SONG OF THE WEEK: 10/31/21

SONG:  "Halfway Decent"

ARTIST:  Audio Karate

ALBUM:  "Space Camp"

YEAR:  2002

PLACE OF ORIGIN:  Rosemead, California

YEARS ACTIVE:  1995 - present

WHAT I THINK THE SONG IS ABOUT:

"Halfway Decent" is a song that appears to be about shutting out the one's you love, maybe more imortantly, the one's that love you. The vocalist can actually see that he's doing this yet still does for some reason. It's causing him to push away the one person who has really been there for him. The one person who makes him feel "halfway decent by default". It seems he understands his mistakes and vows to change, but can he really change his ways? Not sure.

AUDIO KARATE DISCOGRAPHY (Full length albums only):

2000 - Audio Karate (self-released demo)

* did not chart on the Billboard 200

2002 - Space Camp (Kung Fu Records)

* did not chart on the Billboard 200

2004 - Lady Melody (Kung Fu Records)

* did not chart on the Billboard 200

2019 - Malo (Wiretap Records)

* did not chart on the Billboard 200

MY THOUGHTS ON AUDIO KARATE:

Audio Karate formed as a band back in 1995, hailing from Rosemead, California. It took them a good 5 years of playing shows and rehearsing together before they made a demo in 2000. The hard work paid off as the band signed on with Kung Fu Records. The band released their debut full length album in 2002, titled "Space Camp". The band's video for the song "Nintendo 89" helped create some buzz for this punk rock outfit. In 2004, the band dropped "Lady Melody" which featured the single "Jesus Is Alive And Well (And Living In Mexico)". After releasing this album and supporting it for a year, Audio Karate kinda fell off the map. A couple of the band members wrote music for a Spanish film. They released a few songs here and there through their MySpace page. In 2011, the band changed their name to Indian School and released an EP, "The Cruelest Kind". There were rumors that a full length album was going to be released as Indian School but that never materialized. In 2018, Audio Karate announced they were "picking up the instruments again" on Twitter. The band released a 2 song EP in 2018 and most recently, dropped their third full length studio album, "Malo", in 2019. Audio Karate is your typical pop punk rock outfit. Their songs are energetic, melodic and filled with sing-a-long choruses. Kung Fu Records was well known for signing these types of bands, especially after they worked with The Ataris early on in that band's career. I first heard of Audio Karate back in 2004. I'm positive that I heard "Jesus Is Alive And Well (And Living In Mexico)" off some sort of punk rock sampler compilation and I loved that song and began getting my hands on Audio Karate's music from then on. The band's latest album "Malo" is very good. It shows a band that has evolved musically while still keeping the elements of what made them who they are. I was very impressed with that album. 

SIMILAR ARTISTS:

Autopilot Off

I Am The Avalanche

The Ataris

Rufio

The Movielife

TEN AUDIO KARATE SONGS YOU SHOULD CHECK OUT:

1. Jesus Is Alive And Well (And Living In Mexico)

2. Nintendo 89

3. Sin Cuchillo

4. Wind You Up

5. Bounce

6. Hey Maria

7. She Looks Good

8. Halfway Decent

9. Who Brings A Knife To A Gun Fight

10. Get...Mendoza...

SONG OF THE WEEK: 10/24/21

SONG:  "Anonymous" (acoustic version)

ARTIST:  Three Days Grace

ALBUM:  not on album

YEAR:  2012

PLACE OF ORIGIN:  Norwood, Ontario, Canada

YEARS ACTIVE:  1997 - present

WHAT I THINK THE SONG IS ABOUT:

"Anonymous" hints on the idea that an individual person is so insignificant that his or her own purpose in life is meaningless. The world is cruel and cold, sometimes the only way to get by is to be an anonymous being - to be insignificant and detached. But this approach to living has one major flaw: everything begins to seem insignificant - "the problem is, you're just like me." When you detach yourself in order to become anonymous, life becomes dull. At the end of the song, Gontier sings, "the worst part is looking back and knowing that I was wrong." Being anonymous is not the solution to living in world with no conscience. Even the most inconspicuous person can make a difference. You can check out the original studio version of the song on the band's 2012 album "Transit Of Venus". 

