Posts Tagged ‘Punk / Pop Punk’

By: Maria Ciezak
For BiggerThanBeyonce.Com

Sum 41 is a band that has always struck a chord with me since my youth, back in the days where it was cool to get a Fat Lip and be In Too Deep. After four years, the guys are back with a track entitled Blood In My Eyes, off of their upcoming release, Screaming Bloody Murder (due out March 29th).

Although on a slight release hiatus, the boys have been hardworking during those four years, spending a significant chunk of 2010 on the road, including their fourth run of headlining the Vans Warped Tour. They also put out a best-of collection (All The Good Shit: 14 Solid Gold Hits 2000-2008) bridging all of their albums dating all the way back to 2000. But still, Sum 41 fans have been waiting a long time for new material, which may have influenced their new album title. This track is definitely getting me excited for the album, for it’s hard, edgy, and just what I wanted to hear from these guys. Granted, if you’re looking for the same album the guys released many moons ago, your expectations won’t be met entirely, but don’t fret — it’s a good thing. The sound has changed for the better as the band has matured, not sold out, and built upon the foundation of the real talent Sum 41 has always contained.

I wouldn’t call this a comeback, but more of a rejoining of forces.

Check out Blood In My Eyes and reunite with Sum 41. Are you excited?

Blood In My Eyes by Sum 41 (Audio)

By: Maria Ciezak
For BiggerThanBeyonce.Com

Rock and roll veterans Social Distortion will be dropping a new release, Hard Times and Nursery Rhymes, on January 18th. For any music enthusiast in the genre, this has been long awaited and anticipated; six long years to be exact. Single Machine Gun Blues is an appetizer to the main course that is exceptionally filling; a contemptuous, up-to-date desperado anthem which incorporates the album’s insubordinate attitude. Mike Ness is hands down one of the tightest guitarists in the world, and this is the first Social Distortion album produced solely by the front man. Ness has explained in several interviews that it’s something he has always wanted to do. Well hell, Mike, we’re right there with ya, buddy.

Although I have only heard a few tracks, I am sure the band’s unique vintage sound will syndicate with their modern-day vision to create quite the banger. Their new record label has associated Hard Times and Nursery Rhymes to the “loves of Hank Williams and Exile-era Rolling Stones” — not the vilest company, if I do say so myself.

By: Caitlin Hoffman
For BiggerThanBeyonce.Com

It’s a weird, weird world if you’re Zebrahead. A weird, weird world full of awesome possibilities. They come from a little place called Orange County, have been in the habit of slapping tunes together since the mid-nineties, but have found a nice fit in the 21st century. These light-hearted laughers couldn’t take on the weight of keeping ska alive all by their lonesome, but they still do their part for the genre. If you’re not acquainted with the taste of ska-punk, imagine if a mohawk-bearing anarchist mated with a groovy Caribbean chick. Ska-punk would be their lovechild.

With songs that are transferable from video games to primal aspects of pop culture, I’d say that, although they’re not quite iconic, they’re definitely deserving recognition. They have that classic jump-start push that any good ska-punk should have, ‘cept they somehow make it even more energetic than is expected. Their vocals aren’t as rough around the edges as other alternative vocalists, making them a good refresher for sunny days.

Took a while to hook in to their pizzaz, but (I guess) the wait was worth it. Underneath all that hoppin’ and boppin’, they’re quite loveable. A group you want to hang up on your bedroom wall and take home to mother for Christmas.

And they’re always running around with crazy ideas popping out of their ears, which makes them both cute and endearing. I mean, their 2009 album Panty Raid consisted of nothing but cover songs from female artists, anything they could shove their groove into from Christina Aguilera to our beloved Beyonce.

Little tweets tell us they’ll have another extravaganza popping our brain cells like bubblegum in mid 2011.

So for now, let’s settle for a novelty Zebrahead classic: The Juggernauts. That peak in the chorus accentuates the hope in the misfit generation.
　

By: Caitlin Hoffman
For BiggerThanBeyonce.Com

I used to joke that The Warped Tour was like Woodstock, except there were more drugs and less peace. But after finally getting the whiff of what it’s all about, I’ve been forced to revoke my previous bias. I got in to the Country of Hardcore sans passport, simply because I was working one of the charity booths therein. Expecting to get some good doses of awesome music through bad sound sets, throbbing sun, and people already drunk by 9AM, I was preparing myself for one long day. But as time went on and the crowds grew thicker, I came to feel there was something more to what I had expected. Somehow Warped has a way of making you feel special, knowing you were a part of the spectacle — that the things you saw, the hairdos you spotted, and the smiles you captured were all part of something significant.

