Song Of The Week: 5/29/16

Song: "Whiskey And Barchords"

Artist: Majority Lost

Album: "Falls Off The Bandwagon" EP

Year: 2009

Place Of Origin: Los Angeles, California

Years Active: 2007-????



WHAT I THINK THE SONG IS ABOUT:

"Whiskey And Barchords" appears to be a song about hangin' with the boys and getting loaded to forget about the daily grind of life if not for one night, or perhaps, every night, depending how much you want to forget or how much you want to get into the booze!! I think most people have those days where you just want to put all the problems of your life on the back burner and have some drinks with friends, crank some tunes on the jukebox and forget about reality for a while.

MAJORITY LOST DISCOGRAPHY (Full length albums only):

2008 - Gods, Kings & Personal Demons (Felony Records)
2011 - Majority Lost (Self Release/Bandcamp)

CURRENT STATUS OF MAJORITY LOST:

Majority Lost formed as a band around 2007. Trying to form a niche for themselves in the L.A. punk rock scene, the band hooked up with Felony Records for their debut album, 2008's "Gods, Kings & Personal Demons". From there, the band signed on with Horns Up Records to release an EP titled "Falls Off The Bandwagon" in 2009. After securing an opening slot on The Briggs European tour, Majority Lost changed some band members and eventually self released their second full length album, "Majority Lost", through their bandcamp page in 2011. That very same year, two members of Majority Lost, Jan Drees and Curtiss Lopez went on to form a new band called The Shell Corporation. In 2012, Majority Lost frontman, Jesse Goodwin, also formed a new band called Last Chance Soldier. Currently, there is not much news coming from the Majority Lost camp. Their Facebook page hasn't been active since March of 2012. While they haven't officially disbanded, it doesn't appear that there is a future for the band as of the current date. Style-wise, if you're a fan of street punk bands much in the same vein as The Briggs, Far From Finished, Have Nots, Lars Frederiksen & The Bastards or A Wilhelm Scream, then Majority Lost would be a band of interest for you. Both of their albums are pretty solid so it's a shame that it doesn't appear that there is a future for the band going forward but, you never know. Perhaps the members will decide one day to have another go at it.

TEN MAJORITY LOST SONGS YOU SHOULD CHECK OUT:

1. Dead Little Girl
2. Tomorrow
3. Whiskey And Barchords
4. Chemically Imbalanced Nation
5. Marching On
6. Last Call
7. Welcome To Anywhere
8. Singin' Truth
9. Fight The Empty
10. Song Of Lost Ideals

Song Of The Week: 5/22/16

Song: "Kalla Vindar Over Kebab Town"

Artist: Heartbreak Stereo

Album: "Double EP"

Year: 2012

Place Of Origin: Pargas, Finland

Years Active: 2004-present



WHAT I THINK THE SONG IS ABOUT:

Good luck!! I couldn't find the lyrics online for "Kalla Vindar Over Kebab Town". What I did find was that "Kalla Vindar" may be Finnish for "Cold Wind". "Kebab Town" is a fast food restaurant that's located in various European locations, including Finland. Put that together and what do you get? I don't know. The vocalist was hungry and it was cold out?!! From listening to the song, the vocalist is talking about the summer being over or coming to an end and he doesn't want someone to know something and he doesn't want to let something go either. Perhaps he doesn't want the cold weather of winter to come? I don't know. Possibly.

HEARTBREAK STEREO DISCOGRAPHY (Full length albums only):

2007 - Echo Road (Fast Freddie Productions)
2008 - Inspiration (Back From The Dead) (Mitstrick Records)
2010 - Carried Through This Waltz (Mitstrick Records)

CURRENT STATUS OF HEARTBREAK STEREO:

Heartbreak Stereo is a punk rock trio that got it's start back in 2004. Hailing from Finland, the band's very first release was a 2005 self titled EP. After dropping their debut album in 2007, "Echo Road", the band signed on with Mitstrick Records to release 2008's "Inspiration (Back From The Dead)" and 2010's "Carried Through This Waltz", the latter featuring music videos for the songs "Bottle Rocket" and "2 Kids". The band has shared the stage with many punk rock acts including Born To Lose, Rat City Riot, Mad Caddies, The Real McKenzies and the Bouncing Souls. Heartbreak Stereo has said that they have drawn their influences from bands such as Social Distortion, Madcap, The Bronx, Bombshell Rocks, Against Me!, Rancid and The Briggs. Currently, there is not much news coming from the Heartbreak Stereo camp as of now. Their last release was the "Double EP" in 2012. Being that they are from Finland, perhaps it's just harder to get updated news on them. Though Heartbreak Stereo draws their influence from many of the bands I've mentioned above, to me they have a Boston street punk sound to their music. When I listen to Heartbreak Stereo, I definitely hear some Far From Finished, The Explosion, The Ducky Boys, Street Dogs and Dropkick Murphys in their sound. They can definitely pass for a Boston street punk band in my eyes. So if that style is what rocks your boat, you should check out Heartbreak Stereo.

