by showing that they weren’t content to just use what worked before. Because of that, I’ll probably be more apt to buy their records in the future, always sure that they’re going to deliver something that I might not have counted on.

Underoath - "Too Bright To See, Too Loud To Hear"

Lovedrug - "Blood Like" (2008)

2009-01-20T08:07:00.001-06:00

I’ve been into Lovedrug for a few years now ever since hearing “Blackout” from their first record Pretend You’re Alive. They built upon the greatness of that record with their sophomore release Everything Starts Where It Ends, creating their own brand of pseudo-grunge cemented with the distinctive voice of front man and songwriter Michael Shepard. I wasn’t sure what to expect going into their third release The Sucker Punch Show, having been thrown for a bit of a loop by “Everyone Needs a Halo,” one of the preview tracks on their Myspace page. The song is heavier than anything they’ve ever release and far angrier as well. I think it’s safe to say that Shepard may have had an unpleasant couple of years preparing for this album. The lyrics were much more crass as well. All that being said, the song still rocks and I was still looking forward to hearing the whole thing. There’s no doubt that The Sucker Punch Show is a different kind of record for Lovedrug but it’s just as good as their previous material. The overall guitar sound is much heavier this time around and the themes of the album are much darker and more brooding than before. “Blood Like” is much more piano driven than anything they’ve done before. The lyrics and vocal delivery are spot on. You can’t help but believe Shepard when he sings “I’ve got a little problem with my own head.” The Sucker Punch Show is a great rock record made by a very competent and promising band. It’s not always for the faint of heart but that’s part of what makes it great. And if you’re already a Lovedrug fan, you really can’t go wrong here.

Lovedrug - "Blood Like"

Anathallo - "The River" (2008)

2009-01-19T07:55:00.001-06:00

Anathallo is a band whose name I have heard and seen in print for the past couple years but I had never taken the time to give them a full listen. Honestly, I probably wouldn’t have liked them too much a couple years ago, but when I finally gave in and checked out their latest release Canopy Glow, I was instantly hooked. The band hails from Chicago by way of Michigan. They’ve been releasing music for quite a few years now but Canopy Glow is only their second proper full length and their first album for Anticon Records. The band’s seven members are quite an ambitious bunch, incorporating a wide range of instruments beyond the standard guitar, drums and bass which include all sorts of strings, keys and horns and various percussion instruments. The result is a ten song album that feels a little like floating. It’s very relaxed but with some interesting song structures that veer away from the standard verse-chorus-verse but are not devoid of memorable hooks. The vocal interplay between Matt Joynt and Erica Froman works quite nicely especially on songs like “Italo” and the orchestral “Sleeping Torpor.” I think they are vocally at their best on the opener, “Noni’s Field” which finds Joynt hitting the high registers for one of the most memorable melodies on the record. Canopy Glow is a true gem in a music scene where so many songs seem to come from a place of anger. It’s like you almost can’t help but smile when listening to it.Today’s song is easily the centerpiece of the album. “The River” is a fantastic song that incorporates everything that is great about Anathallo from the alliterative wordplay to the meshing of the instrumentation. The lyrics are a semi-fictional story about getting swept away by a river and it’s used a metaphor for life and kind of going with the flow so to speak. Of course they say it better than I could so just listen.

Anathallo - "The River"

Top 10 of 2008

2009-01-04T16:19:00.025-06:00

OK here’s the deal: I totally dropped the ball last month when it came to updating this thing. However, I have a somewhat valid excuse. My computer was infected with no less than 9,672 deadly viruses (or is it viri?) In any event, I was rendered unable to work on this blog. When I finally got the computer fixed a week later, I realized that December is the absolute busiest month of the year and I had no time to do it. My apologies to the three of you care. I was wondering if it was too late for another end of the year list and I know the internet is saturated with these things but who cares? I’m going to go ahead and subject you to my opinion. Keep in mind that just like last year, I am not saying these are the top ten songs of the year I’m just saying that these are the albums that spent the most time in my CD player (or on my iPod once I finally moved to the 21st century sometime in April.) Without further ado, the list:

10. Jack's Mannequin - The Glass Passenger
The sophomore album from Jack’s Mannequin marked the triumphant return of front man Andrew McMahon from his nearly three year battle with leukemia. He’s better now and his music is better than ever. The songs are more complex this time around and McMahon really sets himself apart from his earlier work in Something Corporate. There are several tracks that will have you singing along almost instantly including this one with its chorus of “I can’t remember when the Earth turned slowly.” Neither can I.

Jack's Mannequin - "Spinning"

9. My Morning Jacket - Evil Urges
Critics and fans seemed somewhat divided on My Morning Jacket’s fifth studio album. Some were disappointed that it didn’t go exactly in the same direction as 2005’s Z. But I have to say that I was pleased. This album has a way of making you think you’ve traveled back to the 70s, from the guitar tones to Jim James’ voice, right down to the cover art. It’s a great soundtrack for summertime and it served that purpose for me this year. This song is classic MMJ and probably would’ve been at home on any of their records.

