BAYSIDE - "Mary" (from Vacancy)

I've listened to Bayside on occasion but have never become very invested in them. But this song, "Mary", off of their new album Vacancy, which just came out on August 19, is absolutely incredible. I love the lyrics, the vocals, the music, everything. It reminds me of a sunny Gaslight Anthem song. Plus Mary is an important character in the Bruce Springsteen canon and while I'm not sure if Bayside used the name for this reason, it makes me happy nonetheless.

"So go on work all your angles out, get a plan together, get your demons out...'Cause Mary the world wants to bring you down, but don’t you let ‘em."

EDITORS - In This Light And On This Evening

This is the third full-length album from the band that originally formed in Birmingham, England. Half of the band, bassist Russell Leech and guitarist Chris Urbanowicz, now live in New York while singer Tom Smith lives in London (I don't know where drummer Edward Lay resides). In This Light And On This Evening was recorded in London and produced by Flood. This album came out in October 2009, and I've been sitting on it for over a year. Why? I've always liked the singles this band put out but could never get into listening to a whole album. Truth be told, I think this is the first time I've ever listened to an entire Editors album so I can't really say how this album holds up to their first two. The Joy Division comparisons are still present, but the machine-like, synth-heavy backing music really pushes the band's sound in a great direction. Lots of lyrical references to London, God, death, and love. I think Smith's voice is creepy at times (I've always felt the same about Ian Curtis, too). Still, I'm liking this album and I think maybe it's time I gave their previous albums their overdue playthroughs.

www.myspace.com/editorsmusic
www.editorsofficial.com

RADIO SILENCE NYC - Renegade (Single)

Here's a group of four 16-year old boys who came together from different parts of New York City. According to their website bio, they first started playing together a year ago. Their first single is called "Renegade". The group has partnered with the not-for-profit organization DoSomething.org to use the song, which features lyrics like "Hatred is the enemy!", as an anti-bullying anthem. The song itself is slickly-produced pop rock that owes a big debt to the genre commonly known as pop-punk. Considering they're 16, the song is decent and it seems like they're acting their ages which is good. The guitar solo is the best part, the guitarist reminds me of the lead guitarist from the movie School of Rock.

Watch the "Renegade" video: www.youtube.com/watch?v=qon7zy2Qotk

Radio Silence NYC: radiosilencenyc.com
DoSomething.org: www.DoSomething.org.

REIGNING SOUND - Time Bomb High School

I recently found out about this band because their frontman, Greg Cartwright, is involved in another project, The Parting Gifts, which also features Patrick Keeler of The Greenhornes/The Raconteurs. Actually, I'm certain I'd heard their band name before but I didn't check them out at the time. As it turns out, Cartwright appears to be somewhat of an underground legend in the garage rock/punk/blues scene, having been the leader of The Compulsive Gamblers and The Oblivians prior to the Reigning Sound. Formed in Memphis, Tennessee in 2001, Cartwright and the band are now based out of Asheville, North Carolina. Time Bomb High School is their sophomore album and it came out in 2002. I wish I'd listened to this album sooner than the 8-year timespan it took me to. This is an awesome album. It combines rock, garage, punk, blues, and it has a very 50s/60s feel to it. Really cool stuff! I'll be looking into their other stuff as well now that I know about these guys.

www.myspace.com/reigningsoundfans
www.intheredrecords.com/pages/ReigningSound.html

LUCERO - Tennessee

These guys are from Memphis, and the suitably-titled Tennessee was their sophomore album. It came out in 2002. I've been meaning to listen to Lucero for a few years now, ever since I heard their name being tossed around with bands you might like if you like The Hold Steady. While I can see why the comparison was made, Lucero has much more of a country influence. Their singer has a raspy voice that makes you think he might have smoked one too many cigarettes. The album has a warm feeling to it; it's straight-up roots rock. While I think the album could use a bit more variety throughout, I'll definitely be checking into Lucero's other stuff based on the sound of Tennessee.

www.myspace.com/lucero
www.luceromusic.com

CATTLE DRUMS - The Boy Kisser Sessions EP

These guys are from Oneonta, NY. This is their latest EP; it came out in March 2010. Five songs, just over 14 minutes. Yep, this is a punk band. A lot of the guitar lines remind me of math rock guitar lines. The singer either talks or screams a lot of his lyrics but he's a really good frontman. They sound like they'd be fun live.

www.myspace.com/cattledrums
cattledrums.tumblr.com

EXPATRIATE - In The Midst Of This

This album was first released in 2007 but is just now seeing its full US release. Expatriate are from Sydney, Australia, but they now live in Berlin. Remember a few years ago when there was a big explosion of bands influenced by Joy Division and the darker sounds of post-punk? Surely you remember Interpol, Editors, and their less-famous counterparts. Well, Expatriate's album falls into the same genre as those bands. So if you like that kind of music, this will suit you quite nicely. If you don't like that kind of music, I can't help you here. "Crazy" is a pretty catchy song. The album cover reminds me of Wire's Pink Flag.

