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.

Every Avenue – Ah!

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Ah!

Artist: Every Avenue
Album: Ah!
Label: Fearless Records
Purchase: Smart Punk
Release Date: August 14th, 2007

Overall: 8.5
Music: 9.0
Lyrics: 8.0
Production: 7.0

Earlier this summer following a string of shows my friends’ band emerged from The Wolverine State exclaiming about a group known as Every Avenue. Coincidently it was only weeks later that the news broke of the their signing to Fearless Records. Since the groups inception in ’03 Every Avenue has worked persistently to make the music they love and standout in the fledgling Midwest pop-punk scene. As it’s vividly shown on the band’s latest EP entitled Ah!they are the real deal.

Each second of the opener “One More Song” encompasses everything that a listener could ever want in a three minute pop-rock gem. From the driving anthem-like chorus to the succinctly timed handclaps, proving that there is more than one song that can be sung along to on this debut (it’s actually six). The single “Where Were You” is the standout track, and for good reason as the melodically gripping sound completely takes you over. The synth-fused track “Nothing” is all hooks and no nonsense, showing signs of influences from their pop-punk predecessors such as Fall Out Boy. “Picking Up the Pieces” showcases Every Avenue’s more gradual side, as the song keeps a bouncy yet mid-tempo beat.

The band’s sense of style and diversity in sound only continues, as they continue to impress more on “Think of You Later (Empty Room).” With its soaring choruses, mixture of relentless electric guitars and haunting acoustic; big natural drums and intangible digital beats. “Getting Out” bring Ah! to a dynamic close, as this EP serves just to give a taste of what Every Avenue is capable of. Building momentum and excitement for the band and their many heartfelt true-to-life song that can almost be heard on the horizon. With their debut full length likely to drop next year, we can expect not only a growth musically but in the number of people listening to that music.

Track List
1. One More Song
2. Where Were You
3. Nothing
4. Picking Up the Pieces
5. Think of You Later (Empty Room)
6. Getting Out

City Sleeps – Not An Angle

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City Sleeps

Artist: City Sleeps
Album: Not An Angle
Label: Trustkill
Purchase: Smart Punk
Release Date: October 9, 2007

Overall: 9.0
Music: 9.0
Lyrics: 8.5
Production: 9.5

Note: This album was originally set for release in 2006. The original post date for this review was July 25, 2006.

I was a little put off when I first popped this CD in to play. However, I didn’t know what to expect from City Sleeps because I had never heard them before. “Hotel” is the bands first studio album which was originally set to be released on April 4th, 2006 on Maverick/Warner Records. “Check In” threw me off a bit but when twisted into “Prototype” I was pleasantly pleased. One thing I enjoyed most about the CD was the fact that all the songs flowed very well from one another. That got me thinking about how well a slower song would transform but they had no problem with doing that from “Walkers Ridge” to “Ordinary High” as well as from “I Can’t Make You Love Me” to “Andrea.” Somewhat pop with dashes of rock thrown in and a few screams here and there but nothing to be discouraged about. After listening over a few times it’s become a favorite of mine. Once you listen, you won’t be able to stop until it’s through. And, even then you’ll be lucky if you don’t start all over again.

Track Listing
1. Hotel
2. Prototype
3. Just Another Day
4. Not An Angel
5. Walker’s Ridge
6. Ordinary High
7. I Can’t Make You Love Me
8. Andrea
9. Bones
10. Be A Man
11. Sleep With Me
12. Check Out

Mustard Plug – In Black and White

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Mustard Plug

Artist: Mustard Plug
Album: In Black and White
Label: Hopeless Records
Purchase: Smart Punk
Release Date: September 11, 2007

Overall: 9.0
Music: 9.0
Lyrics: 9.0
Production: 9.0

They’re one of ska favorites and with 14 years under their belt you can’t doubt them now. After releasing their greatest hit cd in 2005 Mustard Plug picks up where they left off from Yellow #5, and continues to push the boundaries for punk-ska music. Favorite among ska listeners, Mustard Plug have been creating a buzz with this album since they announced they were in the recording studio and “Hit Me! Hit Me!” and “Over the Edge” got out. If you never heard of Mustard Plug, you should get acquainted. Their new album In Black and White highlights years of playing and hard work making it an album that pulls all of their influences and inspirations and displaying their signature punk-ska sound. Hooray for third wave ska.

