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.
recommended
My Chemical Romance – The Black Parade
Night Riots – New State of Mind
Four Year Strong – Brain Pain
Vinnie Caruana
SORTED BY: REVIEWS

Review: As Good As It Gets – Some Fantastic

Adam Grundy

The latest EP from Kentucky two-piece pop rock band, As Good As It Gets, called Some Fantastic, is a love letter to the pop-punk bands we all grew up with like Weezer, Green Day and The Starting Line. While As Good As It Gets wear these influences proudly on their sleeves, Some Fantastic offers up some glimmers of a direction the band can take as they continue to develop their sound. Having formed in 2001, and releasing 3 EPs and 3 LPs during that period of time, As Good As It Gets are coming to terms for what works well for them, and they hone in on those elements on this record.

”Keep The Lights On” is a brash, pop-punk rocker that is in the same vein of punk rock bands like The Homeless Gospel Choir and Gob, while “Pushing Papers” finds the two-piece band adding in some well-placed piano/keys to expand upon their sound. The lyrical material covers the pitfalls of working a 9 to 5 job, and trying to make ends meet, all the while looking for those key parts of inspiration in their true love: music.

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Review: Barely Civil – “Coasting, Mostly”

Adam Grundy

The start of a new album cycle is always a thrilling process. Barely Civil have kicked things off on the right foot with their newest single, “Coasting, Mostly” that has a punk rock spirit, and highlights a more emotive side of the band. While their last record, I’ll Figure This Out, focused largely on the soft/loud dynamic in their sound that became popular during the emo boom of the 00’s, the latest single found here reignites the passion for this scene of music.

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Review: Someone Who Isn’t Me – Geoff Rickly

Adam Grundy

Addiction can be one of the most heart-breaking things you can see a loved one go through. Whether it’s seeing someone deal with a disease like alcoholism, or in the case of Geoff Rickly (the front-man of Thursday and No Devotion), it was heroin use. Rickly’s debut novel is called Someone Who Isn’t Me for a myriad of reasons in my interpretation of the book: he’s writing the book with a person named “Geoff” as a fictional character who just happens to be the front-man of a band called Thursday, he’s writing with the intention of replacing several key “character” names with different names, and most importantly, Geoff Rickly doesn’t recognize the person that he’s become. Someone Who Isn’t Me is riddled in tragedy, heartbreak, and luckily the real Geoff makes it out fairly unscathed in the process. As great of a lead singer and lyricist Geoff Rickly is, he is arguably a more talented writer on this loosely-based work of fiction that feels as raw as its likely intended to be.

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Review: Record Heat – Welcome To Record Heat Country

Adam Grundy

When I caught wind of Record Heat (previously known as Spirit Animal) recording their next album, I was immediately intrigued to see what this talented band would cook up. Welcome To Record Heat Country is a part-concept album about the wild west, part-Alt country much like classic rock bands like The Eagles, and part-rock and roll bliss. The band is comprised of lead vocalist Steve Cooper, lead guitarist Cal Stamp, and bassist Paul Michel, and their growth shown on this latest LP is pretty remarkable. Since the album came out in late September, to very little promotion, it’s been one of my “best-kept secrets” in the world of music. I often name-drop Record Heat to my friends looking for something unique in the music world, and this certainly fits the bill for creative music that is hard to describe without taking the time to absorb it after a few spins. Record Heat is what happens when you mix the rhythmic-rap driven Alternative Rock groove of Cake, the Country-tinged spirit of Fleetwood Mac, and the modern flair of The Struts.

