Review: X Ambassadors – VHS (X)

In all of (the recently-engaged) Taylor Swift’s wisdom and cultural impact, arguably the biggest shake-up in the music industry was the idea of re-recording music to take back ownership of the songs that an artist has written. Never being strangers to hopping onto a great idea, X Ambassadors are gearing up for the release of VHS (X) this Friday, a faithful re-record of their debut LP that features a plethora of re-imagined versions of their biggest hits. VHS, I thought, was a bit bogged down/packed with too many interludes and voice memos that broke up the overall flow of their debut, but VHS (X) trims the fat, and focuses on what X Ambassadors are capable of creating today. Given the band’s 10+ years experience that have come from touring the world since their original version of VHS graced the world in the summer of 2015, this re-record does much more than just claiming back ownership of the songs that Sam Harris, Casey Harris, and Adam Levin created on their debut, it accentuates X Ambassadors core strengths as a unit moving forward.

Adam Grundy 4 months ago

Today I’m thrilled to introduce everyone to Lips of Strangers, the indie dream-pop band from New Jersey fronted by Spencer Miles (the brother of Ra Ra Riot’s Wes Miles & touring guitarist of the band), and the lead single and title track from their sophomore EP, Too Long For Lovers. Lips Of Strangers capture lightning in a bottle with their great guitar groove found on this song of “Too Long For Lovers,” and showcase their ability to make waves in the dream-pop genre. If you’re enjoying the video premiere, please consider pre-ordering the new EP that hits all streaming services on November 14th here.

Adam Grundy 4 months ago

Foreign Air are onto something truly great and moving on Such That I May Glow, their third full-length album to date, and ultimately their most complete artistic statement to date. The band first gained viral success from their debut single that was featured in several prominent ads, called “Free Animal,” that brilliantly showcased what Foreign Air were capable of creating when the duo of Jesse Clasen (lead vocals/guitar) and Jacob Michael (guitar/bass/synths/programming/backing vocals) came together. The band seemed to have gained a certain confidence and swagger that comes through well on this album that is brimming with unlimited potential for where Foreign Air can go from here. The band is somewhere in the same artistic realm as Sir Sly, JR JR, and The Naked And Famous, with a slick self-produced sound on Such That I May Glow, that is quickly becoming one of my favorite releases of not only the synth-wave genre, but also for this entire year.

Adam Grundy 4 months ago

Recently I was able to schedule a Zoom call with musician and actor, Huddy, to discuss his new single and video treatment for a key song called “Fragile.” In this interview, I asked Huddy about the difference in preparing for an acting role versus performing for a live concert, where he finds most of his inspiration for his art, and the plans for the future. If you’re enjoying the interview, please consider streaming Huddy’s music here.

Adam Grundy 4 months ago

This past month I was able to schedule a Zoom call with Ross Shotland, the owner/founder of Enjoy The Ride Records, to discuss how he operates his company. In this interview, I asked Ross about what keeps him motivated to run his company, the most rewarding parts of his business, and much more. If you’re enjoying the interview, please consider ordering an item from Enjoy The Ride Records here.

Adam Grundy 4 months ago

After the surprise drop of 17 new singles that mysteriously appeared in late-July on the official website of Hayley Williams, the singles got an official streaming release on August 1st. Williams’ move set the record industry a bit aghast, as these songs live without a true “home” (as of this writing) of a standard album, no official tracklisting, and a litany of interpretations from longtime fans of the Paramore front-woman. Simply dubbed as Ego, these new songs are brimming with unlimited potential and purpose. 2020’s Petals for Armor highlighted what Williams could do on her own with her vibrant and infectious personality, and paired it with the long-documented trauma of her past divorce, while the 2021 sophomore follow-up of Flowers for Vases / Descansos backed up my feelings that Hayley Williams was more than capable of letting her star shine brightest without the umbrella of Paramore. Ego, while not officially dubbed as the third album from Williams, still plays out with a clear vision and bating heart behind these 17 tracks that accentuate her ability to convey a wide range of emotions in her vibrant music. Not one for conforming to the norms of the music industry, Ego re-imagines the possibilities of what music is and can be about as Hayley Williams re-cements herself in the singer-songwriter genre with a brilliant artistic statement.

