Song Of The Week: 5/26/19

Song: "Time Of Dying"

Artist: Three Days Grace

Album: "One-X"

Year: 2006

Place Of Origin: Ontario, Canada

Years Active: 1997 - present



WHAT I THINK THE SONG IS ABOUT:

"Time Of Dying" appears to be a song about someone who is near death. One of the common things people say that happens to you before you die is that your life flashes before your eyes and this is indeed happening to the vocalist. It seems the first verse is him being found near death and the second verse is him dying in the hospital. His one hope, and the thing he most clings to life for, is to see the one he loves one last time.

THREE DAYS GRACE DISCOGRAPHY (Full length albums only):

2003 - Three Days Grace (Jive Records)
2006 - One-X (Jive Records)
2009 - Life Starts Now (Jive Records)
2012 - Transit Of Venus (RCA Records)
2015 - Human (RCA Records)
2018 - Outsider (RCA Records)

CURRENT STATUS OF THREE DAYS GRACE:

Ontario, Canada's Three Days Grace formed as a band back in 1997, but their roots are in 1995 with a band called Groundswell. That band released one album, "Wave Of Popular Feeling", but disbanded shortly after that release. In 1997, the members of Groundswell decided to reform with the new moniker, Three Days Grace. The band's debut album, "Three Days Grace", would reach #69 on the Billboard 200 charts and eventually was certified platinum in the U.S. The album spawned mega hit singles "I Hate Everything About You", "Just Like You" and "Home". The band's second release, 2006's "One-X", firmly planted Three Days Grace in headliner territory. The album debuted at #5 on the Billboard 200, selling over 78,000 copies in it's first week of sales. It would go on to be certified 3X platinum! In 2007, Billboard declared Three Days Grace the rock artist of the year! 2009's "Life Starts Now" was no slouch either, selling 79,000 copies in it's first week and peaking at #3 on the Billboard 200 charts. Up to this point, Three Days Grace had a deal with Jive Records, but in 2012, RCA decided to retire Jive and Three Days Grace would move to RCA. The band's first release on that label would be 2012's "Transit Of Venus". Just weeks prior to going on a major tour to support this album, lead singer Adam Gontier abruptly left the band. Matt Walst, singer of the band My Darkest Days, was brought on to replace Gontier on vocals. Walst's first vocal work for the band would be 2015's "Human". A new singer did not mean no more #1 singles. This album featured two #1 singles, "Painkiller" and "I Am Machine". The band's most recent album would be 2018's "Outsider". This album featured three more #1 singles, "The Mountain", "Infra-Red" and "Right Left Wrong". Three Days Grace holds the record for most #1 singles on the Billboard Mainstream Rock charts. They currently have 15, one more than previous record holder Van Halen. Three Days Grace is your typical alternative rock/metal band. Some would consider them post-grunge. Basically, they write rock music for the mainstream and there's nothing wrong with that. If you like heavy music with hooks, melodies and sing-a-long choruses then Three Days Grace is the band for you. In fact, if you like the music of bands like Thousand Foot Krutch, Breaking Benjamin, Seether, 3 Doors Down or Trapt then you would most likely enjoy the music of Three Days Grace. They have been one of the most successful hard rock acts for the past twenty years no doubt about that. Oh wait, they're Canadian... no doot aboot it, eh!!

TEN THREE DAYS GRACE SONGS YOU SHOULD CHECK OUT:

1. Animal I Have Become
2. I Hate Everything About You
3. Just Like You
4. I Am Machine
5. Riot
6. Break
7. Chalk Outline
8. The Mountain
9. The Good Life
10. Painkiller

Song Of The Week: 5/19/19

Song: "If Only"

Artist: Hoobastank

Album: "Every Man For Himself"

Year: 2006

Place Of Origin: Agoura Hills, California

Years Active: 1994 - present



WHAT I THINK THE SONG IS ABOUT:

"If Only" appears to be a song about reflecting back on a failed relationship and realizing that it didn't have to end the way it did. The vocalist is filled with regret knowing that he could have communicated better and he was blind to the problems in the relationship as it was going on. Now that it's over and time has passed, he understands that he let a good one get away and that hurts him deeply.

