Thursday, October 25, 2007
Thursday, October 11, 2007
What A Great Audience- The Performance of a Lifetime
What A Great Audience- The Performance of a Lifetime
Released: August 8, 2007
Unsigned
Every band can agree that the internet is the most successful advertising system in the world. In a matter of minutes, your band could be the next buzz band; or the next hated band. It’s a great way to gain many fans and get a lot of attention. While I was on a journey to find some new music, I passed through many top websites, their forums, recommendations, and many other features. I came across the band What A Great Audience.
Back when I first heard WAGA, they just released some new songs. I decided to give them another listen and I was introduced to The Performance Of A Lifetime. The Performance Of A Lifetime is a five song debut EP from former front man of Driving East, Curtis Marion. The EP opens up with “Why I Sleep On The Floor.” An upbeat, catchy song that gets you automatically attached to the album. Then debuts the powerful, captivating piece called “Take It Slow.” The songs title pretty much tells the story about the song. Vocalist Curtis Marion speaking about taking a relationship slow. Also, at times I hear resemblance to All Time Low. By far, this my favorite song off the EP.
"Tell me something; why don't I just get into my car and go? I’ll be in Richmond faster than you can protest that we've just met. tell me something as we walk down main to cherry baby; am I awake? are we alive? is this really, really real? or is it just a dream?"
“With Friends Like These, Who Needs Bone Cancer?” shows off the superb guitar work from Marion and Poya. Upbeat, sketchy guitar work, and powerful drums. “Post-secret (tell It Well)” delivers what every EP needs. A depressing song. Marion brings in a harsh past and the song is pretty much a shot to whoever it’s directed to. But catchy lyrics will get “your dishonesty is something best served as cold” stuck in your head for a long period of time. The EP is concluded with “Flatline.” In my opinion, it’s the weakest song on the EP. I felt it didn’t mix too well with the rest of the album.
Overall, this is one of the “pop punk” bands that stick out. A different sound than other band out there right now. The Performance Of A Lifetime is a very solid debut EP. Adding the mixture of catchiness, no cheesiness, and solid guitar work… What A Great Audience could win over any fan. With maturing sounds, I’m sure this band will have a great audience for years to come.
Score: 85%
Myspace
Buy
As Tall As Lions Inteview on Blender.com
Long Island based band As Tall As Lions, recently answered some questions from Blender.com. Watch the interview right here. Their highly recommended self-titled record is avalible everywhere courtesy of Triple Crown Records.
Wednesday, October 10, 2007
The Lives Of Famous Men- Rehearsal
The Lives Of Famous Men- Rehearsal
Released: July 10th, 2007
Unsigned
Recently, I was reading some comments on word press, when I came across a user who had a blog linked to her comment. That day, I had open ears to listen to anything. Reading interviews, reviews, and everything, I stumbled across an interview with National Product. They recommended listening to a band named The Lives of Famous Men. After first listen, I was immediately hooked to my weakness of catchy/upbeat music. After doing some research, I stumbled across The Lives of Famous Men’s debut EP Rehearsal.
Rehearsal shows how this band blends many different influences into a pop punk band. Or in this case piano/jazz band. Rehearsal opens with “You’re Everyone I Know Right Now.” Setting the tone for Rehearsal, this song mainly speaking about how you can tell who your friends are. “Kid, It’s A Long Way Back To The Port Cities” brings acoustic riffs with soft drum beats to your ears. This song mainly showcases the bands influence in Elvis Costello. Ending Rehearsal is “After Party.” A beautiful blend of piano beats, haunting whispers, and my weakness catchiness.
When I first read that interview, I didn’t have any intention in finding a band from Alaska. Rehearsal is a stellar debut. “After Party” states where this band will be in a few years. “Tonight we’re on the top of the world, and we’re not coming down.”
Score: 9.2
Lorien- The Ghost in the Parlor EP
Lorien- The Ghost in the Parlor EP
Unsigned
Not many people still have the heart for pop punk. Mainly due to bands this day and age sounding similar. While scrolling through the interweb, I came across a band from Tennessee. Their name is Lorien. What Lorien offers the listener is a beautiful blend of southern roots with the pop-punk catchiness. I introduce you to The Ghost in the Parlor EP.
When I first listened to the EP, I was immediately hooked in the sounds. Beautiful guitar work showing how they blend their roots. The seconds song “You Got Me Down” shows where the catchiness comes. At times, I think I’m listening to a much harder As Tall As Lions or a Gatsby’s American Dream. But, it’s a band that blends both sounds into the ultimate band. Vocalist Kaleb Jones nailing those words “You Got Me” in your head for weeks. The band quickly slows it down to two slow moving songs. A blend of haunting vocals from Jones with beautiful keys added by Cara Pollack. The next song “Singing Isn’t Music,” reminds you if you were trapped in England back in the 1700’s. Imagine your at the ball and your gonna dance with the queen, you will hear this song.
With bands pushing in the scene to become the next big hit, Lorien doesn’t have to rush. It will come sooner or later when a label realizes why beautiful music like this is not signed. This bands future is endless. There are so many ears this EP can capture and hold onto. The Ghost in the Parlor is not only a debut ep, it is great.
