This is a weekly blog to let you in on what song and/or band that i've been feeling for that particular week. Music will always be a very important part of my life. I see it as the soundtrack for memories that bring you back to a certain place and time and new songs help to create new memories. Hope you enjoy!! :)
"Please, Head North" appears to be a song about how the world can be cruel sometimes. The vocalist is reflecting on the break-up of a relationship and feeling like his life is cursed. He hopes for the best but has become wise to prepare for the worst as life's downs seem to follow him more than positive aspects.
TRANSIT DISCOGRAPHY (Full length albums only):
2008 - This Will Not Define Us (Barrett Records)
* did not chart on the Billboard 200
2010 - Keep This To Yourself (Run For Cover Records)
* did not chart on the Billboard 200
2011 - Listen & Forgive (Rise Records)
* did not chart on the Billboard 200
2013 - Young New England (Rise Records)
* #193 on the Billboard 200
2014 - Joyride (Rise Records)
* did not chart on the Billboard 200
MY THOUGHTS ON TRANSIT:
The boys in Transit got their start as a band back in 2006, hailing from Stoneham, MA. Not too far from where I live!! Anywhoo.. The first product these guys put out was the 2007 EP "Let It Out". Their debut full length album was released in 2008, "This Will Not Define Us". After dropping "Keep This To Yourself" in 2010, Transit signed a deal with Rise Records and started seeing some success as a band at that point. 2011's "Listen & Forgive" reached #9 on the Billboard Heatseekers chart and their next album, 2013's "Young New England" did even better, reaching #4 on the Billboard Heatseekers chart and just cracking the Billboard 200 at #193. The band's most recent release was 2014's "Joyride". In 2016, it was announced via their Twitter page that Transit had broken up. In all, the band released five full length studio albums, four EP's one split single and three 7" singles. In 2019, Transit's longtime guitarist, Tim Landers passed away. Transit was a pop punk/emo/indie type of band. I took an ear to their music in 2011 with their "Listen & Forgive" album. I thought their next two albums continued to get better. In fact, "Joyride" is probably my favorite album by Transit. Kinda sucks that this album was the finale for them as a band. I'm not hugely into this genre of music though I do enjoy some bands that play this style. It's very poppy and light. My tastes are geared more to grunge, skate punk and hardcore punk but i'm not adverse to good melodic songs. I'd consider Transit to be more of a 2nd or 3rd tier pop punk/emo band. Nothing really separates them from the pack or makes them unique in their sound but they are a pretty good band. They get brownie points for being from my home state as well!!
SIMILAR ARTISTS:
Four Year Strong
The Early November
The Dangerous Summer
The Swellers
Trash Boat
TEN TRANSIT SONGS YOU SHOULD CHECK OUT:
1. Rest To Get Better
2. Young New England
3. Long Lost Friends
4. Weathered Souls
5. So Long, So Long
6. The Only One
7. Bowline
8. Asleep At The Wheel
9. For Your World
10. No In-Between
Here's what 3 Doors Down lead singer Brad Arnold had to say about "Pages". "It's a beautiful thing that we do, you just pour your heart out onto a page," says Brad Arnold, explaining his inspiration for this song. "And I don't mind anybody looking at my heart." He especially loves when his fans interpret his lyrics in their own way, to suit their own personal situations. "Pouring your heart onto a page leaves you there, vulnerable, waiting for somebody to maybe even care to read what you wrote. And then if they read it, do they really see it? And if they see it, do they relate? And is it comfortable for them? Or is it a crutch for them? And it almost seems like sometimes you hold up a lot of weight with what you say. I mean, you're obligated to."
At the same time, the lead singer says with a laugh, "That song is just kind of griping about being a songwriter in a way. And a lot of people kind of like that introspective view." I chose the acoustic version of "Pages" for my song of the week. The original studio version can be found on 3 Doors Down's 2008 album "3 Doors Down".
