Future

While I was taking a break, Apple has decided to shut down Lala.com. It was the primary reason I felt that I could do a project like this. Without the ability to guarantee a (copyright compliant) link to the song for the reader I don't think I'll continue.

... So my temporary hiatus will continue until I figure out a better solution or someone matches Lala's features.

Silverstein

Tonight was the Silverstein & A Day To Remember show I've been looking forward to since it was announced in the fall. I've had to miss performances by both bands before; I didn't realize Silverstein was in Indy until I had made plans with a friend from out of town and ADTR played their Warped Tour set at the same time slot as Senses Fail, who I also enjoy and doubted I'd get another chance to see because of the band's age. However, as often happens, my other responsibilities are keeping me from attending. I've discussed A Day To Remember before, so I thought I would set up a playlist of Silverstein songs to show why they are significant to me.

Silverstein is one of the bands from the emocore/post-hardcore "scene" from the turn of the century that shows the best of what the genre can be. Dramatic and powerful at times while touching and sincere at others, they are able to fully tell a story while engaging the listener in their drama. They also are a great example of why I think the marginalization of "scene" bands to teenage angst and overwrought relationship melodrama is neither accurate nor a fair reason to discard the music.

"You're All I Have" from 2009's Shipwreck in the Sand is about the anger, confusion, and loneliness that understandably follow the loss of custody of a daughter. Clearly distraught, the (semi-fictional) narrator's tale of the dissolution of his family throughout the album displays the band's desire to tell a story of substance and dig beneath the superficialities that people hear in songs of relationships.

"Smile In Your Sleep" is my favorite track from their 2005 breakout Discovering The Waterfront. It is about an individual's realization that he doesn't have to put up with someone who makes him suspect their every move (even while they sleep), and the pop influences in the song give it a sing along structure.

"Apologize" is a cover of OneRepublic's smash 20008 hit. I grew to love the original in spite of its radio overplay and their cover breathes a fresh life into it after hearing it ad nauseum. Given the countless number of terrible covers that "heavy" bands have done for pop songs, I was hesitant when I first became aware of the cover. Silverstein's version takes a different approach than I would expect most of their contemporaries would have taken, and used restraint in the amount and timing of screaming in the song.  I particularly enjoy that the differences the singers take highlight different lyrics in the song. For example, "I loved you with a fire red/ Now, it's turning blue/ And you say 'Sorry' like the angel/ heaven let me think was you" is a great lyric that completely slipped under my radar during the countless times I heard OneRepublic's version.

Silverstein

Break

I'm going to take a break from this for a while, due to increased responsibilities at school. I may post an update if an album or song really strikes me, but I feel like when I do return, I'll have a better view of what and how I approach this.

Cheers!

"Build It Up" by One for the Team

Build It Up - One For The Team

One for the Team is a pop band, but not what one expects to hear from the genre. Using intentionally conflicting male and female voices they create a charming vocal combination. "Build It Up" is one of my favorite tracks from their breakout album of the same name, and a great example of their sound.

They released Ghosts on Tuesday (though not yet available on Lala.com).

"You Ruined This" by The Audition

You Ruined This - The Audition

Great Danger (released yesterday) needs to be the album that finally sees The Audition put it all together. Their fourth studio album is best described as third attempt to follow up their great pop-emo debut, Controversy Loves Company. While Champion and Self-Titled Album had some really good moments, at best they lacked consistency track to track and at worst were some wince inducing lyrics over some of the best music they have made.

What has kept me eager for every release from the band is the tremendous potential they've shown on each album. They remind me of a Third Eye Blind meets Fall Out Boy, but have yet to produce a single that can introduce them to that pop audience. "You Ruined This" is so far my favorite song from Great Danger, though I can tell the album will be keeping my attention for a while.

"Quiet Little Voices" by We Were Promised Jetpacks

Quiet Little Voices - We Were ...

I saw this Scottish band on Sunday night at Radio Radio (my first visit to the cool Indy venue), and was excited that they lived up to my expectations.

These Four Walls is the kind of album that happily slips into the background while your mind wanders to other thoughts until forcefully grabbing your attention. "Quiet Little Voices" is an upbeat track that grabs your ear with tons of energy and the haunting atmosphere that the Scottish accent always seems to add.

"Gossip" You Me At Six

Gossip - You Me At Six

UK's You Me At Six release their second album, Hold Me Down, tomorrow in the US. "Safer to Hate Her" is so far my favorite track from what I've heard online, though not yet available to stream from a site I am able to post here. YM@6 are a solid pop-punk outfit and hopefully this album is more consistent than their previous album, Take Off Your Colours. "Gossip" was a standout track from Colours and shows the potential these guys have for writing rock music with crossover appeal.