The Get Up Kids - There Are Rules

Kansas City, Missouri's finest The Get Up Kids make their triumphant return with their first studio album in 7 years, These Are Rules. The follow up to 2004's Guilt Show finds the pop-punk legends attempting to return to their throne and take back the music scene that they have been away from for so long.

The disc opens up with "Regent's Court", an up-tempo, electronic infused number that finds lead singer Matt Pryor's exceptional vocal abilities standing out among the familiar guitar riffs and keyboard sounds. "Shatter Your Lungs" is an eerie, electro influenced number that is vastly different from anything The Get Up Kids have done previously, and will take some getting used to. "Automatic" returns us to some more familiar territory with more evident guitar riffs and Matt's familiar vocal refrains reaching out over the sea of sounds present beforehand. "Rally 'Round The Fool" is a dark, mysterious number that veers out into uncharted territory for these guys, but they do a satisfactory job nonetheless despite the musical risks involved.

The disc's second half starts off with "Better Lie", a melodic, bombastic blast that will definitely keep your head bopping with a resonating wall of guitars, intense drums, and Matt's vocals once again showing who's boss. "Keith Case" finds its strengths with Matt's vocals becoming the sole highlight of the song. The guitar riffs are fair to say the least, but they don't quite match up to the tracks we heard subsequently before this one. The disc's end begins to take shape with "Birmingham", a fast paced, punk influenced track that that blends in as much instrumentation as possible within the span of 2 and a half minutes, and gets the point across to the listener right away. "When It Dies" is my favorite song off the disc, a wonderfully blended mix of pop punk and electronica into one cohesive element that best captures the formula of the album and the essence of the band as well. "Rememorable" closes out the disc with a loud, drum infested song that causes a ruckus and shows what The Get Up Kids are all about. The Get Up Kids are one of those bands that you grew up listening to back in high school that you automatically identify with, and associate a particular song with an event in your life and listening to it takes you back in time to that particular moment. While this band is very popular with the scene, another band that spun off from this band achieved equally notable success, Reggie And The Full Effect, formed by keyboardist James Dewees. Both of these bands are very well known and recognized for what they've done in the music scene to help shape the DIY music scene that is present today.

All in all, a hit or miss effort here from The Get Up Kids, who make a strong attempt to get back on the map with a return to form effort, but it only accomplishes that in spurts and is a far cry from their past releases, but it's a well fought out attempt nonetheless. Hopefully, The Get Up Kids will stay in the scene for years to come to remind us of who they really are and also help some of the upstart bands find a place in the scene and give them some guidance along the way.

                                                                                                                               Album Score: 3/5

Track Listing:

1. Tithe
2. Regent's Court
3. Shatter Your Lungs
4. Automatic
5. Pararelevant
6. Rally 'Round The Fool
7. Better Lie
8. Keith Case
9. The Widow Paris
10. Birmingham
11. When It Dies
12. Rememorable

Artist Spotllight: Serotonin

Hey everyone!

Hope everybody is keeping warm from the bitter cold outside! In this week's edition of Artist Spotlight, we have a band from right across the pond in Bichester, Oxfordshire England called Serotonin. The band consists of Jay Taylor on lead vocals and guitars, Jody Shinton on drums, and Dave Chatterley on bass. The band has that vintage grunge sound from the early 90's that I grew up on, with the influences of Nirvana and Alice In Chains pretty evident in the band's sound. The lead singer's amazing vocals sound pure, deep, and don't feel forced at all one bit. The band's intense guitar riffs will definitely leave a lasting impression on you and will leave you craving for more by the time the song is over! Too many bands nowadays are experimenting way too much with their music, so much so to the point that the real meaning gets lost somewhere in their songs. This band does a great job of just keeping it simple with straightforward, go ahead rockers that don't venture too far off course, and keep the band on track to do their thing. Some of my favorites from these guys include "Apologies To You" and "Before Tomorrow".

To check out the music of Serotonin, head on over to their MySpace page at http://www.myspace.com/serotonineffect To become a fan of theirs on Facebook, fly on over to http://www.facebook.com/serotonineffect The band just released a brand new single titled "Live and Forget" which is now available on iTunes and Amazon MP3, so head on over there and download your copy today!

Coachella 2011 Lineup Announced!

Hey everyone!