3 DOORS DOWN DISCOGRAPHY (Full length albums only):
2000 - The Better Life (Universal Records)
* #7 on the Billboard 200
* certified 7X platinum
2002 - Away From The Sun (Universal/Republic Records)
* #8 on the Billboard 200
* certified 4X platinum
2005 - Seventeen Days (Universal/Republic Records)
* #1 on the Billboard 200
* certified platinum
2008 - 3 Doors Down (Universal/Republic Records)
* #1 on the Billboard 200
* certified gold
2011 - Time Of My Life (Universal/Republic Records)
* #3 on the Billboard 200
2016 - Us And The Night (Republic Records)
* #14 on the Billboard 200
MY THOUGHTS ON 3 DOORS DOWN
3 Doors Down formed as a band back in 1996, hailing from Mississippi. The band released an early version of the song "Kryptonite" which started getting some real buzz in their home state of Mississippi. When they released a new version of the song on their 2000 debut album, "The Better Life", the band exploded on popular modern rock radio. Their debut album has sold almost 6 million copies in the United States alone. The album also featured other successful singles like "Loser", "Duck And Run" and "Be Like That". Album two was no slouch for the band as well, selling almost 4 million copies in the U.S. on the back of successful singles like "When I'm Gone", "Here Without You" and "Away From The Sun". Success would continue for 3 Doors Down as their next two albums, 2005's "Seventeen Days" and 2008's "3 Doors Down", both would reach the number one slot on the Billboard 200 music charts. After the band released their 2011 album "Time Of My Life", their bassist, Todd Harrell, was involved in a vehicular homicide. He was found to be under the influence of prescription pain killers and subsequently was imprisoned for two years. The band would part ways with him and cancel their tour out of respect for the victim in Harrell's accident. Tragedy would find the band again after the release of their most recent album, 2016's "Us And The Night". Former bandmember Matt Roberts died of a drug overdose on August 20, 2016. Though he was no longer in the band, the guys still took the news very hard, often paying tribute to him during their live performances. The last thing 3 Doors Down has done was perform a tour of America with the bands Collective Soul and Soul Asylum in 2018. I got no news as to whether they are working on new material at this time. 3 Doors Down is your typical mainstream rock outfit. They rely on melodic hooks and sing-a-long choruses, perfect for arena crowds. They came out of the gate hot. Their first album exploded on radio and MTV, back when MTV showed music videos! The song "Kryptonite" was enormous for 3 Doors Down and basically sprung them to headlining act almost instantly. Like many people, that song was my first time hearing of 3 Doors Down. Their first two albums are my personal favorites from 3 Doors Down. I think they're a good band but their sound is kinda generic. Being from down south, they do incorporate a little bit of southern rock feel to their mainstream sound. They tend to get some crap because they are one of the few rock and roll bands that have conservative political views. Playing at some Donald Trump rally's made them a bit polarizing as well. I really don't choose what I listen to based on political views. I listen to them for the music so their politics don't bother me at all. 3 Doors Down has been a very successful band. Personally, I think they're a good band but definitely rock music that is safe and lacks some balls. Think Nickelback, but I think they're a better band than them by far. I'd call them like a second tier mainstream rock band.
SIMILAR ARTISTS:
Staind
Three Days Grace
Seether
Thousand Foot Krutch
12 Stones
TEN 3 DOORS DOWN SONGS YOU SHOULD CHECK OUT:
1. Away From The Sun
2. Kryptonite
3. Here Without You
4. Be Like That
5. When I'm Gone
6. Let Me Go
7. It's Not My Time
8. Landing In London
9. In The Dark
10. Every Time You Go
"My Blue Heaven" is a song that appears to be about the vocalist's faith in God. Sometimes giving in to absolute belief can be an inner struggle with one's self. Sometimes things happen in the world and in your life that makes you question your faith and sometime the answers you seek aren't in black and white. I find that by the end of the song, the vocalist accepts his faith as true, but I think he is comfortable with questioning it at times. For my song of the week, I chose the live acoustic version of "My Blue Heaven" from Taking Back Sunday's 2010 album "Live From Orensanz". The original version of the song can be found on the band's 2006 album "Louder Now".
