School Project: Important Issues (Farewell Fighter - The Way We Learn)

For my History of Rock Music class for school, we had the following prompt:  Choose and discuss a song or album that you feel best represents important issues in your life and the lives of your classmates.
I felt Farewell Fighter's latest EP represented this question perfectly, and my response can be read below.

The teenage years are perhaps the most important years of any human’s life. An enormous amount of changes take places, including social growth, puberty, and most importantly self-direction. Nashville, Tennessee based pop-rock band Farewell Fighter focuses on this intriguing period of time on their latest EP The Way We Learn, a seven track effort that brings a listener through the teenage years, as band and listener join together to realize the importance of understanding one’s self and living life to its fullest.

Gregory Attonito (The Bouncing Souls) - Natural Disaster

Legendary punk band The Bouncing Souls are known for their short, brutal tracks full of menacing guitars, vicious drumming, and Greg Attonito's powerful vocals. Attonito's solo album is a totally separate entity, leaving behind all aspects from his main project. The songs are acoustically based, with horns and keys sporadically placed into the tracks. However, the biggest change is the fact that Attonito's voice seems surprisingly fragile, a huge change for someone who usually sings with an endless fire. His emotions regarding love are poured out, especially in the extremely stripped down "Sexiest Girl", which reads as a 15 year old's diary, yet still feels powerful. Female harmonies increase the amorous feelings in "Teardrops", as even the most sophisticated arrangements on the EP are downplayed, leaving the main focus on Attonito's voice and lyrics. Even the toughest men have hearts, and Attonito succeeds with flying colors in putting down those misconceptions. Natural Disaster just reassures Attonito's place in history as one of the most important frontmen in the last twenty years, as his legacy is moved beyond just punk music. You can pre-order the EP on the Chunksaah website here.

Coyote Theory

Technical bands and fun bands are usually thought of as opposites. You don't usually find an extremely catchy math-rock band, while most pop music stays within conventional structures. Coyote Theory destroys all misconceptions that technical and poppy can not go together. Single "Vibe" combines jazzy piano patterns similar to those played by The Reign Of Kindo while vocalist Colby Carpinelli shows off his Nate Ruess-like vocal range, easily soaring up into the highest registers. "This Side Of Paradise" holds more of a Circa Survive feel within the technical guitar riffs, and "It's A Trap" embraces more of a straightforward rock feel, while still feeling unique. Coyote Theory is one of the most unique bands I've heard in quite a long time, easily satisfying my need for catchy hooks while remaining technically proficient. Color is excellent in showing off every one of the band's talents, and is easily a frontrunner for the best EP I've heard this year. Stream "Vibe" and purchase the album on the band's Bandcamp page here.

Sweatshirt Weather - Getting By

Three years ago, my go-to site to find new music was Purevolume. I spent all day finding new pop-rock bands that basically died out within the year. After a while, every band simply started to sound exactly the same to me, as none of them ever stood out to me. While Sweatshirt Weather isn't a game changing band, they're damn good at what they do, which is constructing extremely catchy hooks alongside perfectly mixed synths. "However We Can" ditches the synths for piano, creating a track that Andrew McMahon would be upset he hadn't thought of first as well as the highlight on Getting By. Many pop-rock bands struggle to obtain sustainability with their tracks, but Sweatshirt Weather has constructed one of the most memorable pop-rock EPs since Holiday Parade's This Is My Year. The EP will be out on July 5th, and you can follow the band on Facebook here.

Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jr.

Sadly, this will be Kyle Minton's last post as part of Muzik Dizcovery. This phase of his blogging career has ended, and is now moving on to different things. I would like to thank him for all the work that he has done, and I wish him tons of luck in the future. -Casey

I know what you're thinking readers, and I too am furious at the fact that Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jr.'s It's A Corporate World isn't the NASCAR legend's grandson's debut country solo album. It doesn't have great songs about beer and left turns, but it does happen to contain the first full-length of Joshua Epstein and Daniel Zott's electronically-based indie-pop project. Now that the obligatory and terrible racing jokes have been pushed aside, allow me to properly introduce the lively, even quite lovely sound of Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jr. and the smooth groove the Detroit duo have presented fans. It's A Corporate World is a bit of an aural illusion to begin with, as a flutter of electronics and dance-worthy beats give the album a friendly, accessible rhythm, one that thankfully doesn't sacrifice the depth of the album's musicianship in the process.

