The Swellers-Good for me (2011)

Why I like it:

One of my favorite things is having my mind changed about an opinion of a band or album. When that ah ha moment happens and it finally clicks with you. That is exactly what happened to me recently, with the band The Swellers.

I was first introduced to The Swellers when their hit song "The Best I Ever Had" was making the rounds through music media. I loved that song and had it in my iTunes account for many years. Sadly I never looked much further into the band. I don't know why to be honest, maybe it's because I thought they sounded like the Menzingers (or at least this hit song did) and I didn't want more of that sound, at the time. Either way it was my loss.

Many years later I am watching a YouTuber (linked below) who has made multiple videos about The Swellers and why they are a band worth being a fan of and should have been more popular. Then after giving the discography a real listen, I have to agree, this was a band that could have been much more popular. They were on the Fueled By Ramen label and toured with Paramore for goodness sake! To me the Good for Me album is the top tier one to listen to, but all the albums have amazing songs to discover. 

I recommend checking out Never Normal's Youtube site to find out more The Swellers and other gems within the scene. When people bring their own experiences and stories into why a music project is special to them, it can add a new perspective and insight to something that may have originally been brushed off. This is way I love discovering music through people's recommendations, it helps me look at something with a new context. Who knows, it can lead to your new favorite band or a new genre of music. 

Anyways enough of this deep stuff. Check out The Swellers, they rock!

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Highlighted songs and lyrics:

Parkview- "Until then you can watch me shoveling snow/Clearing a path so I'm not walked on anymore"

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Similar bands to check out:

Fireworks, I Call Fives, State Lines, Pentimento

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Reviews and links to check out:

Never Normal YouTuber- Retrospective

Lead Singer Syndrome Podcast- Interview

Punksinvegas.com- Review

Live in New York City

Tilly's Mixtape 5

 

(Front side)

(Backside)

Oh man here we go, Mixtape number 5 in the bin! What can I say about this one...well I gave my fox a skateboarding lizard friend to share their special mixtape with. That's enough with the solo act Mr. Fox person (I have no name for them, yet). You may wonder, why the animal characters? Or maybe you don't care but I suck at drawing anything else, so you get Mr Fox and their friend...cool lizard. 

Anyways enough of my simple art and lack of character names. What's with the mixtape this time around? Glad you asked, I put myself in Mr Fox's shoes and thought what would I share with a friend if I was making a mixtape for them? Well it would have some cool new music (or that they think is cool) along with some older favorites. Pepper in some deep cuts and voila. The intent would be to listen to the mixtape from start to finish, no shuffling, because there's a specific flow and story to it all. 

I decided to only use songs from albums that I have covered in my blog for this mixtape as well. Hope you enjoy the adventure and discover something new!

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Links to the mixtape:

YouTube

Spotify

Trophy Jump-Feels (2022)

Why I like it:

Wow would you look at this, another album review for 2022! Now we are starting to get the great music come in.

Feels by the Croatia band Trophy Jump is a 30min album that is a joy to listen to, start to finish. I'm not usually a person that gravitates to lyrics first, but in this album that's exactly what I did. The lyrics are very relatable for someone who's in their early/mid adulthood. Singing about having to get up early to run because you worry about your health, then worrying about not being an interesting person without some beer or recreational drugs...yep all too relatable. It's all in good fun however, in a way that makes you feel understood, because Trophy Jump is right there with you- laughing and crying. 

Then you get into the actual music itself, it's all high energy punk type music with traditional rock sensibilities. To copy a great quote I read (linked below in PersonalPunk.wordpress): "Jimmy Eat World skating with Sunny Day Real Estate? Fiddlehead camping out with Neutral Milk Hotel?". Honestly read the first two links below because they nail describing why this album is so frikin catchy and awesome. 

You betcha this is a year end contender for me. Thanks Thepunksite.com for first introducing me to Feels!

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Highlighted songs and lyrics:

Leather Couch-"and sit on my leather couch/pretending that things can't get better than now"

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Similar bands to check out:

ESC Life, Burnt Tapes, Forever Unclean!, Remedy

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Reviews and links to check out:

Thepunksite.com- Review

Personalpunk.wordpress.com- Review

Live play of Hugs on Drugs

Trophyjump.bandcamp.com

NOBRO-Live Your Truth Shred Some Gnar (2022)

Why I like it:

It's finally time I make a god damn post about an album from 2022 right? So here it is- NOBRO's Live Your Truth Shred Some Gnar

Why does this one stand out over other ones released from this year so far? That's easy, it makes me the most happy in a time of the year that can be so dull and dreadful. I dare you to listen to this EP and not feel pumped!

Live Your Truth Shred Some Gnar is a punk EP that is loud, fast, and unapologetic. It's exactly what you want from a punk band. I love the French that is peppered throughout this EP as well. It's a great call to the band's Montreal roots. These ladies know how to shred and kick ass on their instruments!

Funny story to share, I was listening to this EP at the office and rocking out in my cubicle (because it's impossible not to). A manager walks by, just as I am getting into a solo, and they commented on how I'm really into that music. I then commented with "oh you bet I am!". Not a typical response I would have but what can I say, NOBRO inspired me.

I love punk music and that's my truth!!

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Highlighted songs and lyrics:

Better Each Day- "Being a bitch is not illegal so..."

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Similar bands to check out:

Les Shirley, Partner, The Beaches, Bad Waitress

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Reviews and links to check out:

Scenepointblank.com- Review

Bringin' it Backwards Podcast- Interview

Nobroband.com

Live at the Horseshoe Tavern

The Jazz June-The Medicine (2000)

Why I like it:

Ok, I think it is time to bring up my complicated feelings on the word emo to start this post. It's not complicated in the sense that I don't like the genre, because I love emotional hardcore music. However, I find it's a genre that is hard to describe or explain because, in the year 2022, it has such a large umbrella. Here's some examples of the sub-genres of emo: midwest, revival, skramz, emo rap, twinkle, all the waves...anyways I think you got it now. It's very overwhelming at times but yet I am so very intrigued by it all. 

There's a reason why I try to stray away from using the word emo in my posts because what does that actually mean today? It could mean so many gosh darn things now that I like to try using other descriptors, and it's a fun challenge to myself. Just like the Jazz June, I have an acceptance that I am part of the emo world, even though I may not completely understand it or know when to categorize a band into the genre. 

With all this being said, you may wonder why am I even bringing this up? Here's the point to it all, if I can try to contextualize what, in my opinion, might be a good example of an emo album. That example would be The Medicine (along with other releases) by The Jazz June. Here's my case why: the lyrics are introspective with an emotional weight, the came from a hardcore background and took influences from it, they played because of that love for the scene and toured with like minded people, they broke up before they could blow up then had a revival in 2014. 

I completely agree with other folks, like Tom Mullen from Washed Up Emo, when they say the Jazz June are an underappreciated gem. The music has a unique mix of punk, indie, and post-rock that is your non-traditional rock set up. Along with thought provoking lyrics that stick in your head in darks of the night, The Medicine is an album that you shouldn't sleep on. The cherry on top is that these guys seem like a group of long time friends who just like to have a reason to play music together. It's very wholesome and makes me happy :)

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Highlighted songs and lyrics:

Death From Above - "Lying to ourselves/That we can't still believe"

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Similar bands to check out:

Mid Carson July, Elliott, Hot Rod Circuit, The Appleseed Cast

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Reviews and links to check out:

Washed Up Emo Podcast- Interview

Vice.com- An Oral History of The Jazz June

Punknews.org- Review

Live at Ralph's Diner in Worcester