TAKING BACK SUNDAY DISCOGRAPHY (Full length albums only):
2002 - Tell All Your Friends (Victory Records)
* #183 on the Billboard 200
* certified gold
2004 - Where You Want To Be (Victory Records)
* #3 on the Billboard 200
* certified gold
2006 - Louder Now (Warner Bros. Records)
* #2 on the Billboard 200
* certified gold
2007 - Louder Now: Part Two (Warner Bros. Records)
* did not chart on the Billboard 200
2009 - New Again (Warner Bros. Records)
* #7 on the Billboard 200
2009 - Live From Bamboozle '09 (Warner Bros. Records)
* did not chart on Billboard 200
2010 - Live From Orensanz (Warner Bros. Records)
* did not chart on Billboard 200
2011 - Taking Back Sunday (Warner Bros. Records)
* #17 on the Billboard 200
2013 - TAYF10 Acoustic (Sorry Records)
* did not chart on Billboard 200
2014 - Happiness Is (Hopeless Records)
* #10 on the Billboard 200
2016 - Tidal Wave (Hopeless Records)
* #36 on the Billboard 200
MY THOUGHTS ON TAKING BACK SUNDAY:
Long Island, New York's Taking Back Sunday formed as a band back in 1999. Interestingly enough, one of the founding members of this band was Jesse Lacey, who went on the become the lead singer/songwriter of the band Brand New. Adam Lazarra would join Taking Back Sunday to replace Lacey and has been the lead singer every since. TBS's debut album was a success and ultimately, has sold over 1 million units worldwide. After this album however, guitarist John Nolan and bassist Shaun Cooper wound up leaving the band, replaced by Fred Mascherino and Matt Rubano respectively. This did not hurt the band as their next two albums really wound up being the pinnacle for Taking Back Sunday as far as attained success. 2004's "Where You Want To Be" and 2006's "Louder Now" both achieved gold status as well as being top 3 albums on the Billboard 200 chart. "Louder Now" features the single "MakeDamnSure" which may be the band's most successful single to date. After releasing 2009's "New Again", Mascherino and Rubano decided to part ways with Taking Back Sunday because of songwriting conflicts. There was some tension initially between the bandmates but they have made up since. In 2010, John Nolan (guitar) and Shaun Cooper (bass) returned to Taking Back Sunday marking a reunion of the "Tell All Your Friends" line-up. That line-up has been intact for their next three full length studio albums, 2011's "Taking Back Sunday", 2014's "Happiness Is" and 2016's "Tidal Wave". In 2018, founding member, guitarist Eddie Reyes left the band to try to battle his addiction to alcohol. The band has not ruled out Reyes returning to the line-up when he gets healthy but for now, they will continue as a four piece. The band hasn't laid out any news regarding a new album, but in 2018, they did celebrate their 20th year anniversary with a greatest hits compilation and a tour to support that album. Taking Back Sunday is a top notch melodic rock/alternative rock band. They have some pop punk elements to their music, but I don't really consider them to be a punk rock band. They're a melodic pop rock band is all. I caught wind of Taking Back Sunday early on with their "Tell All Your Friends" album but I really fell in love with the band on their second album "Where You Want To Be". It was after this album that Taking Back Sunday became major label material, signing up with Warner Bros. for three studio albums and three live albums. They're last couple of albums were with Hopeless Records but as of now, the band has announced that they aren't on a label currently. After Taking Back Sunday came out, it seemed like their were a shitload of bands that began coming out that were similar in style. I don't think any of them were quite as talented as Taking Back Sunday. I never found Taking Back Sunday to be over the top pop that's almost begging to get radio play. I think they just write incredible songs that happen to be catchy and hook-laden. When it comes to melodic rock/pop rock/alternative rock, Taking Back Sunday is a top notch band.