THREE DAYS GRACE DISCOGRAPHY (Full length albums only):

2003 - Three Days Grace (Jive Records)

* peaked at #69 on the Billboard 200 on 8-21-04

* certified 2X platinum

2006 - One-X (Jive Records)

* peaked at #5 on the Billboard 200 on 7-1-06

* certified 3X platinum

2009 - Life Starts Now (Jive Records)

* peaked at #3 on the Billboard 200 on 10-10-09

* certified platinum

2012 - Transit Of Venus (RCA Records)

* peaked at #5 on the Billboard 200 on 10-20-12

2015 - Human (RCA Records)

* peaked at #16 on the Billboard 200 on 4-18-15

2018 - Outsider (RCA Records)

* peaked at #24 on the Billboard 200 on 3-24-18

MY THOUGHTS ON THREE DAYS GRACE:

Three Days Grace is a Canadian band that formed back in 1997. The band members were originally in a band called Groundswell from 1993 till 1996 when they disbanded. Three of the guys decided to form a new band, hence the birth of Three Days Grace. The boys honed their craft for some years before dropping their debut album in 2003, the self-titled "Three Days Grace". The lead single "I Hate Everything About You" caught some quick buzz on alternative rock radio and helped vault the band to headliner material early on. The band's follow up album, 2006's "One-X" would be certified triple platinum making it their most successful album of their career. Vocalist Adam Gontier had just emerged from a rehab for pill addiction so the lyrics on "One-X" are very personal and dark. When the band dropped their next album, "Life Starts Now", the theme was more seeing light at the end of the tunnel and persevering over life's obstacles. This would be the band's highest charting album. Shortly after the release of the band's 4th album, "Transit Of Venus", Gontier abruptly left the band, kind of a shock to his bandmates. Gontier was replaced with My Darkest Days vocalist Matt Walst. The band's first release with Walst on vocals was 2015's "Human". The band had more of an aggressive vibe on this album. Three Days Grace's most recent album would be 2018's "Outsider". They did release a stand alone single in 2020, a cover of Gotye's "Somebody That I Used To Know". Three Days Grace could be considered post-grunge, alternative rock, nu-metal, etc. I consider them to be a melodic hard rock band that incorporates elements of those genres I mentioned above. These dudes have been very successful at their craft. In fact, their 15 number 1 singles on the Billboard Hot Mainstream Rock charts broke a record previously held by Van Halen! I first got a taste of this band when I saw the "I Hate Everything About You" video back in 2003. I instantly liked it. Adam Gontier had a definite dark vibe with his lyrics and if you've been through things, you could certainly relate to some of his songs. When he left the band, it made it hard to look at them the same way. This has happened before in bands such as Fuel, Stone Temple Pilots and Alice In Chains. It's hard to replace the voice of your band and continue on. Some have done it better than others. Matt Walst is a good vocalist and I enjoy the later albums of Three Days Grace. I just think they don't touch the Gontier albums. 

SIMILAR ARTISTS:

Thousand Foot Krutch

Breaking Benjamin

Saint Asonia

Seether

3 Doors Down

TEN THREE DAYS GRACE SONGS YOU SHOULD CHECK OUT:

1. Animal I Have Become

2. Chalk Outline

3. I Hate Everything About You

4. Just Like You

5. Pain

6. World So Cold

7. I Am Machine

8. The Chain (Fleetwood Mac cover)

9. Break

10. The Mountain

SONG OF THE WEEK: 10/17/21

SONG:  "Snake Bite"

ARTIST:  Senses Fail

ALBUM:  "Renacer"

YEAR:  2013

PLACE OF ORIGIN:  Ridgewood, New Jersey

YEARS ACTIVE:  2001 - present

WHAT I THINK THE SONG IS ABOUT:

"Snake Bite" appears to be a song about finding someone in life that allows you to open up and be yourself. The vocalist struggled with keeping his pain and his emotions and feelings inside. But now he understands that the love from this person in his life has allowed him to free himself from bottling everything up inside and to open his heart and his emotions. It's allowed him to finally breathe in his own skin.