TEN HEARTBREAK STEREO SONGS YOU SHOULD CHECK OUT:

1. Do I Need A Reason Not To Leave Here And Die
2. The Fight Song
3. All In All In All In
4. I Spill My Blood
5. Say Nothing
6. Sunburn
7. Bottle Rocket
8. Small Town Rats
9. 2 Kids
10. Back In December

Song Of The Week: 5/15/16

Song: "CSJ"

Artist: The Scandals

Album: Bandcamp single

Year: 2014

Place Of Origin: Bayonne, New Jersey

Years Active: 2004-present



WHAT I THINK THE SONG IS ABOUT:

Can't find the lyrics to "CSJ" anywhere on the internet, so after giving it a few close listens, I want to say that this song may be about someone who has perhaps is suffering depression or possibly committed suicide. I'll say that "CSJ" are probably the initials of that person's name. You could tell the vocalist is someone who has had this person's back since the beginning and is still trying to stand by this person when times are the toughest. "CSJ" was originally written and recorded by the band Let Me Run and could be found on that band's "Broken Strings" EP. The version I chose for my song of the week is an acoustic cover version by the New Jersey punk band The Scandals.

THE SCANDALS DISCOGRAPHY (Full length albums only):

2010 - The Sound Of Your Stereo (Skeleton Crew Records)
2014 - Time Machines (Gunner Records)

CURRENT STATUS OF THE SCANDALS:

The Scandals formed as a band back in 2004. After years of touring locally and trying to make a name for themselves in the New Jersey punk rock scene, the band would finally release their debut full length album in 2010 called "The Sound Of Your Stereo". For The Scandals 2012 EP, "Trenchknife", the band enlisted the help of the Bouncing Souls' Pete Steinkopf to produce. The band has appeared at several music festivals, including SXSW in Austin, Texas, Myfest in Berlin, Germany, CMJ in New York, Punk Rock Bowling in Las Vegas, Skate and Surf Fest and Bamboozle Fest. In the spring of 2014, The Scandals embarked on a tour of Europe for the very first time. This tour was to support their album "Time Machines" which was a Europe only release distributed through Gunner Records. Currently, the band had hinted that they wanted to release an album in 2015 but that has not come to fruition as of yet. Their latest release was a split with Plow United in July of 2015 and most recently, the band finished up a tour in support of The Falcon in early 2016. Along with fronting The Scandals, lead vocalist Jared Hart also performs solo acoustic shows and he has released a solo album as well. Very early on, The Scandals had the support of fellow New Jersey band The Gaslight Anthem. Brian Fallon has taken Jared Hart under his wing and they have collaborated on music. Gaslight has also taken The Scandals out on the road with them on several occasions. As for the sound of The Scandals? They have a little Gaslight Anthem in them, but I tend to think they sound more like a mix of The Ducky Boys and Against Me! The Scandals have the reputation of a hard working band, a blue collar band and a constant touring band. Their mission is to get their music out to the people and that's success to them, more so than how many records they've sold. The Scandals fall in line right behind the legendary Bouncing Souls and the mighty Gaslight Anthem when it comes to Jersey punk!

TEN THE SCANDALS SONGS YOU SHOULD CHECK OUT:

1. Avalanche
2. Second Thought
3. Soon Enough
4. Hungry
5. Sirens
6. Four Seventeen
7. Introspection
8. Allnighters
9. Emerald City
10. Salute The Fallen

Song Of The Week: 5/8/16

Song: "Terry's Song"

Artist: Bruce Springsteen

Album: "Magic"

Year: 2007



IN MEMORIAM:

VIC TENAGLIA
1972-2016



This week's "song of the week" is more about being a tribute to a friend who has passed much too soon than just an explanation of a song meaning or info about the band or artist who performed it. I'm not much of a Springsteen fan, but my friend Vic was very much so. I remember at an old local bar we used to all go to, in the midst of playing a bunch of punk and grunge songs on the jukebox, we had to always throw in a Springsteen song or two for Vic. He'd be loaded on Wild Turkey, belting out "The River" , "Hungry Heart" or "Glory Days". I miss those times a lot now a days. I know, as we all get older, it seems that times like those are getting to be few and far between. It's harder and harder for everyone to get together and tie one on like in the good old days. Some of that is just making the time. Some of it is just being lazy. My friend Vic had a lot of things going on health wise. He had both hips replaced, he needed a kidney and he was a diabetic, which doesn't help anything. When I heard he had passed from a heart attack, I was floored. It could very well have been a broken heart. He took his mother's death pretty hard a few years ago, which most of us would. He also lost his brother no more than three weeks before his own death. I hadn't heard much from Vic in the months prior to his death. I worked with him, but he had been out of work for years with all of his ailments. Sometimes I get mad at myself for not putting forth more of an effort to connect with not only Vic, but all of my friends. I have, what I consider, a very tight knit group of friends. Most of us have known each other since we were teenagers. Where we used to hang out all the time, now we get together for a couple trips a year and the occasional backyard bbq. I think when you lose someone, you always look back and wish you did this or did that. I wish I stayed in touch more. I wish I wasn't so lazy or when I thought to give Vic a call or a text, I did it instead of getting caught up in something else. Vic is the fourth friend that I have lost that has passed away much too soon. It's hard to see the parents of these guys and the pain they have to deal with. Parents are not supposed to bury their children. Life's just not supposed to be that way. Unfortunately, this happens everyday. It really makes you cherish the time you have with your family and friends because you never know when it's your time or someone who is close to you. So to Vic, I'll miss your "reminiscing" about the same stories, over, and over, and over, and over again!! I'll miss the plethora of Almond Joys that used to fall out of your socks!! I'll miss your "miserable" attitude that made you who you were!! And I'll miss all the conversations about eating and food in general!! Fat Man Inc. is down to two brother. Rest in peace Vic.