Track Listing
1. Who Benefits?
2. Over the Edge
3. Hit Me! Hit Me!
4. Time To Wake Up
5. Something New
6. You Can’t Go Back
7. Life is Too Short
8. Copasetic
9. On and On
10. Tell Me
11. Puddle of Blood
12. Real Rat Bastard
13. What You Say

The Narrator-All That to the Wall

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The Narrator

Artist: The Narrator
Album: All That to the Wall
Label: Flameshovel
Purchase: Insound
Release Date: May 15, 2007

Overall: 9.0
Music: 9.0
Lyrics: 9.0
Production: 9.0

I like The Narrator. I like their sound. If you have never heard of them before this review I suggest you go out get the record and then finish reading this review. This three-piece band hails from all parts of the U.S but call Chicago their home. From the start of the record with “Son of the Son of the Kiss of Death,” “SurfJew,” to the ending with “Chocolate Windchimes” All That to the Wall is filled with lyrics that will make you miss the past but keep you guessing about your future, as you grow older. They also have a Bob Dylan cover of “All the Tired Horses” which is the only real flaw on the record, but everything else is great. I’ll keep this review short and simple before I keep rambling on and make up some weird shit, but until you listen to the record, you will understand why. .

Track Listing:
1. Son of the Son of the Kiss
2. August 32nd
3. Speeding Up the Gang
4.SurfJew
5.Panic at Puppy Beach
6. All the Tired Horses
7. Start Parking
8. Papal Airways
9. Breaking the Turtle
10. A Decade in Kentucky
11. Chocolate Windchimes

Powerspace – The Kicks of Passion

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Powerspace

Artist: Powerspace
Album: The Kicks of Passion
Label: Fueled By Ramen
Purchase: Smart Punk
Release Date: July 31, 2007

Overall: 9.0
Music: 8.5
Lyrics: 8.5
Production: 9.5

Powerspace’s recently released album, The Kicks of Passion, is, for lack of a better word to describe a mostly indescribable band, phenomenal, especially considering this is the power pop band’s first full-length album. The album combines the upbeat, melodic qualities of pop and the modern-sounding quality of techno to create a refreshing, unique sound. Frontman Alec’s voice is wide-ranged as far as pitch, clear, and overall appealing. The instrumental music, guitar in particular, is very well written and meshes very well with the vocals and lyrics to create a very distinguishing sound. The optimistic sound that all of their songs, even those set out to express negative feelings, seem to carry, sets Powerspace apart from a lot of bands currently popular in the rock industry that seem to come off as more angst-filled. The lyrics on this album are clever and thoughtful, and thoroughly relatable and enjoyable. Some especially notable songs off of this album are “Amplifire”, “Prologue: Adam Beckett”, “Dancing in the Future”, and “Right On, Right Now.” I heavily recommend this album to anyone interested in a very unique and equally likeable sound!

Track Listing
1. Prologue: Adam Beckett
2. Quarantine My Heart (Baby)
3. Powerspace Snap Bracelet
4. Right On, Right Now
5. Amplifire
6. Be Aggressive
7. This Is Not What You Had Planned
8. Dancing In The Future
9. Choose Your Own Adventure
10. It Smells Like Electricity In Here
11. I Met My Best Friend In Prague
12. Sleep, Everyone…

Boys Night Out – Self-Titled

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BNO

Artist:Boys Night Out
Record: Self-Titled
Label: Ferret Records
Purchase: SmartPunk
Release Date: June 26, 2007

Overall: 8.5
Music: 8.5
Lyrics: 8.0
Production: 9.0

Your headphones are snug over your ears as the record starts. From the first line you hear (“Get your head straight, before it’s too late”), you start to realize this record is going to be more honest than your grandmother’s confessional last Sunday. The guitar riffs are unique and not the typical repetitive norm that you hear over and over again. The chorus hits and it’s the catchiest thing you’ve heard since Hanson’s “Mmmbop”. Your spirit is lifted and before the second track begins, you are already humming the chorus from the first track. You remove your headphones and get on with your life, yet still hearing the record being played thanks to your short-term memory database.

Boys Night Out released their self-titled full length on June 26th, 2007 to a boring, typical, blah audience. Fans are now content with mediocre bands that have dollar bills in their eyes and cheat sheets for a sure No. 1 hit. Bands are continually copying each other, whether it’s a distinctive sound or the lyrical content or the way the chorus plunges in the middle of a song. Vocalist Jeff Davis states, “That’s all we ever try to do when making music. We always write for us.” Hats tipped off in an 1800’s fashion. Finally there is a band that is writing music not because the scene demands it or the record labels markets it a sure moneymaker.

Every song on this self-titled record is just as catchy as the previous one. You find yourself listening to one song and humming the chorus, but the next song rolls around and you have a new chorus to start humming. It’s not a matter of catchy choruses sounding the same; each song has its own unique sound and upbeat tempo. The lyrics are honest and easy enough to understand, but vague enough to take your own meaning away.