SIMILAR ARTISTS:
Senses Fail
The Starting Line
Brand New
The Used
Bayside
TEN TAKING BACK SUNDAY SONGS YOU SHOULD CHECK OUT:
1. MakeDamnSure
2. Cute Without The 'E' (Cut From The Team)
3. A Decade Under The Influence
4. Your Own Disaster
5. Flicker, Fade
6. This Photograph Is Proof (I Know You Know)
7. Liar (It Takes One To Know One)
8. Faith (When I Let You Down)
9. Tidal Wave
10. Sink Into Me
I could elaborate what I think "Hold On" is about but if you open up the liner notes of Pearl Jam's b-side album, vocalist Eddie Vedder sums up what the song is about short and sweet. Here's Mr. Vedder's own words about Hold On. ""If you love someone, set them free... if someone loves you, don't fuck up." There ya go! "Hold On" was a song that bounced around dating back to the "Ten" era of the band so it's one of their first batch of songs. It never made it on "Ten" or "VS". The full band version was released on "Lost Dogs". The version I chose for my song of the week is an acoustic version which was a bonus track on the remastered 2011 version of "VS".
PEARL JAM DISCOGRAPHY (Full length albums only):
1991 - Ten (Epic Records)
* #2 on the Billboard 200
* certified diamond
1993 - VS (Epic Records)
* #1 on the Billboard 200
* certified 7X platinum
1994 - Vitalogy (Epic Records)
* #1 on the Billboard 200
* certified 5X platinum
1996 - No Code (Epic Records)
* #1 on the Billboard 200
* certified platinum
1998 - Yield (Epic Records)
* #2 on the Billboard 200
* certified platinum
1998 - Live On Two Legs (Epic Records)
* #15 on the Billboard 200
* certified platinum
2000 - Binaural (Epic Records)
* #2 on the Billboard 200
* certified gold
2002 - Riot Act (Epic Records)
* #5 on the Billboard 200
* certified gold
2003 - Lost Dogs (Epic Records)
* #15 on the Billboard 200
* certified gold
2004 - Live At Benaroya Hall (BMG Records)
* #18 on the Billboard 200
2006 - Pearl Jam (J Records)
* #2 on the Billboard 200
* certified gold
2009 - Backspacer (Monkeywrench/Universal Music Group)
* #1 on the Billboard 200
* certified gold
2011 - Live On Ten Legs (Universal Music Group)
* #21 on the Billboard 200
2013 - Lightning Bolt (Monkeywrench Records)
* #1 on the Billboard 200
* certified gold
2017 - Let's Play Two (Republic Records)
* #31 on the Billboard 200
2020 - Gigaton (Monkeywrench Records)
* #5 on the Billboard 200
* Pearl Jam has also released tons of live bootlegs through their website www.pearljam.com.
* Beginning with their 2000 "Binaural" tour, the band has recorded every live show and made them available in digital format or hard
copy cd's.
* They also have released some of those bootlegs to retailers as well as releasing some "vault" shows of previous tours.
* All of these are available on www.pearljam.com or programs like Amazon music and Apple music to name a few.