SENSES FAIL DISCOGRAPHY (Full length albums only):

2004 - Let It Enfold You (Vagrant Records)

* peaked at #34 on the Billboard 200 on 9-25-04

2006 - Still Searching (Vagrant Records)

* peaked at #15 on the Billboard 200 on 10-28-06

2008 - Life Is Not A Waiting Room (Vagrant Records)

* peaked at #18 on the Billboard 200 on 10-25-08

2010 - The Fire (Vagrant Records)

* peaked at #32 on the Billboard 200 on 11-13-10

2013 - Renacer (Staple Records)

* peaked at #84 on the Billboard 200 on 4-13-13

2015 - Pull The Thorns From Your Heart (Pure Noise Records)

* peaked at #109 on the Billboard 200 on 7-18-15

2018 - If There Is Light, It Will Find You (Pure Noise Records)

* peaked at #57 on the Billboard 200 on 3-3-18

MY THOUGHTS ON SENSES FAIL:

Senses Fail formed as a band back in 2001, hailing from Ridgewood, New Jersey. Lead vocalist Buddy Nielsen recruited members by posting an advertisement and eventually getting enough people together to form the band. Their first release would be an EP in 2002 titled "From The Depths Of Dreams". The band caught the ear of Vagrant Records who formed a 6 year relationship with the band. The band's debut full length came in 2004, entitled "Let It Enfold You". Early on the band caught some buzz, touring with the likes of The Used, My Chemical Romance and Finch to name a few, as well as jumping on the Warped Tour. In 2006, the band dropped their sophomore effort, "Still Searching". This would prove to be their highest charting album. 2008's "Life Is Not A Waiting Room" and 2010's "The Fire" would finish up the band's work on Vagrant Records. 2013's "Renacer" is probably the band's heaviest release, incorporating lots of screaming vocals. In 2015, the band signed a deal with Pure Noise Records and released "Pull The Thorns From Your Heart". The band's most recent release was 2018's "If There Is Light, It Will Find You". Word has it that the band has another new album in the works tentatively titled "What The Thunder Said, Hell Is In Your Head". This album is supposedly set for release in late 2021. Senses Fail is a post-hardcore band that has elements of screamo and pop punk as well. These guys have been pretty consistent with their releases and relentless with their touring. At it's core, this is lead vocalist Buddy Nielsen's baby. There have been many line-up changes but Nielsen has been the constant as singer and songwriter. Senses Fail is one of those bands that incorporates screaming and clean vocals. Some albums are split down the middle that way, others favor one or the other more. I first heard of Senses Fail back in 2004 when I heard the song "Buried A Lie". I'm pretty sure it was "Calling All Cars" from their second album "Still Searching" that cemented me as a fan.

SIMILAR ARTISTS:

Hawthorne Heights

Silverstein

Taking Back Sunday

Armor For Sleep

From First To Last

TEN SENSES FAIL SONGS YOU SHOULD CHECK OUT:

1. Calling All Cars

2. Buried A Lie

3. The Fire

4. New Jersey Makes, The World Takes

5. Rum Is For Drinking, Not For Burning

6. Family Tradition

7. Carry The Weight

8. Between The Mountains And The Sea

9. Gold Jacket, Green Jacket

10. Early Graves

SONG OF THE WEEK: 10/10/21

SONG:  "I Wanna Be A Warhol"

ARTIST:  Alkaline Trio

ALBUM:  "My Shame Is True"

YEAR:  2013

PLACE OF ORIGIN:  Chicago, Illinois

YEARS ACTIVE:  1996 - present

WHAT I THINK THE SONG IS ABOUT:

"I Wanna Be A Warhol" appears to be a song about a now defunct relationship where the vocalist not only still has feelings for her, he wants his relationship with her to be a part of her history for all to see. Like a painting on a wall. Maybe he wants admiration or appreciation from her because he just can't seem to let her go.

