Driven Far Off

The latest on the indie, alternative, and rock music scene including news, music, contest, interviews, and more. Best described as your favorite place to find new bands.

Warped 2009 – Get to Know the Band: 3OH!3

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3oh3

I think I’ll always have a place in my heart for 3OH!3. What other band out there has thousands upon thousands of people throwing up their hands and repping my home state’s area code? These boys make me proud to be a Colorado native. I remember “back in the day” when they were relatively unknown and I put “Holler Til You Pass Out” on my myspace page and took a good amount of criticism for it. Now that these guys can be heard on the radio, the same people that criticized my questionable profile song taste are now the ones asking me if I’ve heard “that new band that sings the “˜Don’t Trust Me’ song.” 

3OH!3’s first album, 3OH!3 wasn’t considered a commercial success when it was released in 2007″¦but, by all means, if you haven’t heard it, check it out ““ it’s worth a listen. Their album, Want was released by Photo Finish Records in 2008 and reached #44 on the Billboard 200. 

I’ve seen these boys play local shows, Warped Tour and the AP Tour and they’re yet to disappoint. Sean and Nathaniel are wildly entertaining and really know how to amp up the crowd. If you’re heading to any of the Warped 2009 dates, definitely put 3OH!3 on your list of bands to watch.

I’m going to attempt to snag some downtime with my fellow Coloradans at Warped — keep your eyes peeled for an interview soon! 

In the meantime, check out their newest video, “Starstrukk” over on their myspace.

Still can’t get enough 3OH!3? Follow them on Twitter!
Official 3Oh!3 Twitter: https://twitter.com/3OH3pfr
Sean on Twitter: https://twitter.com/kidquizine
Nathaniel on Twitter: https://twitter.com/NAT3OH3

Article: Today’s Music Sounds Like Crap

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When you listen to music, you want to hear everything from the first drum beat to every guitar lick and lyric in between. In recent years music has been getting louder (in terms of production) and its making music sound less and less pleasing. This recent article on RollingStone.com (“The Death of High Fidelity”) confirms that “the loudness war” is real and in full effect. Making music louder on the mastering level can degrade the quality of dynamics on a song and in turn make it sound like just noise, maybe thats the reason our parents always think we listen to “noise” because they were use to the full dynamic sounds of yesterdays music. On top of albums being produced with louder instruments and vocals, the increased use of headphones and small computer speakers on top of compressed music (mp3’s) makes todays music painful to listen to sometimes.

What do you think of the idea of albums being made louder? Do you think its acceptable because you listen mostly on headphones and mp3’s, or do you feel today’s music is loosing quality and bands should fight to have the music sound more dynamic? Let us know your thoughts.

Best of 2007: DFO

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Adam Weidman

Top 10 Albums
1. Motion City Soundtrack – Even If It Kills Me
2. The Actual – In Stitches
3. Straylight Run – The Needles the Space
4. All Time Low – So Wrong, It’s Right
5. Limbeck – Limbeck
6. Foo Fighters – Echoes, Silence, Patience & Grace
7. The Starting Line – Direction
8. Your Sweet Uncertainty – Your Sweet Uncertainty
9. Alkaline Trio – Remains
10. Four Year Strong – Rise or Die Trying

Honorable Mention
Sherwood – A Different Light
Mayday Parade – A Lesson in Romantics
Boys Night Out – Boys Night Out
Jimmy Eat World – Chase This Light
New Found Glory – From Your Screen to Your Stereo Part II
Coconut Records – Nighttiming
The Spill Canvas – No Really, I’m Fine
Treaty of Paris – Sweet Dreams, Sucker
Scenes from a Movie – The Pulse
Dashboard Confessional – The Shade of Poison Trees
Steel Train – Trampoline

Top EP’s
1. Nightmare of You – Bang
2. American Diary – The Brightest Colors
3. The Morning Light – The Sounds of Love
4. Holiday Parade – This Is My Year
5. Every Avenue – Ah!
6. The Dangerous Summer – If You Could Only Keep Me Alive
7. The Sugi Tap – The Sugi Tap
8. Forever the Sickest Kids – Television Off, Party On
9. PlayRadioPlay! – The Frequency
10. The Spill Canvas – Denial Feels So Good

