SONG OF THE WEEK: 3/28/21

SONG:  "Hurt No One"

ARTIST:  The Used

ALBUM:  "Vulnerable"

YEAR:  2012

PLACE OF ORIGIN:  Orem, Utah

YEARS ACTIVE:  2001 - present

WHAT I THINK THE SONG IS ABOUT:

"Hurt No One" appears to be a song about regretting things that you did to others, but also regretting things you've done to yourself as well. While these things are in the past, it's important for the vocalist to bury them there, but it's also important for him to learn from them so he deosn't make the same mistakes over and over again.

THE USED DISCOGRAPHY (Full length albums only):

2002 - The Used (Reprise Records)

* peaked at #63 on the Billboard 200 on 2-1-03

* certified platinum

2003 - Maybe Memories (Reprise Records)

* peaked at #84 on the Billboard 200 on 8-2-03

* certified platinum

2004 - In Love And Death (Reprise Records)

* peaked at #6 on the Billboard 200 on 10-16-04

* certified platinum

2007 - Lies For The Liars (Reprise Records)

* peaked at #5 on the Billboard 200 on 6-9-07

* certified gold

2007 - Berth (Reprise Records)

* peaked at #71 on the Billboard 200 on 2-24-07

* certified gold

2009 - Artwork (Reprise Records)

* peaked at #10 on the Billboard 200 on 9-19-09

2012 - Vulnerable (Hopeless Records)

* peaked at #8 on the Billboard 200 on 4-14-12

2014 - Imaginary Enemy (Hopeless Records)

* peaked at #14 on the Billboard 200 on 4-19-14

2016 - Live & Acoustic At The Palace (Hopeless Records)

* peaked at #30 on the Billboard 200 on 4-23-16

2017 - The Canyon (Hopeless Records)

* peaked at #50 on the Billboard 200 on 11-18-17

2020 - Heartwork (Big Noise Music Group)

* peaked at #87 on the Billboard 200 on 5-9-20

MY THOUGHTS ON THE USED:

The Used formed as a band back in 2001, hailing from Utah. Early on, the band sent a demo to John Feldmann of the band Goldfinger. He loved what he heard from the demo, especially the song "A Box Full Of Sharp Objects", so he flew the guys out to LA to produce their debut self-titled album. This album exploded for The Used. Singles like "The Taste Of Ink", "Buried Myself Alive" and "Blue And Yellow" helped this album become platinum certified. In 2004, The Used lead vocalist Bert McCracken's ex-girlfriend, who was carrying his child, died of a drug overdose. The band's sophomore effort, "In Love And Death", featured some very personal and emotional songs from McCracken due to that tragedy. This album also was certified platinum. 2007's "Lies For The Liars" was the band's highest charting album, peaking at #5 on the Billboard 200 charts. After this album, McCracken had to have surgery on his vocal chords, ultimately cancelling the band's tour to support this record. 2009 saw the band release "Artwork" and album that was deemed to be more aggressive or more "messy" as McCracken explained. By 2012, The Used finished up their contract with major label Reprise Records and signed a deal with underground punk label, Hopeless Records. Their first release under Hopeless would be "Vulnerable". The band would release two more studio albums on Hopeless as well as an acoustic live album, 2016's "Live & Acoustic At The Palace". The band's most recent release was 2020's "Heartwork". It has been said that The Used actually recorded 27 songs for this album so their next full length release may come sooner rather than later. The Used is a band that covers many genres, pop punk, emo, post-hardcore, screamo, etc. They can be totally brutal on one track (Maybe Memories) and on the next song be super pop and melodic (Cut Up Angels). Bert McCracken's lyrics are very personal and he often wears his emotions on his sleeve. He's also a hell of a screamer! Back in the band's early shows, McCracken would belt out his vocals so hard it would cause him to puke on stage! No surprise he needed vocal chord surgery after the band's third album! I first heard of The Used when I heard the song "A Box Full Of Sharp Objects". I believe I saw a video for the song, not sure. Either way, I was hooked right away. That song kicks mucho ass hombre! Their self-titled debut album is pretty killer the whole way through. The Used has been very successful as a band. All of their full length albums, live albums included have charted on the Billboard 200. These guys are top notch, one of the best bands who've debuted in the 2000's.