The Rocket Summer Releases Free Live Acoustic Album

For the past couple of weeks Bryce Avary of The Rocket Summer has been teasing fans via Facebook about a big time announcement he was going to make. Many people became excited for a new album or a big tour, but that wasn't the case. However, a free acoustic live album was probably the next biggest thing he could have announced. Recorded from several of his intimate acoustic shows from 2010, Bryce's voice sounds studio quality singing many of the band's fan favorite tracks from each of their last three studio albums. The tracklist was perfect except for the five minute jam session in the middle of the album, hitting all of the band's best tracks such as  "Hills and Valleys", "Never Knew", "Do You Feel", and "Of Men And Angels". The one unfortunate thing about the album is the crowd, getting in the way of songs such as "Never Knew" and "Hills and Valleys" with their extremely off-beat clapping and many other songs due to being extremely off key in their singing. However, Bryce did encourage fan participation for the album (as seen in the title Bryce Avary, His Instruments, and Your Voices), and it does give the feeling of the intimate experience of the shows. Bryce is a genuinely good guy, and passionately appreciates his fans. Giving away this excellent live album for free just shows his dedication to his art. You can download the album for free after the jump.

Select Start - The New Atlantic

I'll admit, I only checked out this EP because of Daniel Lancaster, better known as Jason Lancaster's brother. Select Start's pre Lancaster material was very familiar, as that was back in the day when I did nothing but scour PureVolume for new pop-rock bands. Looking back at the old material now, it's amazing that Select Start has released one of my favorite EPs so far this year. The band has ditched all the synths that devoured their powerpop sound, and now embraces a harmony heavy, indie influenced pop-rock style.

Our Life Story - I'd Rather Change Than Stay The Same

When I get sent a new pop-punk band, I really need to be impressed in order to cover it. I've been sent too much boring, generic, and simply awful pop-punk and pop-rock bands, and it's gotten to the point where I simply ignore most of it. Our Life Story is a needle in the haystack. Their five song EP I'd Rather Change Than Stay The Same is only thirteen minutes long, but you will not find a dull moment in the entire thing. Aggression is the best description of the album, as the drums are brutal and intense, while the vocals are rough and scream-like at times, similar to Such Gold or State Champs. Though the first two and last two tracks are very similar and do blend together, it still makes for an excellent short car ride. The middle track "Clark St" places slower riffs behind an ambient background in a minute and a half long instrumental interlude. While these 90's emo influences only show up in this one track, they at least bring hope that they may be displayed more prominently in a future release. This band could easily break through to the upper tiers of the pop-punk scene. Those other pop-punk bands sending me emails should be a little worried now. With every band like Our Life Story that is sent to me, my expectations get higher and higher. You can stream two of the five songs on the EP on the band's Bandcamp page here.

Record Reflections: Inspirative - Memories Come Rushing Up To Meet Me Now

I'd downloaded this album a couple of months ago, and somehow forgot to listen to it. Getting back to it, though, was fantastic, and quickly made me regret not looking at this earlier. Bangkok-based band Inspirative released this record pretty quietly, but despite that, it's risen up to match up against some hard-hitting names in post-rock. Unfortunately, even after delving, not a lot of information is available about the band, but the sheer influence the record has speaks for itself. Tracks like "Flame Trees" and "He's Gazing At You From The Black Mirror" definitely reflect the Sigur Ros and Mogwai influences, with long, drawn-out yet moving buildups in the songs. Meanwhile, "Military Parachutes" takes on a much softer, more delicate sound, consisting mostly of piano and soft guitar.

You, Me, And Everyone We Know - Things Are Really Weird Right Now

Things Are Really Weird Right Now is such a suiting title for the situation going on for the band right now. What was expected to be a little EP to tide us over has turned into You, Me, And Everyone We Know's possible final release. But I'm not here to talk about this beaten to death situation, instead I'm here to talk about the band's final four songs that they may ever release. These songs definitely are different than the majority of Some Things Don't Wash Out, but the songs definitely fit as classic You, Me, And Everyone We Know. The production is a lot less slick than the full length, but fans of the older Party For The Grown and Sexy sound will enjoy the rawer feel of the new tracks.

The Pattern Traced- I'm Calm, The Storm Is Coming

Jon Callender definitely topped his last album with his latest EP, I'm Calm, The Storm is Coming. Everything about this album is cleaner; the vocals are crisp, the synth beats are sharper and the lyrics are more mature. This EP is a lot more personal and Callender tones down the wit we experienced on his last release, Lessons in Leaving. Callender throws around the topic of death on two tracks. "Need Help" covers wanting to fight for your life even when it's close to end. "Die Alone" explores the topic of the political world and Callender sings "I rather die alone, than be living a lie." He makes it very clear he'd rather die a painful death than to ever be like someone in politics. The EP is brought to an end with "What Keeps You Awake". The vocals are the best I've ever heard them and it shows a softer and more serious side of Callender. This track makes me wish the entire EP was arranged this way. I'm Calm, The Storm is Coming makes the wait for his next release seem even farther away. We can only hope Callender delivers with The Artful Abortions Of Sound. You can download this EP here.