Best Songs of 2007
1. The Actual – “Between the Bridge and the Chapel”
2. Motion City Soundtrack – “It Had to Be You”
3. Coconut Records – “West Coast”
4. All Time Low – “Let It Roll”
5. The Sugi Tap – “Little Tiny Everything”
6. Four Year Strong – “Heroes Get Remembered, Legends Never Die”
7. Just Surrender – “Your Life and Mine”
8. Limbeck – “Bird Problems”
9. The Starting Line “Island”
10. The Format – “Does Your Cat Have a Mustache?”

Disappointment Albums
1. Cartel – Cartel
2. Saves the Day – Under the Boards
3. Bright Eyes – Cassadaga
4. The Academy Is… – Santi
5. The Used – Lies for the Liars
6. The Rocket Summer – Do You Feel
7. Say Anything – In Defense of the Genre
8. MxPx – Secret Weapon
9. Reel Big Fish – Monkeys for Nothin’ and the Chimps for Free
10. Hot Hot Heat – Happiness Ltd.

“Guilty Pleasure” Album of 2007
Yellowcard – Paper Walls

Best Music DVD
The Format – Live At The Mayan Theatre

Saddest Band Break Ups of 2007
1. The Actual
2. Allister
3. The Early November
4. Spitalfield
5. Hidden in Plain View

Top 10 2008 Anticipations
1. The Matches
2. New Found Glory
3. Taking Back Sunday
4. Hellogoodbye
5. The Loved Ones
6. Head Automatica
7. Bayside
8. Thursday
9. Jack’s Mannequin
10. The Hush Sound

Best Live Show
Straylight Run

Best New Band
We the Kings

Most Overrated Band
Paramore

Most Underrated Band
The Spill Canvas

Top 5 Movies of 2007
1. The Simpsons Movie
2. 28 Weeks Later
3. King of Kong
4. Reno 911: Miami!
5. Halloween

Top 5 TV Shows of 2007
1. The Office
2. Entourage
3. Hell’s Kitchen
4. South Park
5. Little People, Big World

Anticipated Movies for 2008
1. 1-18-08 / Cloverfield
2. Harold & Kumar 2
3. Indiana Jones and The Kingdom of The Crystal Skull
4. Rambo 4

Final Note: Thank you all for visiting the site, I wish each of our visitors all the best in the New Year!

– Adam

Bryce Jacobson

Top 10 Albums
1. Jimmy Eat World
2. Motion City Soundtrack
3. Anberlin
4. Sherwood
5. Relient K
6. Farewell
7. The Graduate
8. Four Year Strong
9. Angels & Airwaves
10. MxPx

Top EP’s
1. The Dangerous Summer – If You Could Only Keep Me Alive
2. The International Drive – Finish What You Started
3. American Diary –
4. Dropout Year – Best Friends For Never
5. The Years Gone By – On The Verge

Disappointment Albums
1. Cartel – Cartel
2. Say Anything – In Defense of The Genre
3. June – Make It Blur
4. The Receiving End of Sirens – The Earth Sings Mi Fa Mi
5. Emery – I’m Only A Man

Saddest Band Break Ups of 2007
1. Spitalfield
2. The Early November
3. Hidden In Plain View
4. Down To Earth Approach

Best New Bands
1. The Graduate
2. Four Year Strong
3. We The Kings

Top 10 2008 Anticipations
1. Anberlin
2. New Found Glory
3. Underoath
4. +44
5. Number One Gun
6. Hit The Lights
7. Bayside
8. Hellogoodbye
9. Taking Back Sunday
10. Thursday

Top 5 TV Shows of 2007
1. Entourage
2. House
3. The Office
4. Family Guy
5. Prison Break
6. Smallville
7. My Name Is Earl
8. Chuck
9. Pushing Daisies
10. Heroes

Top 10 Movies of 2007
1. Transformers
2. Live Free or Die Hard
3. 300
4. Hot Fuzz
5. Knocked Up
6. Ratatouille
7. Superbad
8. The Bourne Ultimatum
9. Gone Baby Gone
10. I Am Legend

