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Album Review: Sainte - Smile, and Wave

Released: June 30, 2017

Sainte, the newest endeavor of members of We Are The In Crowd, has delivered what may be the best EP of this summer. Smile, and Wave incorporates witty lyrics with killer vocals and funky music to create clean, fun songs. By incorporating just the right amount of bite and punch into each song to convey the sarcasm behind Sainte’s colorful image, the lyrics don’t detract from the energy each track has, but enhance it. The passion and feeling put into each track is reminiscent of Paramore’s self-titled album (2013). The album’s slowest track, “Lighthouse”, does stand out; it is the only song that lacks the EP’s characteristic beat and energy. However, this makes it even more memorable. Although not the best track of Smile, and Wave, it creates dynamic movement and keeps listeners engaged through the end of the seven-song track list. Overall, Sainte has left listeners hungry for more with Smile, and Wave and has carved them a path to excellence.

Rating: ★★★★★

For Fans Of: We Are The In Crowd, Paramore, Tonight Alive

Listen To: “Technicolor”, “White Lies”

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Album Review: Rozwell Kid - Precious Art

Released: June 23, 2017

Alternative Press once described Rozwell Kid of playing nerd rock akin to that of Weezer. Upon hearing Precious Art, I can understand the comparison. Like Weezer’s classic Blue Album, Precious Art has a certain laid back, youthful feeling that is difficult to label. However, this does get away from them at times. Tracks like “Michael Keaton” repeat themselves over and over in an attempt to build tension, but lack the dynamics and technique to hold the listener’s attention. Moreover, tracks like “South By” and “Wish Man”, both less than one minute long, are arguably the highlights of the record, and leave the audience wishing for more of the emotion and energy of the tracks. While the majority of the album is musically interesting and captivating, it lacks the emotion and passion of an amazing album. Songs begin to feel stagnant and lose their power after a short period due to the lack of energy put into the vocals. Sadly, this is the album’s true downfall. With added energy and pop, Precious Art could be amazing. Without it, it isn’t terrible; it is average and, at times, forgettable. Rozwell Kid has created an album of background music without creating anything truly noteworthy.

Rating: ★★★☆☆

For Fans Of: Foxing, Tiny Moving Parts, Chumped

Listen To: “Boomerang”, “Blow It”, “South By”

Spotify - Bandcamp - iTunes

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Album Anniversary: Paramore - Riot!

Released: June 12, 2007

As the forerunner of female-led punk pop groups, Paramore has been riding high for 10 years since the release of their sophomore album, Riot!. This rapid rise to fame can be attributed to the sheer energy and passion that Paramore bleeds on almost every song on the album. Mixed with this youthful energy is the passion and emotion to back it – songs like “Hallelujah” and “Miracle” showcase this directly, the drive and passion Paramore has for the music they make. The true star of the record is lead singer Hayley Williams’ soaring vocals. Her tone is controlled, letting loose at the emotional peak of each track and demonstrating the raw feeling she is putting into each song. To me, this is what has truly pushed Paramore into the limelight. Not only is Williams a frontrunner for women’s representation in a male-dominated music scene, but her immense talent as a singer and songwriter make her basically untouchable. Overall, the album is incredibly solid; my only complaint is that there isn’t more of it.

Rating: ★★★★☆

For Fans Of: Tonight Alive, The Academy Is..., Hey Monday

Listen To: “Hallelujah”, “Misery Business”, “Let The Flames Begin”

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Album Review: Broadside - Paradise

Released: June 16, 2017

Broadside is back with their sophomore album, a sophisticated-yet-raw take on a pop-punk record. Reminiscent of State Champs’ Around the World and Back, Paradise begins with cliché lyrics and overused pop-punk riffs that feel stale; however, the album picks up after a few songs and demonstrates the breadth of Broadside’s talent. From songs like “Tunnel Vision”, whose energy is akin to that of Sleeping With Sirens’, to “Summer Stained”, an acoustic ballad that turns into a gut-wrenching, emotional breakdown in its conclusion, Paradise has the makings of a brilliant album – although it has its shortcomings. I wanted desperately to give this album a five-star rating – not only did it blow my expectations out of the water, but it made me want to hear more from Broadside and listen to the songs over and over again. However, certain elements of the album strike me as stale and poorly placed; the largest error I can find is the decision to finish the record on ukulele-driven track “I Love You, I Love You. It’s Disgusting”. While the song itself is well-produced and catchy, it is so contrasting to the other tracks that it feels like an afterthought, tacked to the end of an otherwise cohesive album. In addition, earlier tracks on the album felt as though they were made to be hits and follow the “pop-punk formula”, which just created songs that sounded inorganic and forced. Consequently, I could not give this album a five out of five; however, I predict a bright future for Broadside and hope to hear more from them soon.

