Sometimes with the Red Hot Chili Peppers, it’s best to think of Anthony Kiedis and his vocal lines as just another instrument in the mix. There’s at least a little bit of evidence that the frontman views himself that way, too. As New York Times journalist Nate Chinen wrote in his review of the Peppers’ new album, The Getaway, Kiedis “writes lyrics with rhythmic cadence first and foremost, which means that there will always be bursts of babble.” RHCP have always been a band whose foundation is rhythm, from their early days as a funk band to their transition into more conventional alt-rock territory with 1999’s Californication. With a rhythm section as talented and dynamic as Flea and Chad Smith, it’s tough to blame Kiedis for wanting to write lyrics that allow for better beat and syncopation. The negative consequence to that impulse is that Kiedis is very frequently singing lyrics that, while they might mean something to him, don’t carry much weight for the average listener.
Relient K – “Mrs. Hippopotamuses”
Relient K have released their new song “Mrs. Hippopotamuses.” Pre-orders for their new album are up.
Blink-182 on Spotify’s “The Drop”
Blink-182 are featured on Spotify’s “The Drop” — with a new video coming out over the next week and a half. The first video is with Mark Hoppus.
Every Time I Die Announce ‘Low Teens’
Every Time I Die will release their new album, Low Teens, on September 23rd. They’ve also released their new single “The Coin Has a Say,” and pre-orders are now up.
Review: Gates – Parallel Lives
My favorite moments in music are the ones that feel transcendent; the ones that seem to transport, envelop, and transform your circumstances as you sit down to experience them.
These moments can come in many forms. For many people, an exceptionally crafted heavy moment, like a climactic bridge or a breakdown in a metal song, can bring that world-changing experience. For others, it may come in the form of a delicate and spacious quiet song which allows the listener to drift off into restfulness or meditate.
One thing that drew me to the overlapping genres of post-rock, ambient, and post-hardcore music is that this sense of place, this tangible connection with the structure of a listening experience, and this focus on the audience’s interaction with the music, felt innately immersive to me. Listening to the songs by these artists, whether or not they were purely instrumental, allowed me to pour myself into the music, experience it fully, and it allowed the music to pour itself into me.
Bands on TV (Week of June 20th)
This week’s notable TV performances include: Garbage (6/20; Kimmel), Macklemore & Ryan Lewis (6/22; Fallon), Selena Gomez (6/20; Corden), Macklemore (6/23; Daily Show), and Goo Goo Dolls (6/21; Conan).
Touché Amoré Announce New Album
Touché Amoré will release Stage Four on September 16th via Epitaph Records. You can stream “Palm Dreams” below.
Direct Hit! Stream ‘Wasted Mind’
Direct Hit!’s new album Wasted Mind can be streamed below. The album comes out this Friday.
Blink-182 – “Bored to Death” Video
Blink-182 have released their new music video for “Bored to Death.”
Young the Giant – “Titus Was Born”
Young the Giant have released their new song “Titus Was Born.”
Owen – “Settled Down”
Owen’s new song “Settled Down” can be found below.
Descendents – “Victim of Me” Video
Descendents have released their new video for “Victim of Me.”
Albums in Stores – June 17th, 2016
This week sees the release of the new Sherwood album, Mogwai, and Mitski — three albums I think are worth giving a look. If you hit read more you can see all the releases we have in our calendar for the week. Hit the quote bubble to access our forums and talk about what came out today, what albums you picked up, and to make mention of anything we may have missed.
Thrice Announce Fall Tour
Thrice have announced a headlining tour with support from LaDispute and Nothing, Nowhere. All of the dates can be found below.
Two Door Cinema Club – “Are We Ready? (Wreck)”
Two Door Cinema Club have released their new song “Are We Ready? (Wreck).” The song comes from the band’s upcoming album, Gameshow, which will be released this October and is now up for pre-order.