Love You In The Dark, the first solo effort of Now, Now’s Brad Hale, slides seamlessly from repetitively somber to ecstatic within the span of a few songs and explores all manners of human strength and weakness. It manages to find the gaps in the armor of humankind in the most delicate way possible, which is often a considerable feat for seemingly innocuous pop or electronic music.
Despite some minor mishaps, both Matt Vincent and Alex Correia hold their own with their earnest, genuine delivery of emotionally riveting music, stripping their musicianship to its bare bones to display their talent in its purest form.
Although You’re Always On My Mind marks the second full-length release for A Great Big Pile Of Leaves, it’s the band’s first album with an outside producer (Ed Ackerson) and the musical advances shine through. The album feels like the first time you surpass the “small talk†level with someone and realize that they’re holding plenty of mixed feelings about this whole life thing within themselves, too.
Four-piece Ohio natives Mixtapes channel an old school, timeless pop punk feeling that makes one nostalgic for the early punk scene, riddled with introspective lyrics and power chord-driven guitars.
One listen to Driver Friendly’s latest EP, Peaks + Valleys, and you’ll know why the band is gaining momentum like they are. The six songs on the EP are short and sweet, but are chock full of energy, passion, and a whole lot of fun.
On their appropriately titled debut LP, Youth, Citizen unsurprisingly addresses coming-of-age angst – typical fodder for most young, earnest pop punk bands – yet somehow they accomplish it without sounding stale or cliche.
Satori is an epic of an album spanning the depths of human emotion. The lyrics are compelling, the melodies are complex but catchy, and the musicianship displays pure talent throughout.
With their third effort J.A.C.K., Forever The Sickest Kids do away with their slew of co-writers and producers, yet the end product, while fun and enjoyable, seems to lack much direction.
Disclaimer: Whenever, If Ever is a love/hate record. If you “get it,†you will be completely floored by its use of vast atmospheric textures and timbres, as well as its nostalgia factor. If you don’t, it will be a whiny, fragmented, enigmatic record that will be a struggle to listen to.
Real Friends are one of those bands who, although their musical repertoire is far from extensive, have yet to put out a bad song. Their latest EP Put Yourself Back Together is no exception – but there’s no sign of the band pushing their limits or trying something new.