Rating: ★★★★☆

For Fans Of: State Champs, WSTR, Neck Deep

Listen To: “Summer Stained”, “Tunnel Vision”, “Hidden Colors”

Spotify - iTunes

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Album Review: Portugal. The Man - Woodstock

Released: June 16, 2017

Upon its release, I was excited to hear Portugal. The Man’s newest release. Although I was fairly unfamiliar with their previous work, their newest single, “Feel It Still” had caught my attention and kept it for the week leading up the album’s release. However, I was underwhelmed by the album as a whole. “Feel It Still” is by far the highlight of the album, and acts as the peak of the piece, bookended with mediocre-at-best songs that are just plain strange. Although many have intriguing elements, like the instrumentation in “Tidal Waves” or the badass, rocking rhythm of “Rich Friends”, as an album Woodstock is not something I would choose to listen to in its entirety. It feels as though Portugal. The Man may be trying too hard to fit in with the “cool kids” by adding brooding synth and production to their songs, when their true calling is the energetic, pop-rock style of “Feel It Still”. This lack of succinct direction leaves listeners wishing for more from Portugal. The Man.

Rating: ★★★☆☆

For Fans Of: Minus The Bear, Broken Bells, Cold War Kids

Listen To: “Feel It Still”, “Rich Friends”

Spotify - iTunes

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Album Review: Rebecca Karpen - My Little Legs Can’t Keep Up

Released: July 30, 2016

Little Legs has an impressive amount of cohesion for being Rebecca Karpen’s debut. The rhythms and melodies of the songs flow together nicely, although this feels like monotony rather than fluidity at points in the 4 track progression. On the EP, most of her songs utilize minor chord progressions with melancholy, dispassionate and angry lyrics to match; in this way, “Temple in Athens” stands out in stark contrast. Its chords are light and provide a pleasant divergence from the other tracks, and when paired with her strong vocals and caustic message, the song is the true highlight of the EP. Others, like the title track, have a strong foundation, but lack the execution of “Athens”. At a little over 10 minutes long, the eponymous final track uses mounting intensity and frustration to build tension until it screeches to a stop just after minute 8 to return to its original stupor. This relationship is similar to a tactic used often in musical theatre: a character sings themselves hysterical, then calms and thinks more rationally about their situation, returning to their original tempo and mood. While this characterization looks good on paper, its execution leaves something to be desired in its production. This same sentiment can be applied to the entirety of My Little Legs Can’t Keep Up. Overall, Rebecca Karpen proves with her first EP that she has potential to rock the alternative music scene with her powerhouse vocals and caustic lyrics in due time.

Rating: ★★★☆☆

Listen To: “Temple in Athens”

Bandcamp

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Album Anniversary: The Used - Lies for the Liars

Released: May 22, 2007

Taking a step back from the characteristic early-2000’s punk-pop of their first album, Lies for the Liars takes on a whole new direction for the used. The use of string instrumentation, choral singers, and more dynamic vocals creates a whole new experience for fans of The Used. However, lyrically, the album lacks cohesion. “Pretty Handsome Awkward”, “Hospital”, and “Liar, Liar” are all targeted attacks of hatred, while interspersed tracks like “Earthquake”, “Find A Way”, and finale track “Smother Me” are poignant love songs. This brings a disjointed feel to the album and takes away from the fluency of the music and its translation song to song. Shown through lyrics rather than music, each song builds to a climatic second half, showing the intensity of feeling in each track. Overall, although Lies lacks unity as an album, each individual song feels like a hit and leaves a mark on its listener.

