State Champs: The Finer Things

I was doing some browsing on Twitter today in search of some interesting bands to catch my eye. I’ve fallen into a comfortable nest of listening to rock bands of various sub-genres over the last few weeks, so I’m in a mood for something heavier. Luckily, I stumbled upon a lot of tweets about State Champs. I had never heard of this five-piece New York pop punk band, but I’m glad there’s some Twitter buzz going about them. The Finer Things is their debut CD on Pure Noise Records out officially on Tuesday (10/8).

Elevated kicks off the album in high fashion with the perfect marinade of pop punk and punk rock; the guitars are full of energy and the drums are bouncing on a trampoline in the background. The vocals are some of the best I’ve heard in a new-to-me pop punk band in a long time. I started listening to this album out of curiosity, not really out to write a blog post, but then thirty seconds into this first jam, I realized I had stopped everything I was doing and it had every ounce of my attention. I knew at that time I had to open up a blog post and write out a reaction to this one. This may go down in history – or at least in the best-albums-of-the-year history.

I love a song that’s slow in the beginning and then punches you in the face (Chiodos are pure royalty at this). Deadly Conversation gets in a good fist to your nose before you know it. The guitar work in this jam is mesmerizing. Unless something is really great or I’m specifically listening for it, I don’t pick out certain instruments to listen to in particular (sorry, I don’t play, I’m just here to listen and write) but the guitars in this song had my specific attention more than once for their dedication to the craft.

I can tell pretty instantly that Over The Line will be one of my favorite songs on the album. This song takes pop punk and spins it like a top. There’s a certain frantic, impatient nature to this song that I’m immediately drawn to. Every single instrument is played out almost like someone has pushed the fast-forward button, but the band remains in control and turns it around in their favor and works it the entire way through.

Mind Bottled begins so perfectly, giving vocals a couple of seconds alone before adding in drums and guitars slowly in layers. This song is almost like a roller coaster – it speeds up, slows down, goes for a loop, and sometimes stops you at full halt. It’s really close to perfect. Was it all worth it? I built the highest bridge only to burn it. Was it all worth it? All you love you gave when I returned it.

Easy Enough wraps up the album on cruise control. I feel like the majority of the song was taken down a few notches except for the guitar work during the verses, lending the song a certain imbalance in places that the rest of the instruments have to work to keep things level (hint: they succeed). This is a great note to take out the album on – I would’ve felt weird about the lineup had this song been in the middle of frantic songs. They also do me a great favor and end the album on one note instead of fading out. Thanks, guys. It’s the little things.

This will go down on my favorite albums of 2013 list for sure. I almost feel empty thinking I had no idea this band existed until today. Please do yourself a favor and take a listen to this album. This is what pop punk is all about.

 

Key Tracks
Prepare to Be Noticed (track 4)
Over the Line (track 5)
Mind Bottled (track 9)

Crash! Radio: For You, From the Heart EP

I’m always such a sucker for great bands that are female-fronted, but if you hand me a pop-punk band that’s fronted by a female, I’m putty. Tonight we’re going to have a listen to For You, From the Heart, the brand new EP from Ontario pop-punk band Crash! Radio.

Be With You begins the EP like you’re hearing an old record player or television with some scrambling and tuning before the music kicks in with soft vocals and guitar strums. Instruments are slowly added over the vocals and the sparse guitar until the first verse jumps in front of you. The guitar work takes spotlight by a minute into the song, but then. Oh, but then the song really kicks in when the chorus hits you full in the face. The vocals and the lyrics are so on point that it’s hard to tear your attention away, even on repeat listen. The first chorus melts back into the next verse like soft butter and then floats, giving the song a new dimension after that first chorus. This band also knows how to work a drum kit into the song and inadvertently into your spine. Not only does it hold the song up, but it keeps you  nodding along, almost willing the song along with your mind. The band also doesn’t try for a pesky ending when it’s all said and done – the song just slowly disintegrates into the atmosphere with a guitar still buzzing and the sound of the drums echoing in your heart.

