It's amazing how one song can ruin a band

I've decided to focus on Fountains of Wayne. What an awesome band they were. I mean, they made such soothing tunes, but have always been tarnished since their single "Stacy's Mom." I absolutely hate this song. However, I love the music video. Anyways, listen to Fountains of Wayne. One of their songs is on an L.L. Bean commercial for the holidays.

Rosie Thomas

Before I say anything more, Happy Thanksgiving everyone. Today, I ate many meals including: Turkey and other foods. Tomorrow will start "Christmas Season." You know some radio stations will have non-stop Christmas Tunes and what not. I purchased my first Christmas record of the season a few weeks back. Rosie Thomas released "A Very Rosie Christmas." There's a review I'm working on that is almost finished. So please, so listen to her.

Review: You, Me, and Everyone We Know - So Young, So Insane [EP]

You, Me, and Everyone We Know- So Young, So Insane [EP]
Label: Unsigned
Release: November 18, 2008

This wasn’t going to be a secret forever. Maryland’s You, Me, and Everyone We Know made their punch through the America’s stereos, with their re-release earlier in 2008, Party For The Grown and Sexy. While this brought huge publicity to the band, it also may have labeled them. That label would be a “Say Anything cover band.” While many bands would find this attractive, I felt that they didn’t sound anything close to the California natives. The band announced they would be recording a new EP later this year. With some touring here and there, the EP looked doubtful. However, I was wrong.

So Young, So Insane is this promised EP. When first listening to previous recordings, I was wondering if YMEWK would pull away from the Say Anything influence. However, during the first song, ,b>, the band decides maybe this Say Anything talk isn’t that bad. When this demo was released earlier, it lacked a lot of production. The vocals seemed very pale also. These are both filled, when Say Anything’s vocalist Max Bemis makes an appearance. The combination of Bemis and YMEWK vocalist Ben Liebsch really send chills through your spine. However, this Say Anything feel is put on hold throughout the rest of the EP. “A Symptom” showcases the unique writing of the band. The song has a jazzy feel, and is a moving song. This is the story for the rest of the EP.

“Colorful Language” is a sound that You, Me, and Everyone We Know should follow to become a bigger, different sounding band. In this song, it features powerful guitar beats, and at the right time pounding bass drum. Even keyboardist Rico Vigil makes an appearance adding some catchy sounds. This song just has a different feel to it, from previously released YMEWK songs. Finally, the boys recorded a studio version of “Happy Birthday.” This song has been played live over the past year. With the addition of creepy hums, mixed with smooth vocals from Liebsch, this is an instant favorite of mine. The chorus of this song is what really gets this song rolling. When Liebsch belts out “She’s staying up, she’s working hard for the money tonight,” it automatically paints a picture in your mind. This is how you want to end an EP.

While You, Me, and Everyone We Know got rid of most of the Say Anything sounds, the only thing that gets on my nerves is how similar some songs are to other songs. Some songs consist in the same key signature, or sound like previously released work. Another negative is why can’t this be a full length. One would most definitely enjoy this more if it was longer. With all that said, You, Me, and Everyone We Know have to just keep producing their own sound. So Young, So Insane has clarified their unique sound, straying away from the PATD/Say Anything references. You, Me, and Everyone We Know have something to be proud off. This EP solidifies their claim for being the best band to come out of Maryland pop scene ...ever.

Artist: You Me and Everyone We Know
Album: So Young, So Insane
Release Date: November 18th, 2008
Label: Unsigned
Purchase: Smartpunk.com
Reviewed By: Kyle Schnitzer

Score: 8.1

Review: Sparks The Rescue - Eyes To The Sun

Sparks The Rescue- Eyes To The Sun
Label: Double Blind
Release: October 11, 2008

Sparks The Rescue, a Maine five-piece, might have just found their breakthrough in the rock scene. Their new release, Eyes To The Sun, is the bands full length record. Instead of following the typical band (releasing previously released songs on a new record), Sparks The Rescue decided to give the listener a whole new taste. In with the new, out with the old, the band picks up from their previous release The Secrets We Can’t Keep, but they continue to carry their unique pop-rock sound. Let me introduce to you Eyes To The Sun.