Rating: ★★★★☆

For Fans Of: AFI, Billy Talent, My Chemical Romance

Listen To: “Hospital”, “Paralyzed”, “Find A Way”

Spotify - iTunes - Amazon

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Album Anniversary: Something Corporate - Leaving Through The Window

Released: May 7, 2002

Upon their arrival on the pop-punk scene in the early 2000’s, Something Corporate quickly rose to cult fame and notoriety due to their catchy, witty take on post-emo anthems. Leaving Through the Window is an excellent example of this. Although a few songs play on stereotypical pop-punk tropes (the manic-pixie-dream-girl of “Punk Rock Princess”, for instance), it also holds profound wisdom and reflection, highlighted in the nostalgic “Cavanaugh Park”. Although a handful of songs tend to bleed together and begin to sound eerily similar to one another, they bear enough difference to one another to remain exciting and captivating throughout its 58 minute play time. Singer Andrew McMahon’s vocals aren’t the best, but pack the sincere-yet-angry punch that gives the record an edge not often found in pop-punk records. The album packs its hardest punches in its beginning and end, starting out with fan favorites “Punk Rock Princess” and “If You C Jordan” and ending on the mellow, profound notes of “Globes and Maps”. Of McMahon’s many projects, Something Corporate may not be the most refined, but that doesn’t stop it from being his best. Mixing catchy choruses with complex verses, Leaving Through the Window is a truly timeless record that feels like a home away from home.

Rating: ★★★★☆

For Fans Of: Dashboard Confessional, Jack’s Mannequin, Yellowcard

Listen To: “If You C Jordan”, “Punk Rock Princess”, “You’re Gone”

Spotify - iTunes - Amazon

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Concert Review: A Lesson in Romantics 10-Year Anniversary Tour

Date: April 30, 2017

Venue: The Crofoot Ballroom, Pontiac, MI

Overall Rating: (★★★★☆)

Opening the night was Milestones (★★★☆☆), whose mix of angry, driving riffs and bass-led tracks got the crowd enticed in the show from the start. The band did a good job of introducing the bands to come, while simultaneously focusing on playing their music and warming up the fans and getting everyone moving.

After Milestones came Knuckle Puck (★★★★☆). Although I was unsure how a crowd of Mayday Parade fans would react to Knuckle Puck, a band with few similar musical characteristics, there were many fans in the room (myself included) who kept the energy high during the second set. Although I wish Knuckle Puck had played less from their older releases and more from their latest album, 2015’s Copacetic, they had a strong set full of high-energy tracks and mellow interludes to make their set more dynamic. The true highlight was the final song, “Pretense”, in which the room shook with the volume of people singing along.

Finally came Mayday Parade (★★★★☆), playing their debut album A Lesson In Romantics in full. Playing in album order allowed them to open with major hit “Jamie All Over”, catching the attention and heart of everyone in the room. The subsequent set was full of energy and passion, as though this wasn’t a 10-year tour at all but rather the first time they were ever playing these songs. The resounding poignancy of “Miserable At Best”, played with just piano and drums (and sung by the entire crowd) halfway through acted as a marker between the high voltage first half of the album and the decrescendo of the second. After finishing the album in full (and evoking some tears during “You Be The Anchor…”), the band moved into phase two of their set, playing selected tracks from their subsequent albums. Although they could not match the energy of the band’s debut, they still had punch and kept the room energized for the remainder of the night. Overall, even after 10 years Mayday Parade has shown not only their versatility and resilience, but that their passion for the music they make and the people that consume it has never wavered.

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Album Review: COIN - How Will You Know if You Never Try

Released: April 21, 2017

Full of upbeat songs perfect for a day on the beach or a night out with friends, COIN’s How Will You Know is the perfect album for summer. Every song on the album is catchy and danceable, making the album accessible for fans of any genre. How Will You Know does a great job of touching on both the driving side of their sound and the smoother, gentler side of it as well, creating a dynamic and pleasant album for the listener to enjoy. Particularly, “Lately II” starts out with a much slower beat, transitioning in its second half into the albums truest four-to-the-floor song, and although the transition feels jerky and is not necessarily top notch, it exemplifies the albums contrasting nature. Overall, COIN’s sophomore release is consistently catchy and ready for days in the sun and nights under the stars.

Rating: ★★★★☆

For Fans Of: Vinyl Theatre, Hippo Campus, Magic Man

Listen To: “Feeling”, “Boyfriend”, “Heart Eyes”

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Album Review: Have Mercy - Make the Best of It

Released: April 21, 2017

Maryland indie-punks Have Mercy is back with their third album, Make the Best of It. Mixing a sound reminiscent of their older albums with an older, alternative edge, they managed to create an epic, story-filled creation in the short time of 40 minutes. Jam packed with details and musical and lyrical complexity, each song feels as though it has a story that creates its own part of the larger work. However, a few of the songs feel monotonous and show little differentiation from other songs on the album, as well as tracks from previous Have Mercy releases. Even given this, though, the album maintains its uniqueness and has countless points of experimentation and intriguing details, heard in the eerie, windy turmoil of “Good Christian Man” and the mounting intensity of “Ghost”. Overall, Have Mercy is back with what may be their most complex record yet, full of experimentation, but not too far from the sound fans have come to love.