My Morning Jacket - "I'm Amazed"

8. Thrice - The Alchemy Index Vols. III & IV
Thrice are easily one of the most ambitious bands playing today. This release marked the completion of their four disc Alchemy Index project which was inspired by the four basic elements of Fire, Water, Air, and Earth. Not only that, but the songs on each disc correlate to the elements both lyrically and stylistically. The Air disc of this release has several songs that feel a lot like flying. This song comes from the more organic and stripped down Earth disc. Dustin Kensrue’s Christian faith usually has a way of bleeding seamlessly and honestly into his lyrics and this is no exception.

Thrice - "Come All You Weary"

7. The Whigs - Mission Control
The Whigs were being highly lauded this time last year as a band to watch. I’m usually skeptical when the media freaks out over new bands like that, but in this case it was warranted. Mission Control is just a fun record. This three piece from Athens, GA make music that just feels like the South with jangly guitars, groovy bass lines, pounding drums and raspy vocals courtesy of awesomely named front man Parker Gispert. Here’s the first single from the record and the one that got me hooked.

The Whigs - "Right Hand On My Heart"

6. Anberlin - New Surrender
Anberlin have been one of my favorite bands for nearly six years now and it’s cool to see them garner the success that they have. New Surrender is first release for a major label after three hit records on indie Tooth & Nail. Longtime fans, myself included, were a bit apprehensive about Anberlin’s jump to the big leagues, where musical integrity more often than not takes a backseat to overproduced radio singles and anything that doesn’t sell a million copies is considered a flop. Anberlin refused to let any of that phase them however. Sure there is a somewhat noticeable difference in production value and some things seem a little too polished, but overall Anberlin delivered a solid album. This record will probably gain them a lot of new fans and with songs like this it’s easy to see why.

Anberlin - "Breaking"

5. Copeland - You Are My Sunshine
Copeland are an excellent band that just recently seem to be comfortable in their own skin. After being put through the major label ringer following their 2006 release Eat, Sleep, Repeat, Copeland is now free to make the music they want to make and they do it well. Building on the things they started with on ESR Copeland have created a fantastic album that blends all manner of keys and strings with just the right amount of distortion and Aaron Marsh’s unmistakable falsetto. Also, in this age of online downloads and the decline of CD sales, Copeland has given fans a real incentive to buy the physical copy of You Are My Sunshine, with a special edition that includes a DVD with videos for most of the tracks as well as a documentary and extensive liner notes.

Copeland - "On the Safest Ledge"

4. Nada Surf - Lucky
Nada Surf continues to impress with their fifth full length Lucky. It’s a great record filled with somewhat melancholy melodic rock, which perfectly accompanied the weather when it was released last February. Matthew Caws’ subtle voice and clever lyrical turns make Lucky worth several repeat listens. Nada Surf writes relatable songs that seem to double as the soundtrack to your life, which is a difficult task but they pull it off with great skill.

Nada Surf - "Weightless"

3. Augustana - Can't Love, Can't Hurt
Most people know Augustana from their great, albeit overplayed breakout single “Boston” from a few years back. On their sophomore album the band embraces a more rootsy sound that resembles Ryan Adams with a little Wallflowers and Counting Crows thrown in for good measure. Singer Dan Layus has a distinctive voice and a knack for writing great hooks. These ten songs are outstanding and hopefully only a small taste of what Augustana can deliver in the future.

Augustana - "I Still Ain't Over You"

2. The New Frontiers - Mending
The New Frontiers are probably my favorite find of 2008. The band hails from Dallas and had been playing together for a few years under a different name but things just clicked on Mending. I first ran across them on an episode the Relevant Podcast and took a chance on their album for $5 on iTunes. It was easily the best $5 I spent on music last year. From the opening note of “Black Lungs” to the final chorus of “Who Will Give Us Love?” this album is golden. I unfortunately missed two chances to see these guys live last year but maybe I’ll have better luck in 2009. Until then I will continue to enjoy this record.

The New Frontiers - "The Day You Fell Apart"

1. Death Cab for Cutie - Narrow Stairs
Death Cab for Cutie has been a favorite band of mine for five years now going back to their breakthrough record Transatlanticism. They proved the naysayers wrong in 2005 when their major label debut Plans managed to go platinum and still stay true to the sound their fans had grown to love. So the big question was where they would go with Narrow Stairs. They sort of threw everyone for a loop when they released the first single prior to the album. “I Will Possess Your Heart” is a spacey song with an infectious bass line that rambles for four minutes before we get to hear Ben Gibbard’s unmistakable voice. I’ll admit it took me a few listens but once I got into I couldn’t stop listening. Narrow Stairs is Death Cab for Cutie doing exactly what they want to do and not trying to live up to anything they may have done before. Gibbard’s lyrics are as great as ever with each song reading like a short story. Musically, the album is a bit heavier than Plans but doesn’t go too far in that direction. The possibilities for the future of this band are wide open now and I have a feeling they’ll be continuing to live up to their potential for years to come.