Anticipated Movies for 2008
1. The Dark Knight
2. Indiana Jones 4
3. James Bond 22
4. Cloverfield
5. The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian
6. Wall-E
7. X-Files 2
8. Rambo 4
9. Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
10. The Happening

Nick Singleton

Top 5 Albums
1. John Mayer – “Continuum (Special Edition)”
2. Paramore – “Riot!”
3. Cary Brothers – “Who You Are”
4. Fall Out Boy – “Infinity On High
5. Iron & Wine – “The Shepard’s Dog”

Top 5 Songs
1. “Here It Goes” – Jimmy Eat World
2. “Gravity” (Live) – John Mayer
3. “Six Feet Under The Stars” – All Time Low
4. “Ride” Cary Brothers
5. “Your Life and Mine” – Just Surrender

Disapointment Albums
Cartel – “Cartel”
Saves The Day – “Under The Boards”

Best New Band
Farewell

Top 5 Movies
1. Knocked Up
2. Transformers
3. Superbad
4. Alpha Dog
5. I am Legend

Top 5 TV Shows
1. Entourage: Season 4
2. Scrubs: Season 7
3. Flight of the Conchords
4. The Office: Season 4
5. Heroes: Season 2

Top 5 2008 Anticipations
1. “The Dark Knight”
2. “Entourage: Season 5”
3. “Indiana Jones and The Kingdom of The Crystal Skull”
4. Panic! at the Disco
5. Taking Back Sunday

Valida Prentice

Top 5 Releases
1. Spoon – Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga
2. The Shins – Wincing the Night Away
3. Wilco – Sky Blue Sky
4. Arcade Fire – Neon Bible
5. M.I.A. – Kala

Biggest Let Down
Stars – In Our Bedroom after the War

Saddest Break-Ups
Nickel Creek
Rufio
New Order
Spitalfield
Jurassic 5

Most Anticipated in 2008
1. Coldplay
2. Nada Surf
3. Gnarls Barkley
4. The Police
5. Fenix*TX / Oasis (tie)

Andrea Hubbell

Top 10 Albums/EPs/LPs of 2007
1) Metro Station – Metro Station
2) Cobra Starship – !Viva La Cobra!
3) We the Kings – We the Kings
4) Paramore – Riot!
5) Dropout Year – Best Friends For Never
6) Amber Pacific – Truth in Sincerity
7) The Used – Lies for the Liars
8.) The Hint – When It Gets Dark Enough
9) Powerspace – The Kicks of Passion
10) The Almost – Southern Weather

Disappointment Albums
1) Cartel – Cartel
2) Sum 41 – Underclass Hero
3) Good Charlotte – Good Morning Revival

Best Live Shows
1) My Chemical Romance
2) Cobra Starship
3) Metro Station
4) The Academy Is…

Best New Bands
1) Metro Station
2) We the Kings

Most Overrated Band
Fall Out Boy

Most Underrated Band
Madina Lake

Top 2008 Anticipations
1) Panic at the Disco
2) A New Found Glory
3) Taking Back Sunday
4) The Cab
5) Leathermouth
6) The Hint

More lists will be added soon.

My Warped Tour Experience – July 31st

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With my sunburn finally starting to show signs of subsiding I sit and reflect on my Warped Tour experience. Now I must admit I’m not big on festivals and haven’t been to Warped in many years. To be honest I wasn’t even planning on going until a couple days before, but I’m truly glad that I gave in and went.

The Starting Line kicked things off, and even though it was the release day for their new record they kept their set full of older selections. The backdrop for the Milwaukee stop of Warped was Lake Michigan, but unfortunately with the scorching temperatures it really wasn’t cooler by the lake… Amber Pacific played a great set and it was my first chance to hear some of the new material live. I then took some time to wander around and take it all in, look through the various tents and ponder why was there a Mexican wrestling match going on… New Found Glory hit the stage and really got the crowd going. They gave a preview of their upcoming cover album (From the Screen to Your Stereo Pt. 2) as they preformed “Kiss Me” originally by the group Sixpence None the Richer. I really had expected the attendance to be much larger, nevertheless the atmosphere was vibrant and fun. Very solid and energetic performances were given by Valencia and Mayday Parade, both groups will no doubt be staples of Warped for years to come.

