Remove
features - PAGE 13

The Eras Tour: Taylor Swift’s Greatest Love Song

Taylor Swift
Garrett Lemons

The cynical view of Taylor Swift’s The Eras Tour goes something like this: let’s take a cash grab tour of her past lovers and public debacles through songs that may have changed genres two or three times, but all sound the same. (They don’t.)

The critical view goes something like this: after mastering country, pop, and indie, are we looking at the next all-time great? (Ignoring the fact that, if she were a man, she’d already be lauded as being there.)

The delusion fan view goes something like this: Is this algebraic formula an Easter egg? (No.) Taylor Swift is for the girls, gays, and theys and straight men shouldn’t be allowed at the tour. (This is exhausting.) I bought all four versions so I could have a clock. (Okay, this one is more on Taylor’s incredible mind for capitalism; but, c’mon folks, it’s the same record. You only need one copy.) Etc.

Somewhere in the middle of this wild and inaccurate Venn diagram of discourse is the truth: we are witnessing something not quite before seen in history. Taylor has achieved something not seen in decades: monoculture. She’s the zeitgeist. Everyone seemingly has something to say about it. Including me.

Read More “The Eras Tour: Taylor Swift’s Greatest Love Song”

SWIMM – “Used To Saying Yes” (Video Premiere)

SWIMM
Adam Grundy

Today is a great day to share the latest single and video from LA psych-pop band, SWIMM, called “Used To Saying Yes.” On this electric-charged single that provides absurdist commentary on social obligation, the band continue to evolve in the most creative ways imaginable. The track comes from their forthcoming LP, Best Comedown Ever, that releases everywhere music is sold on August 10th. I was also able to catch up with SWIMM for a brief interview below.

Read More “SWIMM – “Used To Saying Yes” (Video Premiere)”

Eldridge Rodriguez – “A Feeling That Won’t Go Away” (Song Premiere)

Eldridge Rodriguez
Adam Grundy

Today is a great day to share the lead single from the newly announced LP by Boston noise rock band, Eldridge Rodriguez, called “A Feeling That Won’t Go Away.” The song comes from the band’s fifth album, Atrophy, that will be released via Midriff Records on September 15th. On this latest single, the band channels their love for a “wall of sound” approach to their songwriting while still leaving room for the listener to make their own interpretations of the music. If you’re enjoying the direction the band took on this latest track, please consider purchasing music from their Bandcamp page. I was also able to catch up with this talented band for a brief interview below.

Read More “Eldridge Rodriguez – “A Feeling That Won’t Go Away” (Song Premiere)”
Remove

Jess Nolan – “Emergency Landing” (Song Premiere)

Jess Nolan
Adam Grundy

Today I’m thrilled to share with everyone the latest single from Nashville singer-songwriter, Jess Nolan, called “Emergency Landing.” The vibrant track tackles the theme of having to be “on” all the time, and making sure to take care of yourself in this crazy world that we all live in. With a sound that strays somewhere between the styling of Lucy Dacus, paired with the picturesque storytelling of Joni Mitchell, Jess Nolan is truly onto something magical here. Nolan shared:

I wrote this song with my friends, Hadley Kennary and Jake Finch, on a day when we were lamenting about the societal pressure to be “on” all the time. We live in a world that glamorizes the grind and doesn’t prioritize rest. It’s up to us as individuals to draw our own boundaries around what we need to recharge. Taking days off and spending time alone helps me show up more fully for the people around me. Instead of viewing it as selfish, I now see it as a sacred step in community care. My hope is that we can all give ourselves a high level of compassion for our own needs so that we can better serve others. Take a breath! We don’t need permission to care for ourselves.

If you’re enjoying this latest single, more music is expected soon from Jess Nolan via Righteous Babe Records.

Read More “Jess Nolan – “Emergency Landing” (Song Premiere)”

Dayaway – “A Brief Dream of Sun” (Song Premiere)

Dayaway
Adam Grundy

Today I’m so excited to share with everyone the latest single from indie pop songwriter, Dayaway, called “A Brief Dream of Sun.” On this vibrant new song, Amber Renee channels her love for psychedelic rock paired with lush vocals into a powerful message of endless possibilities. The song comes from Dayaway’s new EP, Blue Summer Moon, out everywhere music is sold on August 30th. I was also able to catch up with this talented songwriter for a brief interview below.

