Adam Grundy
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Adam Grundy
An enthusiastic music blogger who lives in the Washington DC Metro area. My favorite bands are My Chemical Romance, Yellowcard, the 1975, and Paramore.
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My Chemical Romance – The Black Parade
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FEATURES, BLOGS, & REVIEWS

Review: Audioslave – Audioslave

Adam Grundy

When Zack de la Rocha left Rage Against the Machine the band was at a crossroads of where to turn to next. Veteran producer Rick Rubin suggested the band reach out to Chris Cornell (of Soundgarden fame) to pursue an exploration of the two powerhouse bands together as a new one. Cornell originally was planning on writing some material for a solo project, but he found the opportunity to work with the rhythm section of Rage Against the Machine too tempting to pass up. Audioslave was born as Cornell took the opportunity to sing over some song structures the band had laid out for him to sing over. Guitarist Tom Morello recalls the first jam session in detail as he said, “”He stepped to the microphone and sang the song and I couldn’t believe it. It didn’t just sound good. It didn’t sound great. It sounded transcendent. And…when there is an irreplaceable chemistry from the first moment, you can’t deny it.” This unique combination of Rage and Soundgarden would lead to a self-titled debut album that would go on to sell over 3 million units in the U.S. alone and establish this band in the forefront of Alternative Rock radio for the better part of a decade.

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Bridal Party – “Pool” (Song Premiere)

Bridal Party
Adam Grundy

Today is a great day to share the latest single from indie rockers, Bridal Party, called “Pool.” On this track that fits somewhere between the quirky indie pop of Toro y Moi and the electric charged guitar bliss of Japanese Breakfast, Bridal Party make a significant step forward in their musical journey. The band is gearing up for the release of a new record, tentatively scheduled to be released sometime this winter.

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Jordi Up Late – “To Be Your Friend” (Video Premiere)

Jordi Up Late
Adam Grundy

Today I’m excited to share with everyone the new single and music video from electronic indie-pop artist Jordi Up Late, called “To Be Your Friend.” While Jordi continues to steadily release new singles, her plan is to eventually string some more recordings together for an EP or potentially a debut full-length LP. On this great sounding new single, Jordi Up Late shared:

”TBYF” is about experiencing the dichotomy of resentment and gratitude after falling for the ‘idea’ of someone and facing that your disappointment lies in your own expectations of a person who was incapable of loving you before meeting you. In the end I gave the benefit of the doubt by extending friendship only to feel my hand slapped away and taken for granted. Though I am resentful in the dark melodies of the synth, and at times in the lyrics, I remind myself of my own power in singing directly and unapologetically to this person. I speak plainly that loving one another was impossible considering his lack of confidence and that loving him was only worth it for the lessons learned.”

With a plethora of hooks and impressive songwriting chops, Jordi Up Late has crafted a single worthy of your next perfect playlist. I was also able to catch up with this artist for a brief interview.

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Review: L.S. Dunes – Past Lives

Adam Grundy

In the music realm, labels and terms get tossed around way too loosely in order to try and quantify what is happening in a movement. From the early 00’s showing a boom in emo, to the “The bands” arriving around that same time, music critics and journalists like to make their mark on trying to pigeonhole different waves of music momentum. The term “supergroup” started when established bands would venture into other projects and explore their creativity in other ways. L.S. Dunes have been coined as a supergroup since they feature members of Thursday, Circa Survive, Coheed & Cambria, plus the mighty My Chemical Romance, so it’s hard to argue against the moniker. Usually when a supergroup forms, one band member tends to have their footprint more on the sound than others, much like how Audioslave still sounded Rage Against the Machine with a different vocalist. However, on Past Lives, this particular supergroup seem like they’ve being playing music together their whole lives, since the songs are well-constructed, balanced, and each band member utilizes their talent to put their stamp on it. While the introduction for L.S. Dunes came in the raucous lead single of “Permanent Rebellion,” a near-perfect punk rock track, Past Lives explores the depths of each band members’ creative abilities.