MY THOUGHTS ON PEARL JAM:
Out of the ashes of Seattle band Mother Love Bone rose the band Mookie Blaylock, which became Pearl Jam. When Mother Love Bone frontman Andrew Wood died of a heroin overdose, MLB bandmates Stone Gossard and Jeff Ament decided to continue working together. A guitar virtuoso, Mike McCready would also join the band. Drummers Dave Krusen, Matt Chamberlain and Dave Abbruzzese would hold down the beats in the early going. Another drummer, former Red Hot Chili Pepper Jack Irons, would hand the famous demo tape to San Diego surfer Eddie Vedder and the rest my friends, is history. The band first work together wasn't a Pearl Jam project, but another project called Temple Of The Dog featuring Soundgarden's Chris Cornell on vocals and Matt Cameron on drums. Cameron, of course, would later become the Pearl Jam drummer in 1998, succeeding Jack Irons. With a burgeoning music scene developing in the great northwest, Pearl Jam would release the epic debut "Ten". At first, sales weren't that great, but when fellow Seattle band Nirvana released "Nevermind" that same year, the grunge explosion was born and "Ten" shot up the charts quickly. This album has been certified diamond! What does that mean? That means it sold a shitload of albums, over 13 million units in the U.S. alone! Seattle was officially on the map and the music world was about to be turned upside down! The band's follow-up, 1993's "VS" damn near sold 1 million copies in the first 5 days of it's release which was a record at the time. The grunge wave was rolling high. Pearl Jam was selling millions of albums as well as their contemporaries Nirvana, Alice In Chains and Soundgarden. The pressures of fame began to affect the band as they were making their third album "Vitalogy". As it was, the band stopped doing videos and really pulled back on press for their releases. "Vitalogy" is also the beginning of Eddie Vedder really taking control of the band. "Ten" and "VS" were both more a product of Stone Gossard and Jeff Ament but now Eddie was the defacto leader of the band. This shift in power definitely created some tensions within. With the release of "No Code", Pearl Jam was really trying to distance themselves from what you would call "radio friendly" hits as that album saw the band create some more obscure tracks. By this time, grunge's popularity was starting to wane. Kurt Cobain was no longer with us due to him committing suicide. Soundgarden had broken up and Alice In Chains was a shell of themselves due to the drug issues of their lead singer Layne Staley. Pearl Jam continued to soldier on however and in 1998, they released what I think is one of their best albums, "Yield". Much like the first two releases of their career, this was a band collaboration and the album definitely felt that way. It was a big time cohesive effort. As the 2000's approached, this is what I would call a dark period for the band. "Binaural" and "Riot Act" were not the band's best efforts and in between those two albums was the Roskilde tragedy on June 30, 2000 where 9 fans were trampled to death during Pearl Jam's performance at that festival. The tragedy almost caused the band to break-up. Luckily, they pulled together and continued on. It was around this time, perhaps a healing process for both the band and the fans, that Pearl Jam live shows really began to feel like one big family. The fans and the band in complete sync and the connection was beautiful. I've always said that seeing Pearl Jam live is kinda like a religious awakening. It's just an awesome experience. In 2006, I would say this was another pivotal moment for the band. The self-titled, sometimes called "Avocado", album was a monster! In the aftermath of 9/11, the band was in an angry state of mind and it showed in the urgency and aggression of this album. Another of my favorites by the band. 2009's "Backspacer" was a little "happier" in it's feel and yet another really good album. This is an album that has been growing on me more and more as of late. Really underrated album. 2013 saw the release of "Lightning Bolt", a good release but I was hoping for more from this album after "Backspacer". Most recently, Pearl Jam has released "Gigaton" in 2020. It took 7 years to release this album, the longest span the band took to release a new album. The wait was well worth it however. "Gigaton" is an excellent album from beginning to end. It's awesome to see that Pearl Jam can still be super relevant in a time when rock music seems to be struggling to get back on it's feet. What more can I say about this band? First of all, Pearl Jam is my favorite band of all time. Their catalogue is crazy deep. If you delve into their bootlegs, you'll see that this band covers a shitload of songs and is constantly playing rare gems in their concerts. Eddie Vedder is easily one of the best rock vocalists in the history of rock music. Pearl Jam is one of the most influential bands of all time. The band has sold over 85 million records worldwide! The Seattle sound was my wheelhouse. It really changed my life. It really sucks that Kurt Cobain, Layne Staley and Chris Cornell are no longer with us. That makes me hope that Eddie Vedder continues to have good health and continues to make great music with his bandmates. Pearl Jam is at the top of the mountain for me. As top tier as top tier gets!!
