lolitslea – “Exit Plan” (Video Premiere)

Adam Grundy Sep 19, 2024 0 comments

Today I’m thrilled to introduce everyone to a cool new pop-punk band from New Jersey called lolitslea. With their latest single, called “Exit Plan,” this dynamic band quickly showcases why they’ve been winning over audiences each time they perform. When speaking on the latest track, lolitslea shared, “‘Exit Plan’ runs circles around the themes of liminal spaces, the backrooms, and realizing life will never be what it was back in 2008. Where my biggest regret in life was selling my Nintendo DS to a local pawn shop. This tune was co-produced and co-written by Tom Denney, formerly of A Day To Remember.” If you’re enjoying the latest single, please consider pre-ordering the band’s debut LP Nothing Lasts Forever that hits the streets on October 11th here.

Adam Grundy Sep 18, 2024 0 comments

Today is a great day to share the new single and music video from Cascade Riot, called “Ruby.” “Ruby” is the 2nd single from Cascade Riot’s forthcoming debut album on PNWK Records. While their previous single, “Exit 55,” showed off a more aggressive side, “Ruby” shows off a poppier, bouncier side while still retaining the band’s trademark elements. Lyrically the song explores themes of introspection and longing for something that once belonged to you but has slipped away. Vocalist and guitarist Ryan Failla shared, “With this album we’re really trying to let all of our influences show and expand our sound a bitwithout losing sight of what makes us who we are. I remember picking up an acoustic guitar one day and just randomly strumming those opening chords. The rest of the song came very quickly after that. The lyrics just kind of spilled out and are a pretty accurate depiction of how I was feeling at the time.” If you’re enjoying the early listen, please consider supporting Cascade Riot here.

Adam Grundy Sep 18, 2024 0 comments

Today is a great day to share the news that Lost Like Lions have returned with a great new single called “Is It True?” The band is excited about this new direction in their sound, and is perfect for fans of The Starting Line and The Dangerous Summer.

Adam Grundy Sep 17, 2024 0 comments

Recently I was able to schedule a Zoom call with Peter James, the owner of indie label Manic Kat Records, to discuss his label’s upcoming 10th anniversary. I also asked Peter about what qualities he looks for when signing bands/artists to his label, the best practices he’s learned in the music business, as well as how he sees the state of vinyl production today. Manic Kat Records has a roster that includes Ryan Cabrera, The Anchor, Along Came A Spider, and Todd Morse.

Adam Grundy Sep 16, 2024 7 comments

Every now and then in our lives we will discover an artist that checks all of the boxes of our music interests. This happened to me this past Friday when I hit play on Survival In Motion, the debut album from Taylor Acorn. The powerhouse vocals, crisp songwriting, and the overall feeling of good vibes coming through the speakers washed over me from the opening notes all the way to the dramatic conclusion of the album. Taylor Acorn shared, “I feel like I’ve been waiting a lifetime to be able to say ‘I’m putting out a debut album’, but in all honesty I’m so glad I waited for as long as I have, I feel like I’ve finally found my sound — I’ve fallen in love with every single song in it’s own right, the writing process was truly something I’ll never forget — and to top it off I got to share the experience with my best friends and some of the most amazing and talented people I know. I’m not sure what will come next, but this chapter is something that I am so unbelievably proud of and I can’t wait to share it with everyone. I hope you love it and I hope you find peace in knowing that no matter what we go through, we are all walking representation of survival in motion and life is a gift no matter how crazy it can be.” Taylor Acorn has a voice that fits somewhere between the emotive vocals of Hayley Williams, the range of Kelly Clarkson, and the punk brashness of Charlotte Sands, while her warm delivery still feels refreshing and new.

Adam Grundy Sep 12, 2024 25 comments

I’m sure many of us have a memory or two surrounding Let It Enfold You, the debut full-length record from the emo band Senses Fail. The memories we tie to music releases can get a little hazy over time, much less after 20 years. My best recollection of the release of Let It Enfold You was a combination of confusion, a whole lot of scene hype, and plenty of coverage in Alternative Press magazine. The confusion came in the form of Let It Enfold You being in record label limbo for quite some time, after Geffen Records (whom had absorbed Drive-Thru) lost interest in putting out the album, and Senses Fail deciding to leak the record after the trouble of finding a home for it. Vagrant Records eventually stepped up to the plate, and the hype behind this emo band steamrolled them to selling over 600,000 copies in the U.S. The album was frequently in the “Reader’s List” of top trending albums on Alt Press, while the band still was getting mixed reviews from most outlets unsure of where to best place the music that Senses Fail had created here. Let It Enfold You achieved commercial success, mostly by word of mouth, as Vagrant would only officially release two singles from the set in “Buried A Lie” and “Rum Is For Drinking, Not For Burning.” Senses Fail would cement their status as screamo heavyweights on their subsequent releases and showcase their staying power in the genre.

Adam Grundy Sep 5, 2024 3 comments

The sophomore album from metalcore band, Atreyu, took advantage of the momentum the band built on their debut (Suicide Notes and Butterfly Kisses), and saw them adding in more melodic elements to connect with larger audiences. The Curse was produced by veteran producer GGGarth (Red Hot Chili Peppers, Rage Against the Machine) and the set would go on to achieve RIAA Gold status with over 500,000 copies sold in the U.S. With a rockin’ trio of singles released during the promotion cycle that included “Right Side of the Bed,” “Bleeding Mascara,” and “The Crimson,” Atreyu were gaining fans at a speedy rate, and were able to back up the music found on the record effortlessly live. Now celebrating its 20th anniversary with a slew of vinyl re-presses via Craft Recordings, The Curse deserves another moment of reflection.

Adam Grundy Sep 2, 2024 1 comment

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 Aug 28, 2024 0 comments

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 Aug 27, 2024 2 comments

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 Aug 23, 2024 1 comment

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 Aug 22, 2024 5 comments

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 Aug 20, 2024 4 comments

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 Aug 13, 2024 6 comments

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 Aug 13, 2024 0 comments

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.

lolitslea – “Exit Plan” (Video Premiere)

Cascade Riot – “Ruby” (Video Premiere)

Lost Like Lions – “Is It True?” (Song Premiere)

Interview: Peter James of Manic Kat Records

Review: Taylor Acorn – Survival In Motion

Review: Senses Fail – Let It Enfold You

Review: Atreyu – The Curse

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)