Review: Hawthorne Heights – If Only You Were Lonely

Hawthorne Heights - If Only You Were Lonely
Adam Grundy

The critical reception to the sophomore album by Hawthorne Heights was anything but kind. But did this band that stormed onto the scene with The Silence in Black and White, and the emo classic of “Ohio Is For Lovers”, really deserve the hate that came from the release of If Only You Were Lonely? In my opinion, not by a long shot. While I can see why some writers took it upon themselves to write scathing reviews based on the album’s song titles like “Where Can I Stab Myself In The Ears” and “We Are So Last Year”, I feel there is still a charm and magic to If Only You Were Lonely. The set was released on Victory Records 20 years ago, and the promotion of the record was preceded by two singles in “This Is Who We Are” and the massively popular “Saying Sorry” that would lead to Hawthorne Heights’ highest charting album to date (#3 on the Billboard 200). The album would be the band’s final one with rhythm guitarist/backing vocalist Casey Calvert, who tragically passed away in November of 2007. The critics who panned If Only You Were Lonely were largely tuned out by Hawthorne Heights’ fans, and the LP was certified Gold by the RIAA by March of 2016. While Hawthorne Heights seemed to be an easy target for criticism of the emo genre, it’s hard to not admit that If Only You Were Lonely was an important record in the development of the band.

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Review: Teenage Joans – “Bandits”

Adam Grundy

Every now and then you come across a song that restores your faith in what the young bands are doing in this scene. “Bandits” is one of those songs. From the pop-punk duo known as Teenage Joans, “Bandits” has a country-tinged sound to it that is similar to the style of Taylor Acorn paired with the slick pop sensibilities of Michelle Branch. The band shared, “We really wanted to blend a country vibe with our classic pop punk. The song is about feeling an intense connection to someone, so much so that you would do anything for them and rule out the worst because you love them so much.” The song is filled with twists and turns, vivid lyrical imagery that recalls the days of Bonnie & Clyde, and leaves the door wide open to the possibilities of where Teenage Joans can take their sound next.

The song opens with a quietly strummed electric guitar that helps with setting the tone of the single in the verse, while the chorus of, “Call my name in the dead of the night / I got a bad feeling you’re one of a kind / I see your face on a wanted sign / But I keep coming back,” is absolutely powerful and shimmering in its delivery. Teenage Joans are one of the more interesting pop-punk outfits to come out of this scene in some time, and I look forward to seeing how they use the success of a key song like “Bandits” to further develop their already dynamic sound.

Radiohead Responds to ICE Song Usage

Radiohead
Jason Tate

Radiohead have issued a statement on the Department of Homeland Security’s use of their song “Let Down:”

We demand that the amateurs in control of the ICE social media account take it down. It ain’t funny, this song means a lot to us and other people, and you don’t get to appropriate it without a fight. 

Also, go fuck yourselves… Radiohead.