I don’t think I have to tell you how many heaven-bound bands showed up. From the household names to the underground breakout artists, the place was packed with talent. It was a direct injection of sizzling, incinerating rock, and a salute to what the Sex Pistols set out to prove: as long as you’ve got a guitar and some ‘tude, you have the means to go far. I even got to experience the unpasteurized thrill of discovering some new sounds along the way!

I was stationed by the tent where This Time Next Year and Suicide Silence sat to give autographs, heard Andrew W.K. bellowing to the crowd, Anti-Flag working up a riot while Hey Monday showed off their stuff, and as I walked away from the grounds I could hear Pierce The Veil start up on Caraphernilia. Everyone was singing along, and it was this magical moment I couldn’t get rid of. Suddenly, everything in my writing had popped off the page, and every note in my earphones had transcended to reality.

I guess the only true problem with The Warped Tour is there are so many different shows going on, it’s impossible to see every single snazzlegram of the line-up. And, one must remember, I was chained to a charity booth the whole time. But even getting snippets of it was a crucial addition to the memory bank.

If The Warped Tour went through your city this year, share the dirty details with us. If they haven’t hit you up yet, take a look here to see if your city’s on their warpath. ‘Cause, like one of the singers shouted from the stage, there will never be another Warped Tour ‘10.

By: Caitlin Hoffman
For BiggerThanBeyonce.Com

Have I been getting on too much of an animal rights kick lately? Meh, oh well. Pierce The Veil is a band I just couldn’t keep quiet about.

Thing is, usually I find a band for its music, then learn heartwarming details about them as I get acquainted. But with Pierce the Veil, it was the opposite. I first heard about them through the PETA website, and fell in love with their music afterward. Good to know they have both a clear conscience and incinerating skill.

Though the band has been trading names back and forth over the years, the habit of communicating their inner paradoxes and nightmares through efficiently packaged screamo and experimental rock has survived. Who cares what title you’re playing under, as long the soul behind the mask sticks?

Their prose writes itself on the walls of your mind, making you a willing spectator of philosophy in action. They are a hybrid of ideal evolution; they’ve got the pretty boy looks of a emo-core band, and the adrenaline-injected compound found only in the blood of heavy metal enthusiasts.

Like watching genius unfold, you can see how the song builds itself up or slows itself down, keeping you guessing. They have a habit of incorporating recognizable downbeats from hit songs to grab peoples’ attention, but it’s their ability to make the clouds rumble that’ll convert people to fan loyalty.

Like many notable bands, they’ve been on the Warp Tour, signing autographs at the Peta2 tent, and doing fabulous PR for their new album along the way. Seeing as Selfish Machines is their first album in three years, it makes sense that they’d be pumped to get the word out. As I type, they’re streaming it through their Myspace page (gotta appreciate that they’re more about spreading the music than they are about making the money).

You can check out their PSA ad for PETA here.

After your heart has swelled from their philanthropist efforts, get back to basics of pure, precise innovation, and brace yourself for the most tart tasting track from their new cd: Caraphernilia.

By: Caitlin Hoffman
For BiggerThanBeyonce.Com

Turn up the amplifier and head to the bomb shelter. The Black Stars are now available at a missile silo near you. After you’ve experienced their crash course in kickass, your energy will have shrivelled. All of it will have gone full throttle into pumping your fist and banging your hair at their all-out, smash-up punkfest. They’re jumping out, drum sticks blazing, ready to rock through your solar system.

Their songs are like a step into the underground. Almost always they’ll start with a riff or startling drum solo that makes your brain cells perk up. The effect they have on your ears is massive. Like the sensation of striking liquid gold; it all gushes out and sinks through the pores, like you’re watching ink get absorbed in your skin.

Though they have some killer EPs showcasing their talent, their first full length album is only coming out, as they say on their Facebook page ‘mid 2010′. Can’t wait to see how all that unspoiled energy juice comes together!

Just when you thought there was no more good punk revival out there, two blokes and one miss from down under suddenly fall into your line of vision. They have the potential to become a lifestyle, synonymous to mornings like caffeine and cigarettes.

If the Beat Generation was assigned a soundtrack, The Black Stars would be a definite candidate. When you listen you may feel zapped up but misdriven, as if motivated to do something drastic, but unsure of what you’re going to do. Soon all that unfocussed animation will just go into dancing, and you’ll feel the joy come back to sunsets.

