New Found Glory - Radiosurgery

It was under ten years ago that my oldest brother took me under his wing and took me to my first gig. He was a freshman in college here in Lincoln at the University and I was just 12 years-old, a bright eyed sixth grader. He came back for a weekend to pick me up in his 2001 Ford Focus that we called the "bumblebee" for its goldish-yellow color. The destination was Pershing Auditorium and the mission was to see New Found Glory. It was at this show that I believe my life changed. The pure energy and excitement that came erupting out off that band and the crowd got to me, and perhaps changed the way I look at life.

Return to present-day Lincoln, where I have now lived for three years. In the time since my first encounter with New Found Glory, I have seen them live five times. Which is a lot considering that sports in high school limited my engagement to shows. They have just released their seventh album and are on my schedule to see on their upcoming tour. So you can understand why I have a critical eye on this band. With their new album comes excitement, optimism, and a review.

New Found Glory - Radiosurgery

The album starts off with the first single/title track. This is the prime example of what the new album encompasses as a whole sound. Following the conventional formula of song structure, the track radiates a "Dookie"-vibe. At first listen, it didn't hit me, but after listening to it a few times you can see where the song could have fit on any early Green Day album. Still very fun and catchy, NFG put their stamp on every song they make, and give us a late-summer anthem.

The next few songs are my favorites on the album. "Anthem Of The Unwanted" and "Drill It In My Brain" are both vintage New Found Glory with an upbeat, charisma to the music and toned-down catchy chorus. "I'm Not The One" brings back the gang vocals with a hardcore breakdown and different movements with composition. "Dumped" is a very musical locomotive, vintage NFG song with a catchy upbeat chorus and a noteworthy ending.

It's at that point where the album takes a slight downturn. "Summer Fling, Don't Mean A Thing" is a somewhat forgettable, cookie-cutter song, that sounds like it could be a b-side off of Coming Home. "Caught In The Act" and "Trainwreck" share the same fate. It's not a complete knock on slower songs, or less musically driven songs, but in some cases the efforts just seem lazy. Such is the case here. The songs don't capture attention the first time and make it very easy to skip ahead to the next songs on the album that are a lot less forgetful.

The few bright points on the back half of the album, "Memories And Battle Scars" and "Map Of Your Body" don't do enough to resurrect the album from the doldrums. Coming out with strong riffs, very catchy choruses, and notably well executed breakdowns, the songs hold your attention and almost force you to sing along. In the case of the album closer, "Map Of Your Body", the breakdown takes the form of a sort of lullaby. As soon as the breakdown ends, the song shoots off like a rocket back to the catchy chorus for the ending.

Overall, the album features a few good songs, a few decent ones, and a few forgettable ones. I recognize that at some points I may sound like I want them to recreate their self-titled album or Sticks And Stones, but I know that what goes into making an album can't be reproduced and getting repeated success on albums is extremely difficult. NFG came back from a lackluster showing with Not Without A Fight, an album I very much enjoyed. Time will tell if I enjoy Radiosurgery as much as I did with NWAF that came before it, but it's not looking good. For fans of old-school Green Day who haven't gotten into New Found Glory (if those people exist) should give this album a listen. If you're a hardcore New Found Glory fan, you should listen to this album because it's the exact things you've come to like in them. But in the long run, the album hits the target a few times not enough and lets the lacking parts last too long.

Recommended Tracks: "Anthem Of The Unwanted", "I'm Not The One", "Dumped"

Recommended If You Like: New Found Glory, Dookie

Verdict: 5.5/10

This Time Next Year - Drop Out Of Life

In 2009, This Time Next Year burst onto the scene with a full-length powerful enough to turn goat piss into gasoline (just watched Blues Brothers). Taking their name from the Movielife album, This Time Next Year came out of nowhere to release on of the best pop-punk albums of that year, as well as one of the best modern pop-punk releases. Road Maps And Heart Attacks took cues from legends of the scene as well as TTNY's peers to formulate a record enjoyable from start to finish. Two years later, how does the band mature and does it suffer from the sophomore slump on Drop Out Of Life? Let's find out.

The closest thing to Road Maps And Heart Attacks can be found on the lead, title track, "Drop Out Of Life". The song starts out strong and follows the new pop-punk formula to a tee. The anthem-like chorus is something that crowds will be singing back to the band on every stop of every show. From there, the album takes an unexpected turn. The rest of the album is generally mellow with not a lot of the power or aggression we came to expect from their previous releases. The track "Better Half" resonates something that would be on a Starting Line album and it becomes evident that the band took cues from the album's producer, Chad Gilbert (guitarist from New Found Glory). The New Found Glory influence also shines on "Get It, Got It, Good", which rings reminiscent of the NFG song "Don't Let Her Pull You Down". Songs like "Living Hell" and "Matchbook" bring the 'friend-core' aspect of pop-punk, with a potent nostalgia feeling when listening to the song, as if it makes you remember the times you've spent with friends.

