Review: AFI – Decemberunderground

”Warn your warmth to turn away / Here it’s December, every day”. These haunting lyrics from the second single (“Love Like Winter”) from the seventh studio album from AFI still resonate to this day. DECEMBERUNDERGROUND was released in the early summer of 2006 and came off of the band’s mainstream breakthrough success of Sing The Sorrow. The LP found the band once again working with producer Jerry Finn and solidified AFI as a marquee act in the rock scene. DECEMBERUNDERGROUND features more of an EDM, gothic rock, and synthwave type of sound to it throughout, with heavy electronic elements found in several instances on the album. AFI invited listeners into the world of their new album with lead single, “Miss Murder”, that featured a stomping bass line, heavy guitars, and a great vocal performance from Davey Havok to set the song apart from what was on the radio at that time. What stood out to me the most on DECEMBERUNDERGROUND was AFI’s ability to continue to reinvent themselves while still staying true to the sound that The Despair Faction faithful would approve of. A bit of a bold choice to release a winter-themed record in the heart of summer, AFI proved that they didn’t need to conform to industry norms in order to make an impact that connected with audiences far and wide.

Adam Grundy 3 days ago

While most fans of Daryl Palumbo’s power pop project, Head Automatica, point to the band’s debut of Decadence as their best work, I am firmly in the camp that Popaganda is the better album. Heavily inspired by the infectious melodies of The Beatles and the upbeat nature of Elvis Costello, Popaganda came storming out of the gate with the bulletproof single of “Graduation Day” that ignited the limitless possibilities of the band. The record was produced by veteran hit-maker Howard Benson (My Chemical Romance, Saosin), and it has an undeniable sheen to its vibrant sound. The promotional cycle of the record got a bit derailed due to Palumbo’s struggles with Crohn’s disease and the inability to stay on the road as much as he and his bandmates may have wanted. However, giving a fresh listen to this record today is a warm and inviting experience that brought back a flood of positive memories for me during the summer of 2006. It was a CD that spent more time in my car’s player than it did on the shelf, and it stills sounds as urgent and refreshing to this day.

Adam Grundy 1 week ago

For an album that is called Be Sweet To Me, this record has a lot of grit to it. Violet Grohl makes a significant mark on the rock scene with her debut album released today, and the daughter of arguably the biggest rockstar today in Foo Fighters frontman, Dave Grohl, Violet takes her bravest step into the spotlight so far here. The album was produced by Joe Kennedy, Brad Lauchert, Anthony Paul Lopez, and Justin Raisen, and it has a sound fully entrenched in 90’s Alt Rock. On it’s heaviest moments, Be Sweet To Me resembles bands like Hole and The Pixies, while on its more reflective moments Grohl channels artists like Fiona Apple and PJ Harvey. A solid mix of grunge, alternative rock, shoegaze, and dream pop, Violet Grohl’s star shines brightly on her debut LP.

Adam Grundy 1 week ago

Things appear to be looking up for Jack Antonoff, the band leader/frontman of Bleachers. He got married to actress Margaret Qualley in 2023 and his personal outlook on life is leaning towards the optimistic side on the latest effort found here. The fifth studio album from Bleachers, called Everyone For Ten Minutes, was produced by Antonoff, and was recorded during the period of 2024-2026. The record is reflective, as much as it is an observation of a band growing more comfortable in their own skin, and it benefits from the cohesive nature of the songs playing off of each other. Coming off of the success of their self-titled record, Bleachers sound as focused as they’ve ever been on Everyone For Ten Minutes. While the new album doesn’t have the “highs” of the singles found on the self-titled effort, it’s a record that is meant to absorbed as a whole rather than the sum of its parts, and it continues to show commendable growth in Antonoff as a songwriter.

Adam Grundy 1 week ago

Today I’m so excited to bring everyone the latest single and music video from Effie Zilch called “Lover Boy.” This roots-rock band is Steve Wyreman & Evanne Barcenas, and their great musical chemistry together is immediately recognized on vibrant songs like this. The band shared:

Featuring a Benny Benjamin-inspired backbeat, a prominent bass riff, and Vandellas-style background vocals, ‘Lover Boy’ began as something of an inside joke. It quickly evolved into one of the album’s most infectious standouts. Sometimes songs don’t have to say anything deep or important. Some of our favorite music is playful and lighthearted. What is serious about the track is it’s composition, arrangement and style. It’s a fresh take on an old, familiar sound. Sticky-sweet and swaggering, ‘Lover Boy’ brings classic soul revue energy into focus through Effie Zilch’s distinctly Bay Area lens. The accompanying video leans into the song’s vintage charm – shot at historic Sacramento sites once used as film locations for silent-era icons like Charlie Chaplin and Buster Keaton, it pays homage to California’s cinematic history. “We knew we wanted to make a silent film, but how to capture the fun and whimsy of the song eluded us until we fully leaned into the ridiculous. Our video team, Station to Station Creative, didn’t bat an eye at our bizarre treatment. Instead, they went out and found the dapper duck costume the following day. A Flapper, Amelia Earhart, and a proper damsel dame set their eyes a gaze on Mr. Gentleman Duck. Cat and mouse chases, train track mishaps, and old-timey title cards tell the silent tale of this strange love story

If you’re enjoying the new video, please consider pre-saving the band’s new LP, Higher Calling, out everywhere on July 10th via Redtone Records.