SIMILAR ARTISTS:

My Chemical Romance

Taking Back Sunday

Hawthorne Heights

From First To Last

Senses Fail

TEN THE USED SONGS YOU SHOULD CHECK OUT:

1. A Box Full Of Sharp Objects

2. Maybe Memories

3. I Caught Fire (In Your Eyes)

4. Moving On

5. Blood On My Hands

6. The Bird And The Worm

7. Mosh 'n' Church

8. Blow Me

9. Revolution

10. Rise Up Lights

SONG OF THE WEEK: 3/21/21

Song: "Sour Grapes"

Artist: 7 Seconds

Album: "Good To Go"

Year: 1999

Place Of Origin: Reno, Nevada

Years Active: 1980 - 2018



WHAT I THINK THE SONG IS ABOUT:

"Sour Grapes" appears to be a song about becoming everything you used to hate now that you've grown older. You've become what you used to rebel against. The vocalist is pointing out that there are a shitload of youth that are ready to take the mantle to stand up to oppression and fight for their ideals. The hope is that those who grow older will take these kids under their wings and stand with them and not become old oppressive pricks like their parents were.

7 SECONDS DISCOGRAPHY (Full length albums only):

1984 - The Crew (BYO Records)
* did not chart on Billboard 200

1985 - Walk Together, Rock Together (Positive Force/BYO Records)
* did not chart on Billboard 200

1986 - New Wind (Positive Force/BYO Records)
* did not chart on Billboard 200

1987 - Live! One Plus One (Positive Force/Giant Records)
* did not chart on Billboard 200

1988 - Ourselves (Restless Records)
* did not chart on Billboard 200

1989 - Soulforce Revolution (Restless Records)
* #153 on the Billboard 200

1991 - Old School (Headhunter/Cargo Records)
* did not chart on Billboard 200

1993 - Out The Shizzy (Headhunter/Cargo Records)
* did not chart on Billboard 200

1995 - alt.music.hardcore (Headhunter/Cargo Records)
* did not chart on Billboard 200

1995 - The Music, The Message (Sony/BMI Records)
* did not chart on Billboard 200

1999 - Good To Go (SideOneDummy Records)
* did not chart on Billboard 200

2000 - Scream Real Loud...Live! (SideOneDummy Records)
* did not chart on Billboard 200

2005 - Take It Back, Take It On, Take It Over! (SideOneDummy Records)
* did not chart on Billboard 200

2014 - Leave A Light On (Rise Records)
* did not chart on Billboard 200

MY THOUGHTS ON 7 SECONDS:

7 Seconds is a legendary hardcore punk band from Reno, Nevada that formed back in 1980. Some say that they were actually the first band to call their sound "hardcore". Early on, the band released many EP's which were later released on compilation albums. Their first album was going to be "United We Stand" which was set to be released in 1983. However, the album was aborted. It did see the light of day in 1991, renamed as "Old School". So, the band's first proper full length studio release would be 1984's "The Crew". Next for the boys was the highly influential "Walk Together, Rock Together". With the release of their 1986 album, "New Wind", 7 Seconds musical style began to shift to a more melodic, new wave-ish feel. Some of their albums during these years seemed to have more in common with U2 rather than any hardcore punk band. Their 1989 album, "Soulforce Revolution" was the band's only album to chart on the Billboard 200, peaking at 153. Just after the grunge explosion of the early 90's, a punk rock revival began to happen with bands like Bad Religion, Green Day, Rancid and The Offspring burning up the charts. 7 Seconds would capitalize on that wave themselves, inking a deal with major label Sony/BMI and releasing "The Music, The Message" which saw a return to a punk rock sound. By the time their album "Good To Go" was released in 1999, 7 Seconds officially got back to their hardcore punk roots. The band's most recent release was 2014's "Leave A Light On". The band broke up in 2018 citing physical and mental health of the band members as the reason. They just physically and mentally could not perform on tours anymore and health had to become the main focus of some of the bandmates. 7 Seconds is legendary among punk rock circles. They paved the way for the hardcore punk movement of the early 80's and beyond. I got into 7 Seconds much later in their career. In the mid to late 90's, I loved skate punk bands like No Use For A Name, Lagwagon and Pennywise. I heard a few 7 Seconds songs but the first album I got from them was their 2005 record "Take It Back, Take It On, Take It Over!". I loved this album. In fact, it reminded me of a band that I loved in the early 2000's, Deviates! I know the boys in Deviates were highly influenced by Pennywise, but their sound is eerily similar to that of 7 Seconds. I really think bands like 7 Seconds and Bad Religion were kinda like the catalyst for skate punk. Those two bands were hardcore, but they had a melodic sound to them which is really what skate punk became, like melodic hardcore. It sucks that 7 Seconds decided to call it a day. Lead vocalist Kevin Seconds still tours as a solo artist and releases a shitload of music through his Bandcamp page. His brother Steve Youth has been battling alcholism and depression which is probably the biggest reason Kevin decided to end 7 Seconds so his brother can get the help he needs to recover. 7 Seconds is a top tier hardcore band, despite their U2-ish years!! Forefathers of hardcore punk!!