Read More “Dayaway – “A Brief Dream of Sun” (Song Premiere)”
Remove

Interview: Ryan Key of Yellowcard

Yellowcard
Adam Grundy

This past week, I was able to catch up with Ryan Key of Yellowcard before he and his recently reunited bandmates embark on their summer tour celebrating 20 years of Ocean Avenue. In this in-depth interview with the lead vocalist of Yellowcard, I asked him about what went into the writing and recording of their new EP Childhood Eyes, the comparisons of the new EP to the sound of Paper Walls, and how he keeps the spirit of Yellowcard alive through various projects and outlets. Childhood Eyes will be released on July 21st via Equal Vision Records, and pre-orders are live.

Read More “Ryan Key of Yellowcard”

Liner Notes (June 18th, 2023)

Sunflower
Jason Tate

This week’s newsletter has first impressions of new music from Yellowcard, Anberlin, and PVRIS. Plus, thoughts on new releases from a great week in the pop-punk EP world (Origami Angel, Millington) and a bunch of other music and entertainment I’ve been checking out. As always, there’s a playlist of ten songs worth your time, and this week’s supporter Q&A post can be found here.

If you’d like this newsletter delivered to your inbox each week (it’s free and available to everyone), you can sign up here.

Read More “Liner Notes (June 18th, 2023)”

Divided Heaven – “Clean Sheets” (Song Premiere)

Divided Heaven
Adam Grundy

Today I’m excited to bring everyone the latest single from Divided Heaven, a cover of a Descendents classic, “Clean Sheets.” The single features a collaboration from Matze Rossi, and highlights Divided Heaven’s dedication to their punk roots as well as moving the needle in the artistic development. Lead vocalist, Jeff Berman, shared this about the cover song:

I heard Bill Stevenson say that he wrote ‘Clean Sheets’ in one swoop. It just came to him. About ten years ago, I was working on a riff that sounded too familiar; took me a moment but I soon discovered it was ‘Clean Sheets.’ The lyrics immediately came to me and it just felt right. My favorite Descendents song, ‘Clean Sheets,’ beautifully translates to the acoustic guitar. Add a pinch of tenderness and the incredible, incomparable, Matze Rossi, and this classic punk song resonates in a new beautiful darkness. Much love to Bill for writing it, Stephen for being my favorite guitar player, and to all that give it a listen.

Divided Heaven’s latest LP, Oblivion, is out now via A-F Records here.

Read More “Divided Heaven – “Clean Sheets” (Song Premiere)”

Tacos! – “Kick Rocks” (Song Premiere)

Tacos!
Adam Grundy

Today is a great day to share the new single from Seattle-based metal/punk trio, Tacos!, called “Kick Rocks.” Band members Lupe Flores, Donovan Stewart, and Hozoji Matheson-Margullis catch lightning in a bottle on this politically-charged song that transcends genre lines. Donovan Stewart shared:

This is by far one of the hardest hitting songs, out of the gate on this record. One of the first songs we co-wrote with the addition of Hozoji in Lupe’s cave of a basement in Ballard. Expressively charged by all the things happening at the time but none more hard to swallow than the prevailing racial injustice happening around the nation. Often shielded and in a false sense of security, our area in the Northwest wasn’t without its own problems. Coupling this with the insane unknowing day to day activities that the pandemic presented us, it was easy to let loose a barrage of lyrics and hammering riffs. Jam your whole fist down your venom spitting throat so you can vomit up all those demons you’ve been forced to swallow.

The single comes from the band’s forthcoming LP, 3, that will be released on August 4th via Nadine Records.

Read More “Tacos! – “Kick Rocks” (Song Premiere)”
Remove

POSTDATA – “Mine The Sea” (Video Premiere)

Postdata
Adam Grundy

Today I’m excited to bring everyone the latest single and music video from POSTDATA, called “Mine The Sea.” POSTDATA is the solo project of Wintersleep lead singer and songwriter Paul Murphy, and he’s onto something great on his first single from the upcoming LP Run Wild, that releases via Paper Bag Records on September 22nd. Murphy shared, “‘Mine The Sea’ is the idea of digging deeper into yourself to find who you are and where you want to go. It’s about the search…but also about letting go of habitual ways and allowing yourself to being open to possibility.” The video was directed by Griffin O’Toole, and I was also able to catch up with Paul Murphy for some insight on the latest single below.

Read More “POSTDATA – “Mine The Sea” (Video Premiere)”
Remove