Review: Alien Ant Farm – ANThology

The tale of Alien Ant Farm oddly doesn’t begin with ANThology. The band formed in 1996 and would release two EPs leading up to their first full-length record in 1999 that they anointed Greatest Hits. After forming a friendship with Papa Roach due to playing similar music circuits in Los Angeles, California, Alien Ant Farm would eventually sign a Dreamworks Records imprint known as New Noize to begin re-tooling their major label debut of ANThology with the Infest producer, Jay Baumgardner. The set was introduced by the lead single of “Movies” that came out January 2001, but the record wouldn’t fully take off until the Michael Jackson cover of “Smooth Criminal” dominated the rock airwaves that Summer. The rest of the tunes that make up ANThology are really strong for a debut LP, and highlighted the quirky magic of Alien Ant Farm and their captivating front-man, Dryden Mitchell. While the band may be best known for their breakthrough cover of a Michael Jackson song, ANThology deserves another look on its 25th anniversary.

Adam Grundy 3 months ago

Imagine if three talented musicians paired up on their love of bands like Thrice, Cursive, and Taking Back Sunday, and wanted to channel teenage angst with an energetic musical performance paired with pop sensibilities. Imagine no more. A new emo rock band, called Color Me Fatigued, include the trio of April Crews (guitar/vocals), John Zook (bass), and Jacob Godbey (drums) who take each of their combined influences into a neatly re-packaged sound on their debut LP of If I’m Running Away… When I listen back to the tunes that make up this record, I hear influences that range from the soft/loud dynamic of bands like Circa Survive, the math rock of The Early November, and at times, even some speed metal. Introduced to the world by the lead single of “Work/Life Balance” that laments on the dangers of the nine to five office environments that value productivity over personality, Color Me Fatigued make a worthy opening statement on If I’m Running Away…

Adam Grundy 3 months ago

”I’m here to stay” sings Charlotte Sands on the title track of Satellite, her sophomore effort released today via her own imprint of CS Records. Charlotte Sands expands upon the world she created on her equally-thrilling debut, Can We Start Over?, and leans into a synth-heavy sound similar to artists like PVRIS and Metric with great results. The LP is filled with club-ready anthems of self-empowerment that accentuate the sound Charlotte Sands has crafted since she first stormed onto the scene five years ago. You’d be hard-pressed to find a harder working artist than what is presented here, and Satellite proves that her statement of “I’m here to stay” should be taken seriously.

The set opens with the vibrant title track that finds Charlotte Sands singing vulnerably over a synth-laden beat and it slow-builds to a picturesque chorus of, “And I’m scared of heights / But I won’t come down / I’m lost in your orbit / But I don’t want out / I’m yours in the day / And the dead of night / I wanna be your satellite.” The song is about finding that person who makes you want to spend all of your days and nights with, and completes your outlook on life. “One Eye Open” follows the great start to the LP with a haunting song about trust issues that laments in the pre-chorus of, “Let’s pretend / We don’t know how this ends / We could leave it for dead / But you’re so persistent.” Her command for tracks like this only further solidifies the star power that comes through the speakers in Charlotte Sands’ delivery.

Adam Grundy 3 months ago

The newest single from indie rock band, Wealthy Jane, called “Judy Wept” is a solid mix of swooning rock that recalls the booming alternative rock scene from the 90’s. Some may recognize the singer from his previous project, called Broken Field Runner, and he does a nice job of commanding the mid-tempo track with the same charm that I remember from the aforementioned other band. “Judy Wept” walks the listener through a difficult time in a person’s life where it feels like everywhere you look, reminders of the mess you made are prevalent.

Wealthy Jane share on the second verse, “Happiness by prescription, extended release / It helps her dance when people visit, keeps her time traveling / Now she’s back inside her kitchen smoking 100s,” to paint a vivid picture of this person’s mental health and how she’s dealing with her setbacks. The chorus reassures the fallen individual with, “No matter the mess that you made / It’s okay.” We could all use a friend like this to have when times get tough, and Wealthy Jane recognize this feeling with great poise and precision in their indie rock attack here. A worthy addition to that playlist you’ve been crafting, “Judy Wept” brings out some raw emotions lyrically, and highlights what this band is capable of creating.