Adam Grundy 4 months ago

Today I’m thrilled to share with everyone the lush and vibrant new single from singer-songwriter, Kashena Sampson, called “Ghost Of Me.” This Nashville-based artist is storming onto the scene armed with a psychedelic-indie folk rock sound that is sure to leave you breathless. Sampson’s new album, which is also called Ghost of Me, arrives on October 3rd, and will be this ultra-talented songwriter’s third full-length record to date. Kashena Sampson shared, “Besides being a musician, I have also been a bartender at a music venue for the past 10 years to pay my bills. It’s a great job, but there are some nights that feel like my heart is breaking. Watching others live out the exact dream I’m still chasing, night after night. Having to put a smile on my face and serve industry people who’ve passed on me can be rough, and I can get real down on myself about it sometimes. ‘Ghost Of Me’ is about those moments. The times when I question my worth, and the internal struggle of not being where I would like to be in my music career. It’s about not giving up on my dreams even though at times it feels like it’s killing me.” If you’re enjoying the new single, please consider pre-ordering/pre-saving Ghost of Me here.

Adam Grundy 4 months ago

Today is a great day to share the new single and video from Vilde Tuv, a talented Norwegian artist, who is gearing up for the release of her new LP called Truthbomb on September 19th. “Start/Stop” offers a cool look at what this artist is capable of creating when she’s firing on all creative cylinders. This marks Vilde Tuv’s first time releasing a single in English and is a great sign of what’s to come. If you’re enjoying the video, please consider pre-ordering Truthbomb here.

Adam Grundy 4 months ago

The story of Filter began when lead singer/band founder, Richard Patrick, mentioned in past interviews that when he was chatting with his touring bandmate of NIN singer (Trent Reznor), he suggested that Patrick make his own record while Nine Inch Nails went off to record their now-classic of The Downward Spiral. The tunes that Richard Patrick crafted on Short Bus were heavily influenced by his time in touring with NIN, yet they feature a lot more guitar parts in them to set Filter on a different artistic course than the aforementioned other touring project. Short Bus was released on April 25th, 1995, and has sold over a million copies in the U.S., spearheaded by the breakthrough success of Filter’s debut single of “Hey Man Nice Shot.” The set was co-produced by Richard Patrick and his musician friend, Brian Liesegang, who conceived the idea of Filter in the early 90’s. During the recording sessions, Patrick acted as the primary songwriter/bassist/vocalist, while Liesegang primarily handled production duties and programming the drum machine they used on Short Bus, and the duo split the guitar duties. While the band’s sophomore record, Title of Record, would blast Filter into the Alt Rock mainstream with the soft rock hit of “Take A Picture,” Short Bus is ultimately the album that longtime Filter fans point to as the key moment in time when Richard Patrick and Brian Liesegang were at their creative peak.

Adam Grundy 4 months ago

Today is a great day to share an early listen to the New Jersey 4-piece emo band, Banquets, new single called “Episodes.” The last we heard from Banquets, they announced their third and final LP, Spit at the Sun. The Jersey City quartet had decided to hang it up after years of shows and several releases with Black Numbers. They played their final show in February of 2016 and the members went their separate ways, parting on good terms but with the understanding that the realities of life made it difficult to carry the banner any further. Today marks a new chapter in Banquets story, as lead vocalist/guitarist Travis shared:

The song ‘Episodes’ takes the form of a letter to my former self. It acts as a reflection of how I’ve hurt and let others down. I’ve squandered some truly remarkable moments by not being fully present. Days and nights were more episodic. Like a malnourished Zack Morris, I’m trudging through a Belgian field looking for a chance to swipe some Jagermeister at Groezrock. Then I’m punishing random people with Nesquik Bunny references and making everyone stage-dive in between Lifetime songs. Cap off the episode by time-traveling during a Lagwagon set, and watching Rancid from behind my eyelids in a Sprinter. Sounds cool. Wish I was there.

Banquets fit somewhere within the artistic realm of Jimmy Eat World, Hot Rod Circuit, and The Menzingers, and they’re quickly re-cementing themselves as a key artist to watch as this year unfolds. If you’re enjoying the new single, please consider pre-ordering Banquets’ new record, Petty Relics, that will be released via Black Numbers on October 17th here.