Score: 9.7/10
Website
Myspace
Purevolume
The Dangerous Summer- If You Could Only Keep Me Alive
The Dangerous Summer- If You Could Only Keep Me Alive
Hopeless Records
Some bands today offer many different styles of music. Various genres are shining light but for now, the summer of 2007 is a pop punk summer. Adding to this, Hopeless records latest snag The Dangerous Summer give you If You Could Only Keep Me Alive.
To the listener, your wondering if this is just another pop band. If You Could Only Keep Me Alive brings another band from the Maryland that has produced talents from All Time Low to many others, The Dangerous Summer live up the name. Even All Time Low vocalist Alex Gaskarth makes an appearance on the track "Disconnect." Vocalist AJ Perdomo belting out how a girl and a boy are floating away slowly. Besides catchy vocals, this EP also offers crafty guitar work. Throughout the ep, there isn’t one dull moment lacking upbeat riffs and catchy lines that will be stuck in your head for days. However, If You Could Only Keep Me Alive only has three new songs on it. The other five are previously from The Dangerous Summer’s There Is No Such Thing As Science.
But to anyone looking for a band similar to a catchy Third Eye Blind, All Time Low, or The Starting Line.. Listen to The Dangerous Summer. If You Could Only Keep Me Alive reminds me a lot of Cartel’s Ransom EP. Not only the catchiness, but how many times I’ve played this and haven’t got board. Now if these four high school kids don't impress you, just give up on pop punk.
Score: 8.5
For Fans Of: The Starting Line, All Time Low.
Wednesday, October 3, 2007
The Exit Radio- Alive at Sunrise
Released: September 11, 2007
Label: 111 Records
To many people, the name The Exit Radio may not sound familiar. Its because 111 Records band Mashlin has changed their name and has brought forward to us Alive at Sunrise. Throughout The Exit Radio's profession, they released an highly debut LP Pushing Through The Seasons that got many people excited to hear what would come next. After two years of label trouble, they give you the free EP Alive at Sunrise.
This four piece act first brings to the table the aggressive opening track "Faster". A very upbeat catchy song that vents out the troubles they have faced in the past years. The song sums up how fast the EP really is. "Until I Stood No More" starts off with a jazzy vocal rhythm when vocalist Aaron Harvey tricks us and brings back some aggression with the line "all hell, we're gonna die." "Elizabeth" is a love letter back and forth from Aaron's words. Harvey just keeps telling this girl how badly he misses her and how everything will be alright. Hinting "my tired throat has sang its final song" it looks like Elizabeth will be seen. The last two tracks of this recording "Life Is Just A Second" and "Fate Is A Killing Machine" just sum up the rest of the ep with catchy upbeat rock.
Overall, I've been waiting for new sound from The Exit Radio aka Mashlin. From an LP that had many moods and different feelings in each song to a very upbeat faster EP. From what I heard, I am becoming very excited for The Exit Radio's LP in 2007*. For now, let your ears feast on Alive at Sunrise.
Every Avenue - Ah!
Every Avenue- Ah!
Record Label: Fearless Records
Release Date: August 14, 2007
So far in 2007 there have been many band break ups, with notable front runners in the pop punk genre including The Early November and Spitalfield going down. It has also been the up rise of the new batch of pop punk bands such as The Dangerous Summer, All Time Low, Four Year Strong and many more. Sometime in June, Fearless Records announced one of those young gun pop punk bands, Every Avenue.
Forming in 2003, Every Avenue have been gaining more and more fans with their “happy” pop punk. Even drummer Michael Govaere says, “We try to stay fun and energetic. We don’t scream or do cliché hardcore breakdowns like so many other bands.” With that statement, Every Avenue offers you Ah!
Before Every Avenue signed to Fearless, they announced they were recording their album with Broken English Record’s producer John Naclerio. With them picking Naclerio, by instinct I knew this was going to be a great release. Ah! opens with “One More Song,” an upbeat, captivating song. While this EP is claimed “fun and energetic” it still brings back depressing memories for Strauchman. The single “Where Were You” is a story about a girl David dated, but nothing happened. Though it seems sad, Dave then hints about how the girl came “Back to where we left off,” showing how Every Avenue turns positive with a small negative. Every Avenue even mixes some synth in “Nothing” that resembles Take This To Your Grave-era Fall Out Boy. Every Avenue also dishes out tracks The Ataris would have made back in the So Long, Astoria days. My favorite track off Ah!, “Picking Up the Pieces,” is all about exploding guitars, standout vocals, and overall fun; this song is made to be stuck in your head.
We could strike this fire down / But leave the sparks between us / And when the flames came pouring out / You didn’t find us / We were standing all around picking up the pieces
“Think of You Later (Empty Room)” illustrates a song found in the next National Lampoon movie when someone fantasies about a girl. “Think of you later in my empty room.” Anyone can somehow relate to that line. Closing Ah! is “Getting Out.” Again bringing memories of Fall Out Boy, Every Avenue continues to push with the upbeat pop punk.
There isn’t much negative I can say about this EP, except the similarities in songs. While the EP doesn’t have a dull moment, there’s no song where Every Avenue decides to slow the tempo down. But, Every Avenue states a strong point about being a fun, energetic pop punk band. If Ah! was a full length instead of an EP, this would defiantly top many pop punk bands releases. Not only is this my favorite EP this year, it’s one of the catchiest albums I have ever heard – even as catchy as The Starting Line’s Say It Like You Mean It.
Score: 88%
