SONG OF THE WEEK: 5/1/22

SONG:  "Exceptional"

ARTIST:  7 Seconds

ALBUM:  "Leave A Light On"

YEAR:  2014

PLACE OF ORIGIN:  Reno, Nevada

YEARS ACTIVE:  1980 - present

WHAT I THINK THE SONG IS ABOUT:

"Exceptional" appears to be a song about how the vocalist had to fight, scratch and claw for everything he's gotten in this country. And for all this country's flaws, there's no place he'd rather be because his is free to criticize it and protest against it for being irrational at times because he knows we can be better.

7 SECONDS DISCOGRAPHY (Full length albums only):

1984 - The Crew (BYO Records)

* did not chart on the Billboard 200

1985 - Walk Together, Rock Together (Positive Force/BYO Records)

* did not chart on the Billboard 200

1986 - New Wind (Positive Force/BYO Records)

* did not chart on the Billboard 200

1987 - Live! One Plus One (Positive Force/Giant Records)

* did not chart on the Billboard 200

1988 - Ourselves (Relentless Records)

* did not chart on the Billboard 200

1989 - Soulforce Revolution (Restless Records)

* peaked at #153 on the Billboard 200 on 12-30-89

1991 - Old School (Headhunter/Cargo Records)

* did not chart on the Billboard 200

1993 - Out The Shizzy (Headhunter/Cargo Records)

* did not chart on the Billboard 200

1995 - alt.music.hardcore (Headhunter/Cargo Records)

* did not chart on the Billboard 200

1995 - The Music, The Message (Sony/BMI Records)

* did not chart on the Billboard 200

1999 - Good To Go (SideOneDummy Records)

* did not chart on the Billboard 200

2000 - Scream Real Loud...Live! (SideOneDummy Records)

* did not chart on the Billboard 200

2005 - Take It Back, Take It On, Take It Over! (SideOneDummy Records)

* did not chart on the Billboard 200

2014 - Leave A Light On (Rise Records)

* did not chart on the Billboard 200

MY THOUGHTS ON 7 SECONDS:

7 Seconds formed as a band back in 1980, hailing from Reno, Nevada. After releasing several EP's and 7" singles, the band dropped their debut album in 1984, "The Crew". After this album, the band dropped the legendary "Walk Together, Rock Together" album in 1985. In 1986, the band began to veer away from their hardcore punk roots and started to venture into almost a new wave vibe drawing U2 like influences on their "New Wind" album. They would continue exploring different sounds on their next few albums as well. Their 1989 record, "Soulforce Revolution" would be their only album to break the Billboard 200 charts, peaking at #153. In 1995, as the punk rock revival was happening and bands like Green Day, Rancid and The Offspring were soaring up the music charts, 7 Seconds signed a major label deal with Sony/BMI for the release of "The Music, The Message". This album also marked a return to a punk rock sound. Their next album, 1999's "Good To Go" marked a triumphant return to hardcore punk and they haven't looked back. After releasing "Take It Back, Take It On, Take It Over!" in 2005, the band didn't release a new full length for 9 years, the longest span between albums for the band. In 2014, 7 Seconds released "Leave A Light On" which is the last full length album the band released. In 2018, frontman Kevin Seconds announced that the band was going to breakup, mostly due to the health issues of his brother and bandmate Steve Youth. However, in 2021, 7 Seconds announced they would be supporting the Circle Jerks on a 2022 tour. No word if the band is going to work on new material or if they are just going to tour at this point. 7 Seconds is a legendary punk band. Highly influential. In fact, they are the first band to be coined "hardcore". They had kinda a weird period from like 1986 to about 1993 where they were very experimental with their sound and they lost some of their hardcore punk fanbase. Thank God by the mid 90's they found their way again and got back on that hardcore train! I knew of 7 Seconds when I first started getting into skate punk in the 90's but I really didn't get into them until I bought their "Take It Back, Take It On, Take It Over!" album in 2005. Around that time, I was, and still am, a super fan of the band Deviates and when I really listened to a 7 Seconds album, I was like, holy shit.. This is what the Deviates were probably influenced by. Ever since then I worked my way back to their whole catalogue. These dudes are legends for a reason. You can hear their influence in most of the punk rock bands that started to shine in the 90's and it's awesome to see the boys back on the road in 2022. Hopefully, they get inspired to put some new material together for a long overdue album in the near future.

SIMILAR ARTISTS:

Circle Jerks

Youth Brigade

D.O.A.

Minor Threat

Adolescents

TEN 7 SECONDS SONGS YOU SHOULD CHECK OUT:

1. Rules To Follow

2. Walk Together, Rock Together

3. Young 'Til I Die

4. Leave A Light On

5. The Music, The Message

6. Clenched Fists, Black Eyes

7. Best Friend

8. Soul To Keep (For Phyllis)

9. New Wind

10. Escape And Run

SONG OF THE WEEK: 4/24/22

SONG:  "Are You Alone"

ARTIST:  The Starting Line

ALBUM:  "Somebody's Gonna Miss Us"

YEAR:  2009

PLACE OF ORIGIN:  Churchville, Pennsylvania

YEARS ACTIVE:  1999 - present

WHAT I THINK THE SONG IS ABOUT:

"Are You Alone" appears to be a song about two people who were once in a relationship but they grew apart and went their seperate ways. The vocalist seems like he still has strong feelings for her and he wonders if she is still alone or if she's found someone new. You almost get the feeling that the vocalist is too scared to ask her. Maybe he doesn't want the bad news that she is seeing someone and his hopes of reuniting would be dashed. I chose the live version of "Are You Alone" for my song of the week. The original studio version can be found on The Starting Line's 2007 album "Direction".

