Untouchable Album Review

Before Their Eyes isn’t your typical band; formed in urban Ohio, it wasn’t the ideal place to start a post-hardcore band, or for that matter a Christian post-hardcore band. Yet somehow they made it, signing onto Rise Records and have just recently released their third album titled Untouchable. Before their Eyes have a distinctly unique sound, half hard guitar riffs below throaty screams and the other, a softer punk style with melodic ballads. It doesn’t sound appealing at first, but those who’ve listened to them before will recall they’ve pulled it off before. This album starts off with a bang, the first song, Hey Dude!, continues with a certain familiarity; the thumping underbelly of the drums and cymbals signaling Nick Moore’s rasping vocals. While that is the bands strong suit the album loses a bit of its charge when it comes to songs, Start with Today and Not Alone. They are the only two songs completely without any hardcore elements and it leaves the album feeling a bit disorganized, and the listener a bit confused as to what sound the band is going for. Overall the individual songs are very well crafted with can’t-get-out-of-your-head lyrics; it is mostly just the order in the album that could use some adjustment.
Key Tracks: Finding A Way, Bulletproof, Hey Dude!

You Me At Six

Sorry I haven't posted much, no I didn't fall off the face of the planet I was on vacation :D So here's the album review I promised...

You Me At Six, the British alternative rock band released their sophomore album titled Hold Me Down which is due to be released in America March 16th, while in their native Britain the album debuted on January 11th, taking number five on the UK Albums Chart. Perhaps in a reflection of the time with a mix of personal experience that the a reemerging theme that binds the album together is unfaithfulness, and prevails in songs like: Underdog, Fireworks and There's No Such Thing as Accidental Infidelity (maybe Tiger could take a few tips?). No longer young teens the band took a darker route with their second album, experimenting with post-hardcore elements which can clearly be seen in the first single, The Consequence. You Me At Six successfully avoids a sophmore slump by sticking to their rock roots while still expanding and trying new things with guitar riffs, punk choruses, and working with bands such as Kids in Glass Houses and The Blackout.
Key Tracks:
The Consequence
Underdog
Liquid Confidence

Band of the Week #2

I knew about this band for a while, if you can call it a band, with only one member it's perhaps not the most highly supported band, but he was an internet sensation. And without further adu, time for you to listen to some Nevershoutnever!

Christofer Drew Ingle plays either acoustic guitar or his handy ukulele with his high tenor voice singing playful love songs that would make any girl envy his muse. At only eighteen things are looking good. Hopefully I'll get to see him when he comes to play in May with some others you may know, The Cab, Every Avenue, and The Summer Set as part of The AP Tour!

Free Music?

Hola,
So if you happen to be looking for some new alternative bands I have a site for you :D purevolume.com has everything to do with unknown bands. They even let you download certain songs! The Top 20 Unsigned Bands of 2009 gives you a place to start:
http://http//www.purevolume.com/top_unsigned_2009. YAY FOR FREE MUSIC!

Band of the Week #1

So my band of the week, that is the band whose songs are currently stalking my brain, is Envy on the Coast. They use classic keyboard melodies and mix it with guitar riffs and high energy content. Here's the link to the music video for Mirrors off of their latest album Lucy Gray: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pcTtbBXT23g
Some other good songs that I would give a listen to are Temper Temper, Sugar Skulls, and Lapse. Leave a comment telling me what you think...

All Time Low

So I went to one of my favorite band's show, All Time Low, this past December. Yes I know that they aren't the best quality band but sometimes frivilous fluff is nice to listen to. So anyways, I wrote this review, but due to people's stupidity (no hard feelings) it never got published for my school's newspaper. So, here it is...

All Time Low perhaps not all that low

The first snow fell oddly in the background of the long lines facing in either direction of the All Time Low show at Northern Lights 12/05. This punk boy band sold out all of their December shows, according to their myspace, this show was to be no less. The frigid weather outside contrasted sharply to the small arena of northern lights, where hundreds of teenage girls and boys stood, pressed up against one another, each pushing to get a better view than the other. Doors opened at six and the opening act, around seven. The first band, Friday Night Boys, another batch fresh to the punk scene, played. Their arrogant vocals and whiny lead singer with hair artfully stuck out like a porcupine landed on his head sounded a bit too familiar to every other boy-band trying to make it big with a pop hit. Songs like High School had the familiar feeling of Bowling For Soup’s song, High School Never Ends and in the end didn’t leave much of an impression.

The second up was We The King’s, a mop top bunch full of love songs with a bit of an edge. They even introduced, Heaven Can Wait, a newly released song off their upcoming album Smile, Kid. One of the most memorable parts was when they covered the famous Jimmy Eat World song, Middle. Those who didn’t know much of We The King’s stuff, and even those parents who hung out in the back got into the action, throwing in their vocals to this timeless song. Following We The King’s Act was the last warm up band, Hey Monday. The only band of the night featuring a girl, and what she lacked in testosterone she made up with enthusiasm. She darted up and down the stage trying to incorporate everyone into her catchy dance singles, but at times the songs seemed too big for her chipmunk-like voice.

Finally, it was time for the long awaited main event, All Time Low. The rambunctious group got off to a fast start, cramming three songs in before catching a breath. The group, infamous for their lack of maturity, proved yet again that they weren’t afraid to express their five year old selves and that seemed to suit everyone just fine. They continued to crank out songs in quick secession, sticking mainly to their new CD, Nothing Personal that was just released this July, but doing some throw backs to older stuff like Six Feet Under the Stars and Jasey Rae. Half way through their performance there were several problems with guitar strings, so the lead singer, Alex Gaskarth, went solo, taking out an acoustic guitar. Probably one of the best songs performed that night, there were no distractions or gimmicks to him, his voice was poignant and clear as he sang Remembering Sunday. Cassadee from Hey Monday came back out to help complete the duet. He also went on to sing one of the only slow songs on their new album, Therapy, before the rest of the band returned with more dance numbers and a mosh pit ensued. They came back for an encore, ending the night on a high note with their hit Weightless and an old time classic Dear Maria, Count Me In. The concert was a good balance of fun and energy with actual talent which kept the many performances from getting stale and was what the night was all about.

Newbie

I'm really not sure what to write, but I'm hoping eventually I'll get the hang of it. This is my first blog and I must say it's quite peculiar writing to no one. But if anyone does happen to see this, hi! I love music, like I'm addicted to it. So, I hope to spread my love of awesome, quirky, foreign, indie, alternative, post-hardcore (whatever that means) music. Tell me what ya think :)