Review: Fiona McQuarrie – Fountains Of Wayne

Fountains of Wayne - Book
Adam Grundy

There’s a lot to love about the band Fountains of Wayne. From their humble beginnings that grew out of admiration for solidified rock bands like R.E.M. and The Cars, the band’s primary songwriters, Adam Schlesinger and Chris Collingwood, met at Williams College in Northern Massachusetts and would begin to craft not only the early stages of Fountains of Wayne, but a lifetime friendship. Fountains of Wayne is loving tribute to the beloved band that while only having one true “hit” in “Stacy’s Mom,” there was so much more to them and their music. Author Fiona McQuarrie cuts right to the core of what this band so special, talented, and does a fantastic job of researching all that went into the band’s early days, all the way to their eventual breakup. McQuarrie’s writing style is warm, and you can easily tell she is a fan of the band’s work through her endearing biography of Fountains of Wayne.

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Yellowcard Talk Upcoming Plans

Yellowcard
Jason Tate

Ryan Key of Yellowcard talked with Wall of Sound about the band’s upcoming plans. Quite a few “eyes emoji” bits in this one:

This is a real turning point though, once we wrap up in Australia, that’s the end of riding the nostalgia wave. After that we have to stand on our own two feet making new music and doing tours that don’t lean on people wanting to celebrate this time capsule moment from 20 years ago. There’s so much at stake after this! We’re in a very secretive stage of making new music right now but what I can tell you is we’re very close [to] something happening, and there will be stuff when we get to Australia. But when the news does come out, it is so much more than just an album.

When I say more than an album, I just mean that the news around it; how it was made, who we made it with, it’s surreal. I’m pinching myself every day, since April of last year when we started working on it. We’ve really poured ourselves into this thing.

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Review: Spiritbox – Tsunami Sea

Adam Grundy

The sophomore album from Spiritbox, Tsunami Sea, is an absolute monster. The new record comes hot off the heels of 2023’s EP The Fear of Fear, and the much-buzzed about debut LP Eternal Blue, and two consecutive Grammy nominations for Best Metal Performance. The new album was co-produced by Spiritbox’s Mike Stringer and Dan Braunstein, and early on you get the vibe that the band is out for world domination, and they just may achieve their goal. From the opening visceral one-two punch of “Fata Morgana” and “Black Rainbow”, Spiritbox reinvent what it means to make a metal album today, and have filled the void with a record that demands to wash over anyone who takes the time to listen to it. Lead vocalist Courtney LaPlante can confidently go from the most punishing of screams to a softer croon with ease as she showcases why she is one of the most talented front women in today’s music scene. Spiritbox have improved vastly upon their sound that combines melodic metal, metalcore, electronica, and EDM into a massive package that will do nothing to dissuade others from joining the bandwagon.

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Review: IOTA CENTAURI – “Lullaby For A Dying Sun”

IOTA CENTAURI - "Lullaby For A Dying Sun"
Adam Grundy

If you’ve ever wanted to explore the vastness of space through a great-sounding ambient track that fits somewhere in the realm of Thrice’s Vheissu, paired with the sprawling rock of band’s like Caspian, IOTA CENTAURI is your next obsession. With the release of the project’s new single called “Lullaby For A Dying Sun,” IOTA CENTAURI have also announced their debut LP called Supermassive. IOTA CENTAURI is the solo moniker of TJ Fulfer, and the new album explores themes of love, loss, tragedy, and the growing distance between two people, expressed through the vastness of space, the mysteries of the universe, and the weight of darkness—all woven into sweeping soundscapes and deeply evocative melodies.

The latest single features some guest vocal spots from Ken Pendola and Meg Zahora to help round out this band’s approach to songwriting. The epic final chorus of, “And when it vanishes / Nothing is remembered / Only an emptiness / Where light once lived,” takes the concept of traveling alone through the depths of space and still hones in on the human element of what makes us all want those key connections to others.

Review: STMNTS – “Sinking In”

STMNTS - "Sinking In"
Adam Grundy

The latest single from Baltimore pop-punk band, STMNTS, called “Sinking In” is a passionate blend of styles similar to The Wonder Years, Bayside and the guitar-crunch of Four Year Strong. Formed in 2022, STMNTS consists of vocalist Liam King, rhythm guitarist Jamie Black, lead guitarist Drew Chiodo, bassist Josh Pelc, and drummer Shawn Smyth. The single was produced, mixed and mastered by Jeff McKinnon, with some additional production contributed by Evan Seeberger. STMNTS are coming off of the success of their well-received 2023 EP called Tendencies, and have released their second single since that last record came out with today’s “Sinking In.”

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