Just this morning, the Coachella 2011 Lineup was announced and this one is going to be really spectacular! The festival kicks off on Friday, April 15 in Indio, California with a lineup that includes Kings of Leon, The Black Keys, Interpol, The Chemical Brothers, Lauryn Hill, Brandon Flowers, Cee Lo Green, Cold War Kids, and Sleigh Bells rounding out that days lineup.

On April 16th we'll see Arcade Fire, Animal Collective, Mumford & Sons, Bright Eyes, Broken Social Scene, and Erykah Badu poised to dominate that days exclusive lineup. The last day of the festival April 17th will see one of the most talented and controversial rappers of our time, Kanye West being this year's highlighted performer. One of my favorite bands The Strokes will be playing that day as well, along with Duran Duran, The National, Nas & Damien Marley, Jimmy Eat World, and Neon Trees slated to close the festival out with a definite bang!

For more on this year Coachella 2011 Arts & Music Festival, head on over to their official website at http://www.coachella.com/ for all the latest updates and ticket information. What do you think of this year's Coachella lineup? Discuss your thoughts here in the comments section and let me know what you have to say!

The Decemberists - The King Is Dead

Portland, Oregon's own The Decemberists are back with their latest release, The King Is Dead. The follow up to 2009's The Hazard of Love finds the indie rockers experimenting in a more acoustic based fashion this time around, but they still retain that indie rock simplicity that has permeated their music all throughout the years.

The album starts off masterfully with "Don't Carry It All" a splendid, soaring number that gives us a glimpse into the vocal abilities of Colin Meloy that give the song that extra push which leaves the listener coming back to the song every time. 'Calamity Song" is another steady, consistent effort that continues the usage of acoustic guitars that add a distinct folk/country flavor to the song that gives the song that added touch of authenticity. "Rox In The Box" continues the oncoming melodic onslaught with Colin's vocals continuing to resonate strongly and we also hear the backing vocals of Jenny Conlee who also handles organ, accordion, and piano duties on certain tracks when needed. "January Hymn" is a quiet, somber tune that evokes feelings of the drastic cold of winter and the smell of wood burning in the air that gives it the feeling you're really outside in the cold and snowy weather.

The disc's second half starts off with my favorite song off the album, "Down By The Water" a melodic, bombastic number that ventures on a steady and manageable pace that never gives up. This song also features the guitar work of Peter Buck from R.E.M. and also includes some harmonica toots that give it that distinct indie/country sensibility. "June Hymn" is a warm, breezy tune that that hearkens back to those mild, summer days that sound very inviting with all the cold, snowy weather that we've been having recently. The song's vocals and their ability to blend in easily with the guitar are the highlight and main selling point of the song alone. The disc starts to come to a close with "This Is Why We Fight" a high energy, melodic tune that has a faster tempo than the other songs on the album and has richly melodic undertones that will keep you listening until the very end. "Dear Audry" is a very homey, country tinged affair that finds the group using all their direct influences and fusing them together to create a unifying song that encapsulates who The Decemberists truly are as a group. The Decemberists have slowly been gaining buzz in the indie music circle and have a small but ever growing fanbase who continues to find their down home style of indie music some of the best out there, and one that sounds crisp, authentic, and one that makes you feel like you're actually with the band as they're playing, something that is very hard to find while listening to most albums nowadays.

Overall, a marvelous effort here from The Decemberists, who continue to bring their down home blend of indie rock to the masses in the only way they know how, bringing it back home and taking the listener along on the journey to be part of this musical experience. Highly recommended!

                                                                                                                              Album Score: 4/5

Track Listing:

1. Don't Carry It All
2. Calamity Song
3. Rise to Me
4. Rox in the Box
5. January Hymn
6. Down By the River
7. All Arise!
8. June Hymn
9. This Is Why We Fight
10. Dear Avery 

Artist Spotlight: Advocate

Hey everyone!

It's Tuesday and time for Artist Spotlight for this week! This week, I present to you a band based out of Clearwater, Florida called Advocate. Advocate consists of Aaron White on lead vocals, Adam Renfroe on guitar, Danny Mills on guitar, and Chris Costanza on drums. The band has a Christian inspired metal sound that is reminiscent of another Florida area metal band, Underoath who also have an Christian inspirational theme that is mostly found in their lyrics. This band's sound can best be described as dynamic, resourceful, powerful, and one that absolutely rocks your face off in the process. There are so many hardcore bands out there today that all sound the same to me, but this band has that raw, pure, and unfiltered sound that sounds authentic and one that the listening audience can identify with and find a connecting element that they might hear in the lyrics with something going on in their life. From what I've heard so far, this band is definitely one to keep an eye out for in 2011 and one band that definitely won't be ignored!

