MxPx have put up an interactive website for their new album, Secret Weapon, here. The album is in stores and online now.
Archives for July 2007
The Starting Line – Direction
Artist: The Starting Line
Album: Direction
Label: Virgin
Purchase: Smart Punk
Release Date: July 31st, 2007
Overall: 7.5
Music: 7.0
Lyrics: 7.0
Production: 8.0
I guess 2007 is the year of redemption and come back. With several bands finding their way back to the styles that gave them their original fame. The Starting Line is the latest to (excuse the pun) find their direction.
The starting line don’t play copy cat with their previous work they simply build off it and focus their sound to something that is mature and unique to them. “Direction†the title track off the record leads off the record with heavy guitars and harder vocals than is typical for the band but lines up with all other tracks on the record. Harder music and thicker melody seem to be the tone the band stuck to while writing the latest effort. “Are You Alone†is the third track deep on the record and right from the beginning has a slower and darker feel to it with the chorus begging the question “are you aloneâ€? “Island†is vastly different with an upbeat feel to it that makes it a perfect summer song.
The album as a whole has a self reflecting theme to it. Songs like “I Could Be Wrong†and “Somebody’s Gonna Miss Us†being the most obvious with the songs being about the bands touring and how people will miss them when one day they aren’t a band anymore. The best stand out lyric has to be in the song “Somebody’s Gonna Miss Us†when Kenny sings “…If you can’t relate and refuse to sing along then maybe I can interest in some other song [a little something like] all that she wants is another babyâ€.
Starting Line fans will thoroughly enjoy this album and it will be in your top 10 for the year. Others of us who aren’t die hard Stating Line fans will definitely enjoy this record but my feeling is that it feels to short and it seems to not have a very long replay value.
Tracklisting
1. Direction
2. 21
3. Are You Alone
4. Island
5. Hurry
6. Something Left to Give
7. Birds
8. Way With Words
9. I Could Be Wrong
10. Somebody’s Gonna Miss Us
11. Need To Love
12. What You Want
The Panic Division Album Stream
The Panic Division‘s new album, Songs From The Glasshouse, is currently streaming here. You can find a pre-order deal that comes with a t-shirt, button and limited edition poster here.
Eastern Conference Champions Album Stream
Eastern Conference Champions debut LP, Ameritown, hit stores yesterday and you can find a full stream of it on their Virb page. If you like what you hear pick up a copy from iTunes.
Tonight On DJ Rossstar 7-18-07
Bandcamp will be doing a live interview on DJ Rossstar’s Punk Rock Show this Wednesday, July 18th, 2007. Boys Like Girls (Red Ink) will be calling in for a live phone interview. The show airs live on Idobi Radio from 7-8pm PST /10-11pm EST. You can send questions to ask the bands by IMing the screen name: staridobi
Mae Pre-Orders
Mae‘s new album, Singularity, can be pre-ordered from SmartPunk and Interpunk and you’ll get an autographed copy while supplies last. Finally, if you’re interested in the album and a t-shirt, keep an eye out at Mae’s Online Store. They will soon be launching a combo pack with Singularity and a t-shirt.
National Product On Saosin / Poison the Well Tour
National Product was just added to the Canadian leg of the Saosin/Poison the Well tour which started yesterday today in Winnipeg (see dates below). The band will spend September on the road with Panic Division and The Transit War and October and November with Ivoryline, An Angle, Paulson and Fiore.
National Product’s debut full length Luna (featuring the smash single “Love Me” which is currently #1 on Hawaii’s Star 101.9) ) will be in stores nationwide on August 7th.
On August 10, National Product will play a special CD release show at Orange County’s Chain Reaction (www.allages.com for more info).
National Product Dates:
Jul 17 2007 7:00P
Triple Rock Social w/ Live of Famous Men Minneapolis, Minnesota
Jul 18 2007 7:00P
The Garrik w/ SAOSIN, Poison The Well, Flight 409 Winnipeg, Manitoba
Jul 19 2007 8:00P
The Distrikt w/ SAOSIN, Poison The Well, Flight 409 Regina
Jul 21 2007 7:00P
MacEwan Hall Ballroom w/ SAOSIN, Poison The Well, Flight 409 Calgary
Jul 22 2007 7:00P
Starlite Room w/ SAOSIN, Poison The Well, Flight 409 Edmonton, Alberta
Jul 24 2007 7:00P
El Corozon w/ Lives of Famous Men Seattle, Washington
Jul 25 2007 8:00P
The Satyricon w/ Lives of Famous Men Portland, Oregon
Jul 29 2007 7:00P
Trilogy Theatre w/ Lives of Famous Men Victorville, California
Aug 4 2007 8:00P
Jillians w/ Twenty Mule Team and more Las Vegas, Nevada
Aug 10 2007 8:00P
Chain Reaction CD RELEASE PARTY/SHOW Anaheim, California
Aug 18 2007 5:00P
The Tuscan Legacy w/ Quiet Drive Tustin, California
Aug 25 2007 1:00P
John Muir Amphitheater / Bay Area Music Festival w/ Sugar Cult Martinez, California
Aug 31 2007 7:00P
Anthem w/ Panima, Fletch Ovid and more Riverside, California
Sep 28 2007 7:00P
Modesto Underground w/ An Angle, Ivory Line, Fiore Modesto, California
Sep 29 2007 7:00P
Underground w/ An Angle, Ivory Line, Fiore Roseville, California
Bouncing Souls Playing A Few US Dates
Bouncing Souls are playing a bunch of shows in August and one of them is at the Asbury Lanes in Asbury Park, NJ. The only way you will be able to get hold of tickets for the 22nd date is to go to a Punk Nite show hosted by Chunksaah Records and buy a ticket directly from K8. Tickets are $15 and there is a limit of 3 for each show you go to.