I long to get rock and roll whiplash from The Black Stars, up close and personal.

Best of all, the message they slam in their performance is one they roll with off the stage. All that rebellion and energy isn’t just put into rocking, but doing good deeds. They’re fiends to the slimy corporations, and friends to the animals. In fact, on their Myspace, their last blog entry was in protest of allowing hunters in the national parks of Australia. Fingers like lightning, and spirits that are as selfless as they are sweet –that’s what I’m talking about!

Go on now, and download their tracks from Itunes. But before you do that, take a peek at one of their older songs Alright Baby, with a vid that shows you don’t need a steel contract to make a sweet music video. Though I do warn you: playing this video may cause your monitor to spark.
　

By: Rob Brayl
For BiggerThanBeyonce.Com

[photo by: matt vardy]
Totally diggin’ this video/song at the moment!

There For Tomorrow is out with the music video for the single Deathbed, from their album A Little Faster, and the outcome is pretty radstical (it’s a making up words kind of day).

The energetic heartbreak jam features the band playing in a dark warehouse, with duct-taped microphones smashing the hell outta some TV (and other various objects). Which basically sets perfect against the message of the song (ya know, with deathbeds and all). In all honesty, I think the track meshes perfectly with the video.

Hey, dudes of TFT: I’m really feeling this one!

Check out the Jonathan Bregel-directed video below.

There For Tomorrow – New Music – More Music Videos

By: Maria Ciezak
For BiggerThanBeyonce.Com

Although I write about buckets of talent on BTB, no band compares to Incubus on my radar. I’ve longed for the day when I could write a review about my favorite artist that would be read by others, and the day has arrived. Not unworthy of review, it’s just that Incubus has been on a slight hiatus, and we try to keep things fresh for all you fine folks. A little birdie told me a few months back that lead singer Brandon Boyd was releasing a solo release; I was uncertain what to think. Was the band breaking up? Is Brandon exploring new options? Either way, I was intrigued. Brandon can brag of a music career that has lasted nearly twenty years, and it didn’t happen overnight, for even diamonds start as coal. Years translating into six albums, breathtaking art work, album covers, EP’s and DVDs. Can the man do wrong? I had the pleasure of receiving the album before it hits the shelves, and I have not turned it off all day. Work, car, and home, I am analyzing it, cover to cover, trying to find a word to describe how satisfied I am. He is what I call an artist in the truest sense of the word.

The album is entitled The Wild Trapeze. It’s hard for me to pick the perfect words to describe this album, for his work means so much to me, I don’t want it to be anything but perfect. So in this case, I’ll use his words to grab you. Brandon Boyd describes the origins of the album saying, “This group of songs was born of a very different process than the many my band and I have been employing for our almost two decades at work now. The Wild Trapeze began as pot induced meanderings on my dusty acoustic guitar while Incubus was off of the road, and has slowly been morphing into things that I originally could never have imagined.” An old soul, oozing pure musical bliss.

This album is personal. When I first gave it a spin I almost felt as if I was reading his diary. He wrote every word to every track and performed practically every instrument you hear. Although he could blow most solo artists out the water, don’t fret my pets, Incubus will be recording soon. However, this sounds nothing like the work of the group. Incubus has changed their style throughout the years and Brandon displays a noteworthy development in his guitar playing, as well as picking up essentially every other instrument. Brandon’s many whirlwinds of creativity in art and music takes the listener to places that you haven’t quite visited yet. As far as genre goes, the album is all over the place. It’s like looking at a puzzle; you know it will eventually become a whole, but each separate piece holds a strong significant meaning.

I tend to dream that Brandon is only singing his lyrics to me (hey, just because it’s not Team Edward or Jacob doesn’t mean it’s not allowed), but this record truly feels that way. Each song puts you face-to-face with your emotions in a mirror-like effect. Check out Runaway Train and A Night Without Cars, for these two will push you to jump onboard. A Los Angeles native, a Vegan sympathizer, an artist by day and come nightfall, my favorite singer in the world. Now, back to listening…

By: Maria Ciezak
For BiggerThanBeyonce.Com

For more than a decade Papa Roach has been one of rock and roll’s powerhouses, and from personal experience, one of the best damn live bands I’ve ever seen (do yourself a favor and get to the mosh-pit sooner than later). Their feet have been tightly planted in over 10 years of multi-format triumph, so what’s the next step? Please continue.