Adam Grundy 1 week ago

Today is a great day to share the latest single from shoegaze artist, Zoon, called “Omni II.” On this hypnotic track that features a cameo from Chris Chu of The Morning Benders, Zoon makes a significant mark on the indie scene. The song comes from Zoon’s new LP, Happy Thought School, that will be released everywhere on June 19th via Paper Bag Records.

Adam Grundy 2 weeks ago

The build-up to Angels & Airwaves debut LP, We Don’t Need To Whisper, was a contentious combination of hurt feelings (due to the sudden break up of Blink-182), excessive hype (mostly from Tom DeLonge about this new band he was starting), and mystery. The record was produced by Tom DeLonge in his home studio in San Diego, California, and the hype train surrounding the spacey rock found on We Don’t Need To Whisper made almost everyone curious about this new band. The band was rounded out by Box Car Racer guitarist David Kennedy, drummer Atom Willard, and bassist Ryan Sinn. I can vividly remember my anticipation of wanting to wrap my ears around this LP for the first time at midnight of May 23rd, 2006, and be transported into a world that DeLonge was describing as “life-changing.” With the lights out in my room, I started the process of listening to this album from front to back, the way it was intended, but I couldn’t help but think that as good as the album was, my expectations of hearing something life-altering were way overblown. We Don’t Need To Whisper still holds up to this day as a solid album, it features some truly incredible songs, and yet I can also see why most critics didn’t quite “get” what DeLonge was going for here.

Adam Grundy 2 weeks ago

For a band that’s been fairly quiet for the past decade and a half, The All-American Rejects stormed back onto the scene pretty significantly with a DIY approach to the music business, and their viral pop-up house party concerts put them squarely back in the spotlight. Sandbox is the fifth studio album from the band, and their first new album in 14 years, that was capped off with 2012’s Kids In The Street. This record was produced by AAR band members Tyson Ritter & Nick Wheeler, with additional production credits from Scott Chesak. If you’re expecting big hooks and loud guitars, much like was found on Move Along and When The World Comes Down, you might be a little disappointed in the music found on Sandbox. For fans who have stuck around with AAR for this long, Sandbox isn’t as jarring of a listening experience as one would think. Instead, the band’s independent approach comes across as an artist comfortable in their own skin, and one who are still willing to take some risks to further their development.

Adam Grundy 2 weeks ago

Today I’m so excited to introduced everyone to a pop-punk band called Unicorn Dogs who are releasing their newest single called “Bogus Journey.” The Baltimore-based Unicorn Dogs are comprised of father/son bass and drum duo Jon Moser and Oliver Moser and former Dead Mechanical guitarist Lucas Carscadden. Jon Moser shared about working with Grath Madden (House Bout, Steinways) by sharing, “Grath has a distinct voice and style that we love and find inspiring. Short songs that are catchy but without overly predictable repetition and relatable, self-deprecating lyrics. That’s the formula!” If you’re enjoying the single, keep an eye out for the band’s new LP Closer To Death that will release later on this year via Mom’s Basement Records / Jolly Ronnie Records.

Adam Grundy 3 weeks ago

It’s hard to find a new band who knows exactly what type of music they’re great at, sticks to a solid approach to their songwriting, and simultaneously adds a new element to the genre. Welcome to the scene, Super Sometimes. Show the World What’s Underneath is an energetic ten-song set that features two vocalists/guitarists in Gabriel Munoz and Dylan Guzman, and drummer Matthew Ludwig in a tight, three-piece band from San Diego, California. “Show the World What’s Underneath is us staking our flag in the ground as one of the torchbearers of pop-punk,” the band says. “There’s a little bit of something for everybody, and our take on the genre will definitely be a breath of fresh air for those who have been looking for something a little different in the scene. We hope it inspires more people to fall in love with pop-punk the same way we did growing up.” With a confident approach to their sound that recalls the best days of the pop-punk genre with a blending of styles between New Found Glory, The Starting Line, and Blink-182, Super Sometimes is sure to be your next scene obsession.

