Sometimes, I don’t think I understand what punk rock is. That’s probably for good reason — punk can be anything for anyone. Whether it’s expressing an opinion, dealing with a political issue, or just having fun with friends, punk is a scene designed to be all-inclusive (especially if you’re an outcast). NOTS takes advantage of this on
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It seems like there’s not a lot to be done with punk rock. Oftentimes, people associate new punk rock with simplicity. Four chords played in 4/4 to a simple drum beat. Non-emotional lyrics and no craftsmanship. While I’d definitely argue that’s not the case, it’s hard to get that perception away from some. Dogbreth, formed in and
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I’ll be honest: Black Foxxes may have just released my favorite album of the year (so far). It seems like lately, it’s not often that I come across music that resonates so deeply with me, especially since my job is to sift through music daily. Somehow, though, the UK-based alternative rock band struck a chord with
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Australia: land of dangerous animals and surf-rock duo Hockey Dad (among other things). I don’t know much about Australia or surfing, but I do know that Hockey Dad recently released their new album, Boronia. Focusing on fun and friendship, Boronia seems to capture the spirit of youth. It’s obvious that the album is focused around friendship shared
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Somehow, Descendents have been making music (on and off) for thirty-nine years. In a time where fame seems to come and go with the click of a button, that’s impressive. They’ve seemingly been around for every era of punk. Some credit them as the forefathers of pop punk, and with good reason. Formed during the “Foundational
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I seem to fall in love with anything Anthony Green takes part in. Saosin. Circa Survive. These bands have been a staple in my music library since middle school. Green’s solo project is no different. I’ve been fascinated by it since I heard the 2012 album, Beautiful Things, which combines the graceful singing of Green with
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CHVRCHES, a Scottish synthpop band, have made waves since their inception in 2011. Signed with Glassnote Records in 2013, CHVRCHES has released two albums and an EP all to critical claim. Hard work and talent have resulted in tours with the likes of Two Door Cinema Club and Passion Pit. CHVRCHES “Bury It” and Rise Above
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Sometimes it seems that music begs to just be listened to, rather than analyzed. It’s sometimes difficult for me to separate writing a good piece from enjoying the music that I’m writing about. When I first clicked play on The Bend, the newest EP by The Hannas, I immediately remembered my mid-high school years. I was reminded of
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Sweden’s post-rock quartet Oh Hiroshima originally released In Silence We Yearn in 2015. On July 1, Fluttery Records re-issued the album for the first time on CD. Their second album, In Silence We Yearn shows progression while still playing to earlier strengths and unifying sounds. Oh Hiroshima Perfect Their Post-Rock Sound The album starts with “Ellipse.” The shortest
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If you haven’t heard of Fitz and the Tantrums yet, it may be because you’ve been living under a rock. They recently released their a self-titled album and their newest single, “HandClap,” has made serious waves, having been played in commercials and consistently charting high (and sometimes first) on the Alt Nation Alt 18 Chart, among other
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New York’s Augustines have recently released This Is Your Life, which starts out strong with a guitar-driven, synth-light track titled “Are We Alive?” “Love is like an arrow straight to your heart,” sings vocalist Billy McCarthy in this ode to love — and making love — that is reminiscent of The Gaslight Anthem’s The ’59 Sound. After
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“I used to be fearless / You used to be brave.” The opening lines of “Eyes Wide,” the newest single from self-described indie-prom artist Handsome Ghost (with the help of apparent newcomer Whole Doubts), bring attention to the way things used to be. They invoke feelings of change and the urge to stay the same,
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I’ll be honest, I wasn’t sure what to expect when I started listening to this album. While I’ve seen The Kills on festival fliers numerous times, I’ve never actually listened to them before. In fact, I rarely listen to this genre. I’d be lying if I said it takes some time to get into this
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