Walk Away makes its entrance next with a softer greeting. Again, the vocals melt into the song that then is layered on top of by other instruments. This song is a powerhouse, point blank. The lyrics mildly remind me of Destiny’s Child’s song Say My Name. The story paints a picture of deceit and a chorus that’s bittersweet. Now I’m here, writing you this song in the hopes that you may sing along to these words that broke my heart and tore me apart, yeah you tore me apart. And I want you to know, I wouldn’t have let you go, I would have loved you so, but now we both end up alone. Lyrics that are relatable in some sense – even if not entirely – are so essential to music’s general being in our lives. Isn’t that what we all want – to be understood in the simplest human sense? Crash! Radio really hits that note with this song.

Happy Hellos Are Sorry Goodbyes wraps the EP up with a song title that I could just eat up. The song delivers on top of the amazing title, giving a great ending vibe. Its lyrics are more upbeat than its predecessor and it has more of a carefree, let your hair down and dance vibe. There’s also a great breakdown that really shows some bass lines which always impresses me considering the largest part of bands don’t really feature the bass as much as they should. The song slows down and then picks right back up like a rocket taking off and soars for the rest of the time.

Even though this EP is just three songs, those three songs really make an impact on you and leave you wanting more. That’s an important part of bands, wanting more. This is definitely a band to keep an eye on. The world needs more kick-ass pop-punk groups with female leads.

If you want to have a listen to this EP, head on over to their Bandcamp page. You can also catch up with Crash! Radio around the internet on Facebook and on Twitter by clicking these links.

I Call Fives: I Call Fives

I feel like my life and my taste in music lately has been so scattered. Everything got derailed a few weeks ago and I’ve had a hard time getting back into the swing of real life. Sometimes you just need to go back to some solid pop-punk. I haven’t written about any great pop-punk bands lately and a certain band has been at the very top of my to-check-out list and I figure I may as well make that a reality. We’re going to have a listen to I Call Fives‘ self-titled disc tonight!

The album blasts out with Late Nights, a track that instantly connects me right into the genre – and then the band at large. This song really reminds me of New Found Glory if they were singing a track by Senses Fail. It’s got the right amount of rage and the right splash of annoyance to really bring it full circle for me. This is a promising start.

Obvious hits me with some lyrics that made me laugh out loud: I’d have to climb into a casket to get as low as you just went. Great pop-punk bands really bring out these zingers and it never fails to amuse or amaze me.

Two Sides of Every Story has to be one of my favorites on the albums. The vocals are strong in other songs, but really seem to be in command in this song. This is a very in-your-face track and I bet it’d be a blast to see live.

We Were Right Together and We Were Wrong Together is a short track, clocking in at one minute nad fifty-nine seconds, but is impactful in that short time. It’s hard to make amends when you turn your back on your friends. Also, can I get a moment of silence for the amazing title? Thank you.

The album wraps up with All You’ve Got Left. While it’s a bit slower than it’s predecessors, it’s a different side of the band that comes off successfully. The guitar work deserves a nod in this one because more than once it caught my attention by itself. The ending of this song, and subsequently the ending of the album, is so perfectly faded out with a repeating line that they couldn’t have had a better ending.

I’m glad I moved this band to the top of my to-listen-to list because this is a fine album. I needed some pop-punk to give me a swift kick in the ass and I would recommend this one with two thumbs up. It’s nothing but solid pop-punk fabric and it’s a raving good time. I don’t think you’ll be disappointed.

 

Key Tracks
Sleep Well (track 11)
Two Sides of Every Story (track 8)
Backup Plan (track 3)

Forever Came Calling: Contender

I think I’ve previously written praise for the blog Fuck Yeah Pop-Punk. Hold on to your pants cause I’m going to do it again in this post. I keep up with them on Facebook more than anything now and not only do they keep  me updated on a lot of news about bands I care about, but they give me a great outlet for discovering new bands. This evening, they posted that they were listening to “one of the best records of the year so far” and they were only “three songs in.” I was curious about this album, so I immediately took notice. Forever Came Calling is currently streaming their debut album, Contender, which drops Tuesday, July 24.

The album starts off with Learning, a track I was initially weary about. It’s more focused on the musical dynamics than anything. The vocals are muted, but that was probably the point as an intro track. Don’t get me wrong – the instruments are completely on point, it was just a strange entry way to the band for me.