Song Of The Week: 5/1/16

Song: "Mosh 'n' Church"

Artist: The Used

Album: "Artwork" (Itunes Deluxe Edition)

Year: 2009

Place Of Origin: Orem, Utah

Years Active: 2001-present



WHAT I THINK THE SONG IS ABOUT:

"Mosh 'n' Church" appears to be a song about the vocalist believing that he is going to hell. He almost feels he was pre-destined for such a fate. Add on all the "fucked up" things he has done in his life, there just doesn't seem to be any hope for him. While others pray for forgiveness in hopes of getting into heaven, he just accepts his fate that he is going to burn in hell. He feels that's where everyone he knows will be anyway.

THE USED DISCOGRAPHY (Full length albums only):

2001 - Used (Self Released)
2002 - The Used (Reprise Records)
2003 - Maybe Memories (Reprise Records)
2004 - In Love And Death (Reprise Records)
2007 - Lies For The Liars (Reprise Records)
2007 - Berth (Reprise Records)
2009 - Artwork (Reprise Records)
2012 - Vulnerable (Hopeless Records)
2014 - Imaginary Enemy (GAS Union Records)
2016 - Live & Acoustic At The Palace (Hopeless Records)

CURRENT STATUS OF THE USED:

The Used formed as a band back in 2001, hailing from Orem, Utah. A demo tape got in the hands of John Feldman, who is most known as the lead singer of the punk/ska band Goldfinger. He was intrigued by the band's song "A Box Full Of Sharp Objects" and decided to fly the band out to California to produce their first album, 2002's "The Used". Riding the success of the singles "A Box Full Of Sharp Objects", "The Taste Of Ink", "Buried Myself Alive" and "Blue And Yellow", The Used exploded on the music scene. Their second album, "In Love And Death", peaked at #6 on the U.S. Rock Charts and spawned such singles as "Take It Away", "All That I've Got" and "I Caught Fire". Both of these albums have been certified gold. The band's 2003 compilation album, "Maybe Memories", which featured live songs, demos and b-sides, would actually become the band's only album to be certified platinum to date. After releasing 2007's "Lies For The Liars", The Used vocalist Bert McCracken wound up needing surgery on his vocal chords after years of screaming so violently that it would often cause him to vomit on stage! After he recovered, the band dropped their fifth studio album called "Artwork". This would be the last album they recorded for Reprise Records, the only label the band knew for the first 10 years of their existence. In 2012, the band hooked up with Hopeless Records and released "Vulnerable", which featured the tracks "I Come Alive" and "Hands And Faces". The band's last studio effort would be 2014's "Imaginary Enemy" and most recently, the band released a live/acoustic cd/dvd called "Live & Acoustic At The Palace" in 2016. The Used's sound falls somewhere in between pop punk, post hardcore, screamo and emo. McCracken really pushed his vocal limits on the band's first few albums but that took it's toll on his vocal chords requiring surgery. The vocals on the more recent albums are much cleaner compared to the band's self-titled debut album. The Used sit in a genre that has been saturated with clones of each other. The Used, however, are the real deal and very much in the forefront of their scene. They share similarities with bands such as My Chemical Romance, A Day To Remember and Silverstein. They are comfortable enough as a band to explore different sounds with their music. They can be heavy at times yet they can also be super melodic and pop orientated. While their recent albums have not quite attained the commercial success of their first two, they have all peaked in the top 20 on the U.S. Rock Charts. The Used are a solid, solid band and they generally drop new music every couple of years.

TEN THE USED SONGS YOU SHOULD CHECK OUT:

1. A Box Full Of Sharp Objects
2. The Bird And The Worm
3. The Taste Of Ink
4. I Caught Fire
5. Blue And Yellow
6. All That I've Got
7. Blood On My Hands
8. Cry
9. Maybe Memories
10. Pretty Handsome Awkward