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

Song Of The Week: 5/12/19

Song: "Destroying Something Beautiful"

Artist: Bleed The Dream

Album: "Built By Blood"

Year: 2005

Place Of Origin: Los Angeles, California

Years Active: 2003 - present



WHAT I THINK THE SONG IS ABOUT:

"Destroying Something Beautiful" is a pretty savage song. It's kind of like a "if I can't have you then no one will" vibe. Obviously, a relationship that has gone so bad that the vocalist is going to kill this girl that once meant so much to him. He's unapologetic about it too. When love turns to hate then turns to murder!

BLEED THE DREAM DISCOGRAPHY (Full length albums only):

2005 - Built By Blood (Warcon Records)
2007 - Killer Inside (Warcon Records)

CURRENT STATUS OF BLEED THE DREAM:

Keith Thompson (bass guitar) and Brandon Thomas (vocals) decided to leave their hometown of Baltimore, Maryland and move to Los Angeles, California in 2003 to pursue their dreams of making it in a rock band. Bleed The Dream was born. The band's first releases were an EP "Awake" in 2003 and an acoustic EP, "Asleep" in 2004. The band managed to secure a spot on the Warped Tour without even having an album out. Kevin Lyman, organizer of the Warped Tour, liked the band so much that he created his own record label, Warcon Records, and signed Bleed The Dream. The band secured an opening slot on the Taste Of Chaos tour with The Used and My Chemical Romance and were preparing for the release of their debut album, "Built By Blood" when tragedy struck the band. Drummer Scott Gottlieb passed away from leukemia in 2005, just before their debut album was to be released. The band managed to soldier on but lead vocalist Brandon Thomas would depart the band before their follow-up album. Mark Holmes from the band Like Yesterday was brought in to replace Thomas. In 2007, the band's sophomore album, "Killer Inside", was released. The band was beginning to fall apart at this time and announced in September of 2007 that they were breaking up. By May of 2008 however, the band announced that they were reuniting with original lead singer Brandon Thomas. News was sporadic on the Bleed The Dream front from this point on. In 2015, they announced that they were going to record a new EP. Two years later, it was said that they began work on said EP. It's May of 2019 now and there doesn't seem to be much news coming out of the Bleed The Dream camp. Bleed The Dream is a post-hardcore/post-grunge band at it's core. The band never really took off and became super successful. The song "Broken Wings" is probably their highlight, at least in my mind it is. I definitely prefer the band with Brandon Thomas on vocals though Mark Holmes did a good job on the "Killer Inside" album. Glad to see Thomas back with the band. It would be nice to see them put some new material out now! If you enjoy the music of bands like Roses Are Red, Stutterfly, The Black Maria, Moments In Grace or Therefore I Am then you would most likely dig the music of Bleed The Dream.

TEN BLEED THE DREAM SONGS YOU SHOULD CHECK OUT:

1. Broken Wings
2. Just Like I Remember
3. Vampires (Don't Kill For The Money)
4. A Killer Inside
5. Legends Die
6. Closer
7. Confessions
8. Should Have Known
9. Tell Someone Who Cares
10. It Takes A Fall (10 To 1)

Song Of The Week: 5/5/19

Song: "Remenissions"

Artist: Avenged Sevenfold

Album: "Waking The Fallen"

Year: 2003

Place Of Origin: Huntington Beach, California

Years Active: 1999 - present



WHAT I THINK THE SONG IS ABOUT:

"Remenissions" appears to be about the age old question of what happens to us when we die. It seems to be a struggle for the vocalist as to believe in what you've been taught, or veered towards, via religion or to believe that there is nothing when you die. You're just a pile of bones like everyone else. In the end, it seems he believes that all the memories you have, that you keep with you and create as you go through life is what makes your life have meaning. As for the biggest question, life after death? He doesn't know what happens like most people don't. He can hope for something though. And maybe it's the hope that gets you through.

