SONG OF THE WEEK: 12/26/21

SONG:  "Broken Lungs" (live)

ARTIST:  Thrice

ALBUM:  "Live At The House Of Blues"

YEAR:  2008

PLACE OF ORIGIN:  Irvine, California

YEARS ACTIVE:  1999 - present

WHAT I THINK THE SONG IS ABOUT:

"Broken Lungs" is a song about the 9/11 attacks on the World Trade Center in New York. More specifically, were we told the full truth about the attacks? Not saying it was a total inside job, but there are several questions that have not been answered and several coincidences that either can't be explained or weren't. The vocalist believes we deserve the full truth as to the events that happened that day. 

THRICE DISCOGRAPHY (Full length albums only):

2000 - Identity Crisis (Sub City Records)

* did not chart on the Billboard 200

2002 - The Illusion Of Safety (Sub City Records)

* did not chart on the Billboard 200

2003 - The Artist In The Ambulance (Island Records)

* peaked at #16 on the Billboard 200 on 8-9-03

2005 - If You Could Only See Us Now (Island Records)

* did not chart on the Billboard 200

* certified gold

2005 - Vheissu (Island Records)

* peaked at #15 on the Billboard 200 on 11-2-05

2007 - The Alchemy Index Vols. I & II:  Fire & Water (Vagrant Records)

*peaked at #24 on the Billboard 200 on 11-3-07

2008 - Live At The House Of Blues (Vagrant Records)

* did not chart on the Billboard 200

2008 - The Alchemy Index Vols. III & IV:  Air & Earth (Vagrant Records)

* peaked at #17 on the Billboard 200 on 5-3-08

2009 - Beggars (Vagrant Records)

* peaked at #47 on the Billboard 200 on 10-3-09

2011 - Major/Minor (Vagrant Records)

* peaked at #18 on the Billboard 200 on 10-8-11

2012 - Anthology (Staple Records)

* peaked at #104 on the Billboard 200 on 11-17-12

2016 - To Be Everywhere Is To Be Nowhere (Vagrant Records)

* peaked at #15 on the Billboard 200 on 6-18-16

2018 - Palms (Epitaph Records)

* peaked at #27 on the Billboard 200 on 9-29-18

2021 - Horizons/East (Epitaph Records)

* did not chart on the Billboard 200

MY THOUGHTS ON THRICE:

Thrice formed as a band back in 1999, hailing from Irvine, California. The band's first contribution was the 1999 EP, "First Impressions". In 2000, they dropped their debut album, "Identity Crisis". Both that album and their sophomore effort, 2002's "The Illusion Of Safety", saw the band come out of the gates with a post-hardcore/punk rock style about them. Their third album, 2003's "The Artist In The Ambulance", continued that style, but offered a more melodic style. The singles "All That's Left" and "Stare At The Sun" promptly put Thrice on the map as a band who was on the rise. Thrice shifted styles on their 4th album, "Vheissu", incorporating more electronic elements and a less punk vibe. In 2007 and 2008, Thrice created two albums which actually consisted of four seperate parts, all dealing with four elements, fire, water, air and earth. This concept album was described by the band to have a somewhat "sleepy" feel to it. When it came time to write for their next album, which would be 2009's "Beggars", they made a conscious decision to make a more upbeat album. At this point in Thrice's career, their style had pretty much been defined and their albums from this point on felt like a combination of their earlier post-hardcore roots and their indie rock, almost progressive rock style in the mid to late 2000's. After releasing 2011's "Major/Minor", Thrice decided to take an indefinite hiatus as singer Dustin Kensrue wanted to focus on working with his church while the other bandmates sought various side projects. Thankfully, in 2015 Thrice reunited and in 2016, they released a major comeback album with "To Be Everywhere Is To Be Nowhere". They followed that up with 2018's "Palms". Thrice's most recent release is the 2021 album "Horizons/East". It has been said that the band has about 10 or more leftover songs from the studio during the recording of "Horizons/East" which they may put on a compilation tentatively titled "Horizons/West".  "Scavengers" was released as the first single from "Horizons/East". Thrice is a fuckin' awesome band!! These guys consistently drop new music, with only a short three year hiatus slowing them down. The first time I heard them was when I caught their video for "Deadbolt" off of their second album. It was love at first sight!! "The Artist In The Ambulance" was the album that really made me think that Thrice could be one of my favorite bands. They didn't disappoint with their follow up albums. Much like the band, I thought that the "elements" albums were kind of sleepy, not saying they were bad, but they didn't have the same energy as some of their earlier efforts. But, from "Beggars" on, their albums have been incredible. Their comeback album, if you want to call it that, "To Be Everywhere Is To Be Nowhere" is outstanding. I don't know if Thrice is in my top 5 for bands. I'd have to think about it, but they are definitely in my top 10. Top tier all the way in whatever category you want to put them in, post-hardcore, punk, indie rock, alternative rock, whatever. Thrice is the real deal!