In a nutshell the album can be summarized with songs like "Modern Day Love Story" and "My Side Of Town". Catchy choruses, but extremely mellow with somewhat of a waltz tone to them. Other than "mellow" the other big 'M' word for this album is "melody". Neat vocal melodies are shown throughout the majority of this record, with "Spoontonic" being the prime example of this. The vocals never rest on a certain note or range, they are always moving swiftly back and forth, using different "riffs" and using the vocals almost like another instrument.

It's been said before by me that the opener to an album is the most important, and then the ending. This album starts with its strongest foot forward and ends with a song that isn't one of the finest, but clearly the greatest choice for closing track. "This Is An Airport Train" has a stand-out guitar tone throughout the entire song to go with the perfect mix of vocals, lyrics, and overall band tone. The lyrics speak of moving on and carrying the torch of living, which is complimented by the "traveling" tone of the music accompanying the words. It's an uplifting song that speaks of previous depression that has been turned to hope.

Overall, the album is (at least for me) a disappointment compared to their previous release. Maybe it's because this is a much mellower album and doesn't pack the same punch, but it seems like that's what This Time Next Year is best at. A few songs pack the same powerful sonic punch that was found on their previous album, but they are few and far between. Maybe Drop Out Of Life isn't the same breed of monster as we're used to from the band, but it also may be the next logical step in maturing. Maturity is a four letter word in the pop-punk world, but these guys speak of going through the gauntlet and that can do a lot to a man.

Recommended Tracks: "Drop Out Of Life", "Get It, Got It, Good", "This Is An Airport Train"

Recommended If You Like: New Found Glory, The Starting Line, old All Time Low

Verdict: 6 / 10

Man Overboard - Man Overboard

There comes a time when an album is recorded, mixed, mastered, pressed, and released all at the perfect time for that particular album. The time for Man Overboard's new self-titled album is the exact day that it is released. With a vintage pop-punk sound mixed with some powerful guitar work, this band has proven that their previous release, Real Talk, was not a fluke.

I have always said that a key factor in my way of reviewing albums is the way it begins. The way that an album starts out can either express what the following songs will be like, or introduce you to the music like a prologue. In the manner of Man Overboard, the opener fires out with an exhilerating rush of frantic drums and locomotive guitars. One of my favorite tracks on the album, "Rare" is the kind of album opener that personifies what the old-school pop-punk scene was about: the catchy anthemic chorus with likable melodies. The melody on this track changes from verse to chorus, seeming somewhat sloppy at first, but after a few listens it appears more polished.

Songs like "Teleport" and "Picture Perfect" seem to dial back the tone, but still not embracing the slow dance aesthetic. The track "Voted Most Likely" is the kind of song that is belted out by you and your car full of friends driving in the city at night. One of the standout components in this album is how the melody of the rhythm and lead guitars don't sync, and neither do the vocals and rhythm guitar. It's as if the rhythm guitars are on a whole different riff, but keeping the same general rhythm and tone as the rest of the song. "Something's Weird", "Headstone", and "Punishment" are great examples of this. "Spunn" is a notable track on this album for its "time capsule" feel, because it has a noticable aura of an old-school punk song despite a short piano interlude in the middle of the song.

While the beginning of the album is a landmark of a great album, the ending is also highly important to see if it fits in the general aspect of the album and summerizes the feel of the music. "Night Feelings" is a fun song that encorporates the melodic chorus, guitar-heavy intro and breakdown, as well as an abrubt ending that fits the song uniformly. Ultimately, the end of the album comes with "Atlas", a slow and building song with more emotional vocals than is heard on most of the album. The song culminates with an orchestra of power and energy as the final note rings through the speakers until it finally fades away.

Man Overboard's previous release took me awhile to get into, but once I fully came to enjoy it, the album was one of my more played records at the time. This time around, Man Overboard struck me immediatly and has commanded great control over my speakers. On rare occassion will you have an album that is back-heavy (with some of the best songs later on the track listing), but this record has most of its bright points on the later half. It's a fun album that encorporates everything that is great about pop-punk. It may not be a genre altering release, but it is a record that stands among some of the elite of it's kind right now and has secured the band a spot among the best right now.