SIMILAR ARTISTS:

Circle Jerks
Adolescents
H2O
Descendents
Minor Threat

TEN 7 SECONDS SONGS YOU SHOULD CHECK OUT:

1. Young 'Til I Die
2. Walk Together, Rock Together
3. Rules To Follow
4. Satyagraha
5. Leave A Light On
6. Still On It
7. New Wind
8. 99 Red Balloons (Nena cover)
9. Escape And Run
10. Best Friend

SONG OF THE WEEK: 3/14/21

SONG:  "Machine Gun Baby"

ARTIST:  Meriwether

ALBUM:  "Make Your Move"

YEAR:  2005

PLACE OF ORIGIN:  Baton Rouge, Louisiana

YEARS ACTIVE:  2003 - present

WHAT I THINK THE SONG IS ABOUT:

"Machine Gun Baby" appears to be a song about a guy who's a 7, who wants to get with a girl who's an ultimate 10!! The vocalist almost feels inadequate next to her and maybe even stunned that she is actually giving him the time of day. He knows this relationship will be fleeting because eventually she'll want more than he has to give. But, he's going to enjoy the ride!!

MERIWETHER DISCOGRAPHY (Full length albums only):

2005 - Make Your Move (GVE Records)

* did not chart on the Billboard 200

2010 - Sons Of Our Fathers (self released)

* did not chart on the Billboard 200

2010 - Plug In The Snakes (self released)

* did not chart on the Billboard 200

MY THOUGHTS ON MERIWETHER

Meriwether formed as a band back in 2003, hailing from Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Their first release was the EP, "Meriwether", which was released in 2004. Their first full length release was 2005's "Make Your Move". This album was also re-released in 2007 but some of the tracks were removed and it was also released as a special edition with bonus tracks in 2014. Meriwether had completed a second album called "Sons Of Our Fathers" after "Make Your Move" but due to issues with their record label, the album was never officially released. Eventually the band offered the album on their Bandcamp page. 2010's "Plug In The Snakes" was the band's last full length album to be released. In 2012, they released an EP called "Save Our Souls". Since 2012, Meriwether has really only played a couple of live shows, both of which were in 2014. They also released a stand alone single in 2017 called "Rage x Reward". Vocalist/guitarist Andrew Reilley has said that Meriwether is still very much alive even with the lack of anything relevant going on. Even though he is focusing on several projects at the time, he insists that Meriwether will continue making music and playing live. Meriwether came out at a time when i'd say there was a big pop punk/emo wave going on. Kind of like when the Warped Tour started shifting away from bands like Pennywise and featuring bands like Taking Back Sunday. Meriwether has always been very much under the radar. They are a good band but their music doesn't really separate them from the pack or make them stand out like a said Taking Back Sunday. I first caught wind of Meriwether when I heard their song "Aye Julian". To this day I feel that's the best Meriwether has to offer. The band has been fairly stagnant over the last 7 years or so. No news of any new material from them as far as I know.

