Review: Alien Ant Farm – ANThology

The tale of Alien Ant Farm oddly doesn’t begin with ANThology. The band formed in 1996 and would release two EPs leading up to their first full-length record in 1999 that they anointed Greatest Hits. After forming a friendship with Papa Roach due to playing similar music circuits in Los Angeles, California, Alien Ant Farm would eventually sign a Dreamworks Records imprint known as New Noize to begin re-tooling their major label debut of ANThology with the Infest producer, Jay Baumgardner. The set was introduced by the lead single of “Movies” that came out January 2001, but the record wouldn’t fully take off until the Michael Jackson cover of “Smooth Criminal” dominated the rock airwaves that Summer. The rest of the tunes that make up ANThology are really strong for a debut LP, and highlighted the quirky magic of Alien Ant Farm and their captivating front-man, Dryden Mitchell. While the band may be best known for their breakthrough cover of a Michael Jackson song, ANThology deserves another look on its 25th anniversary.

Adam Grundy 3 months ago

Today I’m thrilled to bring everyone the latest video from the LA-based indie-pop band duo, beaming, called “Stuck (here).” The track comes from the band’s recently announced debut LP, Horseshoe, that will be released everywhere on April 17th via Rose Garden. After a busy year opening for Vundabar, Runnner, Goon, and more, beaming has found their footing both on the road and in the studio. The result is a band that knows exactly who they are and an album that cuts straight to the heart of what makes pop music so disarming. If you’re enjoying the music video, please consider pre-ordering Horseshoe here.

Adam Grundy 3 months ago

Imagine if three talented musicians paired up on their love of bands like Thrice, Cursive, and Taking Back Sunday, and wanted to channel teenage angst with an energetic musical performance paired with pop sensibilities. Imagine no more. A new emo rock band, called Color Me Fatigued, include the trio of April Crews (guitar/vocals), John Zook (bass), and Jacob Godbey (drums) who take each of their combined influences into a neatly re-packaged sound on their debut LP of If I’m Running Away… When I listen back to the tunes that make up this record, I hear influences that range from the soft/loud dynamic of bands like Circa Survive, the math rock of The Early November, and at times, even some speed metal. Introduced to the world by the lead single of “Work/Life Balance” that laments on the dangers of the nine to five office environments that value productivity over personality, Color Me Fatigued make a worthy opening statement on If I’m Running Away…

Adam Grundy 3 months ago

”I’m here to stay” sings Charlotte Sands on the title track of Satellite, her sophomore effort released today via her own imprint of CS Records. Charlotte Sands expands upon the world she created on her equally-thrilling debut, Can We Start Over?, and leans into a synth-heavy sound similar to artists like PVRIS and Metric with great results. The LP is filled with club-ready anthems of self-empowerment that accentuate the sound Charlotte Sands has crafted since she first stormed onto the scene five years ago. You’d be hard-pressed to find a harder working artist than what is presented here, and Satellite proves that her statement of “I’m here to stay” should be taken seriously.

The set opens with the vibrant title track that finds Charlotte Sands singing vulnerably over a synth-laden beat and it slow-builds to a picturesque chorus of, “And I’m scared of heights / But I won’t come down / I’m lost in your orbit / But I don’t want out / I’m yours in the day / And the dead of night / I wanna be your satellite.” The song is about finding that person who makes you want to spend all of your days and nights with, and completes your outlook on life. “One Eye Open” follows the great start to the LP with a haunting song about trust issues that laments in the pre-chorus of, “Let’s pretend / We don’t know how this ends / We could leave it for dead / But you’re so persistent.” Her command for tracks like this only further solidifies the star power that comes through the speakers in Charlotte Sands’ delivery.

Adam Grundy 3 months ago

The newest single from indie rock band, Wealthy Jane, called “Judy Wept” is a solid mix of swooning rock that recalls the booming alternative rock scene from the 90’s. Some may recognize the singer from his previous project, called Broken Field Runner, and he does a nice job of commanding the mid-tempo track with the same charm that I remember from the aforementioned other band. “Judy Wept” walks the listener through a difficult time in a person’s life where it feels like everywhere you look, reminders of the mess you made are prevalent.

Wealthy Jane share on the second verse, “Happiness by prescription, extended release / It helps her dance when people visit, keeps her time traveling / Now she’s back inside her kitchen smoking 100s,” to paint a vivid picture of this person’s mental health and how she’s dealing with her setbacks. The chorus reassures the fallen individual with, “No matter the mess that you made / It’s okay.” We could all use a friend like this to have when times get tough, and Wealthy Jane recognize this feeling with great poise and precision in their indie rock attack here. A worthy addition to that playlist you’ve been crafting, “Judy Wept” brings out some raw emotions lyrically, and highlights what this band is capable of creating.