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Review: Coheed and Cambria – In Keeping Secrets Of Silent Earth: 3

Adam Grundy

How exactly does a prog-emo band like Coheed and Cambria satisfy their rabid fan-base that was steadily growing by the day after the release of their debut, 2002’s The Second Stage Turbine Blade? The answer would be found by going even bigger and more grandiose. In Keeping Secrets of Silent Earth: 3 was released 20 years ago via Equal Vision Records, and the expectations that fans, critics, and quote-unquote “gatekeepers of the scene” would all be blown into oblivion on Coheed’s sophomore LP. While Coheed and Cambria may have never fit the mold of the Warped Tour band-label back in the early 00’s, the scene was rapidly changing at just the right moment in time for this ultra-talented group. At the creative surface, this album was continuation of The Armory Wars trilogy, that came from the brilliant mind of front-man/guitarist/lyricist Claudio Sanchez, yet there’s so many layers to the complex storytelling found on this record that plays out in its own type of music multiverse. The album was produced by Michael Birnbaum and Chris Bittner, and their crisp production allows for the record to shimmer much like the cosmos above us that inspire science fiction stories far and wide. While their debut full-length record invited fans into the world of Coheed and Cambria, In Keeping Secrets of Silent Earth: 3 blew the doors off the hinges into a cosmic exploration of what creative music can be.

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Review: Blue Vervain – “Mexico”

Adam Grundy

The latest single from indie-rock band Blue Vervain, called “Mexico,” features breathy vocals over lush musical arrangements to bring those perfect end-of-summer vibes into your headspace. From the mind of Jon Khan, Blue Vervain captures something magical on songs like this take from the newly released full-length record of The Garden. As Khan sings the refrain of, ““I want to see you, right now,” it’s easy to visualize that one person that you want to spend all of your days with.

Blue Vervain showcases his depth as key solo artist to watch as we get closer to turning the page on 2023. On this reflective new single, that fits well within the wheelhouse of bands like Ash and Dashboard Confessional, Blue Vervain have truly arrived. The Garden is an album that continues to go down the rabbit hole of the possibilities Khan can take his music, and if “Mexico” is any indication of the music to get accustomed to, you’ll want to stay tuned.

Review: Koyo – Would You Miss It?

Adam Grundy

”Greetings from this island life” is how lead vocalist Joseph Chiaramonte of Koyo sets the stage on “51st State,” the opening song from the band’s stellar debut LP Would You Miss It? Formed in Long Island, New York by five childhood friends who grew up together—Chiaramonte, guitarists Harold Griffin and TJ Rotolico, bassist Stephen Spanos, and drummer Salvatore Argento showcase their growth as a band that has released several marquee EPs that led them to this moment in time to finally deliver their most dramatic artistic statement to date on their first full-length record. The set was produced by Jon Markson (Drug Church, Regulate, One Step Closer) and it features some collaborations with Glassjaw, The Movielife, and Vein.fm to keep things remarkably interesting. Koyo have been road warriors as of late, having shared stages with I Am The Avalanche, Bayside, and No Pressure, and this live experience pays off widely on a set of songs that blast off of the speakers with vibrant energy. With such great momentum going in this band’s favor, Koyo could very well be this year’s breakthrough artist in the genre, much like how Turnstile knocked everyone on their collective asses with 2021’s Glow On. Would You Miss It? is filled with slick hardcore hooks, and showcases a band coming into their own at just the right moment in time.

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Review: All Systems Go – “The Lowdown”

Adam Grundy

The latest single from NJ pop-punk band All Systems Go called “The Lowdown” revisits the glory days of the genre and makes for a memorable statement. Imagine the Drive-Thru Records-era bands being put into a blender with their various styles and voices, and you’d likely end up with something similar to All Systems Go. Produced by Gary Cioni (Hot Mulligan, Crime in Stereo) and mastered by Mike Kalajian (New Found Glory, Senses Fail), this professional-sounding track is sure to be the perfect addition to that end-of-summer playlist you’ve been crafting.

The song opens with some somber vocals that quickly accelerate over the great guitar riffs, before exploding into an anthemic chorus. It reminds me a bit of early-New Found Glory paired with the crunchy, start/stop riffing of Fenix TX. The chorus of, “And I just hate how I get it now / It doesn’t matter if we talk it out / You make me wary of everything / That might just seem like the right move / To bringing me down / And I get it now / And I’m still wishing that you’ll come around / And now there’s nothing left that I can do / You just have to get through to you,” is well-constructed and thought out fully, as it tackles the theme of navigating a troublesome relationship. All Systems Go are showing a lot of promise on songs like this one.