Adam Grundy 4 months ago

Bad Suns are on the right trajectory on their fifth studio album, Accelerator, that leans heavily into lead vocalist/guitarist Christo Bowman’s personal life. Bowman has a lot to be thankful for: a beautiful wife and growing family that now includes a child, and it becomes increasingly evident on this new LP that he is also truly coming into his own as a gifted songwriter with a clear vision for the music he’s making. Accelerator is Bad Suns’ first full-length studio album in three years, while the last time we heard music from the band was in the form of a 2023 EP, named Infinite Joy, that gave clues as to where the band could and would take their music in the future. The overall flow of Accelerator is well-organized, meaningful and brimming with excitement from start to finish. Through Bowman’s lens of how he sees the world, musically, Bad Suns have simultaneously made their most personal and best record to date.

Adam Grundy 4 months ago

Recently I was able to schedule a Zoom call with rock band, Alien Ant Farm, to discuss their ongoing touring plans, the legacy and memories surrounding their music, and much more. Alien Ant Farm most recently released mANTras last year, and you can stay connected with the band here.

Adam Grundy 4 months ago

Hayes Carll feels like a man on a mission on his latest record, We’re Only Human. This country singer-songwriter shimmers and sways all over this ten-track LP that is brimming with great lyrical undertones, vivid imagery and storytelling, paired with ultra-solid musicianship. We’re Only Human is Hayes Carll’s ninth studio album to date, and he wastes little time getting to what’s on his mind lately on this latest effort that is worthy of your time. With key singles like “High”, the upbeat romp of “Progress of Man (Bitcoin & Cattle)” and the opening title track that explains, “We’re only human / That is all / Just walking the rope between fear and hope / And knowing we’re gonna fall / ‘Cause we’re only human,” Hayes Carll weaves a tangled web of intricate melodies on this record that fits somewhere in the realm of Zach Bryan, Jason Isbell and Bob Dylan.

Adam Grundy 4 months ago

Today is a great day to share the latest single and video from Mappe Of, called “Terraforming Moons.” On this vibrant new single, Mappe Of showcases crisp songwriting in the same narrative of a sci-fi future where human society has collapsed. The final single from Mappe Of’s forthcoming LP, Afterglades, keeps interest high in the new record that will be released on September 19th via Paper Bag Records.

Adam Grundy 4 months ago

Good Charlotte have returned with their first studio album in seven years, called Motel Du Cap, and it is an exploration of the band’s humble beginnings, while still offering a few new musical elements to further the artistic direction of GC. The music landscape has changed quite a bit since Good Charlotte last released Generation Rx. Country artists are predominantly taking the top spots on the Billboard 200, while rock/punk music has offered some really cool emerging artists in the scene such as Turnstile, Pinkshift and Moving Mountains, just to name a few. So where does Good Charlotte fit in? The answer can be found by checking in to Motel Du Cap and hearing the Madden brothers’ unique perspective on how far they’ve come together, their past trauma, and overall outlook on life. The set was produced by Johan Carlsson, Zakk Cervini, Jordan Fish, Andrew Goldstein, and Charlie Puth, and is armed with 13 songs in total. Four of the tracks include guest artist spots, and Good Charlotte do a commendable job of not only paying homage to their past legacy as a band, but showcasing their staying power in our scene.

Review: X Ambassadors – VHS (X)

Lips Of Strangers – “Too Long For Lovers” (Video Premiere)

Review: Foreign Air – Such That I May Glow

Interview: Huddy

Interview: Ross Shotland of Enjoy The Ride Records

Review: Hayley Williams – Ego Death at a Bachelorette Party

Kashena Sampson – “Ghost Of Me” (Song Premiere)

Vilde Tuv – “Start/Stop” (Video Premiere)

Review: Filter – Short Bus

Banquets – “Episodes” (Song Premiere)

Review: Bad Suns – Accelerator

Interview: Alien Ant Farm

Review: Hayes Carll – We’re Only Human

Mappe Of – “Terraforming Moons” (Video Premiere)

Review: Good Charlotte – Motel Du Cap