Michael Haney – “Shooting My Shot” (Song Premiere)

Adam Grundy 3 months ago

Today I’m so excited to bring everyone an early listen to the newest single from Americana singer-songwriter Michael Haney called “Shooting My Shot.” On this great-sounding track, Haney showcases why he’s one of the quickest rising stars in the Americana scene today. I was able to catch up with Michael for a brief interview below, and if you’re enjoying the premiere, please consider pre-saving the single via Rock Ridge Music here.

Adam Grundy 3 months ago

Today is a great day to share the newest single and music video from punk band, Surfbort, called “Hot Dog.” With the frenetic energy of bands like Black Flag paired with the pop-punk sensibilities of Descendents, Surfbort could be your next favorite band. The song comes from the band’s recently announced new LP, Reality Star, that drops this Friday March 6th via TODO Records. If you’re enjoying the music, please consider pre-ordering the band’s new album here.

Adam Grundy 3 months ago

Today is a great day to share the newest single and music video from L.A. indie punk band Jacob The Horse, called “The Black Hand.” Jacob The Horse is Aviv Rubinstien (Guitar, Lead Vocals), Rick Chapman (Drums, Vocals), Mark Desrosiers (Bass, Vocals), and Josh Fleury (Lead Guitar, Vocals, Organ), and their vibrant music chemistry is on full display on this song. Rubinstein shared: “I’m not a card carrying Satanist, but this song is the closest thing we have to a ‘70s homage to things like how AC/DC mocked the Satanic Panic with ‘Highway to Hell.’ But, we’re working out real grievances through that lens. The big finish should’ve been ‘where all the drinks are free’.” With a sound that is equal parts White Reaper, PUP, and Against Me!, Jacob The Horse make a worthy battle cry that they have arrived. If you’re enjoying “The Black Hand,” keep an eye out for the release of their new record, At Least It’s Almost Over, on March 20th.

Adam Grundy 3 months ago

Today I’m thrilled to introduce everyone to Rebelmatic. This funk-infused hardcore band is self-described as sounding like “James Brown in a mosh pit,” and they’re sharing an early listen to their slick new single called “Alive On Arrival.” The band shared:

’Alive on Arrival’ is a sub-two-minute adrenaline shot of pure New York grit. Fusing the raw power of hardcore punk with a signature funk-infused groove, this track delivers a high-velocity anthem of survival and street-level defiance. It’s the sound of the city’s unpolished soul; urgent, vital, and loud as hell.

Rebelmatic are gearing up for the release of their new album called Sting The Devil, which will be released on June 12th via Creep Records. Rebelmatic were also recently featured in issue 3 of the comic, Powers 25, and are quickly making waves in the hardcore/punk scene. If you’re enjoying the new single, please consider supporting Rebelmatic here.

Adam Grundy 3 months ago

The critical reception to the sophomore album by Hawthorne Heights was anything but kind. But did this band that stormed onto the scene with The Silence in Black and White, and the emo classic of “Ohio Is For Lovers”, really deserve the hate that came from the release of If Only You Were Lonely? In my opinion, not by a long shot. While I can see why some writers took it upon themselves to write scathing reviews based on the album’s song titles like “Where Can I Stab Myself In The Ears” and “We Are So Last Year”, I feel there is still a charm and magic to If Only You Were Lonely. The set was released on Victory Records 20 years ago, and the promotion of the record was preceded by two singles in “This Is Who We Are” and the massively popular “Saying Sorry” that would lead to Hawthorne Heights’ highest charting album to date (#3 on the Billboard 200). The album would be the band’s final one with rhythm guitarist/backing vocalist Casey Calvert, who tragically passed away in November of 2007. The critics who panned If Only You Were Lonely were largely tuned out by Hawthorne Heights’ fans, and the LP was certified Gold by the RIAA by March of 2016. While Hawthorne Heights seemed to be an easy target for criticism of the emo genre, it’s hard to not admit that If Only You Were Lonely was an important record in the development of the band.

Adam Grundy 3 months ago

Every now and then you come across a song that restores your faith in what the young bands are doing in this scene. “Bandits” is one of those songs. From the pop-punk duo known as Teenage Joans, “Bandits” has a country-tinged sound to it that is similar to the style of Taylor Acorn paired with the slick pop sensibilities of Michelle Branch. The band shared, “We really wanted to blend a country vibe with our classic pop punk. The song is about feeling an intense connection to someone, so much so that you would do anything for them and rule out the worst because you love them so much.” The song is filled with twists and turns, vivid lyrical imagery that recalls the days of Bonnie & Clyde, and leaves the door wide open to the possibilities of where Teenage Joans can take their sound next.