SIMILAR ARTISTS:

So They Say

The Fully Down

Rory

Roses Are Red

Letter Kills

TEN MERIWETHER SONGS YOU SHOULD CHECK OUT:

1. Aye Julian

2. If You Had Guts, I'd Hate 'Em

3. All The Broken Hearts

4. B Quiet

5. New Orleans, RIP

6. Make Believe

7. The Ghost

8. Body Like Hell

9. Can't Get Over You

10. Wake Up Lion

SONG OF THE WEEK: 3/7/21

SONG:  "Open Sky"

ARTIST:  The Distillers

ALBUM:  "The Distillers"

YEAR:  2000

WHAT I THINK THE SONG IS ABOUT:

"Open Sky" appears to be a song about rising up against the elite class. All they do is feed us bullshit and lies but we'll use their lies against them and their bullshit will be our fuel to overcome them. We don't want or need your pity. We want you OUT!!!

THE DISTILLERS DISCOGRAPHY (Full length albums only):

2000 - The Distillers (Hellcat Records)

* did not chart on the Billboard 200

2002 - Sing Sing Death House (Hellcat Records)

* did not chart on the Billboard 200

2003 - Coral Fang (Sire Records)

* peaked at #97 on the Billboard 200 on 11-1-03

MY THOUGHTS ON THE DISTILLERS

The Distillers formed as a band back in 1998, hailing from Los Angeles, California. Their lead singer/songwriter/rhythm guitarist Brody Dalle was from Australia but moved to L.A. because of a relationship formed with Rancid's Tim Armstrong after touring together. This relationship no doubt helped The Distillers hook up with Armstrong's Hellcat Records which is a subsidiary of Epitaph Records. The Distillers first release was an EP in 1999 called "The Distillers". In 2000, the band dropped their debut full length, also called "The Distillers". In 2002, The Distillers dropped "Sing Sing Death House". This album featured music videos for the songs "City Of Angels" and "The Young Crazed Feeling". In 2003, The Distillers released "Coral Fang" through major label Sire Records. This would prove to be the band's most successful record and their only to break into the Billboard 200 charts. The band toiled around for a few more years, but Brody's relationship with Armstrong was now over. She got married and had three kids with Queens Of The Stone Age frontman Josh Homme but that relationship is also over as Dalle filed for divorce in 2019. The Distillers seemed to have broken up in 2006 as Dalle formed a new band called Spinnerette and after that performed as a solo artist. But in 2018, The Distillers got back together with their most consistent line-up, Brody Dalle (vocals/guitar), Andy Granelli (drums), Ryan Sinn (bass) and Tony Bevilacqua (guitar). Not only did The Distillers perform some live shows, they also released a split single, "Man vs. Magnet/Blood In Gutters". Rumor has it that the band went into the studio in 2019 to work on a new album. As of now, I haven't heard if the new record is done but i'm sure like everything else, the pandemic probably slowed the process. The Distillers are a great, in your face punk band. Brody Dalle is just punk rock chic personified! She got the snarl. She got the attitude and fuckin' A right, she got the pipes. Dalle has a great voice for punk rock music and you can almost hear her vocal chords crying in pain when she shreds her vocals. She's a total bad ass! I was totally fired up when The Distillers got back together. I got into them late. My first taste of their music was "Coral Fang" and "Beat Your Heart Out" was probably the first song I heard by them, a great fuckin' tune by the way! It kinda sucked because once I found them, they were gone! So after a 12 year hiatus, I was stoked to see them drop a new double single and get back in the studio. Hopefully, we start to get back to normal and The Distillers put the finishing touches on a new record and we can see them perform in a live setting soon. On a side note, you gotta check out this band's b-side "Cincinnati". What a killer song!

SIMILAR ARTISTS:

Rancid

Transplants

Social Distortion

Lars Frederiksen and the Bastards

Anti-Flag

TEN THE DISTILLERS SONGS YOU SHOULD CHECK OUT:

1. Cincinnati

2. City Of Angels

3. Beat Your Heart Out

4. L.A. Girl

5. Drain The Blood

6. The Hunger

7. Sick Of It All

8. Man vs. Magnet

9. The Young Crazed Feeling

10. The World Comes Tumblin'