They launch right in to For the Wolves next, a track that solidified my interest in the album instantly. It’s head strong pop punk that really takes charge. Sometimes bands in the genre seem to skip along, not really owning either side of the scene, but Forever Came Calling dive face-first and make a point.

Ides is one of my favorite tracks on this album. It reminds me of a combination of Four Year Strong and Say Anything – the hostility combined perfectly with the melody. It’s really what I love about pop-punk. Shake that up with the lyrics, and you’ve hit it out of the park for me. I did my best to keep all of your fucking secrets in but now they’re bleeding out from every god damn open end.

I’ll Be Better I Promise takes things down after two power house songs back-to-back. The combined vocals in this song gave me chill bumps on first listen and the guitar work is exquisite. It’s nice sometimes to slow down and enjoy the scenery.

The title track is tied for my favorite. The lyrics are sweet to my ears and tumble right over the guitars that are the wheels that keep this track going. This song is two minutes and thirty-four seconds of pure pop-punk bliss.

The album wraps up with Dead Poets Honor, a perfect ending to an amazing album. I keep my head low but you mistook that for my eyes closed. And I can’t stand this place that we’re from, and I can’t stand these things that I’ve done. This is a relentless track to end on. If I could pick a track to hear live from this entire album, I’d choose this one. The entire vibe of this song is so hard. I can feel the amount of talent that this band put into this album through this one song.

This album is seriously the best new album I’ve heard in a long time. They’re streaming it over on the Pure Noise YouTube account so you’re probably going to want to head over there. I’m left wanting more after the album, but I’m also strangely satisfied. Forever Came Calling went from a band I had merely heard of to the band who has recorded the best new album I’ve heard in months in a matter of ten tracks. This album gets two thumbs up from me. You better check this out cause I’m positive that your life has a huge hole in it where this album should be.

Key Tracks
Ides (track 5)
Contender (track 9)
Dead Poets Honor (track 10)

Close Only Counts: Do Bad Things

If you’re a fan of pop-punk and keep up with the genre pretty well or if you keep up with some of the bands I’ve written about, you’ve probably seen this album circling around Facebook pretty hard the past two days. Close Only Counts has dropped their new album, Do Bad Things, for free on their Facebook page. When a band is so eager to offer up their album for free, especially in a society where everyone whines about downloaded music, it’s something to take notice of. And how can you go wrong at least giving it a try?

After an intro from Bike Face, Close Only Counts kicks the album off with The New Guy, an unruly pop-punk jam that you’ll find it hard to resist nodding your head the whole way through. There are some fast vocals, some melodic sing-along-worthy choruses, and some grimy guitars to round out the song experience.

I think Knee Shark should probably be the theme song of anyone’s twenty-something years. This song talks of late nights at work, little sleep, and the feeling of nothing to show for it, which I’m sure is exactly how some of us feel at this age range. Two years and who knows where we’ll be? Twenty-four and he doesn’t get much sleep, doesn’t know where he’s been, he’ll never see this fucking place again.

She’s Lying, I’m Dying has the mix of two things I love most about pop-punk: some anger toward a love interest and clever lyrics that’ll cut right through the person the anger is directed at. You want a challenge? Well, how about you try to be yourself.

My favorite track on the album is definitely Jesse and My Whetstone. It’s an even more up-beat track than the rest of the album that’ll get you moving. The instruments sound tighter in this track – more in sync with each other and knowing it. The vocals are in charge and come through cleanly. Within thirty seconds, I had already turned my volume up a significant amount so I could enjoy this one loud and clear.

Swing for the Fences is a song that you’d want to throw on if you’d had a rough day and needed some encouragement in the form of thrashing drums and empowering lyrics. You’re gonna do great things, baby, who gives a shit what they all say now?

Close Only Counts wraps the album up with the title track, Do Bad Things. They end the album on such a high note – this song sounds the most polished and the most pulled together of anything on the album. The guitars slay your ear drums in the best possible way. This is the track that I’d peg as being the most fun to play and hear live. The cheering at the end of this track is pretty much how I feel after listening to this.