The song opens with a quietly strummed electric guitar that helps with setting the tone of the single in the verse, while the chorus of, “Call my name in the dead of the night / I got a bad feeling you’re one of a kind / I see your face on a wanted sign / But I keep coming back,” is absolutely powerful and shimmering in its delivery. Teenage Joans are one of the more interesting pop-punk outfits to come out of this scene in some time, and I look forward to seeing how they use the success of a key song like “Bandits” to further develop their already dynamic sound.

Review: Goldfinger – Goldfinger

Adam Grundy 3 months ago

The debut studio album by ska punk legends Goldfinger is turning 30 years old tomorrow, and it still has a bit of a unique charm to it. It’s the only Goldfinger record to not be produced in any capacity by lead singer/band leader John Feldmann, and it was all recorded directly to analog tape under the direction of Mojo Records founder Jay Rifkin. Goldfinger also spawned the band’s highest charting single to date in “Here In Your Bedroom” that was a Top 5 rock hit in the states. The sound feels like a mix between Dookie-era Green Day, paired with the ska horns of Reel Big Fish, and with an experimental vocal approach from Feldmann that channeled The Clash’s Joe Strummer. Goldfinger were just beginning to figure out their sound on this album, and it’s still a bit of a mixed bag in the overall listening experience. Songs like “King For A Day” and “Mable” are a ton of fun, and Goldfinger is worth another look.

Adam Grundy 3 months ago

Over the course of my lifetime there have been a handful of records that grabbed me from the first spin, stayed with me during various phases of my life, and continued to make a meaningful impact every time I revisited them. This is one of those albums. American Hi-Fi charmed their way onto the alternative rock scene in 2001 with their breakthrough debut single, “Flavor of the Weak”, that featured big-sounding guitars, paired with a pop sheen to it to ensure it would make an impact on radio. American Hi-Fi was produced by veteran producer, Bob Rock (Aerosmith, Bon Jovi), whom the band credits as making their debut “huge-sounding.” This wasn’t just your run of the mill debut rock record that had one or two good songs on it, and was bloated with filler around it. Quite the opposite. American Hi-Fi made a household name out of songwriter/vocalist Stacy Jones and would begin the astonishing rise of one of the more interesting power pop bands to come out of the early 00’s.

Adam Grundy 3 months ago

The Arrivals are back and it’s a beautiful thing! The Arrivals are Paddy Costello (Bass), Issac Thotz (Vocals & Guitar), Ronnie DiCola (Drums), and Little Dave Merriman (Vocals & Guitar), and they’re happy to announce their first full-length record in 15 years called Payload. Today, the Chicago punk veterans are sharing the exclusive video premiere of “Drill Baby Drill,” which is the second single to be released from their new LP. Payload will be released on April 17th via Recess Records. I was also able to catch up with The Arrivals’ Isaac Thotz for a brief interview below.

Adam Grundy 3 months ago

On paper, Prizefighter has all the makings of a great return to form for Mumford and Sons. The band has once again teamed up with their 2015 Wilder Mind album producer of Aaron Dessner, and this current album features several A-list collaborations from Hozier, Chris Stapleton, Gigi Perez, and Gracie Abrams. Several of these songs have guest writer credits on them from some big names in the music industry like Finneas, Brandi Carlile, and Justin Vernon. Having already released a record last year, called Rushmere, Mumford and Sons appeared to be reaching a rejuvenated approach to their songwriting. The band preceded the release of Prizefighter with two great singles in “Rubber Band Man” and “The Banjo Song” to create a solid anticipation of their sixth studio album. Yet when you push play on Prizefighter, you can’t help but think some of these songs could’ve used a little more time to marinate before seeing the light of day.

Review: Alien Ant Farm – ANThology

beaming – “Stuck (here)” Video Premiere

Review: Color Me Fatigued – If I’m Running Away…

Review: Charlotte Sands – Satellite

Review: Wealthy Jane – “Judy Wept”

Michael Haney – “Shooting My Shot” (Song Premiere)

Surfbort – “Hot Dog” (Video Premiere)

Jacob The Horse – “The Black Hand” (Video Premiere)

Rebelmatic – “Alive On Arrival” (Song Premiere)

Review: Hawthorne Heights – If Only You Were Lonely

Review: Teenage Joans – “Bandits”

Review: Goldfinger – Goldfinger

Review: American Hi-Fi – American Hi-Fi

The Arrivals – “Drill Baby Drill” (Video Premiere)

Review: Mumford and Sons – Prizefighter