Review: Hawthorne Heights – If Only You Were Lonely

Adam Grundy 3 months ago

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.

Adam Grundy 3 months ago

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.

Review: Goldfinger – Goldfinger

Adam Grundy 3 months ago

The debut studio album by ska punk legends Goldfinger is turning 30 years old tomorrow, and it still has a bit of a unique charm to it. It’s the only Goldfinger record to not be produced in any capacity by lead singer/band leader John Feldmann, and it was all recorded directly to analog tape under the direction of Mojo Records founder Jay Rifkin. Goldfinger also spawned the band’s highest charting single to date in “Here In Your Bedroom” that was a Top 5 rock hit in the states. The sound feels like a mix between Dookie-era Green Day, paired with the ska horns of Reel Big Fish, and with an experimental vocal approach from Feldmann that channeled The Clash’s Joe Strummer. Goldfinger were just beginning to figure out their sound on this album, and it’s still a bit of a mixed bag in the overall listening experience. Songs like “King For A Day” and “Mable” are a ton of fun, and Goldfinger is worth another look.

Adam Grundy 3 months ago

Over the course of my lifetime there have been a handful of records that grabbed me from the first spin, stayed with me during various phases of my life, and continued to make a meaningful impact every time I revisited them. This is one of those albums. American Hi-Fi charmed their way onto the alternative rock scene in 2001 with their breakthrough debut single, “Flavor of the Weak”, that featured big-sounding guitars, paired with a pop sheen to it to ensure it would make an impact on radio. American Hi-Fi was produced by veteran producer, Bob Rock (Aerosmith, Bon Jovi), whom the band credits as making their debut “huge-sounding.” This wasn’t just your run of the mill debut rock record that had one or two good songs on it, and was bloated with filler around it. Quite the opposite. American Hi-Fi made a household name out of songwriter/vocalist Stacy Jones and would begin the astonishing rise of one of the more interesting power pop bands to come out of the early 00’s.

Adam Grundy 3 months ago

On paper, Prizefighter has all the makings of a great return to form for Mumford and Sons. The band has once again teamed up with their 2015 Wilder Mind album producer of Aaron Dessner, and this current album features several A-list collaborations from Hozier, Chris Stapleton, Gigi Perez, and Gracie Abrams. Several of these songs have guest writer credits on them from some big names in the music industry like Finneas, Brandi Carlile, and Justin Vernon. Having already released a record last year, called Rushmere, Mumford and Sons appeared to be reaching a rejuvenated approach to their songwriting. The band preceded the release of Prizefighter with two great singles in “Rubber Band Man” and “The Banjo Song” to create a solid anticipation of their sixth studio album. Yet when you push play on Prizefighter, you can’t help but think some of these songs could’ve used a little more time to marinate before seeing the light of day.

Adam Grundy 3 months ago

With nearly 30 years of band experience under their collective belts, New Found Glory feel like they’re out to prove they still belong in the upper echelon of pop-punk royalty. Listen Up! was produced by Steve Evetts (Simple Plan, The Wonder Years), and the lyrical topics of the new LP are shaped around guitarist Chad Gilbert’s battle with metastatic cancer and the friendship he has created with his bandmates. The riff-heavy record has that classic NFG sound to it, while adding in some contributions from now-permanent touring member/guitarist Dan O’Connor of Four Year Strong, and the album showcases what the band is capable of crafting when they hone in on their strengths as a unit. The ten-song effort is a model of New Found Glory’s gritty work ethic and professional consistency as a band that shows little signs of slowing down anytime soon.

Adam Grundy 4 months ago

Wuthering Heights is the second soundtrack album from Charli XCX, and it acts as a solid companion piece to the film of the same name. While a dramatic departure from her last international breakthrough LP (Brat), there’s a cool groove found throughout Wuthering Heights that highlights this artist’s willingness to dive headfirst into a different world and let different mediums of art influence her music. The majority of the music found here was co-written by Finn Keane, and they do a commendable job of capturing the essence of the screenplay and film in a bit of a gritty escape to the sound that made Charli XCX a household name. Charli XCX was in a self-described rut of feeling “stuck” after Brat, yet she turned to film to re-capture her imagination and burn a new flame of creativity. A sound that feels more like Brat meets Bridgerton, Wuthering Heights takes some big risks and showcases Charli XCX as a more complex artist than many give her credit for.