Ten tracks and twenty-eight minutes later and I’m thoroughly impressed. For a smaller band, this is such a solid pop-punk album and has many tracks that will be going into my regular rotation – I think this entire album might actually end up in the car for those boring mornings that need a wake-up. If you’re into the genre, do yourself a favor and head over to their Facebook or Twitter page and download this album. It’s free and I’m giving it two thumbs up. Really, what do you have to lose? Get to it!

 

Key Tracks
Jesse and My Whetstone (track 8)
She’s Lying, I’m Dying (track 5)
Do Bad Things (track 10)

Man Overboard: Man Overboard

When a band has tours that are entitled Pop Punk’s Not Dead and Pop Punk the Vote, it’s going to get noticed (especially by yours truly). Tonight’s band comes highly recommended by many people whose musical opinions I trust. I forgot I had this album sitting around until I was looking up some stuff about last night’s review of The Story So Far. Turns out these two bands just wrapped up a tour together. Who wouldda thunk it? We’re going to have a listen to Man Overboard’s self-titled disk.

The first track, Rare, is something that shows you out of the gate that this is a different band. There is so much movement and so many shifts in the music and tempo that I can respect as a public school flutist. These transgressions make you slightly uncomfortable to the point that you pay attention to what you’re listening to.

Voted Most Likely is my kind of song. Man Overboard’s vocals are pretty unique – they’re not as whiny as some other pop-punk bands that I’m a fan of. They sound more normal, and at times quiet, than many bands in their genre. Again, making you take notice. This track has a great chorus with a story line about awkward adolescent relationships that I’m sure some of us can relate to.

Building on the previous songs, Not the First comes along and blows me out of the water. The lyrics are strong, strangely hopeful, and every word has a purpose. There’s so much constant change musically in this song that my attention was held the entire duration.

Though it may be one of the slower tempoed songs on the album, Picture Perfect is one of the strongest tracks. The vocals are strong and don’t sound like they’re playing hide-and-seek with the guitars. The band keeps it fresh by slowing this song down a little, with just a tad of pick up during the choruses.

The album wraps up with the perfect outro in the form of Atlas. The guitars and drums in the background make this a song that actually feels like an ender. The lyrics go along with the rest of the album and make me think maybe Man Overboard have been writing about my awkward existence on this album. I just don’t feel like a grownup yet, either.

If you’re looking for some good pop-punk to fill your time voids with, make your way over to Man Overboard. Clearly they’re supporters of the genre, and they have every right to be supporting/promoting it since they’re kicking out such good jams in the neighborhood.

 

Key Tracks
Picture Perfect (track 10)
Dead End Dreams (track 4)
Not the First (track 7)

So Many Ways: So Many Ways EP

I’m really attempting to not completely overthrow the blog with all the new pop-punk I’ve acquired recently. I said this wouldn’t be a blog dedicated to a certain genre and I intend to stick to that. Since I’m writing this a little late tonight, I’m going to roll with a shorter EP in the form of the “pop punk thrash” genre. I’m not sure what that exactly means either, but it’s what So Many Ways classifies themselves as on their Facebook. We’re going to dig into their self-titled EP tonight!

The album starts off in the right way, proving the “thrash” added on to the end of pop-punk is very worthy and self explanatory once you hear a few beats. The volume of this band is off the charts as they rip into Take It To The Limit, an instrumental opener, and then the following I’ve Made A Huge Mistake.

When I first heard the band, I took a listen to Sleep Mask, and even on this run-through of their album, it’s my favorite. The thrash side isn’t as prevalent, but all of the instrumentation glory that you would expect from a punk band is there. The lyrics remind me of some clever ones from bands like Four Year Strong. You’re a disease and I can’t get over it. I am moved to turning the volume up on this track. It’s a must hear.

Murf’s Life Hints kicks things back up into high gear and the band dives headfirst back into the heavy metal lava pit. The mix of pop punk and metal from this band is a really interesting combination. It may sound strange to the passerby, but once you really get into this EP, you’ll find that it makes perfect sense to the members of this band. They have all the science figured out and they’ll make you a believer.