08.16.07 – Boston, MA – The Roxy w/ Lifetime
08.17.07 – Philly, PA – Electric Factory w/ Lifetime
08.18.07 – Baltimore, MD – Sonar w/ Lifetime
08.19.07 – New Brunswick, NJ – Court Tavern w/ Lifetime
08.20.07 – Coney Island, NY – Cha Cha’s
08.22.07 – Asbury Park, NJ – Asbury Lanes w/ The Low Budgets
09.02.07 – Seattle, WA – Bumbershoot Festival
Motion City Soundtrack New Song Explanations
Justin Pierre of Motion City Soundtrack recently spoke to AOL’s PopEater. He divulges some info regarding a few songs off the upcoming record, entitled Even If It Kills Me.
Mayday Parade – A Lesson in Romantics
Artist: Mayday Parade
Album: A Lesson in Romantics
Label: Fearless Records
Purchase: InterPunk
Release Date: July 10th, 2007
Overall: 8.0
Music: 8.5
Lyrics: 7.5
Production: 8.0
With the summer heat blasting outside and thousands of concertgoers flocking to Warped Tour it’s truly peak season for pop-punk. It’s funny to think that it was just a year ago that Mayday Parade spent their summer with backpacks full of CD’s and iPod’s firmly in hand. As they walked up and down the lines of kids waiting to enter the esteemed summertime concert series. The band would sell CD’s to anyone who would stop and take a listen. By the conclusion of the 2006 Vans Warped Tour Mayday Parade made 10,000 new fans without playing a single show. Shortly after, California based Fearless Records took notice of the group and quickly signed them. Tales Told By Dead Friends was re-released in November of ’06 and to date has sold over 20,000 copies. After months on the road it was time to record their first full length record. Entirely prepared with an arsenal of fresh songs and a pair of top tier producers at the helm, Mayday Parade took to the studio.
The result is A Lesson in Romantics, featuring an abundance of perfectly punctuated pop-punk gems. Leading off with the cover “Jamie All Over” which was originally preformed by Kid Named Chicago, but Mayday Parade has certainly taken the song and made it their own. “Black Cat” compared to previous work displays an altered sound, that highlights fantastic guitar work; culminating in a breakdown that defines shredding. The song “When I Get Home, You’re So Dead” is a redo and originally found on their debut EP Tales Told By Dead Friends, the new version provides a new dynamic with a powerful feel; not to mention a much better recording quality. On “Jersey” the lyrical content shines through “Cause Jersey just got colder and I’ll have you know I’m scared to death. That everything that you had said to me was just a lie until you left.” The album charts a different course with “If You Wanted a Song Written About You, All You Had to Do Was Ask” as mid-tempo bass line creates the perfect flow for the track. Where “Miserable at Best” is piano infused ballad at it’s best, with the vocals resonating back and forth “But I guess that I can live without you. But without you I’ll be miserable at best.” Following, Romantics picks back up to speed with a good amount of hooks and solid drums as well as flawless form fitting vocals. The title of “I’d Hate to Be You When People Find Out What This Song Is About” is a bit too generic for my taste but the musicianship is anything but. At this point I personally feel that the CD loses a bit of momentum, but the track “Champagne’s for Celebrating (I’ll Have a Martini)” brings everything back around. A Lesson in Romantics comes to a close with “You Be the Anchor That Keeps My Feet on the Ground, I’ll Be the Wings That Keep Your Heart in the Clouds” where you can feel all the emotion pouring out of the instruments and onto the record.
It’s safe to say that Mayday Parade has all around stepped it up with this album, illustrating their maturity and growth. The lyrics are quite reflective and the music can only be described as strong, while at the same time that irresistible catchiness remains. With exceptional and visually intriguing artwork, A Lesson in Romantics may just be the complete package. Being one that can provide the soundtrack to these mid-summer memories.
Standout Track
Jamie All Over
Track List
1. Jamie All Over
2. Black Cat
3. When I Get Home, You’re So Dead
4. Jersey
5. If You Wanted a Song Written About You, All You Had to Do Was Ask
6. Miserable at Best
7. Walk on Water or Drown
8. Ocean and Atlantic
9. I’d Hate to Be You When People Find Out What This Song Is About
10. Take This to Heart
11. Champagne’s for Celebrating (I’ll Have a Martini)
12. You Be the Anchor That Keeps My Feet on the Ground, I’ll Be the Wings That Keep Your Heart in the Clouds
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