Rating: ★★★★☆

For Fans Of: Sorority Noise, Aaron West and the Roaring Twenties, Basement

Listen To: “Ghost”, “Good Christian Man”, “Disagree”

Spotify - iTunes - Bandcamp - Amazon

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Album Anniversary: Midtown - Living Well is the Best Revenge

Released: April 14, 2002

In 2002, Living Well was received with mixed reviews from critics. While praised for its catchy hooks and smooth delivery of nasty lyrics, the album was given mixed reviews for its lack of originality and moreover, it’s lack of defining character. 15 years later, this consensus still stands. Although Midtown’s sophomore release has it’s high moments (bookends “Become What You Hate” and “Find Comfort In Yourself” in particular), it contradicts itself; while it’s 11 tracks all lack originality and distinction from - one another and from similar releases of the time - it simultaneously lacks cohesion. Songs like “Perfect” and “You Should Know” show differentiation from their counterparts on Living Well, but this does not benefit them – in fact, it turns them into the albums lowest points. Poorly placed keyboards and cliché lyrics create a stew of poor execution and add a juvenile feeling to the record. Given this, the album also lays solid grounds, not only for Midtown but for future pop-punk bands, who employ similar constructions and tactics as Midtown have, for success in blending crunchy guitar with caustic, nasally vocals in the most endearing way. In short, Living Well is the Best Revenge has stood the test of time due to its place as a paving stone for bands to come, and remains an album with strong foundation but something more to be desired.

Rating:  ★★★☆☆

For Fans Of: The Starting Line, Saves The Day, Story of the Year

Listen To: “Become What You Hate”, “Find Comfort In Yourself”, “There’s No Going Back”

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Album Review: Eric King - Eric King EP

Released: January 25, 2017

Eric King’s recent EP, the eponymous Eric King, is not in my usual musical wheelhouse. Definitely closer to a rap EP than an indie EP, I was apprehensive at first of reviewing an album of songs in a genre I do not personally listen to very often. However, I was pleasantly surprised. Although it has its flaws, Eric King has its high points as well. For instance, “Boston City Dreams” uses interesting sounds and samples reminiscent of an arcade game to present its message, giving a feeling of nostalgia and youth to the track. “Lift Me out Of the Dark and Into the Light” is infectiously catchy and never drags along, even given its 6 minutes playtime. However, these praises do not wholly reflect the EP. Its overall production is shoddy and could use improvement; this is especially evident in “The Greatest” as the volume seems to constantly shift between too loud and too soft, all in one play. Another lower point for the record are King’s sung vocals. While his rapping skills are well honed, his sung vocals stand out as nasally and sound out of tune against his music and other background vocals. This happens throughout the record and seems to escalate in intensity from track 1 to track 4. Overall, Eric King shows effort and zeal on the part of its creator, but requires some fine tuning and tweaking to reach its full potential.

Rating: ★★☆☆☆

Listen To: “Trillionaire”

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Concert Review: State Champs

Date: April 8, 2017

Venue: St. Andrew’s Hall (Detroit, MI)

Overall Rating: (★★★★☆)

The first opener of the night, Don Broco (★★★★☆), was a band I was familiar with but not a proper fan of. After seeing their live performance, however, I look forward to delving deeper into the British band’s catalog. As far as openers go, Don Broco did a great job of exciting the crowd and properly starting the night with songs to dance to and enjoy, regardless of whether you knew them or not.

Second on the bill was With Confidence (★★★★☆), who I was more familiar with prior to the show. With a style closer to that of headliners State Champs, the crowd evidently was more familiar with the band’s music and enjoyed their set immensely. Although not as engaging with the audience as Don Broco, the band made up for it in performance value, playing a short but sweet set created a high energy buzz throughout the room. Even technical difficulties before their set couldn’t put a damper on With Confidence’s energetic and fiery performance.

