Influenced in part by the gritty industrialization of Van Nuys, Calif., The Knitts have finally got around to producing a full length debut that digs deeper than their previous Brit Pop musings. The new record, Retreat, pushes past previous outings by capturing the energy of performances.
Nowhere is this more apparent than their single "Sorry Sonny," currently representing Retreat on Soundcloud. The track makes a bold impression, an easy harmonic groove and catchy refrain. Look for it on digital formats March 3 via Knitting Factory Records. In the interim, enjoy some their grittier works from Simple Folk EP. LHRS: 3.2
Los Angeles post-hardcore veterans Senses Fail are releasing their new acoustic EP, In Your Absence on March 3. Two of the five tracks are already making the rounds with "Jets To Peru" especially promising. "Lost and Found is a much quieter classic, sad and sappy vocals that will make you long for the original.
Overall, what really works is that the band has come full circle, putting out songs that are throwback to their older style. Somehow they manage to connect with mostly the same weight as the original cuts, especially "Jets To Peru," a perfectly cast post punk acoustic ballad. LHRS: 3.2
Since their formation in 2012, Dangerkids has dished out a dynamite blend of rock, post-hardcore and rap. Five years later, the band has come an even longer way from their roots in Dayton, Ohio to produce some catchy alt-metal tracks that are sometimes reminiscent of the stuff other bands put out a decade ago.
Blacklist_ is enjoyable — especially for fans who waited too long for a followup — and maddening — in that they don't always feel original. The opening track "Kill Everything," "Things Could Be Different," and "blacklist–" are the best. Check out "Summoner's Rift" too. LHRS: 3.2
Japandroids released something steadier and more mature anthem-heavy album, but not so much that they can't carry on their reputation for being in tune and accessible. The more punk-commited mixes are missed, but these eight crushing stadium-sized tracks will complete their shows in ways their older material never did.
Many people will tell you to start with the opening track "Near To The Wild Heart Of Life" because of the party-anthem chorus, but its "No Known Drink Or Drug" that earned our admiration. Even so, every track works well enough, start to finish. LHRS: 3.2
These make up four our frontrunners, but there is plenty of more music out there this week. Honorable mentions with links: Lady in Blue by Color You, Things Are Right with You by Cloud Nothings, The Trigger Complex by - T.S.O.L., and Modern Ruin by Frank Carter & The Rattlesnakes. All on iTunes.
There aren't many holiday EPs that can preserve their shelf lives after the season, but that is what makes Whole Again by Front Porch Step a stunning four-track set. Only one of the tunes, I'll Be Home For Christmas, is a cover of the classic and brilliant original by Bing Crosby. It's a no-nonsense solid showcase of Jake McElfresh's vocal talent. He joins some cover greats.
Aside from the classic cover, it's the remaining three acoustic originals put out by McElfresh to kick off his first headline tour that are timeless. The emotive musician from Newark, Ohio, reinforces his ability to deliver impassioned lyrics accompanied by the twang of well-played punk acoustic.
Whole Again is a sharply written set of acoustic originals.
The EP opens with A Lovely Mess, an unapologetic admission of trying to be a better person for the one he loves. Like the title suggests, the lyrical imagery isn't idealistic. He sees neither himself nor her as perfect — just perfect for each other — to make their union a lovely mess.
The song does a solid job at capturing the sentiment without being sappy. It also tempers some of the helpless infatuation and devastating loss that made up much of the material in his debut album Aware. All in all, McElfresh is all about punk intensity with a classic singer-songwriter consideration.
In this one song, McElfresh also proves that he has much more material waiting in the wings. Sure, he might only know a little more than six chords, hate playing acoustic, and consider most of his music as poems put to a chord progression, but he also manages to be authentic when he sings about human frailty, missteps, and longing for something better.
The second track, Heaven Sent, underscores what he does best — matching a light acoustical melody with heart-wrenching lyrics. It's a breakup and regret it track with some teeth, made even more memorable with the addition of guest vocalist Ace Enders. The delivery between the two vocalists turns the track into a duet of understanding loss.
Whole Again is considerably stronger, starting off as another sorrowful tale about a relationship reaching a crescendo of completion. The sorrow on the front end is empathy over what the girl endured as someone who attempted suicide. But what makes the track truly stand out is the awareness that as much as he helped her through a difficult time, it was she who really helped him become whole.