Review: STMNTS – Tendencies

Adam Grundy

The music business is a very unforgiving place. The window of opportunity to make a mark in the music world appears to be getting slimmer by the day, so it’s of the utmost importance to deliver your best material as consistently as possible. Easier said than done, right? The new Baltimore punk band, STMNTS, are well up to the task of delivering the goods on their vibrant new EP called Tendencies. The slick five-song record is filled with anthemic moments, crisp guitar tones, and well-timed vocals/harmonies to make the EP remain memorable. With a sound that fits well within the realm of the crunchy guitar riffing of Four Year Strong, to the sensitive side of The Wonder Years, paired with the great emo production of Bayside, STMNTS are taking full advantage of their time. This band makes emo/punk music look effortless, and it’s quite a fun listening experience.

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Review: American Television – Scars

Adam Grundy

Does the world really need another politically-charged punk band? When the tunes that come through the speakers are as slick, fine-tuned, and as hard-hitting as what DC-punk band American Television put forth on Scars, the answer is a resounding “yes!” American Television is comprised of lead vocalist/guitarist Steve Rovery, lead guitarist/backing vocalist Jerred Lazar, bassist Edwin Wikfors, and drummer Bryan Flowers, and their band chemistry continues to improve on their sophomore record here. Having shared stages with veteran punk bands like Spanish Love Songs, The Copyrights, and Piebald, American Television are armed with a packed repertoire of feel-good anthems about fighting the status quo. At a time when democracy seems to be teetering on the brink of collapse, this band have added their powerful voices to the good fight.

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Review: Olivia Rodrigo – GUTS

Adam Grundy

So much has been written and talked about in regards to Olivia Rodrigo, from her pop prowess in her songwriting style, to the music discourse around what artists she sounds similar to, it’s all gotten a bit…tired. The last time I sat down to write about Rodrigo’s debut, SOUR, it was to evaluate what makes this artist so endearing, talented, and remarkable. GUTS picks right up where she left off on her bulletproof debut record that captivated fans near and wide, and moves the needle that much further up in her atmospheric trajectory towards superstardom. From the opening bars of the lead single, “Vampire,” to the post-teenage brashness of current single “Bad Idea Right?” Rodrigo has created a monster on her sophomore record that has already garnered tons of critical praise. While SOUR introduced the world to Olivia Rodrigo, GUTS is a beautifully messy coming-of-age album that highlights the bets parts of a pop artist willing to take the right steps in her musical journey.

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Review: Safari Room – “Broken Things”

Adam Grundy

On the latest single from Safari Room, called “Broken Things,” he tackles the difficult theme of navigating through a relationship on the brink of collapse. Songwriter Alec Koukol shared, “Quite plainly, ‘Broken Things’ is about the declination of a relationship. The song is an amalgamation of relationships I’ve had crumble over the last few years. This song is a catharsis and outburst of emotions kept in for too long. It’s a whole journey of self-discovery through loss of a relationship, confined in one tune.” The song is brimming with vibrant guitar riffs, soothing vocals, all paired with vivid storytelling from Koukol. The sound of Safari Room is similar to the style of The National, The War on Drugs, and Mae.

The song opens with the verse of “This is the end, no longer lovers/ “Maybe we can be friends” / What a lie / Emphatically sad ‘cause the good has been undone” as Koukol paints the picture of a once fruitful relationship turning sour. The song gradually picks up tempo and features a great bass line before building to the crescendo of, “You’re out of my mind /You’re out of my mind (Get out of my mind) / You’re out of my mind / Get out of my mind /You’re out of my mind (Get out of my mind) / You’re out of mind / You don’t live here anymore (You don’t live there anymore),” that provides a glimpse of the conflict going on within the songwriter’s headspace. Safari Room have reignited the flame of purpose on this electric single that is hauntingly beautiful.

