Artists Everyone Should Love: Brand New

Brand New are one of those bands that if I get started on them I won't stop, so writing this sentence now I feel like i'm going to regret choosing to do this but the problem is they are also a band that every single person on this planet should adore and worship endlessly. And I also know i'm one for exaggeration but trust me that in this case i'm not. In fact, it pains me that there are people reading this who don't know who they are. I honestly refer to them as gods. No - really, really.
With four official full length albums and Fight Off Your Demons the bands' music showcases something different with every release making it impossible to pick a favourite album. And with music and lyrics as good as there's I challenge you to find someone that doesn't like at least one of their songs. There is something so genius about them that forces your brain to really listen and then once you've done that they steal your heart forever.
Your Favourite Weapon - their first album - encapsulates the angst of growing up with pop-punk music at its side and finishes with Soco Amaretto Lime an anthemic acoustic number which has been on my summer playlist year after year. Following this up is Deja Entendu which has always amused me being that it's french for "already heard" when it's actually completely different to anything i've ever heard. There's something darker about these songs in a ache-in-your-heart kind of way. During the process of recording their third album the songs leaked causing Jesse Lacey to decide to completely re-write the album and out of this we have the leaked album Fight Off Your Demons and their official third full length The Devil And God Are Raging Inside Me. Both of these again are different from their other releases getting darker still and more experimental thus creating some their best tracks yet and then finally we have Daisy which goes above and beyond the weird scale - even for Brand New. It's not an easy listen at first and a lot of people may dismiss it entirely but after a while the chaos becomes welcoming and I think the only way to appreciate the madness of Daisy is is with open ears.
Their live performances as well are incredible. They play every song you could possibly want to hear and their stage antics bring in an atmosphere like no other. They're intense in every possible way and their brand of angst ridden music is timeless - i'm pretty sure that at the age of 60 i'll still turn to them in times of fury. Or y'know every other emotion under the sun.

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. 

Artists Everyone Should Love: Tonight Alive

Back in 2008 sixteen year old Jenna McDougall joined forces with Whakaio Taahi, Cameron Adler and Jake Hardy. She was shortly followed by Matt Best and, finally, Tonight Alive were born. With 2 EP's - All Shapes & Disguises and Consider This - and a full length that features the legendary Mark Hoppus - What Are You So Scared Of? - the Australian pop-punkers are taking the world by storm.

Their music edges out of the boundaries of typical pop-punk with songs such as "Starlight" providing pure feel good sugary catchiness whilst "Amelia" takes on a darker tone that highlights their metal influences. They can do pop and they can do breakdowns all without sounding disjointed. Musically the guys play with perfection achieving light hearted bouncy pop to heavy instrumentals that works in perfect harmony with Jenna's vocals that can go from soft to angry and commanding in the space of one epic drumbeat courtesy of Matt. Their lyrics cover the trials and tribulations of growing up with songs about relationships, the loss of a friend and learning how to get out and live life.

Touring extensively over the years, they've earned their place in the scene and proved they have what it takes to make it big. Having just done a stint in the UK on the Kerrang tour, the Australian based band are in the midst of recording for their second full length before heading back out on tour, this time across America.

"Breakdown" their new single featuring Benji Madden is set for release on March 12th.