Song Of The Week: 8/26/18

Song: "Huber Breeze"

Artist: Pulley

Album: "Matters"

Year: 2004

Place Of Origin: Simi Valley, California

Years Active: 1994 - present



WHAT I THINK THE SONG IS ABOUT:

"Huber Breeze" appears to be a song about how the vocalist copes with things in his life, could be good things, could be bad things, but it seems to comfort him when he can find the words to express himself about these things through his songs. It's a journey for him, sometimes a struggle. He never knows just what memory he is gonna tap into or what is going to inspire him to go in a certain direction. It's a song about what the vocalist goes through to create a song!

PULLEY DISCOGRAPHY (Full length albums only):

1996 - Esteem Driven Engine (Epitaph Records)
1997 - 60 Cycle Hum (Epitaph Records)
1999 - @#!* (Epitaph Records)
2001 - Together Again For The First Time (Epitaph Records)
2004 - Matters (Epitaph Records)
2005 - Beyond Warped (Immergent Records)
2016 - No Change In The Weather (Cyber Tracks Records)

CURRENT STATUS OF PULLEY:

In the early 90's, skate punk band Ten Foot Pole decided to part ways with their lead singer, Scott Radinsky, mainly so that they could tour and record more frequently. The problem was that Scott was also a Major League Baseball pitcher so for a long stretch of the year, he couldn't be there for the band. Radinsky's passion for punk rock music could not be contained however and in 1994, he formed the band Pulley. Quickly signed to legendary punk label, Epitaph Records, Pulley would drop five albums in an 8 year span. "Esteem Driven Engine", "60 Cycle Hum", "@#!*", "Together Again For The First Time" and "Matters" more than put Pulley on the southern California skate punk map! Then, the hiatus! From 2004 to 2016, Pulley managed to put out 2 EP's, "Time Insensitive Material" and "The Long And Short Of It" as well as a live album, "Beyond Warped". Radinsky's MLB career was winding down, but he took multiple jobs in the sport, mostly as pitching coach and bullpen coach, which he currently does for the Los Angeles Angels. 2016 saw the return of a brand new full length from Pulley, "No Change In The Weather". Despite the band's sporadic nature, this new album proves that Pulley still has their chops!. I remember back in 1996, I was at a listening station at the Tower Records in Boston, MA and for the first time, I checked out this band Pulley. From the first chords of "Cashed Out", I was hooked and have been a fan ever since. Besides my love of the Seattle sound, the skate punk bands were a huge part of my youth. Bands like Ten Foot Pole, No Use For A Name, Lagwagon, Good Riddance, Much The Same and Face To Face were right in my wheelhouse. And Pulley was right there with those bands for me. Awesome to see that these guys are still making great music. Much props to Scotty Radz!!!

TEN PULLEY SONGS YOU SHOULD CHECK OUT:

1. The Ocean Song
2. If
3. Insects Destroy
4. Working Class Whore
5. Cashed In
6. In Search
7. No "I" In Team
8. Sick
9. Immune
10. Sick

Song Of The Week: 8/19/18

Song: "Who's Gonna Save Us"

Artist: The Living End

Album: "Modern Artillery"

Year: 2003

Place Of Origin: Melbourne, Australia

Years Active: 1994 - present



WHAT I THINK THE SONG IS ABOUT:

"Who's Gonna Save Us" appears to be a song about how the government creates more division amongst it's people than unity. If you can't trust your own government to help it's people, then who can you trust? The vocalist sees all these pressing issues around him, whether it's war, whether it's domestic issues or societal ills, and the appointed and elected leaders aren't providing it's citizens anything but chaos and division. They can't seem to save themselves let alone you!

THE LIVING END DISCOGRAPHY (Full length albums only):

1998 - The Living End (Modular Records)
2000 - Roll On (EMI Records)
2003 - Modern Artillery (EMI Records)
2006 - State Of Emergency (EMI Records)
2008 - White Noise (Dew Process Records)
2011 - The Ending Is Just The Beginning Repeating (Dew Process Records)
2016 - Shift (Dew Process Records)

CURRENT STATUS OF THE LIVING END:

