Top Tunes: April

Natives - Stand For Something

"And I can't carry on like this, even if my heart insists, I can't carry on like this"

Young Classics - Lungs
"It's like i'm walking with strangers, don't even know you anymore"

Inherit The Stars - Caught In The Crossfire
"We're not, we're not ever backing down, we won't ever let you rule this town"

Lights feat Owl City - Cactus In The Valley (Acoustic)
"So the storm finally found me and left me in the dark, in the cloud around me I don't know where you are"

Alkaline Trio - Until Death Do Us Part
"Did I lose everything that I love? I suppose that I did, when push came to shove"

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Introducing: Inherit The Stars

Hailing from Sheffield, Inherit The Stars are preparing to take the universe by storm with their indelible music. With the near release of their debut full length "We Were Made To Walk The Skies" on the 18th of May, they've made the gutsy ten track album available for everyone to check out now over on their soundcloud and there appears to have been nothing but praise for the quartet's efforts.
Slaving away on the album for a good year, they were lucky enough to work with Jim Pinder at Treehouse Studios where albums from their influences Fightstar were recorded as well bands like While She Sleeps and Rise To Remain. 
Other influences of the band include Funeral For A Friend, Chiodos and Enter Shikari and with what is clearly unadulterated talent they've found their own unique sound that draws on some of the best parts of their influences and ties it together to create a striking finish that is unafraid to experiment and break the boundaries of typical hardcore music. There's synths, strings and screaming and riffs and choruses that will stick in your mind and have you singing along with one listen as well as softer, delicate songs that will evoke goosebumps on even the toughest skin.
So, don't be a fool and help these outstanding guys take on the world to prove they have what it takes and if you're ever in the vicinity of one of their live shows get yourself there as with music like this i'm 110% sure it will be an unforgettable epic show.

Stalk them for yourselves:

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Album Review: Transit - Young New England

Boston's Transit have never released a disappointing album, in fact they seem to get better and better every time, but 2011's Listen And Forgive seemed as though it would be impossible to level with. However, with one play through Young New England I think the band may just have done it.

Their signature style of melodic upbeat music is immediately present on opening track and first release "Nothing Lasts Forever" which starts with quiet acoustic guitaring allowing Joe Boynton's vocals to open the album. Moving into Peter Pan track "Second To Right" the theme of the album is clear. They are growing older and are gripping onto the present with everything they have, although sometimes they regress and allow the past to creep up on them and they're hyper aware of this, "we only want what we can't have, we're always hung up in the past." Title track "Young New England" employs gang vocals different from what we've heard before and is the clearest nod to their hometown, Boston, than on any other track. "So Long, So Long" is incredibly catchy and lighthearted and fast becoming one my favourite tracks. There's layers of vocals and music that overlap creating the sense of nostalgia that's already in the lyrics, "so long so long to the silver days, so long so long, to feeling second rate." 

The second track released "Weathered Souls" could easily have been on Listen and Forgive with the melody but there's still something new and different injected in there including the way Boynton stumbles out the vocals on the verses sounding more disgruntled (?) than he usually does. And if that reminded you of their last album then "Hang It Up" definitely will with the lyrical throwback "ride it out, ride it out, listen and forgive, pain is temporary, you will love and you will live" which is now one of my favourite lyrics. The song is laid back in the music and is sung with a steady rhythm but the lyrics which, although repetitive,  obviously have a deep meaning to the band, "will you float out there forever, or hang it up when you get home?" 

"Don't Go, Don't Stray" is one of the tracks playing on the theme of living in the now without a care in the world with lyrics that set a scene before moving into the more emotional "Thanks For Nothing" boasting fantastic lyrical one liners and bass and drums that work beautifully together providing a heartbeat to the song.

Beginning life as a pop-punk band, Transit have become more rock/indie with the last couple of albums but "Summer, ME" is a lot more reminiscent of their pop-punk roots. Overall the music is that bit heavier, played that one key lower. If you're going to pick a summer song then let it be "Hazy" as there really isn't a more chill sounding song on the album. Think, Panic! At The Disco's Pretty Odd, and you're part way there. "Bright Lights, Dark Shadows" is another track that clearly has old Transit elements at play with the new. Finishing with "Lake Q" was a good move as the soft song is intricately beautiful and ties up the nostalgic experience perfectly.