At times, Front Porch Step feels like blues brought into a modern format, and there may be some basis to it behind the music. McElfresh was first introduced to blues and country by his father before his parents split. The separation took a toll on what he describes as an especially troubled childhood.
Eventually, he found straight edge as a means to find direction in his life. But where his wholeness truly seems to have taken hold is when his Island Of The Misfit Boy video introduced him to hundreds of kids who feel the same way and an equal amount of kicking him in the ass to say life isn't nearly as hard as they have it.
Whole Again by Front Porch Step Hits 6.8 On The Liquid Hip Richter Scale.
McElfresh clearly has some growth ahead to diversify his material and delivery, but that isn't the real point of his music. What makes him such a worthwhile listen is that you can hear that he truly loves life now even if he had to come through some hardship to do it.
The idea that he is still wants to write about where he came from, giving other wayward kids someone to relate to and perhaps find some hope for future, is admirable. But perhaps even better, McElfresh never thought for a moment that his record would sell. Pure Noise rightly felt otherwise.
You can download Whole Again from Front Porch Step from iTunes. Whole Again (EP) is also available from Amazon. You can find the Front Porch Step library of music at FYE. For upcoming shows, visit Facebook.
From the very first track, What's In The Box, it's clear Four Year Strong wants to fire up their 5-track EP like a full length. It's a big, explosive opener to showcase their unapologetic melodic-hardcore-pop punk juggernaut in a song that plainly states their drive.
What's In The Box is about relentlessly pursuing an artist's vision regardless of any pushback and punches. Those things, they promise, will only make them stronger. It's compelling as a tightly written, sharply delivered composition, but what truly makes it stand out is that the band delivers it as convincingly as they could have ten years ago.
That's largely the point. Dan O'Conner (guitar/vocals), Alan Day (guitar/vocals), and Jake Massucco (drummer) might not be young punks from Doherty Memorial High School anymore, but they can lay down an onslaught of noise. Joe Weiss (bass) too, of course. What's In The Box is everything anyone might expect from the Worcester foursome since the departure of Josh Lyford.
Go Down In History shaves years off Four Year Strong.
Along with the opener, title track Go Down In History epitomizes the band's relentless determination to make their mark. They pursue it with their eyes wide open. The lyrics grab hold of the concept that all our days are numbered so we have to make them count. There isn't time to waste looking back.
The message is rock solid optimism that the best is ahead. And they deliver those lines perfectly in the most anthemic track on album. Even people who see Four Year Strong as a more pop punk band will note that they've broken away from the hallmarks of the genre. They're too busy living to whine about anything.
As good as Go Down In History is, the best track on the album leans even more on melodic hardcore. Tread Lightly is a take-on-all-challenges track that catches the band between heartbreak and another breath. It's in those moments, when someone has dragged you down, that you recall all those people who have always stood behind you.
Tred Lightly is the most intricate composition in EP, with 90 degree turns held together by the melody and soaring chorus. It will easily be added to the short list of best songs ever written by the band. There isn't a stitch that could be improved upon.
Living Proof Of A Stubborn Youth and So You're Saying There's A Chance... fall right line with the rest of the EP. Living Proof is some poignant and upbeat wisdom from someone looking back on their life. It's a refreshing take on hindsight being 20-20, with an authentic twist. Four Year Strong takes pride in the fact they've survived but some steps on the path they took might be best avoided. You can't get more honest than that.
You're Saying There's A Chance... is a brilliant call out from Dumb And Dumber. Without the context of the film, someone might find a bit of envy in the tone as O'Conner and Day call out the challenges that anyone in the audience might be facing and then saying they would love to have that once again. But within that context, it takes on the shape of a shake-off song with the most memorable lines a nice bit of soaring sarcasm. Take your pick. You'll want to sing along anyway.
Go Down In History By Four Year Strong Pushes 8.1 On The Liquid Hip Richter Scale.
More than anything else, Go Down In History positions the band and its new label to take these five tracks on tour for a few months before heading back into the studio to produce a proper full lenghth. There is no question that Four Year Strong has the chops to make it as a foursome rather than replace Lyford outright.
Go Down In History by Four Year Strong is available on Amazon. You can also download the album from iTunes. For a little more, Go Down In History is also available as a CD from Barnes & Noble. Facebook lists tour information.
State Champs are in an odd place. They could be pushing pop punk around but let the genre push it around instead. This might be all right because the band doesn't pull any punches, but let's be honest.
Almost every punch is above the belt, making this a cleaner release than the Overslept EP last year. The sound is so crisp some reviewers have called it a model pop punk album, which is partly why it took a few extra weeks to review it.
