I wrote a piece a little while back about how I stumbled across Domestic La La because I was reading interviews, hoping Violent Soho might have mentioned a new album… or anything. What I found was Violent Soho’s James Tidswell had created a record label and the bands fucking rock. Now I can go on about that, but I’m here to talk about LOSER.

I know, I know, I’m a little late to the game on this article considering this video came out in February. I wanted to research a bit on LOSER rather than just write a quick reaction to their video/ music in general. From what I found from various resources was very much worth the wait.

I stole this right from Domestic La La, “LOSER is Tim Maxwell (Apart From This/Grim Rhythm), Chris Cowburn (The Smith Street Band) and Craig Selak (The Bennies). Forming a close friendship after many years of playing on the same line-ups, Chris and Craig were keen to get involved when Tim showed them a few demos he had been working on.” Now that is one fucking rad trio that I wouldn’t ever doubt putting out good music. Since I stole this from Domestic La La, its only fair to site them properly and add the link along with the tour dates for LOSER right here: https://domesticlala.com/loser/

As I kept reading articles, one quote really stuck out to me from The Rockpit stating that Tim Maxwell, LOSER’s frontman, after experiencing an intense psychedelic trip, wrote this song. Maxwell said,”I picked up the guitar and the song literally fell out, it was magic.”

Man, I can go on and on about this one track and video for pages. I didn’t even touch upon their unfortunately relatable lyrics:

“Left my mind, on vacation

No idea and no location

Peel me off this couch I’m lazy

Maybe tomorrow, whatever, just forget about it”

You just gotta check them out for yourselves. Below is the link to LOSER’s video “Vacation”:

A few days ago, Free Throw released another single from their upcoming album and honestly, it’s… it’s alright. Stay with me here. Now, it could be really good, I might just be dumb, deaf, and blinded by “The Corner’s Dilemma”, the first single released from their new album. I mean, I wrote that it was the best song released in February and that the only way I’d be wrong is if it continues being the best song longer than that.

Check that review in the link here: https://t.co/DBnHNAQ53Y

‘Today Is Especially Delicious” has everything you’d want and expect from Free Throw’s emo/punk style of playing and writing. One thing that I’ve been seeing through social media is a small sect of fans complaining that both songs are just about drinking. To all you people, take 5 seconds and use your brains to dig an inch deeper into the lyrics. The songs address major concerns and issues that many people face, especially mental health.

Cory Castro, lead vocalist, tweeted, “I know the new song isn’t as crazy as TCD (well Justin’s bass is pretty wildin’) and that it’s another song that a main reference is drinking, but the song is a very important one on the record, while also being short and catchy. I promise the whole record isn’t about booze.”

I think Cory addressed some of your concerns calmly, rationally, and with a little humor. I’m not going to be as nice as Corey. Neither song is about booze. Alcohol is just an element within the story-line of the lyrics that actually indicate it’s use as another issue/way to cope with the many problems we all face. If you have a problem with these songs, you’re honestly barely listening. Check out their new single for yourself in the link below:

Once again, Australia proves to be absolutely dominant in pumping out great music. Stuck Out is a punk rock band from Melbourne consisting of guitarists Bren Dugan and Ian Browney, bassist Sheldon Schuyler, drummer Lachlan Lydiard, and vocalist Joshua Walker. They released their single “Everything You Wanted” this month with a cinematic quality video.

The song itself speaks about self-doubt in a relationship with the theme of feeling like you’re unworthy of what you have. The video symbolically portrays every emotion that keeps you down on yourself and overcoming those emotions. The video coupled with the song gives you a sense of strength when you’re feeling the weakest.

“Is this everything you wanted or am I less than you expect
Does this persistence have you crawling for something more than I can give
Is this everything you wanted, am I less than you expect
Cause this foundation’s failing and I can’t seem to find my step”

Watch Stuck Out’s masterfully crafted video for “Everything You wanted” below:

I woke up early and laid in bed, scrolling through YouTube I came across a new music video for this random band named Buds. Their official video for “Bigger Fish” (released February 7th, 2019) immediately grabbed my attention. It depicts, what I assume to be the lead vocalist, walking through some woods and snow in a white t-shirt. He immediately starts to get different color paint, dirt, food, etc. thrown all over himself until you would have to struggle to find a new color to add to the awesome mess. Oh, and get this, the song is pretty fucking great too. Buds. describe their music as, “Songs that make you feel good in spite of your dread”, and that couldn’t be more accurate in describing their song “Bigger Fish”. While the video shows a sort of ‘joking around’ vibe, the lyrics say otherwise:

“Living this way
Has left a bad taste in my mouth
You’re doing things I’d never think about
Ah – ah – ah
And your next big break
Will cast an even bigger shadow on me
Audience or not”

Check out this punk rock band from Hampshire, England and get ready for their debut album, which I read is coming soon. Here’s the video for all you people too lazy to type it in yourselves (I’m one of those people).

 

I… I THINK IT’S HAPPENING. The Australian rock band, Dune Rats, from Brisbane, have been dropping extremely subtle hints that they may, or may not be in the studio recording. The trail of breadcrumbs that I have had to follow to confirm that these rumors may or may not be true has been exhausting. Now, I have noticed a couple cryptic tweets that I think I decoded. Here is the first:

I believed “record n” could be interpreted as ‘recording’, but I had to be 100% sure. The next day the Dune Rats posted another secret message:

After checking my notes and confirming with a few dozen colleagues, I have come to the conclusion that the Dune Rats, PROBABLY, are recording something. Whose to say? Oh also, here’s a picture of Danny in the studio:

If the Dune Rats are recording, and IF it’s a new album, they will be giving us all what we’ve been waiting for since their 2017 release of The Kids Will Know It’s Bullshit. Until I’m able to decipher any new da Vinci like messages, let’s get ready for this possible album by watching “Bullshit”.

Go For Gold is an indie punk rock band out of Little Rock, Arkansas. They released their 2 track album back in May of 2018 and it’s worth the listen. The two songs are titled “Invincible” and “Swear On Us”. Go For Gold’s vocalist has that familiar emo revival angsty voice that also flows smoothly through their instrumental progressions. “Invincible” is calmly paced with slow guitar strums and a steady bass. If you’re looking for a little something with more energy and kick, give “Swear On Us” a listen.

“Running with the devil has become my place
I’m washed up getting older and there’s no escape
The voices screaming louder as I up my pace
But there’s no denying that I need my space
Cause I’m
I’m still dying for a place to hide”

Out of the two songs, “Swear On Us” is my track of choice. With a quicker melody and deep lyrics I find myself throwing this track into the rotation from time to time. Check it out for yourself in the link below.

 

Tiny Moving Parts, the emo revival band from Benson, Minnesota that we all know and love, released their video for their single “For The Sake Of Brevity” on January 16, 2019. This track is actually part of a two song single including “Fish Bowl”. For those of you new to the band, “For The Sake Of Brevity” actually appeared on their album Antarctica  (2010).

The video shows lead vocalist Dylan Mattheisen walking on a frozen lake with a guitar strapped to his back. He spends his time wondering around, passing people ice fishing, appearing to be in search of something. The lyrics and the video combined gave me chills. As Dylan walks the ice not saying a word, the verse is played over him:

“Listen up cubs, please don’t be afraid
This is the worst news I swear I’ll have to say to you
Mom’s not here
God took her elsewhere, she’s playing with deer
Where the snow is glistening year after year
I swear she’s not dead
But she’s never coming back again”

He continues walking until it’s dark. A light coming from a fishing shack catches his attention. The camera shows the view from inside the shack facing the door and the rest of the band playing the song. The chorus is sung in harmony over the video:

“Antarctica look what you did to us
Antarctica look what you did to us
Antarctica”

Dylan then bursts through the dark doorway and into the light with guitar in hand, and without breaking stride, walks right up to the mic to scream out the rest of the chorus and verse with his band:

“look what you did to us
You fucked it up
And for the sake of brevity, I’ll sum this up
You opened my eyes, and closed them at the same time”

This video actually reminded me of the video for Possum Kingdom by The Toadies. Both videos depict someone wandering on or around a lake with the band jamming out in a shack nearby. There are obviously many differences, but I got the same feel from the Tiny Moving Parts video as I did when I first saw Possum Kingdom by The Toadies. If you haven’t seen it already, take a look at Tiny Moving Parts’ video “For The Sake Of Brevity” below.

