Review: The Menzingers – Everything I Ever Saw

The Menzingers - Everything I Ever Saw

The eighth studio album from the Scranton, PA punk rockers The Menzingers is called Everything I Ever Saw and it alludes to the band taking a look back at just how far they’ve come both personally and professionally. On the opening song of “Chance Encounters” lead singer Greg Barnett offers, “So sick of being lonely, do you want to get to know me?” as a way of inviting the audience into his world, headspace, and overall outlook on life. Their previous record of Some Of It Was True was filled with folk punk songs about heartache, growing up, and finding your place in a world that doesn’t seem to make sense. Everything I Ever Saw finds The Menzingers at a comfortable stage of their music career and with the creative freedom to try just about whatever they’d like to do. It’s an enjoyable listening experience from front to back, and the singles released thus far do a solid job of encapsulating the direction the band took here. By finding solace at this point in their collective lives, Everything I Ever Saw reignites the flame burning inside the band as they reflect on their youth while still accelerating their growth as storytellers and accomplished songwriters.

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Fashn – “Continuation” (Video Premiere)

Fashn

Today I’m so excited to bring everyone the video premiere of the latest single from Fashn, the NYC-based post-punk project of duo Thomas Peters and Julius Dolls. Blending gothic post-punk, modern indie rock, electronica, shoegaze, and darkwave pop, ”Continuation” carries a cinematic, coming-of-age intensity. If you’re enjoying the music video, please consider supporting this band here.

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Review: Social Distortion – Born To Kill

Social Distortion - Born To Kill

There is a real sense of urgency and purpose on the eighth studio album from Social Distortion. Born To Kill was co-produced by frontman and primary songwriter, Mike Ness, and Dave Sardy (Fall Out Boy, Bad Suns) and the new music marks Social Distortion’s first full-length record in 15 years. While the predecessor of Hard Times & Nursery Rhymes seemed comfortable in doing a “victory lap” of the band’s historic career, Born To Kill knocks the listener on their ass and showcases that Mike Ness and his bandmates have plenty left in the tank. When speaking on the multi-year delay between records, Ness shared, “Although this record is out, I’m going to continue the process of writing so maybe there won’t be such a large gap between records. Even when the record’s done, it doesn’t mean the creativity of writing is.” With material this strong, it’s a great sign that we can expect even more Social Distortion in the near future.

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