Basslines and Protest Signs is Brett Callwood’s column looking at the intersection of music and politics. This week breaks down how Brexit is already screwing over touring musicians.
Few bands in the emo and pop-punk scene have built a catalog as beloved—and emotionally devastating—as Mayday Parade. Since their 2007 debut, A Lesson In Romantics, the Tallahassee, FL, outfit has delivered heartbreak anthems, nostalgic sing-alongs, and underrated deep cuts. With a discography spanning nearly two decades, ranking their songs—from best to worst, to most underrated, it’s been no easy task. Here is the best song, worst song, most underrated song, and saddest song in the Mayday Parade discography. Best Song: “Jersey” Choosing the definitive best Mayday Parade song is no small task. Their discography is packed with scene staples—from… Read more »
Following the success of their singles “Sink Or Swim” and “Young And Reckless” leading up to this moment, Amber Pacific has just delivered the sweetest Valentine’s Day gift: their brand-new album, All In. The 12-track collection marks their first full-length release in 11 years, following 2014’s The Turn. All In bridges the gap between nostalgia and a fresh new chapter for AP. The record sees the band fully embracing their roots while evolving with a refined, matured energy. Whether you’ve been following Amber Pacific since The Possibility And The Promise or you’re just discovering them now, All In showcases their… Read more »
Not quite feeling the traditional holly-jolly spirit this holiday season? We’ve got you covered. Whether you crave a dose of Creepmas with a haunted holiday atmosphere, something whimsically gothic with noir undertones, or simply a break from saccharine sweetness, these 10 alternative holiday-themed films offer a welcome escape this winter. The Nightmare Before Christmas While Jack Skellington may have made a “terrible mess of Christmas,” Tim Burton‘s The Nightmare Before Christmas remains a whimsical marriage of eerie mischief and holiday cheer—a true “Creepmas” classic. Directed by Henry Selick, this stop-motion marvel follows Jack’s misguided attempt to commandeer Christmas, resulting in… Read more »
In tandem with their headlining tour launching tonight in Austin, TX, State Champs have unleashed their self-titled album and issued an official music video for “Save Face Story.” The track marks the group’s sole collaboration featuring Slope across the 12-track full-length. “’Save Face Story’ is one of our personal favorites from the record,” the bands shares. “It spotlights an unlikely friendship between State Champs and German-based hardcore funk band Slope, providing one of the most exciting and effortlessly cool collaborations Champs has ever done. On paper, the combination might not make total sense, but the result speaks for itself. It’s… Read more »
Life comes at you fast and music news can break even quicker. With everything that pops up every day, it’s easy to lose track of who’s releasing what, when your favorite artists are touring, and all the pandemonium that happens in between. Don’t worry though, we’ve got you covered. Every week, we track the latest new releases so that you don’t have to—from artists who are just starting to make their mark in the business to scene staples with so much more to deliver. This week, we heard singles from an assortment of acts including The Linda Lindas and Scowl,… Read more »
Alexander O’Connor, better known as Rex Orange County, was Downtown LA’s man of the hour last night. In celebration of his latest album, The Alexander Technique, an intimate crowd gathered at Pico Union Project, where Rex performed about a dozen songs. Grinning ear to ear while four years of work finally came to fruition. Rex commented, “This is an album I’ve wanted to put out for so long, and I’m incredibly pleased it’s out now.” ‘The Alexander Technique’ has been in development since 2020, making it the longest-coming and most defining work of Rex’s career. His previous album, Who Cares?,… Read more »
Tampa-based rap/metal fusion Nevertel has dropped their latest single, “SYM” (Shut Your Mouth). The song features high-energy verses from rapper and producer Raul Lopez and is bridged by vocalist Jeremy Michael’s blood-curdling screams. The track itself is a dynamic arrangement that seamlessly shifts its beats from pop to metal. Alongside its lyric video, “SYM” promotes a sense of self and the journey towards finding that person. Lopez shares, “‘SYM’ was written between a weird period in my life where I felt like I had lost all my confidence in who I was and what I was making.” Read more: The… Read more »
Today is a big day for The Story So Far! Not only does today, June 21, mark the 13th anniversary of their debut studio album, Under Soil And Dirt, but the pop-punk behemoths have also unleashed their fifth studio album, I Want To Disappear. In addition to the arrival of their 10-track collection, the group has also issued a music video for “Watch You Go.” The group originally debuted “Watch You Go” on The Least Anticipated Album Tour on June 8 in Maryland Heights, MO, supporting A Day To Remember. In a short and sweet message to fans on social… Read more »
Say Anything is a band that you can’t appropriately compare to any other band. Perhaps you could attempt to use metrics like ticket sales or song charting, but certainly not in any tangible sense of emotion, delivery, or downright weirdness. Say Anything kicked the doors down when they entered the scene with a huge “Fuck You” to any preconceived notion of what a “punk” or “emo” band should be. They didn’t give a shit about being a cog in the music industry machine—in fact, they were pretty loud about their despise for it. They wanted to share their passion for… Read more »
