Sims dishes on his new record Bad Time Zoo, the time he quit rapping and was forced to revaluate music, the isolating aspects of technology, turning the mirror on your own hypocrisies, and always being plugged into the here and now.
Interview: Sims
Review: Silverstein – Rescue
Music fans are usually faced with quite the dilemma when they are looking forward to a new record, especially if it’s coming from a band they’re particularly fond of. Do you want them to evolve – perhaps taking a leap to something you might not enjoy as much – or do you want them to stay…consistent? For the most part, the consensus seems to be that bands need to evolve to stay relevant. Grow with their audience, as some might say. Some bands do just fine by staying static, though. Look at New Found Glory: a consistent sound has lead them to become perhaps the greatest pop punk band ever. When they strayed a bit, on Coming Home, fans were generally displeased.
Silverstein is another band that has utilized a tried-and-true formula throughout its career, and Rescue, the band’s fifth studio album and debut for Hopeless Records, sees the Canadians doing more of the same. While the band won many over with its 2005 breakout, Discovering the Waterfront, fans of the band seemed to either grow more loyal or completely become disinterested when Arrivals and Departures and A Shipwreck In The Sand showcased similar sounds. The latter was Silverstein’s last record, a concept album which I considered to be fairly underrated.
Read More “Silverstein – Rescue”Review: Thursday – No Devolución
Honestly, we all should have seen this coming from Thursday. They’ve been dropping hints of a more atmospheric and textured sound in their records over the past five years (A City By The Light Divided, their split EP with Envy, and Common Existence). So anyone who is saying that their new album, No Devolución, is a new beginning or rebirth for the band just haven’t been paying attention. The common Thursday traits are still present: Geoff Rickly’s not-perfect-yet-so-perfect croon, distorted guitars, thick instrumentation, and, of course, Rickly’s realistic and cathartic lyrics. What’s different is that No Devolución isn’t as abrasive as Thursday albums past, rather it’s soaked in luscious, experimental tones and dark melodies.
Read More “Thursday – No Devolución”Interview: Dan Campbell of The Wonder Years
In the last year and a half, The Wonder Years have ridden their early 2010 release The Upsides to levels of attention they had never experienced before. That record helped them jump from the up-and-coming No Sleep Records to indie powerhouse Hopeless Records, exposed the group to new fans and got them credibility all over the globe. After roughly an entire year of touring, the six-piece Philadelphia pop-punkers took a month to record a follow-up full-length in Los Angeles with the legendary Steve Evetts. Announced earlier today, Suburbia I’ve Give You All And Now I’m Nothing will be released June 14 via Hopeless Records. Now we’ve got for you an exclusive interview with frontman Dan “Soupy” Campbell, where Soupy and I discuss the band’s current state, a big-picture look into the new record, the first song we’re exclusively streaming, and the band’s mindset going into the release of Suburbia. Much thanks to Soupy for taking the time to answer these questions, to Hopeless for letting us bring you this great exclusive, and to The Wonder Years and their entire team for being awesome people to work with.
Read More “Dan Campbell of The Wonder Years”Interview: Spencer Smith of Panic! at the Disco
Drummer Spencer Smith ties up some loose ends about Panic! at the Disco’s third album Vices & Virtues, explains how the recent lineup change has redefined the duo, and recalls the perspective of blowing up at an early age.
Review: Mansions – Dig Up The Dead
Ya know, Christopher Browder isn’t so different from you and me. Based on his previous work, I’d bet that we’ve felt the same as him at point or another in our lives, whether it be the same fears, thoughts, or aspirations. We’re all heavily flawed, and Browder isn’t afraid to share that. And that’s what makes Mansions’ second full length album, Dig Up The Dead, so instantly relatable. Throughout the ten tracks, Browder spins together intricate tales of loneliness, heartbreak, and doubt backed by layers of fuzzy, distorted guitars.
Read More “Mansions – Dig Up The Dead”Interview: Daniel Layus of Augustana
Frontman Daniel Layus discusses the expansive process behind Augustana’s self-titled album, how growing older has affected his writing, getting more in touch with early influences, and life on a major label.