Review: MS MR – “Saturn Return”

Adam Grundy

Goodbyes are hard to do. Whether it’s saying goodbye to a close friend moving to a different part of the country, or losing someone permanently due to death, it’s always a tough process to go through. MS MR have returned with their stunning final single, called “Saturn Return,” that is a fitting tribute to all of the work that vocalist Lizzy Plapinger and Max Hershenow have accomplished over the tenure of this project. Having first stormed onto the indie rock scene with the fittingly titled “Hurricane” in 2012, MS MR captured lightning in a bottle with their first two albums Secondhand Rapture and How Does It Feel. This latest dual-sided single features the atmospheric “Saturn Return” and a beautiful cover of Harvey Danger’s “Flagpole Sitta.”

”Saturn Return” opens with a soft, keyboard-laced sound that eventually breaks the spacey feel to it with Plapinger’s breathy vocals to allow the single to reach its heavenly intentions. The chorus of, “Two souls / So close again / And again, and again,” marks the connection that Plapinger and Hershenow have with each other in this band in such a majestic way. The only flaw of the song is that I wish it would’ve been longer, as it wraps up just after the two-minute mark before it could fully take off. The cover of “Flagpole Sitta” is a worthy tribute to the Alt-Rock classic track, and fits well within the realm of MS MR’s discography. They really make the track their own, and leave a memorable final artistic statement with this final release. Saying goodbye to MS MR isn’t easy, but the music that they have left behind will stand the test of time.

Review: Yawn Mower – “Stagnant Lake”

Adam Grundy

The latest single from NJ indie rock/punk band, Yawn Mower, is a tasty slab of guitar-heavy rock that showcases the band’s ability to mix in hip-hop elements, paired with crisp pop sensibilities to make themselves stand out from the pack. The band’s core lineup is comprised of Mike Chick and Biff Swenson, while they have some key contributions from others on their debut LP, called To Each Their Own Coat, and their unique style of fuzzy, doom pop plays off pretty well on songs like this. Yawn Mower will be performing at this year’s Sea.Hear.Now. festival in their hometown of Asbury Park, NJ with other marquee bands like Foo Fighters, The Killers, Weezer, and more.

The single, called “Stagnant Lake” features fuzzed-out guitars that embrace the hip-hop elements in the verses, while still leaving room for creativity in their musical delivery. The second verse of, “Ideas in the cannon for years / Got bullets that are ready to shoot / Went fishing in a stagnant lake / Found a tire, a bike and a boot,” explore lyrical wordplay to tie in to the track’s title. What the band does best on this particular single is to hone in on their musical chemistry while allowing the song to breathe a bit in the closing moments with an extended guitar solo. This is just a small taste of the possibilities Yawn Mower can take their music to in the future.

Review: The All-American Rejects – The All-American Rejects

Adam Grundy

My first impressions of The All-American Rejects, and their pop-centered rock, were generally favorable. The band stormed onto the scene with their charming first single, “Swing, Swing,” that carefully swayed from swooning falsetto vocals, from frontman Tyson Ritter, to a more lush tenor sound with ease. The single seemed to be played everywhere from baseball games, to grocery stores, and it was undeniably catchy. Their self-titled LP was produced by Tim O’Heir (The Starting Line, Say Anything) and he does a nice job of accentuating the best parts of the band on this fairly straight-forward collection of songs. A little know fact about the debut is that when the album was recorded, Tyson Ritter and Nick Wheeler were the only two band members, and it was until the band would shoot their video for their debut single that they would add Mike Kennerty on rhythm guitar and Chris Gaylor on drums. This lineup is still intact to this day, and The All-American Rejects would see even greater success with their sophomore album, Move Along. The All-American Rejects would go on to sell a million copies in the United States, and solidify the band as a marquee name in the pop-rock realm for the foreseeable future. The album was recently reissued on a “Ghostly Green” vinyl that includes a bonus 7″ vinyl on “Coke Bottle Green” to further celebrate the 20+ years that have passed since this record came out.

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