SIMILAR ARTISTS:

Thursday

Finch

Deftones

Brand New

Funeral For A Friend

TEN THRICE SONGS YOU SHOULD CHECK OUT:

1. Black Honey

2. Red Sky

3. Deadbolt

4. In Exile

5. All That's Left

6. Come All You Weary

7. Anthology

8. Digital Sea

9. Scavengers

10. The Grey

SONG OF THE WEEK: 12/19/21

SONG:  "Casey"

ARTIST:  The Menzingers

ALBUM:  "On The Impossible Past"

YEAR:  2012

PLACE OF ORIGIN:  Scranton, Pennsylvania

YEARS ACTIVE:  2006 - present

WHAT I THINK THE SONG IS ABOUT:

"Casey" appears to be a love story. The vocalist is reminiscing about the early moments of he, and his girl Casey's relationship. About how he used to wait for her during her work breaks when she waited tables. He longs to go back to those times when it meant everything just to be together and the world's problems were an afterthought.

THE MENZINGERS DISCOGRAPHY (Full length albums only):

2006 - A Lesson In The Abuse Of Information Technology (Go Kart Records)

* did not chart on the Billboard 200

2010 - Chamberlain Waits (Red Scare Records)

* did not chart on the Billboard 200

2012 - On The Impossible Past (Epitaph Records)

* did not chart on the Billboard 200

2014 - Rented World (Epitaph Records)

* did not chart on the Billboard 200

2017 - After The Party (Epitaph Records)

* peaked at #67 on the Billboard 200 on 2-3-17

2019 - Hello Exile (Epitaph Records)

* peaked at #89 on the Billboard 200 on 10-4-19

2020 - From Exile (Epitaph Records)

* did not chart on the Billboard 200

MY THOUGHTS ON THE MENZINGERS:

The Menzingers formed as a band back in 2006, hailing from Pennsylvania. The band formed out of the ashes of two bands, Bob And The Sagets and Kos Mos. The band released their debut album in 2006, titled "A Lesson In The Abuse Of Information Technology". They came back in 2010 with their sophomore effort, "Chamberlain Waits". This album caught the ear of Bad Religion member Brett Gurewitz who quickly signed the band to his own Epitaph Records. Both Gurewitz and the band were super excited about forging ahead with this relationship. The band's first album with Epitaph was 2012's "On The Impossible Past". This is just an incredible record front to back. The Menzingers showed they still very much had their fast ball with their next release, 2014's "Rented World". 2017's "After The Party" would be the first album for The Menzingers that would chart on the Billboard 200 and is also their highest charting album, peaking at #67. In 2019, the band released the album "Hello Exile". In 2020, the band put out acoustic versions of their songs from "Hello Exile" in an album called "From Exile". At their heart, The Menzingers are a punk band. They are not confined to that genre however. They remind me a lot of The Gaslight Anthem, a band who's roots are in punk rock, but they are always widening the parameters of their sound. The Menzingers are gifted songwriters no doubt. The melodies, the lyrics, the emotional, heartfelt vocal delivery. These guys are the real deal. I got into The Menzingers kinda late. My first experience with them was the 2012 album "On The Impossible Past". What an introduction though! These album is tremendous all the way through. The first song I heard from them was "Good Things" but it was the song "The Obituaries" that had me hook, line and sinker! These guys have been fairly consistent with their releases so I wouldn't be surprised to see them put something out in 2022. 

SIMILAR ARTISTS:

The Lawrence Arms

The Gaslight Anthem

Off With Their Heads

Red City Radio

Banner Pilot

TEN THE MENZINGERS SONGS YOU SHOULD CHECK OUT:

1. The Obituaries

2. I Don't Wanna Be An Asshole Anymore

3. Good Things

4. America (You Are Freaking Me Out)

5. Bad Catholics

6. Irish Goodbyes

7. Lookers

8. I Was Born

9. A Lesson In The Abuse Of Information Technology

10. Strawberry Mansion (From Exile version)

SONG OF THE WEEK: 12/12/21

SONG:  "City Of Angels"

ARTIST:  The Distillers

ALBUM:  "Sing Sing Death House"

YEAR:  2002

WHAT I THINK THE SONG IS ABOUT:

"City Of Angels" appears to be a song about the seedy underbelly of Los Angeles. The image of L.A. is glitz and glamour and hollywood. The facts are that for every one person that makes it, literally thousands have those hopes and dreams shattered. The image of Los Angeles evokes hope of fame. The reality is broken dreams and despair for most who travel there to make it.