The guitar work absolutely means business on 37 Chambers. This song so perfectly blends the pop punk with the thrash/metal side of this band. Most of the song is done with the metal side of things, but the sickly sweet pop punk side comes out during the choruses, making for an interesting juxtaposition within one four minute and eight second song.

The EP wraps up with Dirtfoot, a song that kicks in with some group vocals. You wrote the book on disappointment, satisfied with a life so tormented. Group vocals are always interesting, but especially when they’re angsty group vocals.

This is a really solid EP from a band who doesn’t sound exactly like any other band that you’re going to hear these days. This band blends two genres of music who always seem to be slightly off track with each other, but So Many Ways definitely makes it work. Not only are there great things happening musically, but the lyrics on this album are something to pay attention to. This is a band I would certainly recommend and a band I look forward to hearing more from. You should probably go listen to Sleep Mask now, I’m just sayin.

 

Key Tracks:
Sleep Mask (track 3)
Dirtfoot (track 7)
37 Chambers (track 6)

Living With Lions: Holy Shit

It’s not often that a band interests me after just one song – most of the time I have to hear a few before I can commit to a 40ish minute album. Tonight’s band was just the opposite – I heard one song on Spotify and I was down. Living With Lions released Holy Shit in May of 2011 and apparently the album cover carried some controversies that hit the press around their hometown of Vancouver, BC, and ruffled the feathers of some Canadian governmental figures. You might be able to see why – but hey, no press is bad press is it?

The first song off the album, Pieces, is straight punk rock that I can get into. Regret Song comes next and gives me notes of Alkaline Trio and Senses Fail, mixed with a little local punk scene vibe. Even the lyrics and the melodies that the lyrics follow remind me of the Misfits. This is a pretty solid band if I can compare them to all of those bands in one paragraph.

Honesty, Honestly is the first single from this album and it’s one of the best tracks on the album. The chorus is a genius decision with lyrics that are easy to remember and easy to sing along with after just a couple of listens. The lyrics are not holding anything back and they’re exactly what you’d expect from punk rock – harsh, angry, maybe a little angsty, but poetic and driven.

Maple Drive is Still Alive is a beautiful, slower rock song with charming lyrics. No, really, I always thought that we would live forever and I told you someday that I would show my true colors, waiting for someday, someday. This is hands down one of the strongest tracks on the album.

Matthew’s Anthem had my head nodding and my toe tapping the entire way through. I’m struggling to not write about (and praise) every song on this album.

Holy Shit wraps up with When We Were Young, a fast-paced song with the same sentiment as the rest of the album – a little edgy, skeptical of love, maybe even jaded and grudge-holding. I think these lyrics are some of my favorite on the album – Face of an angel, shot down in the streets, covered up feelings behind these punk rock beats. This place is so big, tied up in to a place so small it’ll never remember you. The instruments in this band should not go unnoticed – the drums are working it pretty great, and the guitars keep me excited to hear song after song. These guys definitely know what they’re doing in the world of music making.

This album is a must-hear if you’re a punk rock fan. This is not only reminiscent of classic punk bands, but has ticks from current bands and hints of the future of punk rock. Who says punk rock is dead? It isn’t! It’s alive and very well in the hands of Living Lions. Listen to this album and do what I’m going to do – listen to every other song they’ve recorded and then search for tour dates remotely near you.

 

Key Tracks:
Maple Drive is Still Alive (track 6)
Honesty, Honestly (track 4)
When We Were Young (track 10)

Latin for Truth: Youth Crew Blues

Here comes another wonderful band I discovered on the aforementioned Tumblr page. This band has a very different feel – and I don’t know if I’d even completely classify them under the pop-punk category that the blog pinpoints. This is a little punk-pop mixed with an Every Time I Die strength. We’re going to listen to Youth Crew Blues from Latin for Truth.

The ETID resemblance started  for me in the first song on the album, Cool Hand Chuck. In the second track, Forever, Down to the Filter, I get less of the Keith Buckley-ish vocals, but the same type of intensity. The guitars are the shining star in this song, brought to you by Charles Hastings (who also does lead vocals) and Zack Venable. The lyrics – intelligent, clever, and stabbing you in the heart – are also reminiscent of ETID. These guys mean business.