Review: Panic! at the Disco – Vices & Virtues
This is what you wanted, right? A “return to form” – i.e. slick pop layered over synths, the occasional crunchy guitar and a weird fascination with Vaudeville (despite none of us knowing what that really means) – yep, this is you getting what you wanted. And although getting what we wanted can sometimes lead to felonies or regrettable Zune tattoos (R.I.P.), in this case what we wanted is what’s best for us and both remaining members of Panic!(!) At The Disco. With Vices & Virtues, Brendon Urie and Spencer Smith have created an album that isn’t mature, because what does that even mean, but an album that understands from its first note where it’s going and the best way to get there.
Read More “Panic! at the Disco – Vices & Virtues”Exclusive: Gatsbys American Dream – “Untitled”
Today we are proud to be able to bring you a brand new Gatsbys American Dream song. You can check out “Untitled” on the band’s AP.net profile or in the replies. Here’s a note from Bobby, “Thanks so much for everyone’s patience and thanks so much to AbsolutePunk for partnering up with us for this premiere. See you at SXSW!”
Read More “Exclusive: Gatsbys American Dream – “Untitled””Interview: Jack Barakat of All Time Low
All Time Low are at possibly the biggest point in their young careers with the release of their new album, Dirty Work. It’s the band’s first major label release and could possibly be the next step into full blown stardom. I asked Jack Barakat a few questions about the band’s upcoming album, tours and future plans. Check it out below.
Read More “Jack Barakat of All Time Low”Review: Yellowcard – When You’re Through Thinking, Say Yes
When Yellowcard announced its hiatus in 2008, the popular opinion was that the band was done for good. Listeners who felt as though they would never hear another record from the Jacksonville, Fla., five-piece pop-punk innovators were definitely not alone. While the band was only gone for just over two years ― not that long of a break in the grand scheme of things ― plenty of signs pointed to the conclusion that they were finished. Frontman Ryan Key started a new band called Big If, Longineu Parsons was drumming for other projects, and the other members of the group were strewn across the country each doing their own things. Capitol Records even came out with a weird four-track EP of previously released Yellowcard material entitled Deep Cuts.
Read More “Yellowcard – When You’re Through Thinking, Say Yes”Interview: Joe Principe of Rise Against
Bassist Joe Principe talks about the Rise Against’s sixth record Endgame, the challenge of keeping things fresh, being inspired by the military, and how punk rock originally gave him the courage to speak out.
Interview: Geoff Rickly of Thursday
Thursday will go down as one of the iconic bands of our generation amongst the hardcore and punk scene. Whether you think they’re not underground enough, or don’t play enough hardcore for your liking anymore, they’ve certainly proven themselves time and time again on record, and more importantly, within the community itself. On the heals of their next album, No Devolución, this will be a sharp left for many, but long time fans will see the band shine at possibly their brightest moment yet. Stripping themselves of most of their hardcore elements, the album still packs an elegance and driving force that made us all fall for the band’s music over a decade ago. On the second night of their tour with Underoath, Geoff Rickly sat down with me over chips and guacamole to talk about the last ten years, the scene and how proud he is of the band’s next album.
Read More “Geoff Rickly of Thursday”Review: Bayside – Killing Time
There’s something that a lot of bands in today’s music scene don’t have. It’s a combination of things, really. It’s the consistency to be great, even good, over a considerable length of time, coupled with the guts and killer instinct to try out new things, to stretch boundaries and challenge themselves as musicians.
Bayside is a band that has that combination. With the release of its fifth studio full-length since 2004, Bayside has once again proven the notion that bands can keep the same sound they’ve had for years while still growing and putting out refreshingly worthwhile records. Killing Time takes the sound that the band focused on with 2008’s Shudder and mixes in glimpses of great Bayside records of years past. There are certain audible glimpses throughout the course of the 10-track record where fans familiar with Bayside’s earlier work will pick out parts where Bayside sounds like its old self, and parts where fans will notice that the band is trying something they’ve never done before.
Read More “Bayside – Killing Time”Interview: Sherri DuPree-Bemis of Eisley
Vocalist/guitarist Sherri DuPree-Bemis shares the highs and lows inside Eisley’s third record The Valley, the cathartic nature of songwriting, and how having the right people around can help you make it through anything.