ALKALINE TRIO DISCOGRAPHY (Full length albums only):

1998 - Goddamnit (Asian Man Records)

* did not chart on the Billboard 200

2000 - Alkaline Trio (Asian Man Records)

* did not chart on the Billboard 200

2000 - Maybe I'll Catch Fire (Asian Man Records)

* did not chart on the Billboard 200

2001 - From Here To Infirmary (Vagrant Records)

* peaked at #199 on the Billboard 200 on 4-21-01

2003 - Good Mourning (Vagrant Records)

* peaked at #20 on the Billboard 200 on 5-31-03

2005 - Crimson (Vagrant Records)

* peaked at #25 on the Billboard 200 on 6-11-05

2007 - Remains (Vagrant Records)

* peaked at #64 on the Billboard 200 on 2-17-07

2008 - Agony & Irony (Epic Records)

* peaked at #13 on the Billboard 200 on 7-19-08

2010 - This Addiction (Heart & Skull/Epitaph Records)

* peaked at #11 on the Billboard 200 on 3-13-10

2011 - Damnesia (Heart & Skull/Epitaph Records)

* peaked at #43 on the Billboard 200 on 7-30-11

2013 - My Shame Is True (Heart & Skull/Epitaph Records)

* peaked at #24 on the Billboard 200 on 4-20-13

2018 - Is This Thing Cursed? (Heart & Skull/Epitaph Records)

* peaked at #68 on the Billboard 200 on 9-15-18

MY THOUGHTS ON ALKALINE TRIO:

Alkaline Trio formed as a band back in 1996, hailing from Chicago, Illinois. Vocalist and guitarist Matt Skiba was the driving force behind the band but the very early addition of Dan Andriano on bass and vocals and drummer Derek Grant in 2001 made the group a true band, with all three member contributing to all their albums. The band put out a few EP's and 7" singles, the songs of which would end up on the 2000 compilation, "Alkaline Trio". The band's proper debut would be 1998's "Goddamnit". Their next album, 2000's "Maybe I'll Catch Fire" featured the underground hit "Radio". 2001's "From Here To Infirmary" was the album the helped Alkaline Trio cross over thanks in part to the singles "Stupid Kid" and "Private Eye". 2003's "Good Mourning" became the band's first album to chart. Their most successful album sales wise would be 2005's "Crimson". This led to the band signing a deal with major label Epic Records for the release of their next record, "Agony & Irony". After this, the band formed their own label, Heart & Skull, in conjunction with famed punk label Epitaph. Their first album there was 2010's "This Addiction", their highest charting album. 2011 saw the band release a stripped down record called "Damnesia" which featured acoustic takes on some of their songs. The band has released two more full lengths after that album, 2013's "My Shame Is True" and 2018's "Is This Thing Cursed?". Their most recent release was a three song EP titled "E.P." in 2020. News has it that they are working on new material and as of October 2021, are on a tour supporting Bad Religion. Alkaline Trio is a melodic punk rock band. Some call them emo with hints of goth. I guess if you could mix the imagery of the Misfits and the melodic song crafting of Green Day, you'd get something in the neighborhood of Alkaline Trio. Their lyrics are very heartfelt with themes of addiction, heartbreak, pain and sorrow. Their lyrics tend to be darker than their music which could often be melodic and upbeat. Skiba and Andriano are both super talented songwriters and vocalists and each of them both bring a lot to the table. It's also worthwhile to check out their side projects as well. Skiba has his solo stuff with his backing band The Sekrets as well as being in the bands Heavens, theHELL and joining Blink 182 recently while Andriano has his solo project Dan Andriano In The Emergency Room as well as being in the punk rock supergroup The Falcon with members of The Lawrence Arms and The Loved Ones. I first caught wind of Alkaline Trio in 2001 when I heard the song "Private Eye". It was love at first listen!! These guys are one of my favorite all time bands and they continuously pump out great music. Can't wait for them to drop a new album, hopefully very soon!