As the mid afternoon sun beat down it was time for Alkaline Trio, truly the band I wanted to see more than anyone else. Unfortunately, I have to admit I was overall disappointed by them. Their live performances have blown me away in the past but I just wasn’t feeling it. They played a brand new song titled “In Vein” which will most likely appear on their Epic Records debut in ’08. The song itself didn’t “wow” me, but I know that they’ll pull it together and create a great record next year. My favorite performance of the day was easily Straylight Run. Even though their sound doesn’t fit with most Warped Tour acts, they held their own and stole the show (in my book). The entire set was meticulously paced and amazing to watch as each song was just perfect.

All Time Low, Underoath and Paramore seemed to be the bands that drew the biggest crowds, and for good reason. As I was waiting to leave, the man himself Kevin Lyman rode by on his bike. He was nice enough to stop and talk with my friends and I, he asked our names and thanked us for coming to the show. He is truly a down-to-earth and very genuine person, before riding off Kevin told us how to get to the famous Warped Tour BBQ. So thats where we headed, in between rows of tour buses there were tents and tables set up. With band and crew members just hanging out, winding down the day. As my friends roamed aisle after aisle of buses searching endlessly for Hayley of Paramore, I was perfectly content next to the keg drinking beer that was provided by The Starting Line. As the buses began to leave we made our exit as well, it was a great time and I for sure plan on going next year.

Warped Tour Update #1

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Hey DFO community-
I’m out on the warped tour with the band Bayside, representing the organization To Write Love On Her Arms! We’re on our thousand mile drive up to Vancouver for our first two Canada dates, and we just finished the first three in California. I cannot tell you how incredible this tour is. I’ve been able to see about 1/4 of the bands so far, and not one has let me down.

In Pomona, I dropped by Cute Is What We Aim For’s set, and regardless of what you think of them, the addition of Dave Melillo on guitar/vocals adds even more to this band’s incredibly addicting music and sharpens the live show, performing tighter than I’ve ever heard them.

Ventura allowed me to see a little more music, starting with The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus. Regardless of the fact that they’re one of the most genuine bands on the tour, they have crafted a nearly perfect live show. Ronnie’s vocals are more passionate and powerful with every note. I could, and probably will, watch this band every day. Later in the evening, I got to see my tourmates and winner’s of that day’s long performance, Bayside. Bayside is not your typical warped tour band. They don’t sound like a wanna-be Bad Religion, or emulate the same typical metal sound so many bands have adopted. Bayside is a rock band, and they do nothing but that, rock. Chris was telling me he hates it when people say “you rocked!”…well sorry, but you guys did. Half the crowd knew every word, and the band never missed a note. Bayside is a MUST-SEE on this tour.

Mountain View, because TWLOHA was so low on merchandise, gave us a lot of freedom during the day. Between The Trees played an incredible set on the Hot Topic stage, never failing to disappoint. Then I jumped over to The Spill Canvas, who delivered yet another stellar performance introducing a couple new songs as well. One of our volunteers, David, and I caught the last few songs of The Almost, and Aaron was as exciting as ever without the drums restricting his motion. Boys Like Girls played to a huge crowd, many fans screaming the words so loud you could hear them over the Amphitheater’s sound system. Later in the day, we all made our way over to support our friends in Paramore, and I will tell you this flat out. I would go to Warped Tour and lay face down on the cement in the sun for the entire day, if it was the only way I could see Paramore. Their new songs are unbelievable live. Everyone in the band is within one year of my age, yet they play with more passion, energy, and accuracy than most bands on the whole tour. Lastly, we got to see the always-pleasing Anberlin camp play the Smartpunk stage. On their first tour, you can tell they’re not quite used to playing in the sunlight rather than in sold out clubs, but they’re still just as good as ever, and well worth a half an hour of your Warped experience.

I know that’s a lot to read, but it was a lot to experience as well. Please send in your requests for interviews, and reviews and tell me which bands I should see!