www.myspace.com/expatriateband
www.expatriateband.com

AGAINST ME - White Crosses

The fifth proper studio album for Gainesville, Florida's Against Me!. I would classify their sound on this album as punk arena rock. They sound big, like Bruce Springsteen, but they've also got their punk rock roots. My favorite Against Me! songs are the ones that tell stories about their main characters, like "Thrash Unreal" off of New Wave and now, from this album, "Because of the Shame". I don't think White Crosses is the best album of 2010, but it's a pretty good listen nonetheless.

www.myspace.com/againstme
www.againstme.net

THE WHITE STRIPES - Under Great White Northern Lights

Released in March of 2010, Under Great White Northern Lights is both a White Stripes live CD and the name of a documentary film about them. The material was recorded during their tour of Canada in the summer of 2007. We hear many of their hit songs on this album, including "Fell In Love With A Girl", "Blue Orchid", and "Icky Thump". We get to hear the minimalism the two-piece employs (employed?) in their live shows as well as Jack White's unrestrained, raggedy live vocals (though, at times, he is a bit much because while the man's got heart, he doesn't exactly have the pipes). We also see how much energy the band generates during their performances, which is probably the highlight of this recording. The White Stripes aren't playing note-for-note renditions of their studio recordings; these are raw, garage-worthy performances, yet the crowd goes nuts over them. A true testament to the power of a great rock 'n' roll band.

www.myspace.com/thewhitestripes
www.whitestripes.com

THE GASLIGHT ANTHEM - American Slang

I love this band. That's really all you need to know.

www.myspace.com/thegaslightanthem
www.gaslightanthem.com

DEFIANCE, OHIO - Midwestern Minutes

This is the fourth full-length from this Columbus, Ohio-based band. As it turns out, they release all of their music for free download on their website. Pretty cool, because if this album is an indication, all of those downloads are worth your bandwidth (and any donations to the band you can afford to make). Midwestern Minutes is acoustic punk rock. It definitely has a country bend to it thanks in part to the violin, cello, and upright bass they employ on their recordings. I'd go see this band if they played a show near me. Dig it.

www.myspace.com/defianceohio32
www.defianceohio.terrorware.com

TRAVIE MCCOY - Lazarus

Travis "Travie" McCoy is famous for being the frontman of Gym Class Heroes. He released his first solo album, Lazarus, in June of 2010. I really like the album's first two singles, "Billionaire" (which also features Bruno Mars, who is riding high on the charts right now with a song I cannot stand) and "Need You" so I decided to check out the rest. I've been looking for fresh new jams anyway. The album is a mishmash of pop, hip-hop, and rock elements. The singles are fantastic, as are some of the other songs (though a few are just so-so). I understand that "We'll Be Alright" is going to be Travie's third single, and there's no doubt why: it borrows from Supertramp's "Alright", and it's got hooks, it's catchy, and it's upbeat. "After Midnight" will probably be a single, too. A bunch of songs feature other famous artists so who knows, those could probably be singles too. Say what you will about these songs being overprocessed and manufactured, they're still catchy. The album is just a fun ride that you can get your swagger on to. Or something like that.

www.myspace.com/traviemccoy
www.traviemccoy.com

WEEZER - Hurley

Weezer's eighth studio album. I remember back in 2003/2004 when Weezer fans wondered if there would even be a fifth album (eventually, 2005's Make Believe solved that dilemma). Now, Weezer has released three albums over the past three years, and by the few recent interviews with frontman Rivers Cuomo that I've read, they aren't planning on waiting multiple years between albums anymore. We'll see how that works out, though.

Anyway, Hurley is named after Jorge Garcia's character from the show LOST and features Mr. Garcia on the cover as well. I guess no one knows what this has to do with the album itself, so we'll just continue on our merry way. I've listened to this album a few times now and I guess the best way to sum it up is that it sounds exactly like how a Weezer album is supposed to sound these days. Alternative pop. Just the typical upbeat power-pop/rock sound that we've come to expect from these guys. I mean, it's not bad, but it's not all that memorable either. I know that a lot of people, myself included, listen to new Weezer albums when they come out for catalog completion's sake. But after that, we rarely return, instead opting for Weezer classics like "Blue" or Pinkerton. So, thanks, Hurley, it was kind of fun while it lasted -- now go back in your case.

www.myspace.com/weezer
www.weezer.com

GHOSTLAND OBSERVATORY - Codename: Rondo

The duo from Austin, Texas returns with their fourth studio album. These two dudes, Aaron Behrens and Thomas Turner, have got to be some of the most likable weirdos in the musical world right now. Their weirdness continues on this album. The title track involves the narrator instructing someone who has the codename of "Rondo" to purchase him a Slurpee, amongst other tasks. This whole idea would seem preposterous for most bands, but Ghostland pulls it off without a hitch. "Kick Clap Speaker" features a computer voice that sounds eerily similar to the one in Radiohead's "Fitter Happier". There's not really a lot of Behrens' natural high-pitched vocals on this album, which I am a bit disappointed by. Other than that, though, the songs all have a good beat and I'm sure people at parties would love to dance to this while swirling their glow sticks in the air. Yet another inherently odd album from these guys, but it's still interesting stuff. Dirty electro/rock/dance/wtf from these dudes. This album officially comes out on October 26th, on the duo's own Trashy Moped Recordings. Dig it.