SIMILAR ARTISTS:

Matt Skiba And The Sekrets

The Lawrence Arms

The Menzingers

The Bouncing Souls

Bayside

TEN ALKALINE TRIO SONGS YOU SHOULD CHECK OUT:

1. This Addiction

2. Radio

3. Mercy Me

4. Private Eye

5. We've Had Enough

6. She Lied To The FBI

7. Calling All Skeletons

8. Is This Thing Cursed?

9. Metro (Berlin cover)

10. Clavicle

SONG OF THE WEEK: 10/3/21

SONG:  "Silencers Off"

ARTIST:  The Missing 23rd

ALBUM:  "The End Of An Error"

YEAR:  2004

PLACE OF ORIGIN:  Oxnard, California

YEARS ACTIVE:  1995 - present

WHAT I THINK THE SONG IS ABOUT:

"Silencers Off" appears to be a song about not wanting to live in a world where you can be silenced. The vocalist craves the freedom to speak his mind and won't let the negative people or the criminal elements hold him down or keep him back. It's about having the idealistic world in your mind and striving everyday to attain it.

THE MISSING 23RD DISCOGRAPHY (Full length albums only):

1996 - Nobody Moves... Nobody Gets Hurt (IF Records)

* did not chart on the Billboard 200

1998 - The Powers The Be (Mankind Records)

* did not chart on the Billboard 200

2000 - Ctrl+Alt+Del (Sessions Records)

* did not chart on the Billboard 200

2004 - The End Of An Error (Blackbird Music)

* did not chart on the Billboard 200

MY THOUGHTS ON THE MISSING 23RD:

The Missing 23rd formed as a band back in 1995, hailing from Oxnard, California. After making a demo in 1995, they released the album "Nobody Moves... Nobody Gets Hurt" in 1996 on cassette only. 1998 saw them release a more proper album, "The Powers That Be". Many of the songs off of "Nobody Moves... Nobody Gets Hurt" were re-recorded for this album. In 2000, the band dropped "Ctrl+Alt+Del". The band's most recent full length would be 2004's "The End Of An Error". The Missing 23rd are a true hardcore punk band. They got their influence from the D.C. hardcore scene of the 80's with bands like Minor Threat and Bad Brains. The Missing 23rd is a band that wears it's ideals on it's sleeve. They are anti-conformity, anti-racism, anti-sexism, and anti-homophobia. They are pro-positivity, pro-individuality and pro-education. Over the years these guys have shared the stage with some of punks biggest acts including Bad Religion, Circle Jerks, 7 Seconds, AFI, Good Riddance and Propagandhi. I first heard of this band from the video for "Everything Must Go" from their "The End Of An Error" album. I've kinda just been rediscovering this band as of late and they are a solid hardcore band. Definitely an underground band. They haven't released anything since 2004 but as recently as 2020, they have cancelled some live shows due to the Covid pandemic so apparently they are still alive and kicking!

SIMILAR ARTISTS:

Western Waste

Pistol Grip

NearMiss

98 Mute

The Sainte Catherines

TEN THE MISSING 23RD SONGS YOU SHOULD CHECK OUT:

1. Everything Must Go

2. Till It's Gone

3. Struggle

4. Freedoms Wake

5. Madness

6. Abused

7. Blues Of Room 32

8. Stroube St.

9. Born Into

10. Knuckleheadism