Warped in Canada
7/3 Vancouver

After roughly 26 hours straight driving from San Francisco, the Warped crew made it up to the University Of British Columbia. A vastly different setting than the previous three, a smaller crowd but a larger area quickly tired my legs that were so accustomed to bus living. One of the most interesting and frustrating parts of the tour is Canada’s policy on bringing merchandise into the country. Any merchandise you bring across is automatically taxed, which forces the 50+ groups on the tour to ship their merchandise to the venue. The band I’m riding with, Bayside, shipped about six days early. The merchandise arrived in four days, and was then sent to the back of the delivery line since it  couldn’t be delivered till the day of the show. Unfortunately, for the band and that hundreds who voted for them to win the Energizer Long Lasting Performance time (an extra ten minute set), no merchandise ever came for them. We’ll see if their luck changes for Calgary.

I’d like to take a few minutes and talk about one of the other non-profits on the tour. I’ve set up the last couple days next to Kelsey and her Boarding For Breast Cancer tent. Their goal is to raise awareness and teach how to properly examine for breast cancer. One of the most startling statistics is that 30% of cases are discovered by partners. They’ve been able to raise a considerable of money in donations, as well as teach hundreds how to properly check themselves or their partners for the lumps indicative of cancer.

Lastly, I said this is in my last update, but you cannot go to Warped Tour and miss The Spill Canvas. TSC are seriously four of the nicest guys I’ve ever met, not to mention arguably the most talented band on the tour. Their set, which blends older tracks with brand new songs from the new EP and upcoming full-length. Take a half an hour of your day and head over to the Hurley stage for their set, I guarantee you won’t be disappointed.

Boys Like GirlsThe AlmostParamoreAnberlin

Article #21 – Mid Year Review

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Has 2007 proven to be better then last year? That is the question and we are looking for an answer, but a full year in review will have to wait another 6 months. The second half of the year looks promising with releasing from Paramore, The Rocket Summer, Motion City Soundtrack, Jimmy Eat World and more coming in the next few months. But what has the first half of the year done for our endless music craving? Releases from Anberlin, Relient K, Sherwood, Fall Out Boy and more hit shelves with lots of fanfare, but did they live up to the hype? This year is also filled with lots of sophomore albums from bands like Sullivan, The Fold, Paramore, My American Heart, Circa Survive and many more. Did these releases fall into the sophomore slump or are they destine for greatness.

Each year there is always one stand out band that comes out of nowhere to please our ears. So far this year The Graduate has done that for me. Their Cartel style rock rings out on their debut album, Anhedonia. With 6 months left in the year they could be beat, although the challenger would have to put up a pretty good fight.

This was just a brief review that covers just a few of the releases that have come out this year. This year is shaping up to be a pretty good year for new music. Now it’s your turn to let us know which releases you have dug so far this year and which releases didn’t meet your expectations. Also let us know which releases you think will dominate the second half of 2007.

Article #20 – July 17th

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Well the stars aligned and everything fell into place like it was an accident but things like this don’t just happen. On July 17th the kids will come out from hiding in the hills and descend on unknowing retailers to pick up one of the records that’s bound to be a 2007 favorite.

MxPx — Secret Weapon
Motion City Soundtrack — Even If It Kills Me  [Now Sept. 18th]
Rooney — Calling The World
The Rocket Summer — Do You Feel
Sound The Alarm — Stay Inside
Yellowcard — Paper Walls

At least one of these records mentioned above is on everyone’s list of records that they are looking forward to. There are a lot of Tuesday’s in which you like a few of the releases so what makes this one so appealing? There are actually several reasons July 17th garners so much attention.

A couple of these releases are make or break releases. Mxpx has been around close to 15 years and surprises most people by continuing to release records on a regular basis. Is “Secret Weapon” Mxpx’s last record? If the release does not go so well it is definitely in the realm of possibility. I don’t think this will be the last we see of Yellowcard if “Paper Walls” tanks but I think this will be the record to reconnect the band with long time fans or it will be the final straw, alienating “One for the Kids” and “Ocean Avenue” fans.