SEE THE SNEAK PEEK FOR THE NEW ALBUM HERE: http://www.youtube.com/trashymoped

www.myspace.com/ghostlandobservatory
www.ghostlandobservatory.net
www.trashymoped.com

PERSONAL AND THE PIZZAS - Raw Pie

As I've discovered, the summer months are not the optimal time for me to review music. Swimming, running and biking, baseball games, and more means I'm not spending a lot of time indoors to listen to some tunes. I've got a huge backlog of music to listen to, and Personal and the Pizzas certainly haven't helped when I do get a moment to put on an album. Why? Because when I do have time to listen, all I want to put on is Raw Pie.

I happened onto this New Jersey band by accident, but I stuck around after hearing "I Don't Wanna Be No Personal Pizza". Once I heard the rest of the album, I knew these guys would forever hold a special place in my music collection. They wear their musical influences (Do I even have to spell them out? Ramones, Stooges (love the album's title nod to the Stooges' third album), etc.) on their sleeve but they are smart enough to know how to do it right. The spoken intros to some of the songs, the high percentage of songs devoted to pizza, and of course, the tight garage rock playing all combine to make one gloriously fun album. This should be the next soundtrack to your late night parties; if it isn't, you're just not doing it right. Happy Pizza Pie Friday, or more appropriately, Happy Personal and the Pizzas Friday!

www.myspace.com/personalandthepizzas
They are members of the 1-2-3-4-GO! Records family: www.1234gorecords.com

THE DRUMS - The Drums

The Brooklyn quartet finally releases their first full-length album, after tempting us constantly with singles and an EP. They sound like they came straight out of the 1980's post-punk/indie scene. I'm shocked they're not British. Their music is great and if they're not huge by the time I post this review then I am sure they will blow up soon. Recommended if you like The Smiths, Voxtrot, that sort of thing.

www.myspace.com/thedrumsforever
www.thedrums.com

THE GET UP KIDS - Simple Science EP

The Get Up Kids were formed in Kansas City, Missouri, in the mid-1990s and released their debut album, Four Minute Mile, in 1997. They went on to become one of the torchbearers of the late '90s "emo" movement. But unlike Jimmy Eat World, who broke out in a big way in 2002, GUK never really achieved what I would consider mainstream success outside of the emo realm. The band broke up in 2005 with the members going on to pursue other projects (The New Amsterdams, Koufax, Blackpool Lights, Reggie and the Full Effect) but they got back together in 2009. Simple Science is their first new studio recording in six years (the last being 2005's The Guilt Show). With four songs clocking in at just over 16 minutes, it almost feels like they are testing the waters first before jumping in and releasing a new album. The music also feels like it's testing the waters. Not enough energy to really get into and not enough emotion to actually sit back and listen. Sounds very middle-of-the-road to me.

www.myspace.com/thegetupkids
www.thegetupkids.com

WE ARE SCIENTISTS - Barbara

Fourth album from these guys. They've got a new drummer - Andy Burrows, formerly of Razorlight - for this release. Barbara is definitely a return to form for We Are Scientists. It may be just as good, if not better, than their debut album With Love And Squalor. We all know how many times I've played that record, so this isn't a compliment to be taken lightly. The songs on here are catchy and are prime examples of what danceable rock and roll party music should sound like. I especially enjoy this line in "Break It Up": "If no one wants to be up all night, what's the point in even going out?" Amen, brother, amen. Now let's drink up and dance.

www.myspace.com/wearescientists
www.wearescientists.com

[[Their website is awesome. The "Advice" section is inspiring.]]

BOUNCING SOULS - Ghosts On The Boardwalk

Eighth full-length studio album from this band from New Brunswick, New Jersey. Last year, the band celebrated 20 years together by releasing a new song every month. This album collects those 12 songs so you can keep them all in one place. It's hard for me to believe that the band is actually that old because their music has such a youthful, energetic sound. Put punk, rock, pop, and fun in a blender and you will get The Bouncing Souls. They're definitely one of the best bands on the Warped Tour lineup - anyone want to take me?

www.myspace.com/bouncingsouls
www.bouncingsouls.com

AGAINST ME - I Was A Teenage Anarchist EP

As a prelude to the June 8th release of their latest album, White Crosses, Against Me! give us this four-track EP. Two of the songs, "I Was A Teenage Anarchist" and "Rapid Decompression" are from the album and the other two, "One By One" and "Bitter Divisions", are B-Sides. I love the energy of this band and the grit in Tom Gabel's voice. They play (punk) rock that could fill up an arena, with everyone in attendance yelling the choruses out together with their fists in the air. I dig these guys a lot and am definitely looking forward to the new album. 2010 is shaping up to be a great year in music!

www.myspace.com/againstme
www.againstme.net