There are a million of things to think about when you give up getting high. There are so many mistakes in your life that they keep your company. Regardless of the topic, there is a song for every listener on this Boys Night Out self-titled album. There is even a 21st century drinking song that repeats, in an Irish pub chant sort-of-way, “Tonight, to hell with everything else. We’ll drink hard. We’ll drink, we’ll drink to ourselves.” Well, to hell with every blah rock band, we’ll find ourselves listening to this record repetitively.

Track Listing
1. Get Your Head Straight
2. Swift and Unforgiving
3. The Push and Pull
4. Up With Me
5. The Heirs of Error
6. Let Me Be Your Swear Word
7. Hey, Thanks
8. Fall for the Drinker
9. Apartment
10. Reason Ain’t Our Long Suit
11. It Won’t Be Long

The Rocket Summer – Do You Feel

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TRS

Artist: The Rocket Summer
Album: Do You Feel
Label: Island Records
Purchase: Island Records
Release Date: July 17th 2007

Overall: 9.0
Music: 9.5
Lyrics: 9.0
Production: 9.0

July 17th was a day that had long been marked on my calendar. It marked the release date of The Rocket Summer’s junior album — Do You Feel. The joy of my anticipation was killed when my pre-order did not arrive in the mail on the exact release date. I refused to wait another day so I headed over to the store without hesitation to buy what would be my second purchase of the new Rocket Summer record.

I popped in the cd and infectious pop filled my ears to their content. “Break It Out” — the first track was full of more energy then any song I had yet to hear this year. Instead of being eased into the album you are commanded to jump in and you are kept captivated the entire time. Every song is phenomenal and the flow of the record brings you full circle – from diving in with massive spirit in the first track to bringing it down a bit in the humbly written “Back to You” and ending things with the inspiring lyrics and vocals in “So In This Hour…”

This record definitely marks a transition from an indie to a major label for TRS. Do You Feel has a much bigger sound and has some strong elements that Hello Good Friend and Calendar Days did not. This is very evident in “So Much Love”. The song features Stevie Wonder’s horn section which could not have been more appropriately placed — I believe this song is the triumph of the album.

In today’s world of music and entertainment you are hard pressed to find artists who express themselves in a way that reaches out to others with a positive perspective. That is why Bryce Avary deserves the utmost respect for where he has placed himself in the music world. The first two Rocket Summer albums were themed with honesty and sincerity that was undeniable and that same earnestness can be found in listening to Do You Feel.

It is difficult for me to find much of anything to complain about when giving my thoughts on this record – it is everything that a long time fan of The Rocket Summer could ever want and it stretches beyond that to reach a whole new group of soon to be Rocket Summer fans. The album in its entirely is an accomplishment for Bryce Avary that appropriately follows up his last records.

Be sure to check out the The Rocket Summer on the last weeks of warped tour and then into the fall as they open up for the Sleeping with Giants tour headlined by The Academy Is… If you have never been to a Rocket Summer show before and you love the cd you are in for the time of your life. The power from Bryce’s live performance combined with dedication and excitement from the fans creates an unstoppable dance party that you are sure to want to be a part of.

Track Listing
1. Break It Out
2. So Much Love
3. Do You Feel
4. Save
5. All I Have
6. High Life Scenery
7. A Song Is Not A Business Plan
8. Taken Aback
9. Colors
10. Run To You
11. Hold It Up
12. Waiting
13. So, In This Hour…

Chaser – Numb America

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Chaser

Artist: Chaser
Album: Numb America
Label: Felony Records
Purchase: CD Baby
Release Date: 2006

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

Numb America is an album that will be compared to Pennywise and Western Addiction. Although they have two different sounds, you will find a similarity to them in the band Chaser.

I listened to it once, and thought it was good punk music with great lyrics. Then I set the album aside for some time and found myself listening to it again to see if I still felt the same. That second time around I found myself listening to “Status”, “Autopilot: Mind Your Own”, “Set It Off” and “Great Unknown” with the volume turned up a little more than previously set. This is a punk band with a California edge. Your going to have your political songs with the fast paced rhythm and the song about the O.C scene…or lack of according to them but its a great package of music your going to have.  The reason I compared them above to Pennywise and Western Addiction was that in some songs I heard a similarity to Pennywise earlier work and then as I was shuffling through my ipod for another similarity I found Western Addiction. Although Western Addiction sound is faster and harder they both have that punk rock edge that I feel Chaser holds. This record is quite good and whether they get to be as big as Pennywise, Bad Religion or any other punk band its up to you, we’ll have to wait and see.