Death Cab for Cutie - "Bixby Canyon Bridge"

2008 was a great year for music despite what your radio may have told you. I suggest you check out all these albums and also there were several worthy records that barely missed making the list. There’s plenty of good music to be heard. Sometimes you just have to go find it yourself.

------------------------------------BONUS PRETZEL------------------------------------

As an added bonus to this list of ten albums and a meager attempt to atone for my recent laziness regarding this blog, I now give my list of the top 5 EPs of 2008. I’m sure you already know this but EP is short for “extended play” which is a release that is longer than a single but shorter than an album or LP (long play.) EPs generally have between three and eight tracks. There were some good ones out there this year and here is my top 5.

5. Straylight Run - Un Mas Dos
Straylight Run came back this year with the great three song collection Un Mas Dos. The band is now a three piece and they turn up the volume just a bit on this EP that was self released online and on vinyl. All three songs are great but here is the lead off track.

Straylight Run - "Wait and Watch"

4. Jars of Clay - Closer EP
Jars of Clay have come quite a long way in the past fifteen years after seeing crossover success with their first single “Flood” in 1995. The band has released several albums and EPs in that time, each one great in its own right. Jars of Clay are now part of the growing trend of bands who are functioning without the help of a record label. They have their own label and a distribution deal and they are making the music they want to make. Closer is a five song collection that sees them branching into more of a pop direction but also includes reworkings of two songs from the self titled debut. This is a great treat for fans of the band and maybe an inclination of what to expect from their next album, hopefully due out this year.

Jars of Clay - "Closer"

3. All Get Out - All Get Out
All Get Out’s self titled EP is actually a repackaged and remastered version of their Spitting EP with two new songs added. The remastering is noticeable and really makes the songs pop. “Water and God” is still one of my favorite tracks of the last year because of its sheer catchiness. “Wasting All My Breath” is one of the two new tracks and is just and amazing song with excellent guitars and a very cool keyboard melody in the bridge.

All Get Out - "Wasting All My Breath"

2. Manchester Orchestra - Let My Pride Be What's Left Behind
Manchester Orchestra was my new favorite band of 2007 and I spent most of last year listening to their debut I’m Like a Virgin Losing a Child. I was stoked to hear that they would be releasing a new EP back in October and even though there are only two new songs those two songs are better than most full albums that were released in 2008. Also included are three live acoustic versions of previously released songs as well as a DVD featuring videos, live performances and a short documentary film. Their new album Mean Everything To Nothing has been completed and is slated for a spring time release. I’m counting the days.

Manchester Orchestra - "I Can Feel a Hot One"

1. Paper Route - Are We All Forgotten
It’s hard to pinpoint a genre when describing Paper Route. Electro-pop comes close but isn’t completely satisfying. There is a lot of depth to the five songs on this EP. Paper Route employs all kinds of electronics along with plenty of keys and strings but the vocals and melody remain the focus of these songs and I think that’s why they tend to stick with you for so long. This is probably the release I listened to more than any of the others on this list. I’m hoping this is only the beginning of a long career for this band.

Paper Route - "Are We All Forgotten"

So there you have it. I hope these 15 tracks somewhat make up for my lacking. I will continue to post new songs the third week of every month in 2009 so come back in a few weeks and check it out.

Jonezetta - "Sick In the Teeth" (2008)

2008-12-05T15:59:00.004-06:00

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)

2008-12-04T08:11:00.002-06:00

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)

2008-12-03T08:33:00.001-06:00

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)

2008-12-02T08:02:00.001-06:00

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)

2008-12-01T08:26:00.001-06:00

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...

2008-11-23T14:31:00.002-06:00

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)

2008-08-22T19:11:00.003-05:00

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)

2008-08-21T07:54:00.000-05:00

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)

2008-08-20T08:02:00.002-05:00

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)

2008-08-19T18:54:00.001-05:00

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)

2008-08-18T18:51:00.002-05:00

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)

2008-07-27T17:35:00.002-05:00

Feeder is a great band from the

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)

2008-07-26T15:50:00.000-05:00

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)

2008-07-25T07:57:00.000-05:00

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)

2008-07-24T18:07:00.000-05:00

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)

2008-07-23T08:06:00.001-05:00

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)

2008-07-22T07:50:00.000-05:00

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)

2008-07-21T22:29:00.004-05:00

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)

2008-06-22T17:32:00.003-05:00

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)

2008-06-21T16:30:00.000-05:00

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)

2008-06-20T08:15:00.001-05:00

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)

2008-06-19T07:49:00.001-05:00

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)

2008-06-18T08:05:00.001-05:00

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)

2008-06-17T18:31:00.004-05:00

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)

2008-06-16T12:53:00.003-05:00

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)

2008-04-30T07:54:00.000-05:00

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)

2008-04-29T08:00:00.000-05:00

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)

2008-04-28T17:55:00.001-05:00

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)

2008-04-27T15:43:00.001-05:00

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)

2008-04-26T14:23:00.000-05:00

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)

2008-04-25T07:59:00.000-05:00

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)

2008-04-24T08:03:00.001-05:00

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"