Review: Charity Bliss – Joy Algorithm

Music has an otherworldly connection to us all. Whether it’s playing that one song or album that brings comfort to us each time we play it, or a stellar song that comes on the radio at just the right moment in time to boost our mood, it’s no secret why so many of us adore the key artists we’ve learned about over our lives. Charity Bliss has returned with a cool-sounding third album, entitled Joy Algorithm, that has this concept top-of-mind. Brendan Machowski writes music as Charity Bliss, and he described the inspiration behind Joy Algorithm: “On July 6th 2021, I drove home from my day job. For whatever reason, the task of picking music for the commute felt more akin to waiting for a theme park ride waiting to take off. My anxious trigger finger accessed the entirety of my library and pressed the shuffle button. I’m used to this action resulting in me skipping past 10-15 tracks before settling begrudgingly on a universal song…Except this time, around 20 seconds before the end of ‘Song 2’ by Blur, I thought it’d be nice to hear ‘Angel Flying Too Close to the Ground” by Willie Nelson. Sure enough, there was Willie. My phone would go on this telepathic song and dance two more times. This was the catalyst behind Joy Algorithm.” By using a relatable concept of music finding us right when we need it the most, Charity Bliss offers up a fresh take on the importance of sharing music with others.

Adam Grundy 3 months ago

Recently I was able to schedule a Zoom call with Elliott Douglass, aka M.A.G.S., to discuss the inspiration behind his new reimagined version of Destroyer that released this past week via Smartpunk Records, called Creator. In this interview, we chatted about how Creator came to be, his collaborations that made this record possible, as well as a quick preview of his fall tour with Barely Civil. Creator is available for purchase here.

Adam Grundy 3 months ago

A couple weeks back, I was able to schedule a Zoom call with Benny Horowitz, the drummer of The Gaslight Anthem, to discuss everything that went into recently remastered/expanded version of History Books. I asked Benny about how the collaboration with Bruce Springsteen came about, the circumstances that led a lengthy hiatus after the band released Get Hurt, as well as how The Gaslight Anthem’s headlining tour has been going.

Adam Grundy 3 months ago

The latest EP from ultra-talented singer/songwriter Lily Meola offers a fresh take on her heartfelt pop songs with more of an Americana and country vibe to them on Heartbreak Rodeo. Leading up to the release of her latest record, Meola showcased her depth as an artist with several key singles like the vulnerable break-up anthem “Without You,” the self-reflection found on “Over the Moon,” and the personal song about her mother who passed away on “Postcards to Heaven.” Heartbreak Rodeo leans heavily into the country genre and still has that unique charm that Meola commands in her warm vocal presence. Lily Meola shared, “Each song I write is like a therapy session for me. Making music is the way I respond to whatever is happening to me, and my goal is to help people feel a little less alone, whether they’re going through a breakup or grieving the loss of someone.” Living through her personal experiences offers Meola a unique perspective on the world, and yet she manages to make each song universally appealing and relatable.

Adam Grundy 3 months ago

There’s a comforting feeling in Jade Lilitri’s voice that everything can turn out to be okay. Much like a warm embrace through the speakers, Oso Oso have returned with their latest studio effort titled Life Till Bones. Lilitri opens the band’s fifth album with “Many Ways,” a somber reminder of mortality as he still grapples with the loss of his past guitarist, Tavish Maloney. The opening lyrics of, “I love you, but life is a gun / Do you remember when you used to have fun? / Keep in my mind when you turn to run / There are no ‘directions’, there is only one,” are well-crafted and hit their intended tone as each piano key echoes in the mix. The production on this LP by Billy Mannino is top notch throughout, and he puts the right emphasis on each lyric, guitar chord, and percussion to get the most out of each track. Oso Oso are the kings of lo-fi emo rock and they wear their crowns proudly on Life Till Bones.

Adam Grundy 4 months ago

The fourth studio album from Foster The People is their first new LP in seven years and finds the band exploring the depths of their sound in a disco-infused collection of songs. Paradise State of Mind features a vibrant cover image that meshes well with the overall aesthetic of the music that comes pouring through the speakers. The set was produced by Chrome Sparks, Paul Epworth, Isom Innis, and band leader Mark Foster. Foster The People also went through a couple of band member changes since this album has released, including the departure of drummer Mark Pontius (who left in 2021) and guitarist Sean Cimino (who departed three months prior to the LP release). With all of these changes going on, it’s truly a wonder of how Foster The People were able to still craft a cohesive record that hits its intended target more often than not.