The Living End is an Australian three piece band that formed back in 1994. Chris Cheney (guitar/vocals) and Scott Owen (stand-up bass) began playing music together that had a 50's rockabilly feel. Both guys were heavily influenced by The Stray Cats and that sound was the foundation of their music. Soon, however, the band began adding punk rock elements to their rockabilly sound and in 1995, they released the single "From Here On In" which began getting some radio play in their native Australia. Then in 1997, the band released the double A side single, "Second Solution/Prisoner Of Society". This single only became the highest selling single in Australia of the 90's! The Living End was on the map. Their debut self-titled album which includes both "Prisoner Of Society" and "Second Solution" hit #1 on Australian music charts and by 1999, had been certified 4X platinum. The band's follow up album would be 2000's "Roll On". While not as successful as it's predecessor, many hail "Roll On" as The Living End's "London Calling". Singles like "Pictures In The Mirror", "Roll On" and "Dirty Man" show a band that was growing musically and lyrically. 2003's "Modern Artillery" was a bit of a disappointment for the band sales-wise. It did achieve gold status however. 2006 was a re-emergence for the band with their album "State Of Emergency". It became their second #1 album in Australia thanks in part to the hit singles "What's On Your Radio" and "Wake Up". After this album, chief songwriter Chris Cheney had thoughts of leaving the band. In fact, he kind of isolated himself for a year or two as he was dealing with major writer's block. Luckily, the other band members convinced Chris not to leave the band and he returned with a batch of songs that had a distinct heavier feel to them. These new songs comprised the album "White Noise". This album felt like a breath of fresh air for the band members and the juices began to flow again. By 2011, Cheney had 40 plus songs in the fold which the band narrowed down for the release of "The Ending Is Just The Beginning Repeating". The band would also add a second guitarist for their live shows at this time. The Living End's last album was released in 2016, entitled "Shift". They have also released a single called "Don't Lose It" in 2018 that is set to appear on their brand new album "Wunderbar" which is slated to be released sometime in the fall or winter of 2018. As I said earlier, The Living End's sound has it's roots in 50's rockabilly and rock and roll music. If you made some concoction of Elvis Presley, The Stray Cats, The Clash and Green Day, you'd probably get something sounding like The Living End. Their contemporaries would be bands like Green Day, Unwritten Law, Rancid, Social Distortion and Millencolin. For whatever reason, The Living End didn't hit in the United States like they did in their native Australia. They're a pretty big deal down under, selling loads of albums and winning several Australian music awards. From a U.S. perspective, I see The Living End as a really unheralded band. I can't see why they didn't get bigger here in the States. It baffles me. Maybe it's just the fact that the punk rock revival here in the States was kind of winding down as the nu-metal and rap/metal acts started gaining steam. If "Prisoner Of Society" came out around 1994, I think they would have popped bigger here in the U.S. I think The Living End are a great band and I can't wait for "Wunderbar" to drop!

TEN THE LIVING END SONGS YOU SHOULD CHECK OUT:

1. Prisoner Of Society
2. Wake Up
3. Roll On
4. I Can't Give You What I Haven't Got
5. Dirty Man
6. Who's Gonna Save Us
7. Song For The Lonely
8. White Noise
9. Don't Lose It
10. Staring Down The Barrel

Song Of The Week: 8/12/18

Song: "Leech"

Artist: Incubus

Album: "A Crow Left Of The Murder"

Year: 2004

Place Of Origin: Calabasas, California

Years Active: 1991 - present



WHAT I THINK THE SONG IS ABOUT:

The rumor to this song is that it was written about the band's former bass player Dirk Lance. If that's true, Incubus frontman Brandon Boyd really laid it on the guy! The song describes someone who stood on the backs of others to get the shine instead of working with them and sharing in reaching a common ultimate goal. This was someone who was considered a very close friend. Someone the vocalist would always pick up when he was down. The vocalist feels like he was stabbed in the back by this dude. The ride is over for this "leech"!!

INCUBUS DISCOGRAPHY (Full length albums only):

1995 - Fungus Amongus (Stopuglynailfungus Music on Chillum)
1997 - S.C.I.E.N.C.E. (Epic/Immortal Records)
1999 - Make Yourself (Epic/Immortal Records)
2001 - Morning View (Epic/Immortal Records)
2004 - A Crow Left Of The Murder (Epic/Immortal Records)
2006 - Light Grenades (Epic/Immortal Records)
2011 - If Not Now, When? (Epic/Immortal Records)
2017 - 8 (Island Records)

CURRENT STATUS OF INCUBUS:

Though Incubus formed as a band back in 1991, they really didn't break on to the scene for another three to four years. Early on, their style was rooted in funk/rock, as proven by their 1995 debut album, "Fungus Amongus". The band was signed by Immortal Records shortly after that debut album, which would later merge with Epic Records. The band's second album, "S.C.I.E.N.C.E.", continued with funk grooves and hip hop scratches. By 1999, however, Incubus was beginning to become more of an alternative style rock band. "Make Yourself" would be certified double platinum and while the lead single, "Pardon Me", took a little bit of time to gain steam with audiences, it was the song "Drive" that propelled Incubus to the mainstream. Suddenly they were headline material as "Drive" would reach the top spot on alternative rock charts. Success continued for the band as their next album, "Morning View" would peak at #2 on the Billboard 200 charts thanks in part to hit singles like "Wish You Were Here" and "Nice To Know You". 2004's "A Crow Left Of The Murder" would continue success for Incubus, an album produced by Brendan O' Brien who famously worked with Pearl Jam, Soundgarden and Stone Temple Pilots. In 2006, the band dropped "Light Grenades" which debuted at #1 spawning the singles "Anna Molly", "Dig" and "Love Hurts". Like much of the music industry, sales began to taper off for Incubus at this point in their career. Attaining music was drastically changing and records sales weren't what they used to be. The internet allowed listeners to basically listen or download music for free so the bands began taking a hit financially for that. It would be five years before Incubus returned with their 7th full length studio album, "If Not Now, When?". This would be their last album with Epic Records. It would be six years before Incubus would release another full length album, 2017's "8". This album was distributed by Island Records. Incubus did manage to release an EP between those full length albums. Brandon Boyd also had a solo album and tour while the other members also did their own thing. Incubus continues to headline shows all over the globe and have sold over 23 million albums world wide. As I said earlier, Incubus started out as kind of a funk/rock outfit. They didn't hit their stride until they became more of an alternative rock sounding band however. Their style sticks out though. I never really saw them as fitting in with grunge or post-grunge or punk. Some have called them nu-metal but I didn't really see that either. While they veered away from complete funk, they never lost their groove and that's what made them stand on their own. They always had that underlying groove in their songs. That separated them from other bands and gave them a unique quality in an era where a lot of saturation was going on with labels trying to find or create the next Nirvana. Incubus was kind of a breath of fresh air. If you like bands like Hoobastank, Audioslave, A Perfect Circle, Silverchair or Stone Temple Pilots, then you would most likely enjoy Incubus.