Polaris At Noon - En Pointe

Don't like the black and white album art of Polaris At Noon's En Pointe fool you. The band is anything but dull. Formulated entirely by Jason Suwito,  the combination of synth and electronic loops is perfect for any sort of upbeat activity. From working out to dancing at a club, Polaris At Noon is perfect music for staying on your feet. "Red" layers grimy club beats with smooth keys, juxtaposing the two techniques to create a feverish and exciting mood. "On" contains hand claps and drum machine beats keeping rhythm, while Suwito guides the song with his confident, mainstream accessible vocals. Sadly, he unnecessarily drenches those vocals with effects in the verses of  "Far Away", though the irresistible chorus turns those emotionless verses into a distant memory. "Rain" is probably the most "club friendly" of the songs, as Suwito uses elements of dubstep and house in order to launch a club environment to the next level of electric. En Pointe can appeal to pretty much any fan of electro-pop, from the dub freaks, to the young female fans of mainstream pop, to even the hipster fans of Passion Pit or Starfucker. Polaris At Noon simply brings excitement and energy, any moment of any day. You can stream two tracks as well as find out other information about Polaris at Noon on his website here.

Transit - Promise Nothing 7" (Record Store Day Exclusive)

For vinyl collectors as well as music fans in general, Record Store Day is huge. It's the day where vinyl takes to the front of the music industry, and reignites those stores on their last breath. Transit is releasing a new 7" tomorrow titled Promise Nothing, and the two new tracks are an excellent addition to the Transit discography. "Take What You Can" sounds like it could be right off of Keep This To Yourself, with aggressive vocals and powerful instrumentation backed multiple times by shouts from the rest of the band. "I've Never Told That To Anyone" is extremely long by Transit standards, clocking in at 4:50, a whole minute and thirty seconds longer than any track on Keep This To Yourself. Twinkling guitars guide the slow ballad-like sections of the song, sandwiching a faster bridge. Many record collectors are planning to spend most of their savings on this special day tomorrow. Transit's contribution needs to be near, if not at the top of your purchase list. You can check out which stores are containing Record Store Day exclusives here.

The Appleseed Cast

It's been a winding road for The Appleseed Cast fans in recent years. What with their signing to Graveface Records and the release of the mostly instrumental Sagarmatha, their days of paying tribute to their original musical roots by performing a mixture of emo and post-rock elements must seem out of earshot and out of mind for most fans. Fear not, as any trepidation for Appleseed Cast's evolution has been voided with the release of Middle States. Their newest EP on Graveface Records, Middle States is a perfect blend for someone like me who was not completely dissatisfied with Sagarmatha, but was left wishing for more presence from vocalist Chris Crisci and his unique contributions to the band's sound. But where their last release left a hole in my heart and their future left me pondering their direction, the aptly named Middle States fits perfectly. The EP fills the gap between their past musical niche and their continued trek down the roads of post-rock, containing everything from the emotional wisps of Crisci's distant calls being present in "End Frigate Constellation," to the fourteen minute instrumental opus "Three Rivers." If The Appleseed Cast has ever been worthy of your attention before, Middle States is well worth the return trip to their melodic world once again. You can purchase Middle States here.

Panic! At The Disco - Vices And Virtues

I hadn't planned on liking this record this much at all. Instead, I can already sing pretty much every lyric to every song four listens in. That's how catchy this album is. If Pretty. Odd was pretty terrible to you, as it was to me, and you were awaiting a return to the band's A Fever You Can't Sweat Out sound, you will be rather pleased. Panic's customary cinematic instrumentation comes out in full force throughout the album. Dancy rhythms dominate the middle of the album as "Let's Kill Tonight", "Hurricane", "Memories", "Trade Mistakes", and "Ready To Go" all will keep any listener on his or her feet while "The Calendar" and "Sarah Smiles" take the best traits out of Pretty. Odd and combine it with the sound of A Fever You Can't Sweat Out. The only poor song on the album is the ballad "Always", while strong vocally is overall boring. For a while I was debating on even downloading the album. After a couple of listens, I'm embarrassed I even had those thoughts. This record is excellent, and can be bought here. The album can also be streamed on Facebook here.

Runaway Brother's New EP

Runaway Brother previously got featured by me due to their similarity to Farewell Fighter and You, Me, And Everyone We Know due to their sound and honest, relatable lyrics. The Bull Moose Party EP shows the band diversifying even further, relying on more sophisticated instrumentation. The synth parts are much more noticeable and unique, while instruments such as the mandolin and tambourine are added. Even the customary rock instrumentation sounds much strong and more complex. Even while expanding their instrumentation, Runaway Brother doesn't hold back lyrically, as the phrases are as strong as ever, working together more cohesively than before. The Bull Moose Party EP shows the band moving in the right direction, and definitely shows potential to hit it big within the scene. The best part about the EP is that you can download it for free on the band's Bandcamp page here.