Despite having read so many mixed opinions on the album and having a sinking feeling in the pit of my stomach about what I was going to hear Transit have once again put a grin on my face. Musically and vocally the album blended so well, with everyone getting their own moments to shine, but without overpowering each other and as for the lyrics it is as always stunning and with most being along the lines of growing up it's impossible not to relate to. Buy this album, get in a car with the windows down and have it blasting out the speakers and I assure you with one drive you fall in love with Young New England. 

Album Review: Bring Me The Horizon - Sempiternal

Bring Me The Horizon's first three albums built them a dedicated fan base that worshipped the very ground they walked on and saw them win awards, play shows across the world and get signed to a major label. Along with the fans were those who doubted the band and harboured a dislike for them but that seems to have come to an end with fourth album Sempiternal drawing in more and more positive reviews by the day. They've already found themselves gaining increased exposure in the mainstream with "Shadow Moses" having awakened listeners of Radio One on their way to work and being named as number one on Kerrang's Rock 100.

From the experimental electronics, like on opener "Can You Feel My Heart?" to the ear shattering musical breakdowns and the ever poetic and ultimately striking lyrics, Sempiternal is a showcase of diversity and creativity in the very best of ways. Tracks like "And The Snakes Start To Sing" see them matured, playing with a careful quiet and Sykes' vocals rarely doing more than singing softly whilst "The House Of Wolves" is heavy to its core and "Antivist" is a throwback to previous records adopting their anthemic full of swear words can't-help-but-scream along style, "middle fingers up if you don't give a fuck." 

With this atmospheric album, it seems pretty safe to say that Bring Me The Horizon surpassed all expectations and are set to achieve much bigger things in the near future.

Update: Lights Magazine

Hey everyone,
I now write for Lights Mag too and you can read my review of Save Rock And Roll over there right now.
Like it, tweet about it, do what you can!

Artists Everyone Should Love: City And Colour

City And Colour, Dallas Green's recording alias, is a far cry from previous hardcore band Alexisonfire. Starting out as an online side project, Dallas eventually rewrote a lot of these songs to make up his debut album Sometimes which was first released in 2005. With two more albums under the Canadian's belt - Bring Me Your Love and Little Hell - as well as the re-release of Sometimes in 2009, a fourth album - The Hurry And The Harm - is set to grace our ears in June of this year.
The music itself is beautifully acoustic, folksy and melancholic in a way that everyone would be able to relate to, but never is it repetitive as Dallas oozes songwriting talent and is unafraid of experimenting with instruments including harmonica and banjo that compliment his soft vocals.
City And Colour has supported many other artists over the years - Tegan And Sara, Pink and more recently Biffy Clyro - as well as headlining tours with the likes of Lissie in support and in the process acquired a strong fan base and several awards like the Juno Songwriter of the Year. 

Album Review: Paramore

Three and half years after brand new eyes and a whole lot of drama left people questioning the future of Paramore, but really, there was no need, as if their self-titled album is anything to go by Paramore 2.0 is here to stay. After their Singles Club releases at the end of 2011, the band hid away for much of last year to work on the seventeen track full length that pushed their boundaries to the point that there weren't any left and, ironically, produced a more comfortable Paramore. Boasting a broad range of exceptional musical ability from the trio that shows them at their very best, the album is unpredictable, experimental and full of surprises, but, ultimately, feels like Paramore at the highest possible standard. 

The writing team of Hayley Williams and Taylor York has proven to be the best yet. 

Shining musically, Taylor takes front seat on the album with guitar solo's that take fantastic songs and make them into something epic, and accompanied by Jeremy Davis who destroyed any limits bass on previous Paramore albums may have had, if the album had turned out to be seventeen instrumentals, I would not have complained. But, Hayley came back too giving it her absolute all and after so many years of Paramore you'd think that we had heard the best of Hayley's vocals but apparently that wasn't the case. With healthier sounding matured vocals, she sings us through the album playing around with singing styles and flaunting notes and tones we were yet to hear. Lyrically the album ventures further into the world and instead of writing angry songs there is the literal opposite with one of the three interludes "I'm Not Angry Anymore"and with several love songs it's apparent the band are in a better place.