Adam Grundy 4 months ago

It’s hard to find a more consistent and hard-working band than Story of the Year. The band has steadily cranked out six previous albums that each have their own personality and highlight Story of the Year’s ability to convey a wide range of emotions through relatable topics. The band shared, “In a lot of ways, A.R.S.O.N. picks up where Tear Me To Pieces left off. We used the same team – Colin Brittain producing again, with the main objective of simply writing great songs. Nothing was forced, no trends were chased, it was simply about getting to the essence of what makes SOTY sound like SOTY: Big guitars, snappy drums, and Dan’s ability to seamlessly oscillate between screaming & singing songs about desperation, loss, and the complexity of relationships.” This encapsulation of the sound Story of the Year were going for on A.R.S.O.N. makes a lot of sense, as the band continues down a familiar path, but with a more hard-hitting urgency. With the incorporation of heavier riffs and a more profound focus on screamed vocals when it makes sense for the songs, their seventh studio album is arguably their hardest-hitting record since In The Wake of Determination.

Adam Grundy 4 months ago

It’s one thing to have a string of bad luck, but to be cursed…that probably feels like forces beyond our control are swaying things towards the negative. As Sam Bielanski (founding member/singer-songwriter) explains, Clearly Cursed is directly inspired by their first visit to a psychic at the age of 21. “She read my tarot cards and told me boyfriend was cheating on me,” Bielsanki says. “That was true. She also told me that I had a dark spirit attachment which she could easily vanquish if I paid her $1500. That was obviously out of my budget, so I left and decided I would have to coexist with this dark spirit for the rest of my life.” PONY take it all in stride on their third full-length record, an album that wears their core influences of power pop, indie rock and post-punk on their collective sleeves. Joined by Bielanski is guitarist Matty Morand, who leans into a more polished sound on this latest effort that highlights the duo’s complimentary playing style. PONY may be Clearly Cursed, but this album shows that this band is bound for big things from this point on.

Adam Grundy 4 months ago

Zaq Baker is a talented singer-songwriter who is passionate about many causes. While the majority of his music topics range from love (“Bri”), mental health, and growing up (“Treadmill”), his latest song of “Victorious” takes dead aim at the heartbreaking ICE takeover going on in his hometown of Minneapolis, Minnesota. Baker could’ve gone in a multitude of directions on this protest song, but he chooses to focus on the human element and the neighbors who will be joining together to stand up for each other in the wake of fascism. On this five-minute song, that dives deep into the horrors that Baker and others have witnessed, his instrument of choice is an upright piano that evokes strong emotions with each chord.

Adam Grundy 4 months ago

After touring for nearly a year and a half on their debut LP, Stories and Alibis, Matchbook Romance buckled down in Long View Farm studios in Massachusetts to write the follow-up to their breakthrough onto the emo scene. Voices features a departure from the sound of their debut, and charted at #43 on the Billboard 200 upon its release on Valentine’s Day in 2006. Based on the strength of the lead single, “Monsters,” Matchbook Romance proved that they were capable of being much more than just your “stereotypical emo band.” Instead, Voices led the band down a darker path and expanded their audience along the way. The set was produced by John Goodmanson (Sleater-Kinney, Death Cab For Cutie) and the artwork was designed by Shawn Harris of The Matches. Voices is a record that I found immediately gripping and urgent, and I’m so glad that Matchbook Romance took this big risk on their sophomore effort.

Review: Alien Ant Farm – ANThology

Review: Color Me Fatigued – If I’m Running Away…

Review: Charlotte Sands – Satellite

Review: Wealthy Jane – “Judy Wept”

Review: Hawthorne Heights – If Only You Were Lonely

Review: Teenage Joans – “Bandits”

Review: Goldfinger – Goldfinger

Review: American Hi-Fi – American Hi-Fi

Review: Mumford and Sons – Prizefighter

Review: New Found Glory – Listen Up!

Review: Charli XCX – Wuthering Heights

Review: Story Of The Year – A.R.S.O.N.

Review: PONY – Clearly Cursed

Review: Zaq Baker – “Victorious”

Review: Matchbook Romance – Voices