Stay Offers Up New Album For Free

Stay has shown up on Muzik Dizcovery quite a few times, and with good reason. The band's new record American Cherry Bomb shows a little bit of growth since the previous EP, appealing to more of a widespread crowd than the teenage girls centered debut. Tracks like "Car Crash World" and "Machine Gun Summer" have much more of a rock edge, while "Arson In The Suburbs" seems to be influenced by Sum 41. The one thing we have learned to expect from Stay is a massive hook in pretty much every song. "American Cherry Bomb" and "Motor City" will be in consistent rotation in any playlist, as the need to listen to the choruses is overpowering after the first listen. The band still has a lot to work to do, as many of the lyrics are subpar, focused on themes like girls and partying. The profanities sometimes seem thrown in just to show off the band's "edge". As the band's first LP, the band has accomplished everything that they needed to. Hopefully in the future, the lyrical content will be stressed more, and we may soon get an excellent pop-rock album. The band seems more interested in exposure than profit, as they offered up American Cherry Bomb for free download. This trait will definitely help them gain more fans, and give them a bit more freedom to experiment. You can download the whole album on the band's Purevolume page here.

Dessa

Dessa is the best female hip-hop artist out there right now. As the only female member of Doomtree, she is also easily the most unique. Her combination singing/rapping is an acquired taste, but soon becomes irresistible. The best part of her songs is definitely the instrumentation, as Doomtree producers Paper Tiger, Lazerbeak, and others place horns, clarinets, drums, and many other instruments in the songs in unimaginable ways. Hooks also run rampant throughout the album, with "Dutch" and "Mineshaft II" as two of the catchiest tracks. There isn't one poor track on the entire album, and is definitely a cohesive product meant to be heard as a whole. Doomtree is full of the best hip-hop artists around, such as P.O.S, Cecil Otter, and Sims, but Dessa could possibly be the best overall artist of the entire group. You can stream the whole album on her Bandcamp page here.

Record Reflections: 65daysofstatic - Heavy Sky

With 2011 rolling in full, many new post-rock albums lie on the horizon; however, we simply can't forget the small things. In this case, the small things notably point to this interesting EP, by the English post-rock / electronic project 65daysofstatic. The EP has it's fair share of ups and downs, being a half-compilation with a couple of new songs, but it was put together in such a great way, that fact remains almost unnoticeable.

"Sawtooth Rising" portrays a much more electric side of the project, hence the name, and grows in such a mesmerizing way that it feels like a true element of what the project does best, a meshing of genres to create something beyond its core components. Meanwhile, "Pacify" gets down to the true roots of the band, bringing out a very M83 type sound, but a softer, Mogwai-esque style, creating a romantic and tender yet solid track to be cherished. The rest of the EP does as much justice as their prior releases to the post-rock genre, and shows the real devotion the band has to creating and refining their sound.

Band info and album purchase links can be found here.

Track Listing:

1. Tiger Girl (Wishful Thinking Edit)
2. Sawtooth Rising
3. The Wrong Shape
4. PX3
5. Pacify
6. Beats Like A Helix
7. Guitar Cascades

Go Radio - Lucky Street Stream/Initial Impressions

As easily one of my most anticipated records up to this point in the year, I can't help but feel some slight disappointment. Jason Lancaster has always been a superb vocalist and songwriter, but something feels missing from his voice and a couple of the tracks. Opening track "Lucky Street" just seems to bore me, especially in the chorus, and Jason seems to be missing that second gear to his voice. "Any Other Heart" is Jason and Go Radio at their best, with an absolutely killer chorus with an outstanding hook. The album doesn't get back up to the level of "Any Other Heart" until "Swear It Like You Mean It". The song gives the initial impression of a piano ballad, but turns into a huge rocker. Jason returns to give chills during the bridge, which is probably the best point on the album to this point. The redone "Why I'm Home" and "Why I'm Home" put Jason alone with a piano, allowing him to recite some of his best lyrics. The rest of the album features a few changes for Go Radio, including a bouncy acoustic guitar and a somewhat disjointed phrase structure in "Hold On", a Mariachi sounding horn section at the intro of "Fight, Fight (Reach For The Sky), and a guitar solo at the end of that same track. "The Truth Is" ends the album with another piano ballad, though it doesn't stand up to the two redone tracks or "Goodnight Moon". Overall, the album is solid, though I'm not too sure how it will stand up to the test of time. Jason's vocals at time seem very bland, and some of the hooks aren't up to par. However, the album is full of some very solid tracks. Myspace quality may as well take away from some of the song quality, but I guess I'll have to wait and see how it ends up in my collection by the end of the year. Stream the album on the band's Myspace page here.