Adam Grundy 4 months ago

This past month I was able to schedule a Zoom call with Dan O’Connor and Alan Day of Four Year Strong to talk about everything that went into the writing and recording process of their new album called Analysis Paralysis. In this interview, I asked the two guitarists/vocalists about how they crafted these songs, what they did differently in their creative process for this album, as well as what they’re looking forward to on their recently announced headlining tour. Analysis Paralysis is out today on all music streaming services, and there are still some vinyl options available here.

Adam Grundy 4 months ago

Today I’m thrilled to bring everyone the latest single from hard rock band, Alffa, called “Breathe Free.” Hailing from the rural village of Llanrug in North Wales, Alffa are the dynamic duo of guitarist/vocalist Dion Wyn Jones and drummer Sion Eifion Land. The band shared about the new track, “This song invites you on a journey of self-discovery, reminding us all that embracing and celebrating our true selves is the key to true freedom. ‘Breathe Free’ is not just a song for us; it’s a call to break free from internal struggles and celebrate the power within.” Alffa plans to release their sophomore album this November. If you’re enjoying the latest single, you can check out the streaming options here.

Adam Grundy 4 months ago

This past month I was able to catch up with RobbieTheUsed to discuss everything that went into his upcoming solo album. I also asked him about The Used’s latest B-sides record called Medz, The Used’s plans for celebrating their 25th anniversary as a band next year, what led him to explore this solo project, and what he likes best about pop music. Tomorrow, RobbieTheUsed will be releasing his second single from his solo album, called “The Feels”, and you can pre-save the track here.

Adam Grundy 4 months ago

Today is a great day to share the new music video from indie folk artist, Kylie V, called “Lucky Streak.” On this heartfelt single, Kylie V blends an operatic voice with the songwriting chops of Halsey and Phoebe Bridgers to make their mark on the music scene. Kylie V shared:

I wrote ‘Lucky Streak’ during the excruciatingly complex process of getting over someone, while everything else in my life seemed to be speeding up and getting better at a surreal pace. When I started this song in my notes, I was one one hand feeling lost and empty, and on the other hand it felt like all my dreams were beginning to come true–later in the month I wrote this song I played my biggest venue to date, and then flew across the country for another show. ‘Lucky Streak’ started as a folky breakup ballad, but as I worked on it with Josh (Eastman, my producer and friend), it began to blossom into what I think is one of my most fun songs, and took on an entirely different significance to me in the process.

If you’re enjoying this talented artist’s new single and video, please consider supporting Kylie V here. I was also able to catch up with Kylie V for a brief interview below.

Adam Grundy 4 months ago

Today I’m so excited to bring everyone the new single from indie punk band, Massive Nightmares, called “Back to the Beach.” Formed in the fall of 2023, indie-punk band Massive Nightmares is composed of members of bands Great Lakes USA, No Trigger, Save Ends, and David New Joy. After a brief stint as three-piece, friend (and being in as many bands as possible, addict) Tom Ciesluk joined on bass, rounding out the four-piece with Myke Doyle on drums, Alex Heinz on lead guitar and Pat Lavalle moving over to rhythm guitar, helping to achieve a riff-heavy mix of hooks and harmonies. Massive Nightmares blends influences from melodic 2000’s punk with 80’s indie and alternative reminiscent of The Lemonheads meets the Bronx. Alex Heinz shared, “‘Back To The Beach’ is the first song I wrote post Great Lakes USA going on a hiatus, after years of chaotic riffing and screaming I wanted to change course in both my songwriting and vocal performance to something that felt more in touch with who I am now. Keeping the structure of the song very simple and focusing heavily on layering melody and harmonies (and with a massive assist from our producer Trevor Reilly) we found ourselves with breezy summer jam ready for radio. Lyrically the song is about how rad it is to go to the beach.” If you’re enjoying the early listen, please consider pre-ordering the band’s self-titled EP that releases on September 6th here.

Adam Grundy 4 months ago

Today is a great day to share the latest single and lyric video from Frank Viele called “Necessary Evil.” Viele takes us behind the scenes to describe the meaning behind his new single saying:

’Necessary Evil’ is a song that came from a special place in my own journey and became a story of self doubt through the main character’s eventual embrace of empathy. Human existence brings both monumental joy and crushing heartache…Love becomes real, nature speaks differently, music can bring tears to your eyes, an embrace from the one you cherish can truly make your knees tremble. Honest empathetic connection with other living beings is the greatest thing this planet has to offer but it comes with a lot of sadness and heaviness sometimes. One might say that it’s a heavy heart to carry but a necessary evil

If you’re enjoying the latest single from Frank Viele, please consider pre-ordering his new LP called The Trouble With Desire here. I was also able to catch up with this talented songwriter for a brief interview below.