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

2021 - Live In Lockdown (Rise Records)

* did not chart on the Billboard 200

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 band did release a live album called "Live In Lockdown" in 2021.  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. Gypsy Rose Lee

SONG OF THE WEEK: 12/5/21

SONG:  "Let's Be Honest"

ARTIST:  Stone Sour

ALBUM:  "Audio Secrecy"

YEAR:  2010

PLACE OF ORIGIN:  Des Moines, Iowa

YEARS ACTIVE:  1992 - 2020

WHAT I THINK THE SONG IS ABOUT:

Here's is what Stone Sour vocalist Corey Taylor said "Let's Be Honest" is about in an old interview. "“Let’s Be Honest” is basically about having a little dry sarcasm and owning up to the fact that that a relationship sucks. Can we just agree that it’s not healthy for each other? It’s not going to work. Let’s just call it a day. The song is retracing the past and listing the reasons why."

STONE SOUR DISCOGRAPHY (Full length albums only):

2002 - Stone Sour (Roadrunner Records)

* peaked at #46 on the Billboard 200 on 9-14-02

* certified gold

2006 - Come What(ever) May (Roadrunner Records)

* peaked at #4 on the Billboard 200 on 8-19-06

* certified platinum 

2007 - Live In Moscow (Roadrunner Records)

* did not chart on the Billboard 200

2010 - Audio Secrecy (Roadrunner Records)

* peaked at #6 on the Billboard 200 on 9-25-10

2012 - House Of Gold & Bones - Part 1 (Roadrunner Records)

* peaked at #7 on the Billboard 200 on 11-10-12

2013 - House Of Gold & Bones - Part 2 (Roadrunner Records)

* peaked at #10 on the Billboard 200 on 4-27-13

2017 - Hydrograd (Roadrunner Records)

* peaked at #8 on the Billboard 200 on 7-22-17

2019 - Hello, You Bastards:  Live In Reno (Cooking Vinyl Records)

* did not chart on the Billboard 200

MY THOUGHTS ON STONE SOUR:

Stone Sour formed as a band back in 1992, hailing from Des Moines, Iowa. The band was founded by frontman Corey Taylor. From 1992 till 1997, Stone Sour toured and recorded a few demos but the band took a backseat when Taylor and lead guitarist Jim Root moved their focus to their new band Slipknot. Stone Sour resurfaced in 2002 with the release of their debut full length album, "Stone Sour". With hit singles like "Bother", "Inhale" and "Get Inside", Stone Sour was instantly a band moving in the up direction. It didn't hurt to have the success of Slipknot push the band also. In 2006, the band dropped what is their most successful album, the platinum certified "Come What(ever) May". The single "Through Glass" could be the band's biggest single of their career. 2010 saw continued success for the band with the release of "Audio Secrecy". In 2012 and 2013 respectively, Stone Sour released "House Of Gold & Bones" parts 1 and 2. This would be the band's first foray into writing a double concept album or albums as it would turn out. The band's last full length studio album would be 2017's "Hydrograd". The band also put out two cover song EP's and what would be their most recent release, the live album "Hello, You Bastards:  Live In Reno". Stone Sour could be considered alternative metal, hard rock, melodic rock, etc. Stone Sour's style is different than Corey Taylor's more famous band, Slipknot. I always found Stone Sour to fit in more with grunge and post-grunge bands but their are definitely influences of metal sprinkled throughout their catalogue. I first heard of Stone Sour when their debut album came out. I'm pretty sure "Bother" was the first song I heard from the band and that's a pretty bad ass song! At first I didn't know what to make because I was never much of a Slipknot fan. I'm glad I didn't hold that against Stone Sour because I think they are a great band. Taylor has a great voice and Stone Sour I think shows his range more than Slipknot. I could do without the "cookie monster" vocals!! Sad news is that Corey Taylor has said that Stone Sour was going on an indefinite hiatus back in 2020. There was some re-shuffling of their band members but here's hoping that this hiatus is only temporary. I'm not sure if Taylor has plans to release some solo material or not at this time instead of Stone Sour projects.

SIMILAR ARTISTS:

Godsmack

Seether

Drowing Pool

Staind

Avenged Sevenfold

TEN STONE SOUR SONGS YOU SHOULD CHECK OUT:

1. Bother

2. Get Inside

3. Do Me A Favor

4. Through Glass

5. 30/30 - 150

6. Unchained (Van Halen cover)

7. Song #3

8. Say You'll Haunt Me

9. Absolute Zero

10. Taipei Person/Allah Tea