Song: "Another Boring Story"
Artist: The Lawrence Arms
Album: "Cocktails & Dreams"
Year: 2005
Place Of Origin: Chicago, Illinois
Years Active: 1999 - present
WHAT I THINK THE SONG IS ABOUT:
"Another Boring Story" appears to be about wallowing in depression and isolation. The vocalist just seems to be down in a hole and stuck in a rut and just seems to be getting deeper to the point where he may not be able to climb out.
THE LAWRENCE ARMS DISCOGRAPHY (Full length albums only):
1999 - A Guided Tour Of Chicago (Asian Man Records)
* did not chart on Billboard 200
2000 - Ghost Stories (Asian Man Records)
* did not chart on Billboard 200
2002 - Apathy And Exhaustion (Fat Wreck Chords)
* did not chart on Billboard 200
2003 - The Greatest Story Ever Told (Fat Wreck Chords)
* did not chart on Billboard 200
2005 - Cocktails & Dreams (Asian Man Records)
* did not chart on Billboard 200
2006 - Oh! Calcutta! (Fat Wreck Chords)
* did not chart on Billboard 200
2014 - Metropole (Epitaph Records)
* did not chart on Billboard 200
2020 - Skeleton Coast (Epitaph Records)
* did not chart on Billboard 200
MY THOUGHTS ON THE LAWRENCE ARMS:
The Lawrence Arms formed as a band back in 1999. All three bandmates, Brendan Kelly (bass/vocals), Chris McCaughan (guitar/vocals) and Neil Hennessy (drums), were toiling around in other Chicago area bands before finally deciding to band together and form The Lawrence Arms. Surprisingly, all three members are still in the band today which is a rarity it seems in a band that has been around as long as they have been. Early on, the band signed on with Asian Man Records and released their debut album in 1999, "A Guided Tour Of Chicago". In 2002, The Lawrence Arms caught the ear of Fat Mike of NOFX and he quickly signed them to his label Fat Wreck Chords where they released their next three albums, 2002's "Apathy And Exhaustion", 2003's "The Greatest Story Ever Told" and 2006's "Oh! Calcutta!". "Oh! Calcutta" was probably The Lawrence Arms' most successful release to date. From 2006 to 2014, the bandmembers began to focus on some other projects. Brendan Kelly formed a super punk group if you will with Alkaline Trio's Dan Andriano called The Falcon plus he had a solo project called Brendan Kelly and the Wandering Birds. Chris McCaughan formed a side project called Sundowner while Neil Hennessy toured with fellow Chicago band The Smoking Popes. The Lawrence Arms still managed to throw a few EP's and 7" singles out there before dropping a new album in 2014 called "Metropole" which was through yet another legendary punk rock label, Epitaph Records. The band's most recent release just dropped in July of 2020 and it's titled "Skeleton Coast". The Lawrence Arms are a great punk rock band. I got into them right around the time they released "The Greatest Story Ever Told". In fact, I can't believe it took me so long to really delve into their music because I love them now! They offer a dual threat vocal attack on their albums. Kelly provides scratchy, gravelly vocals while McCaughan has a cleaner sound. The lyrical themes often feature references to pop culture so you gotta listen carefully to catch them. There are other Chicago bands like Alkaline Trio and Rise Against who have gotten more mainstream success than The Lawrence Arms, but there are not many bands that are more respected for their DIY ethic and staying true to punk rock ideals. Shit, they even got banned from punk rock's most famous tour, The Warped Tour! Brendan Kelly has openly called out Warped for being a corporate takeover of everything punk rock isn't about. He also blamed the Warped Tour for closing small venues and basically eliminating smaller tours which would feature three bands at small rock clubs. All in all, this band is awesome. Also, their solo projects are really cool as well. The Lawrence Arms are definitely a top tier punk rock band in my eyes.
SIMILAR ARTISTS:
The Falcon
Banner Pilot
Dead To Me
None More Black
Off With Their Heads
TEN THE LAWRENCE ARMS SONGS YOU SHOULD CHECK OUT:
1. The Devil's Takin' Names
2. Porno And Snuff Films
3. Spit Shining Shit
4. Seventeener (17th and 37th)
5. Fireflies
6. Light Breathing
7. PTA
8. An Evening Of Extraordinary Circumstance
9. Nebraska
10. The Slowest Drink At The Saddest Bar On The Snowiest Day In The Greatest City
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