Adam Grundy 4 months ago

Most bands would give their left arm for the type of viral success that Glass Animals experienced on their last LP, Dreamland, that spawned the massive single called “Heat Waves.” In an interview with Clash Music, frontman, songwriter and producer Dave Bayley shared about this experience: “Life can change dramatically, but sometimes you aren’t able to change as quickly on a personal level. You end up feeling like a spectator. And then you are asked and expected to be a certain type of person, a different person. But…I wasn’t sure how. It confused me to the point of not knowing who I was or if anything was real.” What came off of this success is the logical follow-up album that sounds like a band leaning into that rewarding experience with a bit of a swagger, and possibly a chip on their shoulders, to prove that they aren’t a one-trick pony. I Love You So F***ing Much is Glass Animals’ fourth studio album and it vividly explores what it means to be a small part in an enormous universe that is ever-changing. What we’re left with is a smooth collection of ten songs that play off of each other majestically and is the most complete artistic statement that Glass Animals have created to date.

Adam Grundy 4 months ago

The debut LP by Team Goldie, called Trailblazer, is a solid mix of pop-punk, emo, and overall nostalgia towards the scene of music most of us grew up on. Team Goldie comes from the mind of multi-instrumentalist and vocalist Matt DiStefano, and the new album was produced by DiStefano and John Browne. What comes through the speakers is a blast of energetic pop-punk songs filled with passion and knowledge of this genre. On the name-dropping single of “One & Only,” DiStefano rhythmically sings, “She was standing there in mom jeans and a plain white tee / With confidence, yelled “what’s good, Charlotte?” / Sand in my hand and we got to talking / She said “What’s your sign, boy?” I’m all Aries no Taurus / Just an absolute punk jumping straight to the chorus like…” before jumping into a crowd-pleasing chorus. While Team Goldie may just be happy to be a part of this scene of music, Trailblazer plays out like a record that you’ll want to revisit during the care free days of summer.

Adam Grundy 4 months ago

I’d like to introduce everyone to Artless Jesus, a new pop-punk band that features members of Record Heat (Spirit Animal), Cal Stamp (vocals) and Paul Michel (guitars). The lead single from The Assorted Grievances of Artless Jesus EP, “U HATE ME,” also has Pat Gerasia (Red Sun Rising) on drums, and features a nice combination of crunchy guitar riffs, shimmering pop-punk vocals from Cal Stamp, and a cool all-around vibe built for those summer drives to the beach. The band shared, “We shared the EP with some industry types and they hated it, so we posted their feedback on our website. After a decade-plus of kicking around the lower-middle class of the music business, we don’t really give a shit anymore. Fuck ’em.” With a sound that sounds similar to early New Found Glory paired with Four Year Strong, Artless Jesus may just be the next great discovery in the pop-punk genre.

Cal Stamp’s smooth vocals in the verses bleed well into the pre-chorus build-up, before admitting, “But you hate the way my voice sounds when I’m singing you to sleep / And you hate the way I stumble trying to sweep you off your feet / You hate the shape our bodies make at night between the sheets / But the only thing I’d change in you / Are all the countless ways that you hate me.” It’s a pretty solid introductory statement from some talented, and under-appreciated, musicians who are looking for a new avenue for their creativity.

Review: Charity Bliss – Joy Algorithm

Interview: M.A.G.S.

Interview: Benny Horowitz of The Gaslight Anthem

Review: Lily Meola – Heartbreak Rodeo

Review: Oso Oso – Life Till Bones

Review: Foster The People – Paradise State Of Mind

Interview: Dan O’Connor and Alan Day of Four Year Strong

Alffa – “Breathe Free” (Song Premiere)

Interview: RobbieTheUsed

Kylie V – “Lucky Streak” (Video Premiere)

Massive Nightmares – “Back To The Beach” (Song Premiere)

Frank Viele – “Necessary Evil” (Video Premiere)

Review: Glass Animals – *I Love You So F***ing Much*

Review: Team Goldie – Trailblazer

Review: Artless Jesus – “U HATE ME”