Review: Fall Out Boy – So Much (For) Stardust

There’s something to be said for the ability to come full circle to where it all began. Fall Out Boy have returned with their eighth studio album, So Much (for) Stardust, on the label that started the entire hype train, Fueled By Ramen. From being the band that arguably got their biggest break from a “You Hear It First” MTV vignette that showcased the band’s raucous live shows and built up the anticipation for their Take This To Your Grave album. The rest was history, as the band would reach atmospheric success on their major label debut From Under The Cork Tree, which would go on to sell over two million copies in the U.S. alone. The funny thing about the “reinvention years,” or the post-hiatus albums that came after Folie à Deux, is that this new record is the perfect balance between the two “versions” of Fall Out Boy. It has the charm of the early albums, paired with the studio experimentation of the post-hiatus LPs, all honed into a crisp delivery courtesy of veteran producer Neal Avron. From the homage of getting their “elder-emo status” on the music video for “Love From The Other Side,” to the most recent single being the most logical progression from “This Ain’t A Scene…” to now. So Much (for) Stardust achieves the near-impossible: it satisfies both longtime fans and FOB-newbies into a crowd-pleasing package of songs that tug on the heartstrings of emo kids everywhere.

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Animal Sun – “Horror Show” (Video Premiere)

Animal Sun

Today is a great day to share the latest single and music video from Animal Sun called “Horror Show.” On this song that fits somewhere between the stylings of the early Killers paired with Payale Royale, Animal Sun make their mark on the Alternative Rock scene. Lead vocalist Steven Blake shared:

”Horror Show: describes the inner workings of our darkest thoughts that grow so deep they almost become like a toxic romantic partner. This ‘entity’ whispers perversions devisiously in our ears, warping reality and everything we once knew into nothing more than a living hell, a ‘Horror Show’ if you may. We deem it more appropriate to laugh through it all. There’s no fighting it anyway.

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EG Vines – “The Swim” (Song Premiere)

EG Vines

Today is a great day to share the new single from rock band EG Vines called “The Swim.” With a sound that sways somewhere between the blissful pop rock of the Gin Blossoms, to the lofty arena pop of Arctic Monkeys, EG Vines may just be one of the best kept secrets in rock. The bands shared:

’The Swim’ is a song about making yourself into the person you want to be, and finding a better path forward. Getting over that feeling of ‘not this shit again’ when you continually fuck things up and just can’t seem to get out of your own way. This song is that light bulb moment when you find a better way. As with most songs on our new album, Dance Moves, it started with the band in a room and stream-of-consciousness lyrics. John Rodrigue started this one out with an uptempo drumbeat and Ben Cunningham and I pushed our guitars to dirty-as-hell while I rattled off the melody.  Throw in a few hand claps and some background ‘ahhs’ and you’ve got a 3-minute, feel-good rock & roll song.

If you’ve been looking for that next great band that checks all the boxes, look no further than EG Vines.

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Todd Morse – “Time Stopper” (Album Stream)

Todd Morse

Today I’m thrilled to share with everyone the new EP from Todd Morse called Time Stopper. This release will be on legendary label Manic Kat Records, and features some great songs from Morse tinged with punk, pop, and a plethora of anthemic moments. Morse shared, “Signing with Manic Kat has inspired me to become more prolific which is what I needed. I try to live in the moment as much as possible these days but I do want to leave a musical legacy. Sometimes you have those moments in life where it feels like time stops and I live for that. Songs can hit you that way. I hope I create that moment for someone.” Todd Morse may have just crafted the next great punk record.

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Interview: Whitehall

Whitehall

Recently I was able to catch up with Charleston-based indie rock band, Whitehall, to chat about their upcoming new LP Maizy, out everywhere music is sold on May 5th. Whitehall is Paddy Mckiernan (Vocals/Guitar), Avery Green (Guitar), Brennan Clark (Bass), and Davis Rowe (Drums). I asked the band about their approach to writing great singles like, ”Pull,” as well as what they hope others will take away from listening to their music. The band has toured with pop-rock giants like the Goo Goo Dolls, and appear poised and ready for their moment.

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Alexander Wren – “Full Time Blues” (Song Premiere)

Alexander Wren

Today is a great day to share the new single and lyric video from Alexander Wren called “Full Time Blues.” For those unfamiliar with this talented artist, he fits somewhere in the same vein as Mt. Joy and Father John Misty, with a sound that truly must be heard. The song comes from Wren’s forthcoming LP To Whom It May Concern, that will be out everywhere music is sold on May 19th. Alexander Wren shared, “In an industry filled with sad indie artists, I think that I want to continue leaning into this more Fauvist corner of music. This traditional side with excitement and energy. This narrative side of music that isn’t only about angst and failed religion. This side of music that just feels classic–that transcends daily struggles and makes you want to go out on the weekend.” Get ready to discover music’s next big indie artist.