The Finer Things deserves to be reviewed, just not without a caveat of what could have been. The Finer Things would have benefited from the band's earlier grit. On the plus side of that equation, it does give frontman Derek Discanio a forum for his voice. He can sing.
The Finer Things is an outing that is fantastic and familiar.
Some of the direction had to come from producer Steve Klein (New Found Glory) and maybe even engineer Sam Pura (The Story So Far, The American Scene). Both of these behind-the-band men know the genre well enough and how to make someone like Discanio ascend while retaining attitude.
Elevated is easily the most talked about track for exactly that reason. It's a memorable opener that sets the bar for Discanio pleading with some solid one liners against catchy, hook-laden musicianship. It's a great song and it sounds even better live in the tiniest possible venue.
Expect good times, even if Elevated is a disgruntled break-it-off song. Discanio delivers it all convincingly enough, discontent because he hasn't had a chance to plead his case. It's emotive, opening up and letting some weakness out.
As good as the song is, the lyrics in Deadly Conversation are easier to relate to. In this track,
Discanio turns the tables and takes charge as he comes to terms with it. He recognizes that the break up was painful, but doesn't brood about it. The break up is bad, he more or less sings, but not so bad when measured against life.
There isn't too much to hear in the next three tracks. While the chords in Hard To Please take a stronger texture, Discanio doesn't adapt enough to the instrumentation. It's listenable while also being a missed opportunity to push his diversity. Simple Existence almost falls in these three as passable.
It takes some time to reach Remedy, which originally appeared on Overslept. Listening to both releases back to back, I lean toward the original dirtier recording. But each version is good and different enough that owning both is a bonus.
It could have come out earlier, but anyone who enjoyed the EP last year won't be disappointed. The same can be said for the recast Critical. The new recording pulls out the vocals, making them significantly more prominent. Consider a coin toss between the two. Both are great tracks.
The bottom half of the album, from Remedy on, does everything you want the band to do. Nothing's Wrong has a sharply defiant tone and a smart chorus. Mind Bottled opens up possibilities of what might be next. Easy Enough ends with a note of empathy and resolution.
The Finer Things By State Champs Wins 5.1 On The Liquid Hip Richter Scale.
All in all, it's a fine label debut that will give the band more confidence to pick up where they started last year. It's also a great excuse to listen to their first self-produced LP in 2011 and self-produced EP in 2010. You'll likely find a balanced sound among the band members, giving Tony Diaz, Tyler Szalkowski, William Goodermote, and Evan Ambrosio a balanced distinction.
You can find The Finer Things by State Champs on Amazon. The album is also available from Barnes & Noble and can be downloaded from iTunes. Check out Overslept too. State Champs are currently booked with a heavy tour schedule. Check out show dates on Facebook.
There are plenty of pop punk bands trying to catch to a break. Many of them never will. Forever Came Calling (a.k.a. FCC) isn't one of those, even if the guys who make up this band didn't know it last year.
I know the story. It's the one of several near-bust band tales chronicled on No Room For Rockstars - The Vans Warped Tour. Although the four piece from Twentynine Palms, Calif., did catch one small break by the end of the documentary filmed in 2010 — being asked to play inside the fence instead of hocking self-produced CDs for gas money — it wasn't enough to know what came next.
What came next, of course, was being picked up by Pure Noise Records to produce a split 7-inch with label mate Handguns last November (a few months ahead of the documentary release). But what I didn't know is that Pure Noise Records also pressed them into the studio for a debut album.
Contender captures the right title for Forever Came Calling.
There is no doubt in my mind that they deserve it. While they're still too wet behind the ears to be champions, they make great contenders. Singer-guitarist Joe Candelaria, especially, is all heart when he belts out some heady and abrasive tunes to an audience that isn't always sure what he is singing about.
Seriously. One review I stumbled onto reads: "Who knows who Bukowski is? No one, but they sure inspired a great punk song." Seriously? Let me help the reviewer out. He's some guy who once said "Baby, I'm a genius but nobody knows it but me." And apparently Candelaria. It's their best track.
If Bukowski Could See Me Now parallels the author's experience with everybody. Candelaria has that tenacity too. The original band members, which included John Swaba (bass), funded their first six West Coast tours with day jobs. Bryce Esquivel (drums) and and Ron Grieger (guitar) aren't slouches either.