TEN INCUBUS SONGS YOU SHOULD CHECK OUT:

1. Drive
2. Wish You Were Here
3. Nice To Know You
4. Megalomaniac
5. Anna Molly
6. Pardon Me
7. Make A Move
8. Adolescents
9. Dig
10. Nimble Bastard

Song Of The Week: 8/5/18

Song: "What Happened To Us"

Artist: Hoobastank

Album: "The Reason"

Year: 2003

Place Of Origin: Agoura Hills, California

Years Active: 1994 - present



WHAT I THINK THE SONG IS ABOUT:

"What Happened To Us" is a failed relationship song. You get a sense that the vocalist may be talking about a first love. They were young and everything seemed so perfect, like it would last forever. People around them said they were too young and wouldn't make it but they believed in their relationship and what they had. But, like some relationships, especially ones early in life, they don't last forever. Cracks appear and what once was close starts to drift apart until both are left alone wondering what could have been. The vocalist almost appears jaded on love and relationships by the end of the song.

HOOBASTANK DISCOGRAPHY (Full length albums only):

1998 - They Sure Don't Make Basketball Shorts Like They Used To (self-released)
2001 - Hoobastank (Island Records)
2003 - The Reason (Island Records)
2006 - Every Man For Himself (Island Records)
2009 - For(N)ever (Island Records)
2009 - Live From The Wiltern (Island Records)
2010 - Is This The Day (Island Records)
2012 - Fight Or Flight (Open E Records)
2018 - Push Pull (Napalm Records)

CURRENT STATUS OF HOOBASTANK:

Hoobastank formed as a band back in 1994. Early on, the band used to play local shows in southern California, often sharing the bill with Incubus. They started out almost as a funk/rock type band, even incorporating a saxophone player in their music. This style is prominent on their self-released 1998 album, "They Sure Don't Make Basketball Shorts Like They Used To". By 2001, Hoobastank ditched the sax and the funk for a more straight forward rock sound. Island Records signed the band and they released their proper debut, the self-titled "Hoobastank". This album would peak at #25 on the Billboard 200 charts and the singles "Running Away" and "Crawling In The Dark" would reach #2 and #3 respectively on Billboard's Modern Rock charts. There would be no sophomore slump for Hoobastank as their next album, "The Reason" soared to #3 on the Billboard 200 chart with the title track hitting #1 on the Modern Rock charts. Hoobastank would be at the height of their popularity at this time. While 2006's "Every Man For Himself" debuted at #12 on the Billboard 200, sales quickly started to dissipate and it turned out to be a disappointment for the band. Vocalist Doug Robb said that the band set the bar really high for their next release, "For(N)ever" but sales continued to fall for the band. The band rounded out their contract with Island Records with a live cd/dvd "Live At The Wiltern" and an acoustic album, "Is This The Day". In 2012, the band released "Fight Or Flight" through Open E Records. Between this album and their most recent release, 2018's "Push Pull", it would mark the longest period between album releases for Hoobastank. Hoobastank is often linked to Incubus. Not only did the bands come from the same area, they toured together before they made it big. Their sound is very similar as well. Doug Robb and Incubus frontman, Brandon Boyd, have very similar vocal styles. Some people out there criticize Hoobastank for being Incubus lite, but in my mind, you can put songs like "Crawling In The Dark" and "Running Away" right up there with any Incubus song. I like both bands so I think that criticism isn't quite fair but I can definitely see the similarities between the two bands. Hoobastank is basically your straight forward, melodic hard rock band that leans towards making music that would be considered mainstream. If you like bands like Incubus, Trapt, Finger Eleven, 3 Doors Down or 12 Stones, then you would most likely enjoy Hoobastank.

TEN HOOBASTANK SONGS YOU SHOULD CHECK OUT:

1. Crawling In The Dark
2. Running Away
3. Inside Of You
4. Out Of Control
5. So Close, So Far
6. The Reason
7. Remember Me
8. This Is Gonna Hurt
9. If I Were You
10. More Beautiful