Advocate is currently working on their debut EP Trial & Error, which the band hopes to have out sometime in early February, so keep an eye out on iTunes for that! In the meantime, to check out studio updates from the band via Vimeo, log on to their MySpace page at http://www.myspace.com/advocateband To visit their Facebook page and become a fan of them, head on over to http://www.facebook.com/advocateband

The Truezoos Sign Deal With F Nice Records!

Hey everyone!

Big news coming out of The Truezoos camp today! The band just announced on their Facebook page that they have signed with F Nice Records Inc.,  a Boston based music production company that helps develop independent artists. This is a huge day for the members of The Truezoos so I just wanted to give a quick shoutout to my friends Sean O'Sullivan, Marc Hoffman, and the newest member of The Truezoos, Bob Langlais! This is a huge jump for you guys and I'm so stoked that you guys got signed! Congratulations once again and get ready for big things on the horizon in 2011!

Cake - Showroom of Compassion

Sacramento, California's own Cake are back with their first studio effort in over 6 years, Showroom of Compassion. The follow up to 2004's Pressure Chief finds the alt-rockers not deviating much from their laid back, fun brand of mellow alt-rock that has garnered them plenty of fans over the years.

The disc starts off with "Federal Funding" a fun, laid back rocker that features the unique vocal stylings of lead singer John McCrea, who is known for his half-sung lyrics, making it feel like he's just talking over the music which fits in perfectly with the laid back California persona that each of the band members represent. "Long Time" features lightly toned synth arrangements in the background with a bevy of guitars and drums to back it all up. "Got to Move" is a pleasant, laid back affair with a slow, steady guitar pattern that allows the song to coast along without much friction along the way. "Mustache Man" starts off with a few toots of the trumpet that give the song a little party flare and allow the album as a whole to perk up a bit.

The album's second half features the piano tinged effort, "Teenage Pregnancy" that also adds the trumpet in the mix to give it that diverse, dynamic grit that makes the song stand on its own. My favorite song off the album is the disc's first single, "Sick of You" a melodic bombast that packs it on with guitars and John's wordplay style of singing that make the song have a very cheerful nature despite the title of the song. "Bound Away" is a country inspired song that presents the band in a different light with John's laid back vocal power fitting in perfectly with the country crowd. We get ready to shut down here with "The Winter", a mid tempo, melodic alt-rocker that gives off a feeling of calm and melancholy, and is the perfect song to listen to as you watch the snowfall or if you're out shoveling your driveway. "Italian Guy" ends it here with a fun, entertaining track that gives the listener exactly what they paid for and a experience that is very rewarding. Cake have always been that band that has had their own unique style that makes them stand out from the crowd, and they're also formidable human beings as well. This album was recorded using 100% solar energy from their recording studio out in Sacramento, the same method that Jack Johnson used when he recorded his last two albums. Having a band that makes good music and is socially conscious about the world around them shows that they are true and genuine souls.

In retrospect, a solid and passable effort here from Cake, who take their unorthodox blend of alt rock to another level and throw curveballs our way with country among other influences, and continue to be that same band they were when we heard them for the first time years ago.

                                                                                                                            Album Score: 3/5

Track Listing:

1. Federal Funding
2. Long Time
3. Got to Move
4. What's Now Is Now
5. Mustache Man
6. Teenage Pregnancy
7. Sick of You
8. Easy to Crash
9. Bound Away
10. The Winter
11. Italian Guy

Artist Spotlight: Nice Cliques

Hey everyone!

It's Tuesday and time for this week's Artist Spotlight! This week, we have a spotlight on a band all the way from Saratov, Russia called Nice Cliques! The band consists of Ivan Ilin on lead vocals, guitar and piano, Anton Solodkii on guitar, piano, and vocals, Roman Makarov on bass, flute, and backing vocals, and Alexandr Kashev on drums and oboe. The band has a prominent, indie/art-rock sound that is organic and compelling at the same time with a plethora of dynamic instrumentation such as flute, oboe, and piano that melds together beautifully to create something quite spectacular here! With most bands nowadays, they have a pretty standard set of musicians with basic instruments such as guitar, bass, and drums. But when you add a host of instruments that you never thought would blend well together, it completely alters your perception of what can be and makes possible a combination of sounds that is extraordinary and groundbreaking! Some of my favorite songs from these guys include "No (Thoughts of Return)" and "Oh Darling".

