Buckle up—we have a lot to discuss this week. This week’s supporter Q&A post can be found here.
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Read More “Liner Notes (May 18th, 2024)”
Recently I was able to schedule a Zoom call with Tony Lovato of Mest to discuss the band’s new album, Youth. In this interview I asked Tony about the writing/recording process for the new record, his memories surrounding some of the past Mest material and much more. Youth will be released on May 31st, and pre-orders options are here.
Read More “Tony Lovato of Mest”
Head Automatica have returned with “Bear the Cross.”
Read More “Head Automatica – “Bear the Cross””
Anadivine’s 2024 remix/remaster of Zoo has been released. All funds from the Bandcamp version will go towards mixing the last song the band wrote together. (Also, if any labels are interested in doing a vinyl run, I can put you in contact with the band.)
Read More “Anadivine Release 2024 Remix of ‘Zoo’”
The Used will release MEDZ on June 21st.
Read More “The Used Announce B-Side Album”
If you hit read more you can see all the releases we have in our calendar for the week. Hit the comments to access our forums and talk about what came out today, what albums you picked up, and to make mention of anything we may have missed.
Read More “Albums in Stores – May 17th, 2024”
First, thank you for doing this with me.
Hey what’s up? Glad to be here.
Awesome. So you got time to answer a few questions?
Sure thing dude.
Read More “Scott Raynor (formerly) of Blink-182”
The world around us is quite brutal and ugly currently, so who couldn’t use a little optimism that things can and will get better? Dua Lipa has returned to the music world with a shimmering album titled Radical Optimism. With songwriting and producer credits from Kevin Parker of Tame Impala, plus other seasoned veterans like Danny Harle, Ian Kirkpatrick, and Andrew Wyatt, Dua Lipa comes well-armed for success. The album plays out quickly over the 11-song, 37-minute play time that is filled with thrilling moments, great vocal performances from Dua Lipa, as well as plenty new tricks to her arsenal. Radical Optimism is a heat-seeking missile to the eardrums and is bound to make even the most negative person feel a little bit better about their day after spending some time with it. While the current pop scene seems to lean towards darker elements (much like the brooding pop Billie Eilish), Dua Lipa cuts through the negativity with a surgeon-like precision on this instant pop classic.
Read More “Dua Lipa – Radical Optimism”
Taylor Acorn has shared the new song “High Horse.”
Read More “Taylor Acorn – “High Horse””
The Living End have finished recording their new album.
Read More “The Living End Finish New Album”
Florrie has shared the new song “Never Far from Paradise.”
Read More “Florrie – “Never Far from Paradise” Video”
Brian Sella is a notoriously sweet guy. So sweet, in fact, that he doesn’t even correct me when I refer to his band’s new single as “Raindrops” rather than its correct title, “Raining.” When I ask him if he still gets nervous playing shows, he replies, “Oh, totally!” When I inform him that I’ve been doing interviews for three years now, but that I was still nervous to speak with him, he laughs.
“Oh, don’t worry about it! You’re a professional. That’s what you’ve gotta tell yourself.”
In the context of The Front Bottoms’ discography, Going Grey reflects Sella’s current “vibe,” a word he uses frequently in our conversation. As he’ll tell me, the band learned that an “anything goes” attitude in the studio can result in plenty of band and fan favorites. In this way, Going Grey is an expansion of the polished-yet-experimental sound of their 2015 powerhouse, Back on Top. It continues to analyze topics such as mortality, relationships and getting older – oftentimes within the same three-minute pop song.
Hawthorne Heights have announced a 20 years of tears tour. Thursday, Armor for Sleep, Saosin, Cartel, Anberlin (and some others) will be on select dates.
Read More “20 Years of Tears Tour”
Today I’m excited to share the latest music video from New York City’s own Nicotine Dolls, for their heartfelt single “Till We Both Say.” The band is comprised of lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist Sam Cieri, lead guitarist John Hays, bassist John Merritt, and drummer Abel Tabares, and the band’s strong chemistry is showcased on songs like this one. With a sound that sways somewhere between the working-man approach of The Gaslight Anthem and the pop sheen of The Maine, Nicotine Dolls are onto something great here.
Read More “Nicotine Dolls – “Till We Both Say” (Video Premiere)”
The third major label studio album from Maggie Rogers, called Don’t Forget Me, showcases the singer-songwriter’s continued growth in more ways than one. While I originally saw Rogers in the same realm of pop artists like Kacey Musgraves, Phoebe Bridgers, and Julien Baker, it turns out she may just be this generation’s Joni Mitchell. With crisp production that Rogers and Ian Fitchuk co-produce on this outstanding record, Maggie Rogers quickly cements herself as one of the marquee pop acts in the world. Having recently announced a comprehensive arena tour, that is selling extremely well, Rogers takes full advantage of her time in the spotlight on this breezy collection of ten songs that blend pop, country, and captivating storytelling in her most fully-realized album to date. The artist that once had a starry-eyed vision of headlining the places she grew up attending, has come full circle and seeing her hard work come to fruition.
Read More “Maggie Rogers – Don’t Forget Me”