SIMILAR ARTISTS:
Temple Of The Dog
Soundgarden
Stone Temple Pilots
Alice In Chains
Mad Season
TEN PEARL JAM SONGS YOU SHOULD CHECK OUT:
* It's so hard for me to just pick 10 songs from this band so I'm gonna pick what's my favorite song from each of their studio albums
plus 1 from their b-sides comp. "Lost Dogs" and 1 live cover song for the hell of it! Of course, my favorite song on each album is
subject to change on a week to week basis!! ;)
1. Release (Ten)
2. Go (VS)
3. Corduroy (Vitalogy)
4. In My Tree (No Code)
5. Do The Evolution (Yield)
6. Light Years (Binaural)
7. Love Boat Captain (Riot Act)
8. Come Back (Pearl Jam)
9. Got Some (Backspacer)
10. Mind Your Manners (Lightning Bolt)
11. Who Ever Said (Gigaton)
12. Yellow Ledbetter (Lost Dogs)
13. Rockin' In The Free World (live Neil Young cover)
Here's what Tony Sly told Spin magazine about this folk-inspired number of introspective longing, which is backed by acoustic guitars, accordion, and sweeping strings. "This song is about the inevitable and constant consumption of alcohol that goes along with being on the road," he said. "It's supposed to make tours seem shorter, but it's a method that doesn't really work and is terrible for your liver."
TONY SLY DISCOGRAPHY (Full length albums only):
2004 - Acoustic w/ Joey Cape (Fat Wreck Chords)
* did not chart on the Billboard 200
2010 - 12 Song Program (Fat Wreck Chords)
* did not chart on the Billboard 200
2011 - Sad Bear (Fat Wreck Chords)
* did not chart on the Billboard 200
2012 - Acoustic: Volume Two w/ Joey Cape (Fat Wreck Chords)
* did not chart on the Billboard 200
MY THOUGHTS ON TONY SLY:
Tony Sly was most known as the lead singer of seminal skate punk outfit No Use For A Name. He joined No Use in 1987, but took over singing and songwriting for that band in 1989. As part of the Fat Wreck Chords family, No Use For A Name enjoyed that punk rock revival wave that occurred just after grunge in the mid-90's. As the chief songwriter and vocalist for NUFAN, Sly helped that band release 8 studio albums, 1 live album, 2 compilations and 4 EP's. Like many other punk rock frontmen, Sly began to pursue an acoustic/folk solo career beginning with his first album "Acoustic" in 2004 with his close friend and Lagwagon frontman Joey Cape. He focused on No Use projects after this album but in 2010, his solo material and touring began to take more of a center stage for him. He would drop two solo full length albums within a year of each other, 2010's "12 Song Program" and 2011's "Sad Bear". Then, in 2012, he and his pal Joey Cape released "Acoustic: Volume Two". This would be the last album which Tony Sly would release, solo or with No Use. The reason for this was that on July 31, 2012 while on a solo tour with Joey Cape in Gainesville, Florida, Tony Sly passed away in his sleep. This was just a crushing loss for the punk rock community and definitely one that I took very hard. No Use For A Name was one of my favorite bands growing up. I still love their music and play their albums often. Tony Sly was going to work on new No Use material around 2010/2011, but decided to work on a solo effort which would become "Sad Bear". I'm not sure if there is any shelved recordings of new No Use songs or maybe even incompleted songs. I'm sure they probably would have come to surface by now if there were. Thank God Tony left us with a shitload of music that we can go back to and reflect on. I'd say No Use is probably my favorite punk band, really one of my favorite bands in general. Sly's solo material is great as well. He is just a great songwriter. There is a definite despair and pain to a lot of his lyrics, especially his solo stuff. I miss this dude a lot! Tony Sly is a top tier artist as a solo performer and as the lead singer/songwriter of the most wickedly awesome punk band of all time!! Yeah, I said it!! Gone but not forgotten. Rest in peace brother!
SIMILAR ARTISTS:
Joey Cape
No Use For A Name
Dave Hause
Brendan Kelly
Sundowner
TEN TONY SLY SONGS YOU SHOULD CHECK OUT:
1. Not Your Savior (acoustic)
2. Chasing Rainbows (acoustic)
3. Justified Black Eye (acoustic)
4. Soulmate (acoustic)
5. Amends
6. Devonshire And Crown
7. Capo, 4th Fret
8. Chemical Upgrade
9. Via Munich
10. Homecoming
