Song Of The Week: 8/11/19

Song: "Parting Glass"

Artist: American Steel

Album: "Rogue's March"

Year: 1999

Place Of Origin: Oakland, California

Years Active: 1995 - present



WHAT I THINK THE SONG IS ABOUT:

"Parting Glass" appears to be a song about having one last night on the town with you're significant other. It seems this relationship is over when the two wake up in the morning. They tried unsuccessfully to make it work but time has only caused them to drift further apart. So, they fill up those glasses one more time and drink up to the end of their relationship.

AMERICAN STEEL DISCOGRAPHY (Full length albums only):

1998 - American Steel (New Disorder Records)
1999 - Rogue's March (Lookout! Records)
2001 - Jagged Thoughts (Lookout! Records)
2007 - Destroy Their Future (Fat Wreck Chords)
2009 - Dear Friends And Gentle Hearts (Fat Wreck Chords)

CURRENT STATUS OF AMERICAN STEEL:

American Steel formed as a band back in 1995, a product of the now infamous Bay Area punk scene. While Operation Ivy had dissolved, but Rancid rose from those ashes and Green Day was well on their way to huge success, American Steel followed their path to try to create a spot of their own in their hometown of Oakland, California. After non-stop touring, the band signed a deal with New Disorder Records to release their debut full length album, "American Steel". As they got a little more buzz, legendary Bay Area label, Lookout! Records signed the band for their next two releases. In 1999, the band delivered "Rogue's March". This album turned out to be a moderate underground success for American Steel. They continued to be an underground favorite with their 2001 release, "Jagged Thoughts". In 2002, for whatever reason, the guys in American Steel decided to change their sound and their name. They called themselves Communique, which turned out to be a short-lived project. By 2007, they reverted back to American Steel and signed on with legendary punk label, Fat Wreck Chords. Their first album with Fat Wreck was "Destroy Their Future". This to me is the band's highlight album. Fat Wreck does tend to bring out the best in punk rock artists. The band's last full length studio album would be 2009's "Dear Friends And Gentle Hearts". It took ten years before American Steel would release anything after that album. Their most recent release was a 2-song 7" single called "State Of Grace". American Steel sort of has a little hardcore in them, but they tend to keep it more melodic. They definitely got that "gravelly" vocals vibe in their songs. While the first wave of Bay Area punk bands like Rancid and Green Day sparked a punk rock revival, American Steel always lurked in the underground, never coming anywhere remotely close to the success of those two bands. There's nothing distinctly special about American Steel. They're a good punk band. Not great by any stretch. They have a few songs that stick out, nothing major. If you like the music of bands like Dead To Me, Banner Pilot, The Lawrence Arms, Dillinger Four or None More Black then you might like American Steel. Not bad. Not great. Just somewhere in the middle.

TEN AMERICAN STEEL SONGS YOU SHOULD CHECK OUT:

1. Mean Streak
2. Maria
3. State Of Grace
4. Sons Of Avarice
5. Emergency House Party
6. Schrapnel
7. Every New Morning
8. Your Ass Ain't Laughing Now
9. Got A Backbeat
10. Rotting