Paul Malls (Jake’s Song) will end up being one of my favorites. This is a good rock song with a great rolling beats, some lyrics you can sing to and some moments with a bit of screaming.

I have a feeling Leader of the Ratz and The Children would be a fun song to see live. It has a super up beat tempo and has choruses that would be like throwing a match at a can of gasoline in the middle of a live show.

A Wino’s Love: The Lonesome, Desolate 20’s is not only a really great song with some good punk-rock melodies, but the lyrics are spot on and the title of the song is something that’s going to stick out and stay in your mind. I’ll never understand why musicians want to give such generic song titles. Step it up!

The title track sets the stage much differently – it starts out with a recording of a guy talking about what “youth crew blues” means, and it’s a rather emotional spill. The song then goes on to be a beautiful, uplifting song about staying positive and sticking with it – something that would be good to listen to when you’re feeling down besides, you know, sad songs. Though it’s the longest song on the album (five minutes, fifty-six seconds), it’s the best one on the record. I love it. This one song is what I would recommend to someone if they didn’t know this band.

Latin for Truth wrap the album up nicely with the slower Author of Everything that has the twenty-year-old-questioning-everything vibe that I think we all know too well.

The last two songs are so strong and wrap up a really good album. I’m bummed to see it end. This band is something to check out if you’re a fan of Every Time I Die especially. Like I said – check out the title track first before you hit up something else. Then listen to the first couple of songs on the album and you’ll see my connection to ETID, I promise. Strong album, another band to keep a good eye on.

 

 

Key Tracks:
Youth Crew Blues (track 10)
Paul Mall’s (Jake’s Song) (track 4)
Shithead Prose (track 6)

Maker: Mirrors

I recently discovered what is potentially the most amazing Tumblr blog ever: FuckYeahPop-Punk. It’s no secret that I’m a sucker for pop-punk and this site is just a hothouse for finding new bands to try on for size. If you’re a fan of the genre, please check that out right now. I’ve found so many good bands over the last couple of days. One of my favorites has been the band Maker. Their album Mirrors is going to be the focal point of today’s post.

There isn’t as much out there on the Internet about this band – and their Facebook offers up little information. They’re from Massachusetts and formed in a basement there in 2007. Their music kind of gives you that vibe, especially when you hit the second track on the album, Earthquakes. I can tell from their sound that they’ve worked for what they’ve achieved. Their brand of music is a simple punk equation that all the great bands have followed: peppy-yet-rough-around-the-edges vocals, great backing guitar, drums that keep the listener’s heart beating. This five piece band has hit the nail on the head.

Tsunamis has apt lyrics for the new year occasion: Forget everything you’ve ever learned cause this year’s not gonna be like anything you ever seen, I’m not kidding, I’m not giving anything to anyone ever again. So selfish, but hey, hey, isn’t everyone else? These lyrics are smothered with guitars (finely tuned by Eric Soucy and Mickey Lebiedz) that hit the exact notes to make you feel uncomfortable and make you feel like everything’s right in the world at the same time.

What’s In Your Head is one of the strongest tracks on the album – it has a gripping intro, lyrics that you pay attention to, vocals that show emotions, and music that makes you tap your toes. Could you actually want anymore in a song?

…I’ve Been Wondering is a great ending to this album. It’s a bit more upbeat (in feeling and in music) than some of the other songs, but it’s a great semblance of everything this band is on this album. The lyrics are also something easy to relate to, which is always something important with a band. I’ve been wondering, yeah I’ve been wondering if I’m ever going to see you again. The song slowly fades out with the guitars going on, leaving a hopeful sense to the record, and leaving me wanting more.

Finding new bands is something that I have loved since I was in middle school and really first actively got into music and all its beautiful avenues. Sometimes you just need a change from the things you regularly listen to, and sometimes finding new bands means adding something new to your every day playlist. If you’re a fan of classic punk bands or newer pop-punk bands, check these dudes out. This is something I could groove with.

 

Key Tracks:
What’s In Your Head (track 6)
…I’ve Been Wondering (track 10)
Earthquakes (track 2)