The boys are set to release their first live album later in the summer, and have laid five new tracks on Time For Annihilation…On the Road and On the Record. Lead single Kick in the Teeth was first exposed to me by a rock-star that I work with at the radio station (yes, that’s my job), and I immediately asked her for the title. It’s so full of energy and momentum it makes me want to get up and scream. This track is sure to ignite rockers globally. I had the pleasure of hanging with a the boys a few months back, and they expressed how they’re ecstatic for the release of the record (that’s me above, the chick).

They’ve recently parted ways with Universal, and are releasing it via Eleven Seven Music. Jacobie Shaddix’s commanding vocals demand what would be damaging aggression — “‘Cuz when it feels like a kick in the teeth, I can take it”. Bad-ass, huh? Another buzz-worthy track is called Burn, which I heard the band debut live, and let’s just say, it does just that. From the dabs that I have heard, the band has matched the strength of their live show releasing a record that annihilates the listener. It hits shelved August 21st, and hopefully they won’t collapse.

Do you think this track has chart-topping potential? Even if it doesn’t reach previous success levels, Papa Roach never seems to disappoint, changing up their style upon each release. Bands evolve, sometimes not for the better, but these guys have a solid decade of hits under their belts, and have aged like a fine wine.

Check out the performance below, and get your mouthguards ready kids, for it’s a Kick in the Teeth.

By: Caitlin Hoffman
For BiggerThanBeyonce.Com

Here’s a lady who needs no introduction.

She’s beaten cancer, found the love of her life, and shelled out a slough of platinum selling records. And all the while, she has remained an unfaltering rock icon, a jewel amidst the swill. She’s Bif Naked, and her awesomeness is limitless. By far, she ranks in my list of female (and vegan) rolemodels, and will always hold the title of Most Kickass. All of her bases are covered, from her raw talent to her visceral energy when performing, to her innovative musical technique.

Her look and lyrical style are all about uniqueness, driving in the exact opposite direction from the rest of the crowd. That’s the way she’s always been, and that’s the way she’ll remain. Bif has been one to experiment with different musical styles (who can forget the ultra-techno track Spaceman), and is never afraid to give it her all and pick herself up.

Her vocals are backed by a styling crew of mash-it-up maniacs, and although the band members have changed over the years, they always seem to have perfect chemistry. This sizzling beauty is not even close to shutting down; her most recent album was just out last year, and she’s keeping herself busy with touring and sponsoring an exorbitance of charities. Whether it’s The Breast Cancer Foundation or Habitat for Humanity, Bif Naked is all over it. For a lady who’s had to bash her own personal demons, she sure has got a full agenda. Guess she’s a good inspiration to get out there and lend a helping hand, even if we’re not in the best place in our lives.

So many of her songs have become my go-to sound for unleashing the attitude gene. It’s clear where that drive in her music comes from! Her latest album gets back to basics, ripping into the core of struggle, pain, and perseverance (no doubt a lot of which was inspired by her battle with cancer). Her pieces can set you into such a melodious mood, that you’ll be screaming from the rooftops in no time.

With enough steam in her voice to cloud up windows, Bif Naked has become a lady of all trades, and has always come out a conqueror.

Rocking pipes? Check. Unbelievable motivation? Check. Rocker chic? Check. Love for life, for peace, for smooth tunes? Check, check, and check. One song from her 2009 album Promise called Sick really hit hard on me. It came out almost a year ago exactly, but the power hasn’t dwindled. You can check out the video below.

By: Maria Ciezak
For BiggerThanBeyonce.Com

Let me provide you with a band that needs to be reintroduced: Hot Hot Heat. New album, Future Breeds, proves the band is back with a vengeance. Be forewarned, however; these guys are not for everyone. But if you do like to give different genres a chance, then I’m pretty sure that you’ll sweat from the heat.

It’s been awhile since the boys have released some jams, but the wait was well worth it. This record has strayed form conventional pop, and made a trip back to the roots of what made the group great; volatile music. One of Canada’s leading alternative rock bands have yet to achieve much in the way of chart success, but most good music does not. They make wild sounds, labeling their songs with extreme names, and their music is new wave dance-punk indie rock post-punk revival.

Future Breeds is the sound of a band that is completely free of restraint, as Hot Hot Heat offers fresh track after fresh track and never lets a square song structure get in their way. Each song is so damn catchy, especially Implosionatic and Times A Thousand. The record offers an audacious and refreshing collection of tracks that spotlight the band’s unique sound and particular talent of creating radiantly blemished music.