For more info about the guys from Nice Cliques, head on over to their MySpace page at http://www.myspace.com/nicecliques To become a fan of theirs on Facebook, mosey on over to http://www.facebook.com/NiceCliques To download their album Populra Art which includes some killer tracks such as "Closed" and "Tight Little Group", head on over to their Bandcamp site at http://nicecliques.bandcamp.com/ Also, check out their official website at http://www.nicecliques.com/

UPDATE: Hayley Williams Responds to Josh and Zac Farro's Exit Statement

Hey everyone!

Another update in the ongoing feud between Hayley Williams and the former members of Paramore, Josh and Zac Farro. A couple of weeks back, you might remember me posting here on the blog the infamous exit statement that Josh and Zac posted on their blog, stating that Paramore is a manufactured band and was only a backing band for Hayley's solo career. Hayley, Taylor, and Jeremy are finally setting the record straight in an exclusive interview with MTV News called: "Paramore: The Last Word". In the special which airs this Friday, Hayley and Taylor express their hurt over Josh and Zac's comments and offer their take on the events that have transpired thus far:

"When I was 14, I was offered a contract, but my heart wasn't to be a solo artist; my heart was to be in a band," she said. "I mean, since I [was] a kid, I've always just wanted to be in a band. I didn't even want to be the singer; I wanted to be the drummer, so I could be behind everything. And that's what I fought for, and that's what we've made it. And that's why it seemed so irrelevant that everything was being pointed out [in Farro's statement]. I mean, we've been honest about it, and we are a band, and, to me, it doesn't matter if there's a name on a contract. I hate business, it's the last thing I ever want to talk about. So when that was brought up in the blog, I just felt like, 'Man, fans shouldn't care or need to hear about this stuff,' because all that does is get in the way of music."


"We're not a manufactured band. We've dealt with that rumor for a long time, and that's because of the rumors of Fueled by Ramen and Atlantic's relationship. We've always talked about that ... saying, you know, when we started, I again fought for something that we could really work hard and start from the ground," Williams said. "That's the kind of music that I love, and that's the kind of music we've all shared interest in since day one, and we wanted to be that kind of band, we wanted to be those kind of people that worked for whatever they were going to get. We didn't know it would turn into this. Thank God it did, because we got to experience so many cool things."


To watch the interview with Hayley and Taylor in its entirety, tune in to "Paramore: The Last Word" which airs this Friday, January 7 at 4:00pm as a live stream on http://www.mtv.com/ Check it out! 

Artist Spotlight: A Sunset Tragedy

Hey everyone!

Hope everyone had a festive and relaxing holiday season! I'm back with my first Artist Spotlight feature of 2011 and this week, I present to you a band out of Woodbury, Conencticut called A Sunset Tragedy! The band consists of Quinn Giannini on lead vocals and guitar, Aidan Panagrosso on guitar and backing vocals, Jeff Spencer on drums, and Slater Roosa on bass. The band has a very distinct pop-punk feel to them, reminiscent of such bands such as All Time Low and Boys Like Girls. Quinn's vocals allow the songs to explode with intense melodic vigor and hard edged guitar riffs round out each song with catchy pop hooks designed to reel you in and leave you wanting more. There aren't too many bands nowadays that have that youthful, authentic pop-punk edge that was common from a slew of bands in the early 00's such as New Found Glory and Blink 182, but these guys totally have it down pat and are off to a very promising start! My favorite track from them is "When the Sun Goes".

If you want to hear selections from A Sunset Tragedy, head on over to their MySpace page at http://www.myspace.com/asunsettragedy To become a fan of theirs on Facebook, cruise on over to http://www.facebook.com/asunsettragedy

New Year! New Address!

Hey everyone!

Happy New Year to all my readers! Now that 2011 is upon us, it's time for me to make some changes to the blog that I think you're going to enjoy! Effective tonight at 11:59pm, this blog will be moving over to its new address http://www.musicboxpete.net/ Don't worry guys, I won't leave any of you behind! If you type in my current address http://musicboxpete.blogspot.com/ , you'll automatically be redirected to my new address! It will still feature the same album reviews, Artist Spotlight features, and interviews with local artists that you've come to enjoy over the year so take note of the new address!

2011 promises to be a big year for music, with brand new albums on the horizon from All Time Low, the orginal 2002-era lineup of Taking Back Sunday, and Person L so let's crack open a bottle of champagne and celebrate the arrival of 2011!