Review: Counting Crows – Hard Candy

Counting Crows will always be a band affiliated first and foremost with the 1990s. There are many good reasons for this fact, starting with the band’s 1993 debut album August & Everything After. A massive LP that spawned singles like “Mr. Jones” and “Round Here,” August remains the pinnacle of the band’s legacy. A few years back, when I saw the Crows live on a co-headlining tour with Matchbox Twenty, it was still the August songs that got the biggest response.

For me, though, I always affiliate Counting Crows instead with the mid-2000s. That’s not because I wasn’t aware enough to know about their music in the ‘90s. On the contrary, “Mr. Jones” is the first song I ever remember liking, and the band’s sound in general just makes me think of growing up. When I started really getting into music in 2003, I remember revisiting those first two Counting Crows albums—August and 1996’s Recovering the Satellites—and hearing so many songs that I recalled from my formative years. It felt like reconvening with old friends.

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Astrologer – “Legerdemain” (Album Premiere)

Astrologer

Today is the perfect day to share the new EP from the garage pop band named Astrologer, called Legerdemain. Astrologer is comprised of lead vocalist, guitarist, and primary songwriter Drew Cline as well as Candy Caballero who contributes both backing and lead vocals during the EP. The sophomore set was produced by Wyatt Blair, and the EP hits the streets via Lolipop Records tomorrow. Also, as a bonus treat, I caught up with the band for a brief interview regarding the artistic steps they took on Legerdemain.

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Review: Glassjaw – Worship and Tribute

Coming off of the release of their Roadrunner Records’ debut LP, Everything You Ever Wanted To Know About Silence, Daryl Palumbo and his bandmates in Glassjaw clearly were fed up with their partnership with Roadrunner, going very far in interviews to explain their disdain for their record label. The band entered 2001 secretly recording the follow up to their debut with producer Ross Robinson (The Cure, Slipknot), and would eventually shop the finished product called Worship and Tribute to several major labels before deciding to sign with Warner Bros. Records. When I first heard the new album, I can remember a certain buzz surrounding several punk websites and forums about this band named Glassjaw who were changing the post-hardcore game. This buzz and hype were certainly warranted with songs like “Ape Dos Mil,” “Cosmopolitan Bloodloss,” and “Pink Roses.” The energy was frenetic, the band sounded larger than life, and there was something immediately special about this group of musicians willing to put their best foot forward to avoid the sophomore slump. Worship and Tribute would debut at #82 on the Billboard 200, largely due to positive word of mouth and critical reception, and Glassjaw would find themselves on several key touring stints with festivals like Ozzfest, The Warped Tour, as well as partnering with Sparta, Hot Water Music, and a US headlining trek in October/November of the same year. Glassjaw were undeniable and they were coming straight for all of their doubters.

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Flight Patterns – “Beach Town” (Song Premiere)

Flight-Patterns

Today is a great day to share the latest taste of new music from a new emo band named Flight Patterns, for their new single called “Beach Town.” On this great new track, that comes from their yet to be released self-titled debut LP, Flight Patterns channel the best parts of the emo rock genre while still adding something new to the fold. The band shared, “This was a last minute song that we wrote the morning of recording. We think this one sounds the most like our older songs.” If you’re enjoying the direction this band went for here, you can take flight on their debut LP on August 12th via Chillwavve Records.

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