The album opens with “2022,” as lead vocalist Anthony Green wails, “I’m not afraid to try,” as a rallying cry for L.S. Dunes to investigate just where their musical adventure would take them. The songs on Past Lives are cohesive, yet each song sounds slightly different in its variation and song structure to keep things interesting. For example, on “Antibodies,” L.S. Dunes are able to build out a song based on lead guitarist Travis Stever’s spiraling riffing in the verses and choruses to allow for Green to sing his passionate lyrics with veteran ease. “Grey Veins” utilizes a great bass line from Tim Payne, while Frank Iero and Stever’s guitar playing complements the pacing set by drummer Tucker Rule. The band is fully aware of each others collective strengths, and they hone in on each of these parts majestically throughout the record.

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Donaher – “For Your Love” (Video Premiere)

Donaher
Adam Grundy

Today is the perfect time to share the latest single and music video from Donaher called “For Your Love.” The track comes from the band’s latest LP, Gravity and The Stars Above, which was released earlier this year via Jetsam-Flotsam. The song fits somewhere between the swooning best parts of early 00’s emo, paired with the backing in lyrical prowess of Dashboard Confessional. The band is comprised of Tristan Omand (Lead guitar / vocals), Adam Wood (Bass), Nick Lee (Drums), and Nick Lavallee (Lead vocals/guitar) shared this about the latest single:

“For Your Love” lyrically is timelessly lovelorn. Musically the song is a bridge between 90’s pop punk and early 00’s emo power pop. Inspired by a bad case of broken heart while trying to find true love again, the song’s influences are undeniably Chicago pop punk mainstays the Smoking Popes, early Green Day records, and (in the bridge particularly) a bit of Dashboard Confessional. In the video, Donaher is back in the garage and seem hopeful for what’s to come.

If you’ve been searching for your next musical obsession, look no further than Donaher.

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A New Violet – “Runaway” (Song Premiere)

A New Violet
Adam Grundy

Today I’m thrilled to introduce everyone to A New Violet, a brand spankin’ new pop-punk band from Orlando, Florida. The band is comprised of vocalist Beth Vandal (Summer Day Rescue, That I Am), Sean Manvell (guitar/vocals), Abner Jara (drums) and Ryan Ledbetter (bass), A New Violet have signed with Manic Kat Records and are ready for pop-punk domination. With influences that they wear proudly on their sleeves ranging from NOFX to Animals as Leaders, this new band has all the right assets to make a mark in the scene. On signing with the legendary indie label, Vandal shared:

It was unexpected for Manic Kat Records to reach out to me with the offer to sign to their awesome indie label. Being able to receive support for my music and band is something every hard working artist dreams about. I am excited to be working with like-minded punk rock music lovers and to reach a worldwide audience by being a part of the Manic Kat Records Fam.

Step right up and hit play on “Runaway.”

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Youth In A Roman Field – ‘Get Caught Trying’ (Album Stream)

Youth In A Roman Field
Adam Grundy

Today is a great day to share the new album from Youth In A Roman Field, called Get Caught Trying. Youth In A Roman Field is led by Claire Wellin, the violinist and vocalist of Brooklyn’s indie rock band, San Fermin. On her latest offering, entitled Get Caught Trying, Wellin channels sweeping instrumentation backed with breathtaking vocals in crowd-pleasing arrangements. Wellin shared:

“I’ve struggled with depression and anger my entire life (grappling with it led to our band name) but it’s been really difficult to identify what anger is mine and what does not belong to me. It became necessary to figure that out over the last six years, and create a path for living with instead of against it. What began as an exercise in self-soothing culminated in my exploring generational patterns and trauma, and the anger that accompanies it, as a thread between myself and the women who came before me. Get Caught Trying is an attempt to make sense of that, while opening up time & space for enjoyment, humor, and healing in the process.”

If you’ve been looking for the next great artist to put on your radar, look no further than Youth In A Roman Field.