Bryce Avary of The Rocket Summer has proved beyond a shadow of a doubt that he is a talented musician and can that write a great song. Each Rocket Summer record has been better than the previous and so with the band moving to a major label there is a lot of expectations with the newest record “Do You Feel”. With the single “Break It Out” being released it gives that expectation a firm foundation that it will be fully met.

With the release of so many potential hit records which ones do you spend your money on? If you can’t afford them all (which most can’t) how do you choose which one’s you actually buy? Does July 17th officially mark that summer is officially under way? I think it does.

Article #19 – Internet Radio [May Be Dead]

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Internet radio is this sleeping giant of sorts. Most people have at one time listened on the internet to a radio stream, and some make it a daily habit to tune in online. While having millions and millions of listeners, internet radio still has an underground feel it. That may be partly because that there are a lot of independently run “start ups”. When The United States Copyright Royalty Board proposed a rate increase in the royalties payable to performers of recorded works broadcast on the internet it caused a grassroots movement of sorts to stop the seemingly greedy injustice.

The new ruling which would bill based on the number of people listening rather than a potion of the profits. So what does that mean? Very simply it means the more people that tune in the more you pay. Does that make these new fees a popularity tax?
There is a great breakdown on Saveourinternetradio.com/about, to show how this could hurt the small broadcasters. If a station has 1000 listens (which is not much) the royalties for the station would come out to $134,000 for the current year along with having to pay for the previous year on top of that. How is an independent station supposed to make what would essentially be $11 a person (if we use the $134,000 figure).

An interesting point in all this is that major radio such as clear channel (eww), and NPR, is just as upset with these new fees as the person that runs an online station from their house. NPR, along with others, works on a non-profit base and thus does not push advertising heavy, if at all. Little or no advertising is one of the things that attract many people to the online streams.

Unfortunately there may not be much that we can do to change the increased fees and thus can’t save many of the online stations that will shut down because of funding. There are still many sites out there trying to make a difference and so we do encourage those who feel obligated to do so.

http://saveourinternetradio.com

http://savenetradio.org

http://www.petitiononline.com/SIR2007r/petition.html

Article #18 – Writing Reviews

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It can be a daunting task to take an album, that a band most likely poured a lot of themselves into and tell people it’s no good and not to buy it. In the same way not everyone is cut out to be in a band, not everyone or anyone is able to be the one to judge music for the masses, Simple as that.

So what’s the point of this article? Is it just a way to give myself or reviewers an excuse when our reviews are terrible? It could be, but mostly it’s just a look at what goes in to writing an album review.
A good reviewer can take an album, describe the music and the style and subtly let the reader know what they thought of it without pushing their opinions as fact.

Word Choice: Sometimes I feel like I run into the problem of which words to use, and maybe people who also review music can relate. When writing about the same genre all the time certain words tend to get “tired”. For example there are only so many times you can say “Driving guitar” and “Soaring vocals” to mention a few. Writing good reviews takes someone skilled in the descriptive department.

Comparing bands to other bands: This is a common thing that is done in reviews, and just in life. It’s not the worst thing ever, but pretty close, because instead of having to describe how the music sounds you can just say, “oh you know “Band X” yeah, they sound similar to them”. It’s the easy way out from the writers prospective. As the reader I feel like I’m being mislead, because I know no band is going to sound exactly the same but I still get let down slightly when they aren’t a “Taking Back Sunday” clone. A side note on that, I know every band does not sound like them so stop telling me this new hit band does.

Things not to do: There are a few things which are just things which should not be done when writing reviews (most of which can be found in my album reviews). When you spend more time talking about why you should go buy an album than the music on the record, it becomes more of a sell sheet than a “review”. The next thing which I actually do quite a lot but don’t like is when the reviewer writes as if everyone is very familiar with the band and doesn’t write for a first time audience as well as the hardcore fan base. The golden rule or what should be the golden rule is when writing a review never do it with the goal of pleasing someone, whether it the publicist, band, or publication which it’s for.

Ultimately a good review comes down to whether or not it makes you interested in the band/record but some reviewers are definitely better at that than others. As always I like reader feedback, and so I want to know what we could do to improve reviews and/or which reviews you’ve enjoyed?