Joshua Radin has shared the new song “Fewer Ghosts.”
Read More “Joshua Radin – “Fewer Ghosts””Review: R.E.M. – Reveal
It’s no secret that I wholeheartedly love R.E.M. I talk about them regularly on Twitter; I call myself a R.E.M. enthusiast on Instagram. By the time they released Reveal, 20 years ago this weekend, the band was already significant to my five-year-old self. I could take one look at the opening scene of the “Losing My Religion” music video and know the song was starting. The water drips from an open window; Peter Buck, Mike Mills, and Bill Berry run across the dark room while Michael Stipe stays seated; Tarsem Singh’s “melodramatic and very dreamlike” direction still captivates me. I loved that song while not understanding why I connected with it at such a young age. Maybe I loved it because my parents did, too.
My parents didn’t follow R.E.M. in the 80s. Sure, they would have heard “It’s The End of the World As We Know It (And I Feel Fine)” – which dad hates – and “The One I Love” (which dad loves), but besides those two tracks, R.E.M. wasn’t breaking through in Australia. They didn’t hear “Fall on Me” on the radio, which is a travesty if you ask me. Life’s Rich Pageant – my favorite R.E.M. album, depending on the day – spent seven weeks on the Australian chart. A year later, in 1987, Document enjoyed nine weeks on the chart. Out of Time sat pretty for a whopping 33 weeks on the ARIA (Australian Recording Industry Association) Chart. Automatic for the People spent 52 weeks on the ARIA chart. By 1992, the band was rightfully inescapable in my home country.
Despite the wild success R.E.M. celebrated in their “peak” periods – for some, the peak is their run on IRS Records; for others, it’s the four-album run of Document, Green, Out of Time, and Automatic for the People – the band’s later output is criminally overlooked. If you look at pure sales and chart positions, they are among the most successful groups of all time. They are the college rock band that could. If you’re a Radiohead, Nirvana, or Pavement follower, you know the influence R.E.M. has had on them. Some people proclaim any album up to Automatic to be their last great album. If you’re one of those individuals, I have a couple of questions for you: Have you heard New Adventures in Hi-Fi? How about Up? Most importantly, have you sat and listened to Reveal?
Read More “R.E.M. – Reveal”Review: Ours – Distorted Lullabies
A little known fact about Ours is that Distorted Lullabies is not actually their debut album. The band, led by multi-instrumentalist and vocalist Jimmy Gnecco, released their debut way back in 1994 called Sour, and disbanded for several years. Once Gnecco decided to get things up and running again in 1997, he would put the framework together for signing a major label record deal with Dreamworks Records and pair the band with veteran producer Steve Lillywhite (U2, Chris Cornell) to create the songs that would become Distorted Lullabies. I had the opportunity a few years back to check out Gnecco’s solo acoustic shows as he tried to get Ours back up and running full time and it was evident that he clearly still has the musical chops to take his music to the next level. During that particular performance, he told several stories of the early stages of Ours and how the label thought of them as “the next possible U2-caliber band to break out into the mainstream.” While the band did not experience the commercial success of the label’s lofty expectations, this record remains one of my favorites to come out during this time period, and I vividly remember discovering the band through their music video for “Sometimes,” that received semi-frequent airplay on MTV2. While the brooding, and darker-themed elements of their music may be remembered most during this era of the band, I’ll most remember that feeling of discovering my next favorite “underappreciated” artist.
Read More “Ours – Distorted Lullabies”Against Me! To Start Recording Soon
Laura Jane Grace confirmed on Instagram that Against Me! will be working on a new album soon.
Read More “Against Me! To Start Recording Soon”‘Friends: The Reunion’ Coming May 27th
The Friends reunion special will be coming to HBO Max on May 27th. Could I be any more ready for this?
Read More “‘Friends: The Reunion’ Coming May 27th”John Mayer and Grateful Dead Tour Dates
John Mayer is once again touring with Dead & Company.
Read More “John Mayer and Grateful Dead Tour Dates”Weezer Share New “All My Favourite Songs”
Weezer have shared a new version of “All My Favorite Songs” featuring AJR.
Read More “Weezer Share New “All My Favourite Songs””Bruce Springsteen Says New Album Coming “Soon”
Bruce Springsteen has said he’ll have a new record out soon.
Fuckin Whatever – “Never Believe” Video
Fuckin Whatever have shared a video for “Never Believe.”
Read More “Fuckin Whatever – “Never Believe” Video”Leon Bridges – “Motorbike”
Leon Bridges has released the new song “Motorbike.”
Read More “Leon Bridges – “Motorbike””Hot Mulligan – “Featuring Mark Hoppus”
Hot Mulligan have released the new song “Featuring Mark Hoppus.”
Read More “Hot Mulligan – “Featuring Mark Hoppus””Brian Fallon on New Podcast
Brian Fallon is on the latest episode of the Washed Up Emo podcast.
Read More “Brian Fallon on New Podcast”Olivia Rodrigo – “good 4 u” Video
Olivia Rodrigo has released a video for the new song “good 4 u.”
Read More “Olivia Rodrigo – “good 4 u” Video”Albums in Stores – May 14th, 2021
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 14th, 2021”Video Premiere: Love Again – “May 16” (Lagwagon Cover)
Today I’m thrilled to premiere the latest video from Love Again called “May 16.” This Lagwagon cover is played with the same passion as the original, and the video captures the spirit of the lyrical content. The Texas-based emo rock band, Love Again, will be releasing this cover as a standalone single tomorrow via Wiretap Records.
Read More “Video Premiere: Love Again – “May 16” (Lagwagon Cover)”