If you’re in a blah mood, their music will change all that. If you’re standing still, this will force you to move. If you’re not used to stepping out of the box on your playlist, this will certainly mix that up. Opt for a change! After all, it’s summertime and we all are bound to get burned from the Hot Hot Heat.

By: Rob Brayl
For BiggerThanBeyonce.Com

Sweet! I want a pair!

Want some new kicks? Green Day’s Mike Dirt can deliver just what you need. Teaming up once again with Macbeth, for his second collaboration, Dirnt has designed a super cool B&W high-top. The design is 100% vegan, eco-friendly, and too cool for skool.

Says Dirnt: “I always love working with Macbeth. We have worked flawlessly since day one and I am excited to continue our collaborative efforts. Our first studio collaboration got great feedback and I am confident that everyone will appreciate my second design. I am extremely excited to get it out in stores and see the response.”

Earlier this year, the Green Day bassist donated the royalties from his first Studio Project collaboration, to the Soles4Souls Foundation. Since 2005, the organization has given away over 7 million pairs shoes to people in need in over 125 countries.

Amazing!

The Mike Dirnt Macbeth Studio Project will be available July 2010. Check out Dirnt discussing a previous design for Macbeth, below.

By: Rob Brayl
For BiggerThanBeyonce.Com

States of Emotion recently released a sharp music video for their proper single The Unsung. The four songwriters who draw influences from the likes of Oasis, Nirvana, and Coldplay, pour out emotion in the dusky black and white clip.

Over the past year the band rocked support slots all over the UK, preparing for a breakout. The alternative sound of the Essex group certainly does not lack edge as you will see in the clip. It’s brooding, punk, and melodramatic in a way that only Euro bands seem capable of pulling off.

Check out the video below.

By: Caitlin Hoffman
For BiggerThanBeyonce.Com

There are some bands (like the beloved New York Dolls) that don’t last longer than the blink of an eye, but still change the face of the musical world. Then there are those like The Bouncing Souls, who stay at the forefront of the musical revolution, sending shockwaves for years and years into the underbelly of the rock scene. Celebrating twenty years of doing punk justice, The Bouncing Souls have bounced back with a new album. And they’ve proved that they still remain an essential cog in the rock and roll engine.

Whether you’re crammed in a soul-sucking office, blending in to gray streets or rolling around on the grass and discussing Nietzsche, punk has been, and always will be, completely relatable. In the kind of good quality punk The Bouncing Souls create, there’s a raw attitude and centred passion that can be appealing to any walk of life.

I mean, these guys are one of those classic bands that got me first interested in punk! The fact that they’re not burnt out or broken up is amazing in itself.

Ghosts on the Boardwalk, the new album of which I speak, retains The Bouncing Souls’ punkish charm, while emulating the behaviours of a more outspoken, motivated generation. We All Sing Along has a beat that won’t quit, while Big Eyes is full of endearing cliches. The whole album is crafted simply and casually, a calm drift across a spinning sea.

Of course, their dedication is just as lovable as their music is. They’re all about the fans, the thrill, and the joy of keeping classic punk alive.

Prepare to enjoy them in your backyard, ‘cause they’ll be rocking out at the Warped Tour this summer.

Feel free to splash your ears with their multi-coloured magic below.
　

By: Maria Ciezak
For BiggerThanBeyonce.Com

Although not as big as The Rolling Stones, Green Day really Rips This Joint. I witnessed this go down on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon, where they kicked off a week of special performances devoted to celebrating the Rolling Stones’ Exile on Main Street reissue. Green Day popped the cork of the festivities with an amped up take on Rip This Joint.

The frenzied “Joint” is definitely the most punk rock song on Exile, and the trio gave the song a superfluous dose of batter and velocity, that in my opinion, took flight. Billie Joe Armstrong did a great job of keeping up with Mick Jagger’s original pulse, for he is a hard act to compete with. It seemed as if the boys had been singing the Stone’s for years.

In other news, both Green Day and The Rolling Stones are vying for the title of the greatest band logo of all time in a Gigwise poll.

It’s cool that television is recognizing timeless acts with devotion. Green Day are perhaps the concept of full-size time rockers having something to say about the world, and watching them cover other views is quite gripping. Whether a fan of The Stones, Green Day, Jimmy Fallon, or none of the above, it’s a cool vibe for all. A faithful performance in all detail, down to the lyrics we still can’t completely make out. ’Round and ’round and ’round we go.