Somos-First Day Back (2016)

Why I like it:

Somos are a band that I was only familiar with their popular 2014 album Temple of Plenty. Which is a great album if you want some aggressive pop-punky music. Besides that I never listened to much else from them (sadly). 

Luckily a band, called The Grievance Club, convinced me to give Somos my full attention through this playlist they curated. One of the things I like about this streaming era is that bands can easily make playlists that gives fans a glimpse into their influences. Within this playlist the song "Alright, I'll Wait" came on and it instantly caught my attention. 

From there I listened to The First Day Back and was enamored with it. It still had some of the pop rock from Temple of Plenty but with more indie and synth notes mixed in, which makes the songs differentiated and interesting (in my opinion). There's still that high energy to the album but it feels more controlled through the space they allow with the instruments and vocals. I don't usually talk about production (because I lack in that knowledge) but I think that really lends to the clean polished sound of the album as well. All these factors create a unique atmosphere that just sucks you in for the 27 minuet ride. 

The best comparison sonically that this reminded me of was Piano Become The Teeth's album Keep You. This was a band that also went from an aggressive sound to more indie. Like Pianos Become the Teeth, the change in sound that Somos did divided fans. Lucky for both bands, if they care what one unqualified person thinks, I found this change in sound more interesting.

One random thing I read on a Rateyourmusic post, and can't confirm but found interesting, was that First Day Back is a Braid song from the album Frame and Canvas. They also pointed out that the album cover of Frame and Canvas and First Day Back looked the same. That's a pretty cool nugget of info if it's actually true that Somos used that Braid album and song as an influence!

Anyways, I digress. Please consider listening to First Day Back, or any of Somos other releases, as they are a band that are charting their own coarse through the realm of rock and beyond! 

PS-Yes, I watched a Lightyear commercial and that final sentence came from it.

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Highlighted song and lyrics:

Problem Child- "Ambition, not tempered by tradition"

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Similar bands to check out:

Sorority Noise, The Hotelier, Modern Baseball, Have Mercy 

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Reviews and links to check out:

Off the Record Podcast- Interview

Washed Up Emo Podcast- Interview

Underthegunreview.net- Review

Live at the Echo

Cliffdiver-Exercise Your Demons (2022)

Why I like it:

Cliffdiver is a band that I've been very excited for a full album release. Ever since I discovered them from the fun song title "The Water Temple Is Filled With My Tears and Now I Am Drowning in Sorrow", then listening to their endearing and heartfelt interviews, and finally them adding the powerful Briana as another lead singer; it's been a snowball of hype just building.

I am pleased to say that the hype was worth it and Exercise Your Demons has delivered on all fronts, plus some. It's an album with an arc, starting with the decent into turmoil, then rising through it and coming out ok. It's that empathy and hope they provide that really hit it for me. You can tell the intention is to be a beacon for those listeners that are struggling with their demons and to tell them it's ok we are here with you and you will get through it. To me, it's like they are hugging you through music and it's just... warm feeling. This is the best way I can describe the mess of things I feel when listening to Cliffdiver. 

All this heavy material is played through an elevator emo pop (as they coin it) lens. There's so many elements at play with the music, you get some ska with the prominent saxophonist, pop-punk song structures, hardcore breakdowns, and those fantastic emo song titles (like "Who Let The Hawgz out?"). I also loved how the last song "IKEA strikes back" pays homage to an earlier song of theirs "Lost in IKEA". 

Let's not forget the great artwork for the album either. It's actual demons doing workout exercises within a picturesque countryside background. Love the literal imagery! 

Overall Exercise Your Demons had me laughing, headbanging, and crying; sometimes within one song. If you want a wholesome and energetic album that makes you feel things and gives hope then please give this a listen. I'll finish this post with a quote from Joey: "You are loved, you are valid, and you are worthy of love" :)

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Highlighted song and lyrics:

New Vegas Bomb ft. Skatune Network - "My body made it to 33, brain stopped at 22"

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Similar bands to check out:

Prince Daddy and The Hyena, Signals Midwest, Oso Oso, PUP

*Great bands with album releases this year

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Reviews and links to check out:

Floodmagazine.com- Review

Good Noise Podcast- Interview with Briana and Joey

At Your Own Risk Documentary

Live play of Teaching a Narwhal Empathy from 2022

We Are The Union- Self Care (2018)

Why I like it:

It's about flipping time I talk about the latest Ska scene and I can't think of a more fitting band to showcase then We Are The Union. 

I first started getting into We Are The Union when I heard their songs in the game Skatebird. Sidebar comment, totally worth playing for the great music and seeing birds skateboard! From there I started listening to Self Care more and then went into deep rabbit hole of what Ska has been up to since the 90s. Holly crap have I been missing out!

Many of these rabbit holes always seemed to have a connection to We Are Union in some capacity, whether it be Jer doing Ska song covers in Ska Tune Network or Brent working with Bad Time Records and other Ska bands. All these connections have highlighted to me that they are one of flag bearers of the "Pie" wave of Ska (quote taken from Jer). It's also interesting to note that We Are the Union only became a Ska band within the last 5 years of their 13 year career (I'm going off their first release in 2009). 

Self Care was the first release from We Are The Union, having Jer and Brent part of the band. It's got everything you can want from a Ska album, trumpets and dancy upbeat songs to skank to. The lyrical content is actually pretty introspective, covering topics like mental health and grappling with the state of the world (and this was before a pandemic). You wouldn't know it however with the energetic and upbeat nature of the songs. 

That's what I like about recent Ska bands is the content that's covered. It's all topics that are relevant to issues of today and are worth talking about. We Are The Union are a prime examples of this, with their latest album (Ordinary Life) speaking to the experience of lead singer Reade coming out as a trans woman. What's more punk and badass then that!?

Anyways I hope I've highlighted why We Are The Union, and other recent Ska bands, are worth your time, and of course, skanking to!

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Highlighted song and lyrics:

A Better Home -"But if our stubborn bones can grow new on their own/Then we can change ourselves, and build a better home"

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Similar bands to check out:

Catbite, Kill Lincoln, Joystick!, Flying Racoon Suit

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Reviews and links to check out:

In Defense Of Ska Podcast- Interview with Jeremy Hunter

In Defense of Ska Podcast- Interview with Reade Wolcott

Question the Answer Podcast- Interview with Brent Friedman

Glidemagazine.com- Six-panel comic strip style review of Self Care

Audiotree- Live session