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.

Barely Blind – The Way We Operate

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Barely Blind

Artist: Barely Blind
Album: The Way We Operate
Label: TDR Records
Purchase: Interpunk
Release Date: August 28, 2007

Overall: 7.5
Music: 8.0
Lyrics: 7.0
Production: 7.5

Barely Blind’s The Way We Operate is full of pop punk goodness that instantly hits your ears with “Life On Wilson Street” and continues through on “The Way Out.” Dueling vocals, bouncy bass and all the catchy pop-punk guitar riffs your ears desire are included in this package. The Way We Operate was produced by Punchline’s Steve Soboslai, which couldn’t have been a better fit for this album.

Recommended if you like: Pop-Punk, Punchline, Home Grown.

Track Listing
1. Life On Wilson Street
2. Pariah
3. Crazy
4. Crowded Room
5. 97′ Called
6. The Way We Operate

Farewell – Isn’t This Suppose To Be Fun

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Farewell

Artist: Farewell
Album: Isn’t This Suppose To Be Fun
Label: Epitaph
Purchase: Smart Punk
Release Date: September 25, 2007

Overall: 8.0
Music: 8.5
Lyrics: 8.0
Production: 8.0

Fun Rock
noun
A type of rock music that empowers the being of fun. A sound of enjoyment, amusement and pleasure: the fans were rocking out to their favorite fun rock band, Farwell. (Also see Farewell)

Farewell‘s Isn’t This Suppose To Be Fun can easily be described as the best fun rock album of the year. Thirteen tracks of synth filled rock and sing along lyrics couldn’t make your ears feel any better. Enjoy the fun!

Recommended if you like: Fun music, pop punk, synth rock, Motion City Soundtrack, Houston Calls.

Track Listing
1. Start It Up
2. Anchors Away
3. First One On The Blog
4. Stay Pretty
5. War
6. Sing, Baby
7. Eighty Eights
8. Zelda
9. September Brought The Fall
10. Cut You A New Smile
11. Hey Heather
12. Darling Darlene
13. Fed The Fire

The Secret Handshake – One Full Year

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One Full Year

Artist: The Secret Handshake
Album: One Full Year
Label: Triple Crown Records
Purchase: Smart Punk
Release Date: September 25, 2007

Overall: 7.0
Music: 7.0
Lyrics: 7.5
Production: 8.0

Luis Dubuc, the mastermind behind The Secret Handshake has spent years toiling behind his Apple computer screen to create and perfect his sound. With the release of One Full Year he has proven that there truly can be substance behind the beats. The album is chalk full of enough drum machines, voice processors and synthesizers to create a bona fide dance party. However, I found that it’s Dubuc’s lyrical content that shines the brightest of all.

Recommended if you like: Fun electronic indie-pop, in the vein of PlayRadioPlay! and Hellogoodbye.

Track Listing
1. Too Young
2. Summer of ’98
3. Coastal Cities
4. Wanted You
5. Everyone Knows Everyone
6. Denton, TX
7. Midnight Movie
8. Game Girl
9. Pictures
10. Don’t Count on Me
11. I Lied About Everything
12. Make You Mine
13. Lately
14. Crosses Fingers

June – Make It Blur

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Make It Blur

Artist: June
Album: Make It Blur
Label: Victory Records
Purchase: Smart Punk
Release Date: August 7th, 2007

Overall: 7.5
Music: 8.0
Lyrics: 6.5
Production: 8.5

On this their sophomore effort for Victory Records, June has broken new ground and redefined their sound. From the opening powerful pop-rocker “No Time for Sense” to the piano tinged single “I’d Lose Myself” it’s evident that this is a band coming into their own. Each song truly has it’s own unique identity, and the record as a whole merely doesn’t just bleed together and become forgettable. If their last record, If You Speak Any Faster was the foundation for their sound then Make It Blur makes for the sleek and sturdy walls. I can’t wait to hear how they build upon this.

Recommended if you like: mainstream alternative radio-rock without the stigma attached.

Track Listing
1. No Time for Sense
2. Finally
3. Tempter
4. Closer
5. Your Shadow
6. I’d Lose Myself
7. Just Don’t Let Go
8. Machine and the Line
9. Swallowed
10. A Taste
11. Sight for Sore Eyes
12. Southpoint

The Dangerous Summer – If You Could Only Keep Me Alive

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The Dangerous Summer

Artist: The Dangerous Summer
Album: If You Could Only Keep Me Alive
Label: Hopeless
Purchase: Smart Punk
Release Date: August 21st, 2007

Overall: 7.5
Music: 8.0
Lyrics: 7.5
Production: 7.0

The Dangerous Summer’s debut EP is a mix of catchy rock and powerful vocals. From the first song, “I Would Stay” you can hear a difference in this band compared to others. The vocals ring out and the power and emotions come with them, filling your ears with a never ending delight. This EP caters to those looking for an upbeat tune (“The Permanent Rain”, “Here We Are After Dark”) and those looking for a song to sing along to (“Home”).

Recommended if you like: A new band to sing along to, catchy rock, Amber Pacific, All Time Low.

Track Listing
1. I Would Stay
2. The Permanent Rain
3. Here We Are After Dark
4. Wake Up
5. Home
6. Disconnect
7. Of Confidence