Front Porch Sunrise packs a punch because of where it comes from — an impassioned Candelaria who carries self-doubt in his back pocket as he marches on anyway. He had to. It was the only way he could find happiness. And it is this willful approach to life that kicks in an intense connection to anyone who will listen.
Sure, some of their music fits in with everything else on the pop punk circuit, but not all of it. Forever Came Calling is underpinned by sharp lyrics and some progressiveness. Once you get past the first two tracks, which are good but not nearly long enough to stick (barely averaging 60 seconds), Harbors and The Office lead into another standout.
Ides is permission to make mistakes. It's loud and almost angry as Candelaria growls that every experience changes you. If it wasn't for I'll Be Better I Promise, the rest of the album would be near perfect for these up-and-coming pop punk talents.
It's not that I'll Be Better I Promise is bad, but it is the only semi-apologetic track on the album. Take it away, and everything from Ides down — Bukowski, Front Porch, Contender, and Dead Poets Honor — are as convincing as they convey conviction.
All in all the album is packed with energy and aggression. I don't even mind that there isn't much diversity in the arrangements. Most of the songs are short enough to always leave you wanting more. I've looped it plenty of times.
Contender ByForever Came Calling Breaks 7.1 On The Liquid Hip Richter Scale.
Contender is everything that the band needed to not become "that band from the documentary." It was pretty clear they had talent on what little was shown of them alongside some bigger names. There was also no question whether they had enough heart. Contender puts any other doubts to rest. Poof. They're gone.
Contender by Forever Came Calling can be found on iTunes. You can order the CD from Barnes & Noble or download Contender from Amazon. You can check their tour dates on Facebook. And don't worry, this time they have their gas money covered.
After several EPs, splits, and false starts, The Story So Far is finally out with an LP from Pure Noise Records. When I heard of this pop punk band last year, I didn't expect much. They're named after a New Found Glory song. The heavy influence is apparent.
Originally The Story So Far came across more pop than punk on its earliest split with Maker, but the debut album Under Soil And Dirt changes that up a bit since their beginnings in 2008. It's a welcome surprise too, especially since many pop punk bands have sagged lately.
All in all, it is the added angst that works for me — straightforward songs belted out with as much angst as possible. It feels more authentic too, as most of the members have exited high school and started getting on with their lives. Two of the members don't even live in Walnut Creek anymore.
Under Soil And Dirt twists pop punk into punk pop.
Perhaps the distance between the longtime friends is a blessing for them in disguise. The entire album was written ad hoc, with three of the members — Kevin Geyer (guitar/vocals), William Levy (guitar), and Ryan Torf (drums) — jamming together, making demos. The demos were then passed off to Kelen Capener (bass/vocals) and Parker Cannon (vocals), who added their parts.
"When we went into Panda, we had no idea what Kelen or Parker had written, everything was a surprise for us," Levy told Pop-Punk's Not Dead in January. "It was a treat most of the time."
They weren't the only ones surprised at times. Capener was also in the dark until showing up to the studio. They didn't know what might have to change once they sat down with Sam Pura at The Panda Studios. What did change, we many never know. But what we do know is how it all turned out.
No, they haven't lost their shirts. But finding any quality performances online is painful, especially with other bands claiming the same name (and they are not nearly as good.) Pure Noise Records has posted Mt. Diablo with a title card (along with some other songs), which better represents.
Mt. Diablo isn't the only track that catches. Quicksand grinds away on how every day pulls people apart and drags you under. Daughters, for a song about a drunk girl, has the biggest instrumental depth on the album. Swords And Pens is about a relationship bust up. And States And Minds, ripped in under one minute, is an engaging lead to the entire album.
All 11 tracks lend something to the album (some more than others). If you're looking for a theme, it's mostly about how every one of us has to face the daily grind, how that changes and tears us apart, and how, when it's all over, we all end up under soil and dirt. The title is taken from a few lines in High Regard.
Under Soil And Dirt by The Story So Far Buries 7.1 On The Liquid Hip Richter Scale.
Not every song is as sharp as those mentioned. Paceholder replaces angst with whininess. Rally Cap is all about regret and reminiscing (yawn). And I'm mixed on Roam, which is a fine song but much less original than other tracks.
Still, I have to give these five guys a hand for an album with more scorching moments than not. The debut is solid, and some folks are already looking to The Story So Far to keep pop punk alive. Under Soil And Dirt by The Story So Far is on iTunes. You can also find Under Soil and Dirt on Amazon.
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