Track Listing
1. New Beginning
2. Status
3. Numb America
4. California Redemption
5. Autopilot: Mind Your Own
6. Set it Off
7. Know Your Way
8. Dust in the Wind
9. World Routing
10. Great Unknown
11. Business Plan
12. Existence is All We Share
13. Backup (All the Arms We Need)
14. An Ode to Orange County and its Scene, or Lack Thereof

Circa Survive – On Letting Go

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Circa Survive

Artist: Circa Survive
Album: On Letting Go
Label: Equal Vision
Purchase: Smart Punk
Release Date: May 29, 2007

Overall: 9.0
Music: 9.5
Lyrics: 8.5
Production: 9.0

“Living Together,” is the first track off of Circa Survive’s newest release On Letting Go. With its creepy, catchy, reverb drenched guitars I often have to remind myself that I’m not listening to their debut album Juturna. Surprisingly, this song is nothing like the other 11 tracks off On Letting Go which are, in a sense, a step up from Juturna. Sure, there are the hauntingly beautiful melodies on On Letting Go that made the previous disc a hit, but there are also many different elements that are, in my opinion, very unexpected. Circa Survive consists of members; Anthony Green (vocals), Brendan Ekstrom (guitar), Colin Frangicetto (guitar), Nick Beard (bass), and Steve Clifford (drums).

The album in it’s entirety is very, very well written with none of the songs, in my opinion, on the boring or lackluster side. Stand-out tracks include; the acoustic, ballad-like “Kicking Your Crosses Down” where Green shows his best vocal performance on the album. Other stand-out tracks include “Semi Constructive Criticism” where it starts with Green singing a few words to 2 guitar chords and then speeds up so unexpectedly that it’s comparable to a kick in the face, if you will, then slows back down to the normal Circa Survive tempo. Then there is, in my opinion, the best track on the album “Your Friends Are Gone” which is also the most unique song on the disc. It begins with a fairly poppy guitar riff that you would never expect to hear from a band of this genre, and then picks up into a good paced, catchy song. Overall, I am very impressed with this release, and I would probably call it one of the best records of 2007.

Track Listing
1. Living Together
2. In The Morning And Amazing
3. The Greatest Lie
4. The Difference Between Medicine And Poison Is In The Dose
5. Mandala
6. Travel Hymn
7. Semi Constructive Criticism
8. Kicking Your Crosses Down
9. On Letting Go
10. Carry Us Away
11. Close Your Eyes To See
12. Your Friends Are Gone

The Academy Is… – Santi

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Santi

Artist: The Academy Is…
Album: Santi
Label: Fueled By Ramen
Purchase: Smart Punk
Release Date: April 3, 2007

Overall: 7.0
Music: 7.5
Lyrics: 6.0
Production: 7.5

The Academy Is… happens to be one of the latest pop punk band to fall under the all powerful Pete Wentz’s wing. The story goes that Pete was so impressed by the band’s debut The Academy EP, that he convinced Fueled By Ramen to fly out and sign the band immediately. Their first full length album was a direct continuation of the EP’s sound and gave them their first bit of mainstream appeal. In between Almost Here and Santi two members were replaced, ushering in fresh blood and a fresh sound.

The band’s patented sound is forsaken as Santi features a whole new slew of influences and sounds, but sadly, a lot less hooks. While Almost Here was filled with memorable riffs and wordplay, Santi tries to troupe through a number of different sounds — from the deliciously off key background vocals on “We’ve Got a Big Mess on Our Hands” to the downright painful ballad that is “Everything We Had.”

Santi sometimes chances upon great successes: songs oozing with style and begging to have William Beckett declared the new boy wonder of pop punk. This is best seen on tracks such as “Bulls in Brooklyn.” The song begins with Beckett’s constantly improving voice laid over a steady bass and drum, and moves into one of the more passionate choruses in The Academy Is…’s catalog.

As mentioned above there are as many songs that stumble as those that succeed. “Neighbors” is one example of this. The song sounds better suited in a clothing store commercial, rather than on the album of a band that’s produced such gems as “Judas Kiss” and “Black Mamba.” While listening to the song’s mindless verses and stabs at yet another style of music, the only redeeming quality to this song is found in Beckett’s ability to maneuver his pitch at will. His vocal contribution over and over proves to be Santi‘s saving grace.

If there were two words to describe Santi, it would be “unfulfilled talent.” It could be the relentless touring allowed for the lyrics to lose their bite, and that the loss of LaTrace and DelPrincipe has caused the band to abandon the style of music that had been perfected in previous efforts. While there certainly are successes on Santi, the spotty lyrics and penchant for genre-hoping leave listeners with a foul taste in their mouth. The introduction in “LAX to O’Hare” wraps up Santi nicely, telling us, “What happened next was a series of unfortunate events,” if only Beckett had realized how true this lyric would become.

Track Listing
1. Same Blood
2. Lax To O’Hare
3. We’ve Got A Big Mess On Our Hands
4. Sleeping With Giants (Lifetime)
5. Everything We Had
6. Bulls In Brooklyn
7. Neighbors
8. Seed
9. Chop Chop
10. You Might Have Noticed
11. Unexpected Places