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Jin Woo – “Don’t Be Late For the End of the World” (Song Premiere)

Jin Woo
Adam Grundy

Today I’m thrilled to bring everyone the debut single from an artist named Jin Woo, called “Don’t Be Late For the End of the World.” On this great-sounding track, Woo is making it his mission to “save the kids” and be a beacon of hope for all who check out his unique brand of music. If you’re enjoying the early listen, don’t forget to purchase the single when it releases on November 11th. I was also able to catch up with Jin Woo for a brief chat about the new single:

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Review: Pinkshift – Love Me Forever

Adam Grundy

Music is a powerful tool, and sometimes you can pinpoint the exact moment when a band is poised for big things. I found out about Baltimore punk band, Pinkshift, in a similar way as most of us who visit this site on a frequent basis: by an insightful recommendation. Jason wrote about Pinkshift in a Liner Notes newsletter, and it piqued my interest in this band. Pinkshift does a really great job of combining anthemic punk rock with hardcore elements, paired with the pop sensibilities to add in flavorful hooks into the mix to keep the listener engaged and wanting to hear more from this sonically interesting artist whose music appears to spreading like a wildfire in the music community. Comprised of vocalist Ashrita Kumar, guitarist Paul Vallejo, drummer Myron Houngbedji, and bassist Erich Weinroth, Pinkshift are able to catch lightning in a bottle with the aggressive Love Me Forever that has the same potential for breakout success much like the early days of My Chemical Romance.

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Kit Major – Vampire Saturday (Album Stream)

Kit Major
Adam Grundy

Today is a great day to introduce everyone to Kit Major, a great pop artist in the same vein as Poppy and Avril Lavigne, who has graciously agreed to share her new EP Vampire Saturday early with our audience. This debut EP will be released everywhere music is sold on November 9th. Kit Major shared:

Vampire Saturday is the first EP project I’ve put out.  I wanted to wait until I had a story to tell. This is the story of my twenty-something experience. Through love, heartbreak, and self reflection comes rock ‘n roll. This EP is self-reflective, like most of my music. It’s intimate, edgy, rowdy, and angsty. It’s also nostalgic for my own young days, my late teens, earliest 20s. That time in your life when you’re desperate to finish growing up and become the person you are destined to be.

If you’ve been looking for that next great artist that checks all of the boxes of awesomeness, look no further than Kit Major.

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Review: A Place To Bury Strangers – Exploding Head

Adam Grundy

The sophomore record from A Place To Bury Strangers called Exploding Head has received a vinyl reissue with nearly a full second album’s worth of bonus tracks tacked on to the end for your enjoyment. This “noise rock” band sounds crisp and full on the vinyl version that I’m listening to, and features some extensive packaging and other treats in this 13th anniversary deluxe set. When the album was released in 2009, it garnered mostly positive reviews, and it’s easy to see why. A Place To Bury Strangers channel the deepest, darkest parts of industrial rock in a sound that fans of NIN, My Bloody Valentine, and AFI would certainly enjoy.

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Interview: Chris Lewis and Scott Russo of Unwritten Law

Unwritten Law
Adam Grundy

Recently I was able to schedule a Zoom call with Chris Lewis (lead guitarist) and Scott Russo (lead vocalist) of Unwritten Law to discuss the band’s latest album, The Hum. In this interview, we chatted about the 20th anniversary of Elva, the legacy of Unwritten Law, as well as the songs they are most excited to play live during their upcoming headlining tour of the United States.

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Review: Between The Echoes – Awake While Dreaming

Adam Grundy

When I last sat down to write about Between the Echoes, it was for their single “Phantom Limb” that featured Anberlin’s Stephen Christian on guest vocals. The band has since released their debut full-length record called Awake While Dreaming. The album features several twists and turns, much like navigating your way out of a labyrinth, and their ability to tell a story from beginning to end is rarely seen this vividly on a first album. Over the 14-track LP, that also includes three interludes to break up the sections of the album, Between the Echoes take the listener on a cryptic journey of self-discovery that is filled with plenty of youthful exuberance.

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Review: Trampled By Turtles – Alpenglow

Adam Grundy

Very few bands can last long enough to record five studio albums, let alone ten, in the brutal music business. The indie folk rock band known as Trampled By Turtles are circling the wagons on their victory lap for Alpenglow, their 10th studio album to date. This set was produced by Wilco’s Jeff Tweedy with the majority of the 11 songs being written by lead singer Dave Simonett. This latest LP would be a great fit for fans of the quirky indie folk by The Decemberists, the working-man approach to songwriting by Jason Isbell, and the picturesque storytelling of Bob Dylan. Alpenglow is a stunning achievement for a band who continues to push the envelope of their creativity in new and interesting ways.

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