AVENGED SEVENFOLD DISCOGRAPHY (Full length albums only):

2001 - Sounding The Seventh Trumpet (Good Life Records)
2003 - Waking The Fallen (Hopeless Records)
2005 - City Of Evil (Warner Bros.)
2007 - Avenged Sevenfold (Warner Bros.)
2008 - Live In The LBC & Diamonds In The Rough (Warner Bros.)
2010 - Nightmare (Warner Bros.)
2013 - Hail To The King (Warner Bros.)
2016 - The Stage (Capitol Records)
2017 - Live At The Grammy Museum (Capitol Records)

CURRENT STATUS OF AVENGED SEVENFOLD:

Huntington Beach, California's Avenged Sevenfold formed as a band back in 1999. Originally, the band was very much part of the metalcore scene, releasing a few EP's before signing with Good Life Records for their debut album, 2001's "Sounding The Seventh Trumpet". After their debut, the band inked a deal with Hopeless Records for their second album, "Waking The Fallen". This album had more of a mix of screaming vocals and clean vocals. Vocalist M. Shadows began working with a vocal coach around this time and it was decided that this would be their last album to feature screaming vocals. In 2005, Avenged Sevenfold signed a major label deal with Warner Bros. and released "City Of Evil" in 2005. This album peaked at #30 on the Billboard 200 charts, selling 30,000 copies in the first week of it's release. The single "Bat Country" reached #2 on Billboard's Mainstream Rock charts and by 2009, the album was certified platinum. Yes, Avenged Sevenfold was officially on the musical map! Their next album, "Avenged Sevenfold", would peak at #4 on the Billboard 200 and won the Kerrang! award for Album Of The Year. While the band seemed to be riding the high of success, tragedy stopped them in their tracks as on December 28, 2009, the band's drummer, James "The Rev" Sullivan, was found dead at his home. Undoubtedly a very emotional time for the band. There was even talk of disbanding, but, the guys soldiered on and in 2010 released "Nightmare", the band first #1 album of their career. This album sold 163,000 copies in the first week of it's release! 2013's "Hail To The King" became the band's second straight #1 album on the Billboard 200 charts. There were some conflicts between Avenged Sevenfold and their label Warner Bros. after the release of that album and when all was resolved, Avenged Sevenfold inked a deal with Capitol Records. Their first release with Capitol was 2016's "The Stage". This was the band's first venture in making a concept album. In 2017, the band released it's first ever live acoustic album, "Live At The Grammy Museum". Most recently, Avenged Sevenfold members have said that they are hard at work concentrating on their next full length album which will most likely see the light of day in 2020. Avenged Sevenfold is a hard rock/metal band at it's core, but over the years they have ventured into and out of many genres of rock music. Early on, they were metalcore. Then they shifted to more metal. They have some elements of punk rock and some of their more recent material could even be considered prog rock. Maybe that's why they are equally comfortable playing a metal festival like Ozzfest or a punk festival like Warped Tour. The band has received some crap from people who don't consider them metal enough or punk enough but that doesn't seem to affect the band as they refuse to be pigeonholed into any specific genre. Sticking to their guns has worked fine for them as they are one of the bigger acts in rock music today. If you like the music of bands like Bullet For My Valentine, Atreyu, Stone Sour, Breaking Benjamin or Godsmack, then you would most likely enjoy the music of Avenged Sevenfold. Also, kudos to them for dropping the gutteral vocals by their third album. Maybe I'm just turning into an old fart, but I'm kinda sick of the "cookie monster" bands out there. All the vocalist's tend to sound the same. I'm all for a good scream ala Chris Cornell in Soundgarden or Tim Mcllrath of Rise Against but I much prefer M. Shadows cleaner vocals compared to his screaming from their first album.

TEN AVENGED SEVENFOLD SONGS YOU SHOULD CHECK OUT:

1. Dear God
2. Nightmare
3. Beast And The Harlot
4. Afterlife
5. Unholy Confessions
6. The Stage
7. Bat Country
8. Warmness Of The Soul
9. Hail To The King
10. Almost Easy