LISTEN!!! (or…read..)

There are some bands that are flying under the radar, but deserve to be heard loud and clear. These are four albums that you may, or may not have, heard… but need to!!

Last of the Believers - Paper Ships Under a Burning Bridge (2007)

Formed from successful bands such as Ignite, Rise Against, Search the Sky and Spark of Life, these boys are all too familiar with the music industry. It’s their first album, released from their very own pockets. A unique mixture of high-octane punk anthems and hardcore arrangements. Fav’s are  “Throwing Matches” and “Dissent.”
www.myspace.com/lastofthebelievers
www.myspace.com/LOTBstreetteam
www.lastofthebelievers.com

Stage Frite – Island of Lost Souls (2006)

Released on Anagram Records, this 18-track, import album is a part of the growing psychobilly scene. It was originally released only on vinyl, which is out of production and very rare. Fans can now get the CD from numerous distributors, and has received great reviews. Great tracks include, “Freight Train” and “Noises.”

The Bled – Silent Treatment (2007)

Vagrant Records put out the third album for the Arizona post-hardcore band. They originally went by “The Radiation Defiance Theory.” In 2002, they released an EP, The Bled, and made exactly 666 copies for distribution. Favorite track is, “Shadetree Mechanics”.
www.vagrantrecords.com  
www.myspace.com/thebled

Heavens – Patent Pending (2006)

Epitaph Recordsreleased the debut album from Matt Skiba (Alkaline Trio) and Josiah Steinbrick (F-Minus). It has a different sound than either’s other projects, but doesn’t stray far from their sometimes morbid, dark lyrics. The track, “Leave” was featured in the film, The Signal. My favorite tracks include, “Patent Pending” and “Dead End Girl.”
www.myspace.com/heavensband
(although after reading some recent posts from Heavens… I’m about to burn their CD… haha… I had no idea they were so narrow minded! It really tears me apart.)

ON THE OTHER END OF THE SPECTRUM… 

These are three albums that really dissapointed me. They are all from bands that I like or liked at some point. I have to say this first one especially broke my heart….

Alkaline Trio – Agony & Irony (2008)

The band released their sixth studio album on Epic Records. This record shows a new direction for the band that gives many old Trio fans a stomach ache. The new sound is poppy and “sing-a-long-ey”, as describe by Matt Skiba. While there are still remnants of the band’s old sound, I was truly saddened to hear the more “mainstream”pop- sound from one of my favorite bands. *This band is obviously headed in all the wrong directions. They’ve abandoned their originality, true fans… and they’re doing anything they can to be mainstream. I’m a little sick to my stomach.

Funeral for a Friend – Tales Don’t Tell Themselves (2007)

Atlantic Records released FFAF’s third full-length album, which steers away from their normal, post-hardcore sound.  It charted #3 in the UK (their highest charting yet) but is their lowest selling album to date. Singer, Matthew Davies, has said this is a concept album about a fisherman named David.

The Ataris – Welcome the Night (2007)

Their  fifth studio album was released on Sanctuary Records/Isola Recordings. It’s a long delayed release due to the fall-out with former label, Columbia Records, showcasing a darker side of the band, which singer, Kris Roe, credits to the line-up change and his divorce. This band was always a “guilty pleasure” of mine, but I was sad to hear the band stray so far from their original sound.