Their signature sound is still in there, more notable on some tracks than others, but with their new sound a stronger, honest and matured Paramore has risen from negativity and are ready for a positive future. Those still clinging to the shreds of Paramore's past and unwilling to accept any change need to "Grow Up" and embrace this album with an open mind as there is no better feeling than growing with a band, which essentially this album will prove to anyone who is ready to listen.

***

Opening track, "Fast In My Car" kicks off the album with a punchy beat and hella lot of attitude musically, vocally and lyrically highlighting the previous struggles and the fact they overcome them. The line "already proved we can tough it out, and we get along so sweetly" brings this home, along with lead single "Now" and poppy "Grow Up" whose chorus declares "some of us have to grow up sometimes, and so, if I have to i'm gonna leave you behind". With the lyrics to the bridge being "we get along for the most part, me and reality" it seems fitting that the next track is "Daydreaming" which between the far-away sound of the vocals and up beat instrumentals will float around your subconscious with a dream-esque vibe, and boy, are those harmonies, "we're only half alive", dreamy. 

First of the interludes, "Moving On", is our first glimpse of Paramore's foray into folk. Country vocals, a ukulele and honest lyrics to the point of brutal. It's marvelous. Following on is the infectious "Ain't It Fun" and if funky soul gospel music wasn't your thing before then it sure as hell will be after a few listens to this and good luck getting rid of the grin on your face.  

"Let The Flames Begin" now has a twin in the form of dark "Part II". Similar guitars, but with electro overtones, the song opens calmly with "what a shame, what a shame we all remain such fragile broken things" but it is the calm before the storm as the sad song explodes in all aspects on the chorus and for one of the stand out instrumentals that leads into what we all thought was the "Monster" outro. The saddened - and yet still somehow hopeful - tone carries on to "Last Hope" with fragile vocals, more harmonies to die for and delicious gang vocals. The next single "Still Into You" perfectly describes how I feel about Paramore, "after all this time i'm still into you" and grungy follow up track "Anklebiters" contrasts brilliantly with the pop love song.

Something about the second interlude "Holiday" just screams Jeremy and so the fact that he's been cited as one of the writers is no surprise. Upbeat "Proof" will cheer you up enough that when it gets to "Hate To See Your Heart Break" it will feel like a knife stabbing you repeatedly and the fact Hayley wrote this for Taylor will only add to your pain. Slow, heart-breaking and utterly raw Hayley's vocals sparkle as she croons along with an orchestral arrangement to the simple yet beautiful musical outro. Allowing us to recover "(One Of Those) Crazy Girls" is fun and tells the tale of an overly obsessed girlfriend to music that seems reminiscent of salsa in places.

The last interlude "I'm Not Angry Anymore" is lyrically genius, "i'm not bitter anymore i'm syrupy sweet, i'll rot your teeth down to the core",  and the smiles on their faces can be heard through the song making it feel personal on a whole other level. The keyboard on the chorus of "Be Alone" is fast becoming one of my favourite things along with the closing track "Future" which starts with conversation, again adding to the personal feel to the album, before simple quiet music and vocals begin (I can't be the only person who was immediately reminded of "Plane Crash Dreams"). At nearly eight minutes long you know that something is going to change and on this song, which is like jumping into the darkest part of the trio's minds, the change comes in the form of the most insane sounding instrumental. The acoustics build and build before being replaced by epic electronic guitars and heavy drums that increase in volume, disappear and then come back twice as hard which will leave you sitting there exclaiming what just happened for a long time before you hit the repeat button to be sure you heard it right.

***

Paramore is rock and funk and folk and pop and just about everything in between. 

Paramore is dark yet hopeful. 

It is the same and different. 

It is grown up. 

It is Paramore.