Recommended Tracks: "Rare", "Headstone", "Spunn", "Night Feelings"

Recommended If You Like: The Wonder Years, New Found Glory, Pop-punk

Rating: 8 / 10

Bring On The Sunburn

Sorry about the lack of correspondence, I just recently moved into a new apartment and it has taken me a few days to get everything situated.

Another big issue is the lack of anticipated releases in the last few weeks. Everything for the rest of the year is going to becoming out in the fall and so the last few weeks have been somewhat lackluster. Having said that, there will be reviews and articles written about a few new releases including Set Your Goals' "Burning At Both Ends", and Portugal The Man's "In The Mountain In The Cloud".

But before any of that, a friend (and bandmate) of mine and I are going to attend the Council Bluffs, IA stop on the Warped Tour. It's been awhile since my last time attending a show (All Time Low/Hey Monday/Yellowcard to be exact), so I anticipate a fun time. We will try and take pictures and come back with stories. Excited to get to see Set Your Goals again, extremely excited to see The Dangerous Summer play new material live, and finally brimming with excitement to see The Wonder Years kill it again. This may be a trip that makes me go broke, but it's one that is much needed.

New Music: Blink 182 - "Up All Night"

Expect a new article coming soon, including a review of the new Damnwells album, No One Listens To The Band Anymore.

In the mean time, here is the new single from Blink 182. Any album details are still unknown, but the first hint of new music is very encouraging. Clearly a departure from their previous style, it will be interesting to see what this album sounds like.

Blink 182 - "Up All Night"

The Dangerous Summer - War Paint

For years the build-up happened, waiting for a group of high school kids to release their first full-length album. First came There Is No Such Thing As Science, that brought the record deal from Hopeless Records. Soon the band re-released the EP If You Could Only Keep Me Alive, featuring a few new songs. With graduation just around the corner the band began recording that first full-length. Eventually the record was released and what was born was 2009's success story, Reach For The Sun. Now with fans around the world the band had expectations to live up to. After two years and multiple hardships to overcome, finally came the hype-filled locomotive that we now know as War Paint. The band I speak of, of course, is The Dangerous Summer.

The Dangerous Summer - War Paint

Like an atom bomb dropped from a jet airliner, the record starts blasting chords and rhythms into your brain. Mixing accent guitar riffs with the rhythm, the guitars make a mixture that complement each other and shoot into a spiritual sonic atmosphere. The lyrics set the standard for what will be sung throughout the entire album. A swift blend of philosophical ideas with the interpersonal relationships we all deal with on a daily basis. The title track, "War Paint", is a compression of the overall impression of the record. Catchy choruses, intelligent lyrics, infectious guitars, intoxicating rhythms, and the desire to not stop listening. The ability to tear down the song and build it back up is exercised more than once on this track, and each time it is done perfectly.

The first single on the album, "Work In Progress", starts with a riff that carries on throughout the song. Nearly the entire duration of the track involves building off of the riff, slowly with layer after layer of guitars, bass, drums, and vocals. The payoff comes in the choruses, where the band summons their creative powers and like a Zord, the cohesive sound is much more powerful than divided. Eventually the song appears to have burned itself out, but the vocals still power through the final fade out, screaming lines from the chorus. Next we have one of my favorites off the record, "No One's Gonna Need You More". Starting off with upbeat drums and a whisking rhythm that keeps the song moving at near dance-track speeds. The vocals themselves have an infectious rhythm to them, making it that much easier to sing along. The guitars never really come to the forefront, instead opting for a complementary role to the rhythm section, which is a refreshing change to the band's usual pace. The song finishes with a build-up that eventually dips back down into the chorus, never breaking the locomotive of drums and bass that powered the song from the start.

The next song was released as a single nearly a year ago, but was re-recorded for the new album. "Good Things" starts with less of an intro than it initially had and gets right into the opening verse. Working off the initial recording of the song, the choruses have become much more epic, and have become much more of a complete band experience. This song acts as a counter-point of hope and prosperity to "Work In Progress"'s message of depression and anguish. Next we have "Siren", the supreme song in a lyrical sense. The guitar riff acts as siren and stays constant throughout nearly the entire song. The choruses are uplifting and powerful, but they are nothing compared to the final verse. Working as an ultimate letter of longing love, the final verse is what you would have if you were to empty a person's soul onto sheet music. Not even then, however, would you be able to reproduce the passion you feel circulate up until the final note.