Dear Seattle, from Sydney Australia, is a “melodic, sing along, beer-in-the-air, headbanging-with-heart punk rock band you’ve been waiting for.” Yeah, I stole that from their Facebook bio, so what sue me. (Don’t sue me). I stumbled across this band just a few days before they were about to release their new album, Don’t Let Go (released February 15th, 2019), by absolute chance and they’re all I’ve been listening since. I’m not here to write about their new album because Depth Magazine did it best, check out their album review here http://www.depthmag.com/dear-seattle-dont-let-go/

I’m here to let you all know, If you’re not listening to this band, you’re making a huge mistake.

I was scrolling through some interviews one day of Violent Soho, hoping there would be some mention of new music by the band. What I found was actually, exactly what I was looking for. I read that James Tidswell, the guitarist of Violent Soho, started a record company called Domestic La La. So I looked up Domestic La La and saw they were working with a band named Dear Seattle. I clicked on the link and that’s when I found what I sought out to find; a kick-ass band about to release some new music.

To get a taste of what was going to be released, I searched for some singles the band put out for the album and I found “Maybe” and it’s music video, which was released (August 28th, 2018).

“I don’t wanna go to university
‘Cause I don’t think they offer a fuckwit degree
And any other course seems a little bit forced
So maybe, maybe, maybe

I’ll keep running from a life full of money
‘Cause I’m having more fun when I’m living off nothing
And everything they say about living for today
Is spinning ’round inside my damaged brain”

The lyrics and the video brought me back to a simpler time in my life. The video depicts a bunch a friends just grilling out, drinking beer, and having a good time with no plan for tomorrow. Now this video was released in August, in what appears to be Sydney. I’m over here on the Northeast Coast of the United States, in February, looking out my window while I type this and seeing a snow covered yard. This video, this song, this fucking band, has me itching for summer to roll around; and to call some friends over, hit the beach, grill out, and just have a good time. Check out “Maybe” in the link below and LISTEN TO DEAR SEATTLE!

 

The GoatBoy is a 4 piece grunge rock band out of Perth, Scotland. They’ve released a 5 track EP titled, It’s Not Regret, It’s Worse Than That. They’ve described themselves as having a sound of the late 80s and early 90s Seattle grunge scene, and they could not be more accurate.

The easiest way for me to explain their sound to any of you out there reading this is to compare them to an early Nirvana. Which makes a lot of sense considering Nirvana has been a big influence on this band. Now let me be clear, in no way am I saying that they’re as good as Nirvana, it’s just that I can hear the similarities. (Sorry, The GoatBoy, but let’s be fair.)

Off their EP my favorite song is JULIAN. When listening, it reminded me most of Sliver by Nirvana. Both songs start off with softer intros and verses followed by hard and heavy chorus’. The GoatBoy’s vocals bring to mind Kurt Cobain’s in that they’re calm at times and then break into this guttural and raw rage of sound.

This band truly has embraced that early Seattle grunge sound and it’s shown in their EP. Check out my personal favorite song, JULIAN, off their EP in the link below.

 

Let me jump right out of the gate and admit, before today, I have never heard of The Discarded. They’re a small town classic garage punk-rock band out of Toronto. They sent me their new album Not From This Town, being released March 9th, 2019, and I immediately had to do some research. What I’ve read is that the three band mates are actually family members. Stolen from their bio, “Sixteen year old drummer, Caden Jax, twenty year old bassist, Jared Dean and veteran punk rocker J.P. on guitar and vocals.”

This is where the band became personal for me. My dad was a drummer in the 80s and whenever we get the chance, I break out the guitar, while he carries us with actual skill and we would continue to just blow out the windows of his basement.

While listening to their album I started to get some strange sense of nostalgia that I couldn’t fully identify. The music reminded me of my dad driving me around in his Isuzu trooper in the late 90s early 2000s, blasting some songs from the 70s-90s. As I got to the end of their album, the track “Leg On His Shoulder”, is when I thought to myself, “damn this sounds a lot like if Alice Cooper and The Ramones collaborated on “I Wanna Be Sedated”. The Discarded definitely give you the feeling of the songs you loved meeting today’s world.

Check out the band for yourself on their website in the link below and be on the lookout for Not From This Town.

https://www.thediscarded.ca/