The final opener of the night was Against The Current (★★★☆☆). Although lead singer Chrissy Costanza’s banter and interaction with the crowd was entertaining and funny, the band’s performance was a bit lackluster. As someone familiar with the band, but not with their music, their performance was entertaining but did not entice me into further exploring their music, as was the case with Don Broco. However, their quirky, electro-pop infusion played well with the crowd, creating a needed lull between the livewire performances of With Confidence and State Champs.

Finally, State Champs (★★★★★) put on what may be the best show of their career on this, their “first proper headline tour”, according to lead singer Derek Discanio. Playing a mix of newer songs from their sophomore album as well as select favorites from their debut, State Champs brought everything they had to the stage. Taking no time between songs, the band rocked their way through a hefty 17 tracks, giving only a few short interludes for banter. However, the crowd was glad for the constant music and spent the whole night moshing, dancing, and carrying on in the best way for State Champs. Rumored to be their last proper tour before beginning work on their third album, State Champs are truly at the peak of their live career.

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Album Review: The Maine - Lovely Little Lonely

Released: April 7, 2017

The Maine is back with a new record, just in time for summer. Full of fun and upbeat jams, Lovely Little Lonely is a sure crowd pleaser. The album as a whole has the sound of a 90’s movie soundtrack, akin to that of Empire Records, telling a story in a slightly disjointed way as it rocks through its catalog. “How Do You Feel?” specifically is an anthem for every kid looking for who they are and who they’re supposed to be, told so eloquently by The Maine’s lyricist, John O’Callaghan. However, even with these bright moments are shortcomings as well. The albums three interludes, “Lovely”, “Little”, and “Lonely”, each feel out of place in the album, taking its pace from upbeat and exciting to a tamer, gentler place, rather than keeping the energy higher. This creates a strange roller coaster of tempo for the whole piece, but when taken as individual songs, the album still reigns supreme. The album also utilizes transitions between songs expertly, creating drum beats and rhythms that mimic each other to create one large piece that flows together, furthering them from the disjointed nature created by the ever changing pace of the record. Overall, The Maine has arguably created one of the best records of their career with Lovely Little Lonely and is on track to have a great era in front of them.

Rating:  ★★★★☆

For Fans Of: All Time Low, Cartel, Forever the Sickest Kids

Listen To: “Black Butterflies and Déjà Vu”, “I Only Wanna Talk To You”, “How Do You Feel?”

Spotify - iTunes - Amazon

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Album Anniversary: The Academy Is... - Santi

Released: April 2, 2007

Santi is the sophomore album by The Academy Is…, formerly of Decaydance (now DCD2) records. Picking up where 2005’s Almost Here leaves off, the album continues with the group’s characteristic pop-influenced-punk sound, while still adding a harsh grit to the mix. The juxtaposition between singles “We’ve Got a Big Mess on Our Hands” and “Everything We Had” (found as well on the P.S. I Love You soundtrack) show just how diverse the album is; this diversity, while overused by some, lends itself well here. William Beckett’s strong, confident vocals shine through on every track and give the album a swagger it flaunts mercilessly. Although receiving both positive and mixed reviews from critics, the album shows growth, ambition, and promise from The Academy Is… and puts the Chicago group on the radar of Warped Tour attendees and stay-at-home fans alike.

Rating: ★★★★☆

For Fans Of: Fall Out Boy, Mayday Parade, Panic! At The Disco

Listen To: “We’ve Got a Big Mess on Our Hands”, “Chop Chop”, “Bulls in Brooklyn”

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Album Anniversary: Taking Back Sunday - Tell All Your Friends

Released: March 25, 2002

Taking Back Sunday’s debut album took the emo scene by storm upon its release in 2002. Tell All Your Friends features classic songs like “Cute Without The E (Cut From The Team)” and “You’re So Last Summer”, which have gone on to become some of the band’s biggest hits. Although not the bands most mature record, it latches on to the early 2000’s angst-filled alternative music scene and plays well with it. The use of back-and-forth vocals creates a sort of dialogue and pairs itself well to the use of simpler power chords and palm-muted guitar. Reminiscent of Brand New and early My Chemical Romance, Taking Back Sunday manages to create an album that can not only stand the test of time, but act as a catalyst for countless other bands to pursue the sound they have evidently perfected on Tell All Your Friends.

Rating: ★★★★★

For Fans Of: The Used, Brand New, My Chemical Romance

Listen To: “The Ballad Of Sal Villanueva”, “Timberwolves At New Jersey”, “You’re So Last Summer”