Adam Grundy 3 weeks ago

Today I’m so excited to bring everyone the latest single from songwriter Candace Hastings called “Call Your Mama.” The deeply personal song is sure to evoke some sort of emotions from anyone who takes the time to listen to it. When asked about the inspiration behind the new single, Candace Hastings shared:

This song was written by Mary Beth Schaefer, who is a talented songwriter and just happens to be my daughter. And the backstory behind the song is almost as good as the song. I can’t even remember why I had called my daughter, but she didn’t pick up and didn’t call me back for several days. At the time, I remember thinking, ‘I’m glad I wasn’t having a heart attack or anything,’ but honestly I know she’s busy and didn’t give it too much thought. She told me she had that reminder rolling around in her head—call your mom, call your mom—but when she sat down to write, it turned into something different. What she came up with was a song about those exes who like to circle back after everything is over—calling to check in, keep tabs, or ease their conscience, when really, they ought to call their mama instead. I released the song as a single because it’s an ex-song that has a take I’ve never heard before. There’s no revenge keying of the car, no yelling, just some good old-fashioned boundary setting by a strong woman who’s had enough.

If you’re enjoying this single, please consider pre-saving the track here.

Adam Grundy 3 weeks ago

In the history of music, there have been very few artists who have come out of the gate so strongly that it feels like they can’t miss. MUNA are one of those artists. Dancing On The Wall is the fourth studio album from the band, and was produced by MUNA’s own Naomi McPherson. The set is filled with underrated production, infectious melodies/harmonies, and crisp songwriting that somehow continues to get even better as the band releases each record. The songs on Dancing On The Wall are sure to get your body moving, as the LP features a club-ready atmosphere to it and continues to accentuate the best parts of the pop rock genre. MUNA are a rare breed of an artist who are willing to take big swings for the chance to become you’re favorite band and achieve world domination. They may just have pulled off both tasks here.

Adam Grundy 3 weeks ago

Today I’m thrilled to bring everyone the latest single from Texas folk duo, Crow and Gazelle, called “The High Road.” The track comes from the band’s new album, Truth Be Told, that will be released on streaming services on May 15th. When speaking on the direction of the new single, the band shared:

We believe we have a soul contract together. As a couple, as friends or comrades, we have reincarnated together before, many times – millennia and centuries before and after, always seeking the higher road to find and feel real freedom. For us, that high road means we’re here to balance and harmonize the feminine and masculine for divine love. And we see the characters of Truth Be Told as the same. Remembering, when one is empowered, we both are. When one is oppressed, we all are. So we need to work together. In a place of balance, time itself is non linear, not a rigid straight line. Time, and life herself folds in and upon itself, giving us another chance (if we’re lucky) to take the high road to freedom. We set this as the first track to set the tone, that perhaps we’ve all been here before – our ancestors certainly have – in this place of being able to right the course and bring love and life back to the center. Into focus. This was the last song we wrote for the album; it came in a flurry to Mike, one night in our last days of recording the album.

If you’re enjoying the track, please consider pre-saving the album here.

Adam Grundy 3 weeks ago

Today is a great day to share the latest single from NYC-based rock band, Princess Goes, called “Stranger.” Princess Goes features Michael C. Hall (vocals), Matt Katz-Bohen (keys/synths/bass/guitar) and Peter Yanowitz (percussion/additional instruments). The band explains: “‘Stranger’ is song about meeting each other with kindness and curiosity. A seminal 90’s grunge bass intro lead us into 90’s Britpop dance blur. We finally meet each other in the massive, epiphanic, glorious, and soaring finale, no longer strangers, but as….friends.” If you’re enjoying the track, please consider following the band’s updates here.

Adam Grundy 3 weeks ago

Today I’m so excited to bring everyone the latest single from songwriter/multi-instrumentalist Josh Klinghoffer, known as Pluralone, for ”Ranting and Raving.” The track comes from the project’s new forthcoming LP, A Drop in the Ocean, out everywhere you stream your music on June 12th via Org Music. If you’re enjoying the new single, please consider pre-ordering the new album from this talented artist here.

Review: AFI – Decemberunderground

Review: Head Automatica – Popaganda

Review: Violet Grohl – Be Sweet To Me

Review: Bleachers – Everyone For Ten Minutes

Effie Zilch – “Lover Boy” (Video Premiere)

Zoon – “Omni II” (Song Premiere)

Review: Angels & Airwaves – We Don’t Need To Whisper

Review: The All-American Rejects – Sandbox

Unicorn Dogs – “Bogus Journey” (Song Premiere)

Review: Super Sometimes – Show The World What’s Underneath

Candace Hastings – “Call Your Mama” (Song Premiere)

Review: MUNA – Dancing On The Wall

Crow and Gazelle – “The High Road” (Song Premiere)

Princess Goes – “Stranger” (Song Premiere)

Pluralone – “Ranting and Raving” (Song Premiere)