5 Bands I Want Back

If Fall Out Boy aren't on your list of bands you want back then we can't be friends. Formed in 2001 the pop -punk (or pop-rock depending on who you ask)  legends went on hiatus in 2009 and consequently broke the hearts of thousands. I don't know anyone that doesn't wish for them to reform at least once a day. 

When The Academy Is... announced they were splitting up last October I wasn't surprised, but it didn't stop me from crying about it anyway.  When they formed back in 2003 and signed to Fueled By Ramen I was a mere 9 years old and had only been venturing into the world of music that wasn't Steps or S Club 7 for about a year. These guys were one of my first favourite bands alongside the likes of Fall Out Boy, Blink 182 and Sum 41. 

Hey Monday's hiatus is yet another unsurprising one. I didn't break down in tears when I found out and i'm sure life will continue to go on without them but I can't help but miss them sometimes. They weren't technically amazing and they weren't about to start some music revolution anytime soon. What they had that I miss is fun. They were fun and that's what I want back. I want to see how they would have progressed had they stuck around. 

Oh Self Against City what ever happened to you? This pop-rock group have an album, EP and handful of demo's to their name. And. They. Are. So. Good. Then in 2008 they announced they were taking a break from touring but were still playing together and I don't think we've heard anything since. Even if they don't come back could we at least hear the "new material" they had supposedly recorded? 

I was late getting into The Years Gone By as they formed in 2002 and I didn't hear about them until late 2008/early 2009 but all it took was one song and I was in love. It took me all of 5 minutes to download their entire discography and after a couple of hours I knew them all by heart. Then in 2010 they announced they were going on hiatus. Gutted doesn't even describe it.

Update: Arthur Walwin

"A small tear just rolled down my face. This had been almost 3 years in the making. It’s finally all come together."

Finally, physical copies of Arthur Walwin's EP "For One More Night" are available from his Big Cartel. You better all buy one - this guy is amazing. 

Top 5 Tunes This Week

Go Radio - Goodnight Moon

Arthur Walwin - All For You

Anavae - Sunlight Through A Straw

Yellowcard - Here I Am Alive

Mayday Parade - So Far Away

Why Am I Not One Of You?

I've always been someone who thought they preferred male vocalists to females until I blasting one of mix tapes in the car. And that's when I realised - there were an awful lot of female singers on there. So inspired by my reverie that I do in fact adore an awful lot of female vocalists i've made a list of some of my favourites for you to check out- if you haven't already that is.

Here's an obvious choice for you - Hayley Williams of Paramore. I can safely say that I don't know anyone who dislikes her singing. Even my mum who is an avid 'Hayley Hater' can't deny that she has an amazing voice and it's one that stays just as amazing live. With 3 full length studio albums, a couple of EP's, live albums and a bunch of covers and demo's under the 8 years old belt of Paramore I can't wait to see what they have in store for us next.

If you're not already in love with Sierra Kusterbeck of VersaEmerge then you're missing out big time. Her vocals are sugar and spice and have me questioning on an hourly basis why i'm not her. Like really? How does one person get to look and sound gorgeous and be insanely awesome too? It's simply not fair. But i'll learn to cope with it so long as I don't have to wait too much longer for her and band mate Blake's new album Another Atmosphere said to be released early next year.

Juliet Simms from Automatic Loveletter finally found the fame she deserves after coming second place in the last season of The Voice. Before that however she played all the shows she could and sung her heart out at every opportunity for years and years constantly being messed around by various record labels along the way. She has a beautiful raw voice that i'm excited to hear more from.

I post about Becca Need-Menear's band Anavae so often that if you still haven't fallen for them then I suggest you hurry up about it. She's a lovely person with a lovely voice and a band that is going to go far. But just in case you're like me and that's not enough for you she has endless covers, collabs and her previous band End Of The Spectrum to keep your ears happy.

Tay Jardine has a voice that grows on you and one that gets better and better every time I see We Are The In Crowd live. Pixie-sized Tay has a voice unlike anyone else's that can adopt pretty tones in one instance and then gruff punk harmonies the next.

Lights has a lush studio voice that gets 100 times better live and a 1000 times more stunning acoustically.

Cassadee Pope is soon to appear on The Voice after going solo since Hey Monday took an indefinite hiatus (cries self to sleep). Sugary sweet vocals that can reach an unexpected high note on occasion.

What I like best about Taylor Momsen from The Pretty Reckless is how she just does not give a single fuck. Oh, and she has a pretty voice.

I don't think she needs any introductions but just in case any of you had a seriously deprived childhood Gwen Stefani and No Doubt started my love for female singers.

Introducing: Arthur Walwin

Playing guitar and providing vocals for awesome pop-punk band Paige, producing tracks and working as a sound engineer just wasn't enough for the super talented Arthur Walwin as he launched his own solo project. And boy am I glad. His voice is rich with beautiful tones, his lyrics are stunning and the music that accompanies him is just as lovely.
It's not just a handful of fans' attention that he caught. He signed to Engineer Records and released his striking EP For One More Night. The 5-track EP sounds like he opened up his diary and sung his heart out. With a softer vibe than the music typical of Paige it really showcases his skills as a solo artist. And if you're lucky enough to own a physical copy of the EP then your ears are treated to the gorgeous Wisteria Lane Poker Club a song featuring AJ Perdomo of The Dangerous Summer. 
It's refreshing to hear an artist these days with the pure talent of Arthur Walwin, and, using his own lyrics here, I pray that you won't go and ignore this post but get yourself a copy of his EP and fall hopelessly in love with the sheer beauty of it.
Also, if you read this and thought hey this guy is familiar you may recognise him from this post here - he is of course the guy who sings alongside the fabulous Becca in Anavae's song This Light.

Stalk him some more in the following places:

Website

Facebook

Twitter

YouTube

Tumblr

What have you become?

And the wait is finally over. Promise me you'll go and check these guys out. 

Anavae - Sunlight Through A Straw (Official Video)