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TELECOM – “Ramon” (Video Premiere)

TELECOM

Today I’m thrilled to introduce everyone to TELECOM, the solo project of Brooklyn-based songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Sean McVerry. On his electric new single called “Ramon,” TELECOM wears his Brit-pop influences proudly on his sleeve in a song ready for your next playlist. I was also able to catch up with McVerry for a brief interview about this new single below.

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Review: PHNTMS – “Heat of the Moment”

Pop rock band, PHNTMS, have returned with a new, vibrant single called “Heat of the Moment” that features The Chain Gang of 1974. The new song was produced by Courtney Ballard (Grayscale, Armor for Sleep) and is dripping with dark synths, paired with vocals by Kamtin Mohager (of The Chain Gang of 1974). What PHNTMS do best on this track is pay direct homage to 80’s electronica bands with a twist of modern flair in the guitar parts to keep things feeling fresh.

The song opens with syrupy-thick synths before breaking away into a great guitar riff by Adam Jessamine. The second verse of, “So when did love become so deceiving? / Something I can’t define / You’re playing tricks in my mind / Face it, we are simply just human / And this is not apathy / Just let me go and get high / Oh my my,” tackles the difficulties of navigating a one-sided relationship. The anthemic chorus is well-constructed, and if the song has any faults, it’s that it ends too soon. “Heat of the Moment” is sure to be stuck in your mind for days on end.

Review: Story of the Year – Tear Me To Pieces

Nostalgia can have a funny way of bringing back a flood of memories, whether they be for good or bad. Story of the Year do a great job of honing in on the positive memories of their platinum-certified debut LP, Page Avenue, into a re-imagined version of this sound found on their sixth studio album called Tear Me To Pieces. From the similar cover art, to the references of a familiar time on the song “2005,” Story of the Year embrace their past while still looking towards the future. Tear Me To Pieces features a more polished version of themselves that they hinted at on Wolves, and probably wish they had the poise to create back in 2003. This album is a solid collection of songs that hit hard from front to back, and still leave the door wide open to where they could take their sound next. With themes ranging from self-doubt, anxiety, and meaningful relationships, Story of the Year’s return to the music scene couldn’t have come at a better time.

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The Clamor – ‘The Clamor’ (Album Stream)

The Clamor

Today is a great day to share the self-titled debut LP from The Clamor, that comes from the mind of Aaron Louis. This new punk rock project channels musicians like Joe Strummer and Billie Joe Armstrong into a crowd-pleasing package. Louis shared this about the record:

The album is not me trying to recreate that atmosphere but a place to begin where I left off. Even if that just means having fun – like not being too precious, finding ways to be vulnerable, and embracing the collision of styles, all of which I hope you feel in this album. I like this moment in my life and feel like this album was a way to create a sort of sonic snapshot of what I’ve been thinking about and what’s important to me. And thinking of how fast it goes.

Get ready to fall in love with The Clamor.

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Iguana Death Cult – “Pushermen” (Video Premiere)

Iguana Death Cult

Today I’m thrilled to share with everyone the new single and music video from rock band, Iguana Death Cult, called “Pushermen.” With a sound that strays somewhere between the indie rock of The Strokes and the craftsmanship of pub rock bands like Catfish and the Bottlemen, this band checks all the right boxes. On their video, the band shared, “‘Pushermen.’ It kind of sounds like an action movie doesn’t it? Sadly we came a couple of million short, so Hache came with the idea to do a casting video for a fictional film called: ‘Pushermen.’ The scenes we did were loosely based on the movie ‘Superfly.’ If you know, you know.” The track comes from their new LP, Echo Palace, out everywhere music is sold on May 12th, and I was also able to catch up with Iguana Death Cult for a brief interview below.

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Review: AFI – Sing the Sorrow

How exactly did AFI transition from being a band that hardcore and goth kids had in their back pocket to becoming such a pop culture worldwide phenomenon? The answer depends on who you ask. Having outgrown their indie label of Nitro Records given the monumental success of their fifth studio album, The Art of Drowning, AFI were simply destined for a wider audience on their major label debut called Sing the Sorrow. This record was produced by A-list veterans Jerry Finn (Blink-182) and Butch Vig (Nirvana), and they helped the band craft some of their strongest songs to date. Much to the surprise of many record executives, and to the delight of their Dreamworks Records label, AFI’s Sing the Sorrow would sell 96,000 copies in its first week and debut at number five on the Billboard 200. This record seemed to be an unstoppable giant that both the hardcore/goth kids could sing a long to with the same audience as newer fans who liked Blink-182 and other pop-punk bands. The lead single of “Girl’s Not Grey” was a perfect choice of introducing AFI to a wider audience, and it was filled with slick hooks, great guitar work, and Davey Havok’s trademark vocal howls. The great thing about AFI’s growing audience was that their concerts would be a combination of kids from all different backgrounds coming together with the same unified feeling towards this band’s music. This accomplishment didn’t happen overnight, and yet AFI’s trajectory had quickly launched into the stratosphere.

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