Vocalist might be the most unique part of this outfit. Not only does he know how to pound lyrics into your head, but his voice is something else. Not to keep the spotlight on Roy, but his unique voice has you listening in “I Swear That She's The One.” Throughout this song, the blending of Roy’s vocals with the guitar riffs make the listener automatically tap his/hers foot. The guitar work was most notably heard in the next song, “Autumn.” Originally, I couldn’t come up with a band that sounded similar to Sparks, but throughout this song I kept getting a Midtown image. Bassist Ben Briggs pushes the band from slow riffs, to the chorus where the tempo changes.

Unlike most bands, Sparks The Rescue don’t follow the same key/tempo throughout the record. This is why most pop-rock record become boring to listen to because they have no last power. On Eyes To The Sun, not one song sounds like the next. One could listen to “Hello Mexico,” and could feel the California waves. “The Gravity” demonstrates the illustration Roy is trying to make. He symbolizes a couple as “gravity” and “satellites.” This is a positive point of the record.

However, I haven’t even discussed my favorite song off the record. Nothing compares to “Skeleton”, the combination of Alex Roy and contributing vocalists harmonizing the chorus, this makes the you think about what good rock should sound like. Guitarists Pat O’Connell and Toby McAllister go on a rapid guitar battle. Both guitarists don’t play the same note throughout the song, hell there’s even a guitar solo in this song. Another positive Sparks The Rescue brings is how they blend many different sounds to make one calm sound. Some bands try to hard to mix surrounding genres into one, but they ultimately fail. Sparks The Rescue have mastered this art.

Eyes To The Sun is either going to be loved by you or be hated. Fans of Sparks The Rescue previous release will love it. For new listeners, I suggest listening with an open mind. Instead of thinking of a pop-punk band, think of an experimental band, with pop hooks. However, if you don’t give this a chance, you should be ashamed of yourself.

Artist: Sparks The Rescue
Album: Eyes To The Sun
Release Date: October 7th, 2008
Label: Unsigned
Reviewed By: Kyle Schnitzer

Score: 7.8

Little Hyped Album: The Walkmen

2008 has gone by pretty fast. I remember pretty much everything I've done (most of everything). Some albums didn't receive the right amount of press and they should have. This album deserves some press.

The Walkmen- You & Me

Really Good Daytrotter Sessions

F-U-N

When The Format announced that they were going on an "indefinite hiatus," as any other fan I was bummed. Summer came around, I put on Dog Problems. Dog Problems is one of my favorite summer albums. Nate Ruess is a tremendous vocalist. When I heard about this new project "Fun," I was intrigued. Rumors of Jack Antonoff of Steel Train being apart of the band made this a lot more interesting. Plus the addition of Andrew Dost (Anathallo), I knew that this project was going to be more musically crafter. They released a previous Format demo entitled "Benson Hedges." Now, they are on tour with Jack's Mannequin. They have been playing new songs, TF covers, and a really groovy cover "Come On Eileen (Dexy's Midnight Runners cover)." Take a listen below.

Fun- Benson Hedges (Demo) [MP3]
Fun- Come On Eileen (Live Dexy's Midnight Runners cover) [MP3]

NeverShoutNever..evereverevereverever

Internet sensation Christopher Drew will be on Long Island tomorrow night. Looks like I will be attending. It's been a while since I've seen one kid take the whole music world by storm. I'm probably not going to stay for Hellogoodbye, but I'm looking forward to seeing Ace Enders again. I saw Ace last year with Kevin Devine, Steel Train, and Socratic. He's so smooth with everything he does. Oh well. This should be fun.