While on their tour with Sparks The Rescue and The Graduate, The Dangerous Summer debuted the next track "Everyone Left". In a strange turn of events, this track features guitars working in pure rhythm with drums doing the accenting notes. Again, the song seems to be constantly building and absolutely never content with the direction it's headed. With cohesive choruses built on catchy vocal melodies, the rest of the band seems to be accent pieces to the words being sang. With the lyrics that we hear, that is perfectly fine. The closest thing to a typical pop-punk song on the record comes up with "Miscommunication". The guitars shine with a punk rhythm, and escalate to inertia in stereo during the choruses. That's where the gem of the song is found, in the chorus. Up beat and lifting melodies, rhythms, riffs, vocals, all of it combine to make a powerful blast of energy and joy.

One of the more unique songs on the record, "I Should Leave Right Now", involves an interesting guitar riff that combines a rhythm guitar approach but finishing the riff with lead sensibilities. In the choruses the riff finishes without the final lead notes, and stays in the rhythm section. The further into the song you get the more it becomes evident that it's almost as if the guitars are a back-up singer, giving the lead vocals more depth and an echo effect. If there were ever a "weak" song out of the bunch I would choose "Parachute". It's not even that it's not as good as the other songs, it's just that it is much more of a formula song. The blueprint to this track has been heard before, but The Dangerous Summer just seems to do it better than it has been done before. It seems to be the feeling that this is the next song that they wrote after "Good Things", because there are a lot of similarities between the two, with "Parachute" having a much more pop-punk chorus, and "Good Things" a more alternative chorus.

"In My Room" starts out as one of the slower songs on the record, with just a guitar and vocals. It may be a little accent, but the vocal rhythm at the beginning of when the band comes in and near the beginning of the second verse, is a prime example of what makes The Dangerous Summer great. Not being content with just singing the lines, the vocals are used as another instrument with how they are sang. Overall, this song is more enticing than most on the record. The mood of the entire song seems to be melancholy, but the guitars and drums seem to be pushing the song to an up-lifting mood. The album closer "Waves" is a great showcase of how far the band has come. From high school to this very moment, each member of the band is at the top of their game. The maturity level is off the charts from where it was at in the youth stages of the band, no more than the lyrics. The lyrics in the chorus are some of the finest I have ever heard, let alone heard from any band among The Dangerous Summer's peers. Every instrument works into a cohesive vision of a song that soars like a phoenix through the sonic atmosphere right up until the final note where we see the bird fly off into the sunset. One of the finest album closers in the genre, of the year, and of ever.

Throughout music there has been great bands that burst onto the scene with a fine debut album they have worked their entire lives to make. After touring on that record, it's time to get right back into the studio and record a follow-up. Many bands have fallen victim to the sophomore slump and many more will in the future. Many bands also get too high of expectations for a follow-up to a fantastic debut and end up in a fan whiplash. A record like this shatters and surpasses every expectation, as well as bending the sophomore slump over and making that its bitch. The Dangerous Summer have taken every life changing or molding event they have gone through and used it to create the best album they've done as well as the best album of the year.

Once in a great while a record comes along that strikes you at just the right time, maybe that's what happened to me the first time I heard this record. Listen after listen, however, I can't seem to stop playing each song over again. Songs that I wasn't keen on in the beginning have grown on me and shown the strength of the entire album. Not only is this a near lock for album of the year, but this is the kind of record I will show to my children. Sometimes words just can't express the feeling that you get when listening to a record, I could have easily just reviewed this by saying "You just have to listen to it", but anything less than "Life changing album" wouldn't do War Paint justice.

Recommended If You Like: The Dangerous Summer - Reach For The Sun, The Starting Line - Say It Like You Mean It, Yellowcard - Ocean Avenue

Verdict: 10 / 10

SYMAL Update and Anticipations

Just as a quick update, I was not able to post any new articles for the last week because I was away from my computer doing some relaxing work with friends. Now that I'm back in Lincoln and ready to expand my love for music, it's time to get some stuff done.

Coming up soon we'll have a review of the highly anticipated follow-up to Reach For The Sun,The Dangerous Summer's 2009 success, War Paint. The band released the first single off the album a few weeks ago and it has surpassed every expectation. You can go listen to "Work In Progress" right here.

A few records that have been spinning on my record player recently have been: Set Your Goals' Burning At Both Ends, a pop-punk record that grows into a more mature sound than their previous efforts and retains the catchy choruses that have been a landmark for their sound. Another record is The Swellers' most recent release Good For Me, Harnessing a vintage vibe with their powering guitars and rhythms, the songs never stop hitting the mark.

Hope you guys have a lot of fun and I'll try and get another review up soon.