Lakes-Start Again (2021)

 

Why I like it:

Sometimes a band will show up in your live at the right place and time. For me that was the release Start Again by the UK band Lakes. I first found out about them earlier this year when one of their label mates gave them a shoutout (see the Bummer Boys link below). This album came out at the time where there was uncertainty and turmoil going on around my life. I can't begin to express how their lyrics gave me inspiration to stay positive and work towards finding better outcomes with what I can control- ie myself. 

Start Again has heart and earnest thoughts to share with their listeners. They look introspectively on themselves and share how they have tried to do better. I am also a sucker for group vocals, which this has many! The wispy guitars are also wonderful to ears. All these factors make Start Again a happy vibing album with deeper meaning to uncover, if you want to find it. That artwork is simply amazing as well. I think the kids running around fire does a good job representing what the album is about.

I hope you can find inspiration from this album like I did, or just positive music to listen to when you want motivation to get out of a funk. This is 100% making my year end list- to come soon! ;)

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Highlighted song and lyrics:

Start Again-"I’m being as honest as I can/ Cause it makes me feel that I could start again"

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Similar bands to check out:

I Feel Fine, Martha, The Winter Passing, itoldyouiwouldeatyou

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Reviews and links to check out:

Thelineofbestfit.com- Review

Keep it Posi Podacast- Interview

Audiotree- Live performance

Bummer Boys Podcast- Where I first got into Lakes

Treble Charger-Wide Awake Bored (2000)

 

Why I like it:

Alright let's go way back to where my first love of pop-punk came from. There were your obvious artists like Blink-182, Sum 41, and Simple Plan that were big in the early 2000s. However those bands get lots of spotlight and I wanted to focus on a band that played just as big of role to my introduction (and love) of pop-punk, Treble Charger. 

I think Treble Charger was much bigger in Canada (where they are from) then the US but I bet you Americans have heard "American Psycho" at some point in your childhood; if you grew up in the 2000s. If you watched American Pie or Played NHL 2003 then you should have heard the song. Heck even "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" had a Treble Charger song. 

Where I first heard of Treble Charger was through the Big Shiny Tunes 5 compilation album. It had "American Psycho", "Adam's Song" from Blink-182, and "Makes No Difference to Me" from Sum 41. This was the album that started me down the path to pop-punk for sure. Man that album needs to be one of my next blog posts.

Anyways to the actual album of Wide Awake Bored, why do I like it? Well you have one of my favorite all time pop-punk songs "Brand New Low" for the first reason. Then you have the, already mentioned, "American Psycho" to act as the other single. From there you have a series of other great pop-punk songs to follow up. Ones like "Buisness", "Funny", and "Wear Me Down" are stand outs. I would also highly recommend checking out the next album Detox if you have liked anything I have mentioned so far. 

When I started looking into the band more it was crazy what else I discovered. First of all one of their lead singer's Greig Nori has been a producer and manager for Sum 41! He also hosted a reality TV show called "Diband" which "gave aspiring music acts a chance to get big industry attention"- thanks Wikipedia. Also another member of the band, Bill Priddle, joined Broken Social Scene for a time. 

I you are at all a fan of pop-punk I would say give Wide Awake Bored and Detox a go and discover (or re-discover) why so many people gravitated to the pop-punk genre in the 2000s! :) 

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Highlighted song and lyrics:

Brand New Low- "Have I gone too far?/Have I sunk to a brand new low?"

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Similar bands to check out:

LEN, Sum 41, Gob, Bif Naked

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Reviews and links to check out:

Saultmetalscene.blogspot.com- Review

Canada FM Podcast- Retrospective on the band

AndHeDrewBees YouTuber- Review of Keven Spenser episode "Treble Charger"

Disband TV Series- A TV series that Greig Nori hosts