THE STARTING LINE DISCOGRAPHY (Full length albums only:

2002 - Say It Like You Mean It (Drive-Thru Records)

* peaked at #109 on the Billboard 200 on 8-3-02

2005 - Based On A True Story (Geffen Records)

* peaked at #18 on the Billboard 200 on 5-28-05

2007 - Direction (Virgin Records)

* peaked at #30 on the Billboard 200 on 8-18-07

2009 - Somebody's Gonna Miss Us (Image Entertainment)

* did not chart on the Billboard 200

2012 - The Early Years (Drive-Thru Records)

* did not chart on the Billboard 200

2021 - Based On A True Story Live At Studio 4 (Memory Music)

* did not chart on the Billboard 200

2021 - Direction Live At Studio 4 (Memory Music)

* did not chart on the Billboard 200

2021 - The Best Of Live At Studio 4 (Memory Music)

* did not chart on the Billboard 200

MY THOUGHTS ON THE STARTING LINE:

The Starting Line formed as a band back in 1999, hailing from Churchville, Pennsylvania. Originally, the band went by the name Sunday Drive. By 2001, the band officially changed their name to The Starting Line. After releasing an EP, The Starting Line dropped their debut full length album in 2002, "Say It Like You Mean It". With pop punk anthems like "The Best Of Me", "Up And Go" and "Leaving", The Starting Line began garnishing the attention of major labels, eventually inking a deal with Geffen Records. Though the band released their second album, "Based On A True Story" through Geffen, the relationship between the label and band was rocky at best. Geffen wanted the same pop songs from their first album but The Starting Line were maturing as musicians and songwriters. Geffen agreed to drop The Starting Line from their contract and they signed a deal with Virgin Records for the release of their third full length album, "Direction". In 2008, it was announced the band was going on an indefinite hiatus but it only lasted about a year. They began performing live as early as 2009. They would also release their first live album that year called "Somebody's Gonna Miss Us". The Starting Line was kinda on again off again in the 2010's. They wouldn't record new material till 2016 with the release of the "Anyways" EP. In 2021, they released three live albums, two of them playing their entire "Based On A True Story" album and their "Direction" album. There hasn't been any news as to the band working on a new album at this point. The Starting Line is a pop punk band that relies on catchy hooks and melodies in their sound. I first heard of these guys when I heard the acoustic version of "The Best Of Me" in the early 2000's. My first thoughts were wow, this song is poppy as shit!! But man, is it a catchy tune. I love the acoustic version of the song. While my preferred punk style is skate punk and hardcore punk, I'm always down for some good pop punk every now and again as well. As I said earlier, these guys pop up on tours and festivals every now and then but their releases of original material have been sporadic at best in the last 10 years. Hopefully the boys get in the studio and give their fans some new material in the near future.

SIMILAR ARTISTS:

The Early November

Midtown

Taking Back Sunday

The Ataris

The Academy Is...

TEN THE STARTING LINE SONGS YOU SHOULD CHECK OUT:

1. The Best Of Me (acoustic version)

2. Island

3. Bedroom Talk

4. Somebody's Gonna Miss Us

5. Up And Go

6. Something Left To Give

7. Leaving

8. Surprise, Surprise

9. Stay Where I Can See You

10. Saddest Girl Story

SONG OF THE WEEK: 4/17/22

SONG:  "1930"

ARTIST:  The Gaslight Anthem

ALBUM:  "Sink Or Swim"

YEAR:  2007

PLACE OF ORIGIN:  New Brunswick, New Jersey

YEARS ACTIVE:  2006 - present

WHAT I THINK THE SONG IS ABOUT:

"1930" was a song written by The Gaslight Anthem frontman Brian Fallon about his grandmother who passed away after her battle with Alzheimer's disease. The song definitely hits home as my mother was diagnosed with the same terrible disease. The last verse in the song kills me. I'll just quote it. "If I recall the last thing you said to me. Before it broke up, before it took you from me. And you said, I love you more than the stars in the sky. But your name just escapes me tonight." Just heartwrenching knowing that there's a very good chance when this disease takes my mom, she may not remember me :(

THE GASLIGHT ANTHEM DISCOGRAPHY (Full length albums only):

2007 - Sink Or Swim (XOXO Records)

* did not chart on the Billboard 200

2008 - The '59 Sound (SideOneDummy Records)

* peaked at #70 on the Billboard 200 on 9-6-08

2010 - American Slang (SideOneDummy Records)

* peaked at #16 on the Billboard 200 on 7-3-10

2012 - Handwritten (Mercury Records)

* peaked at #3 on the Billboard 200 on 8-11-12

2014 - The B-Sides (SideOneDummy Records)

* peaked at #82 on the Billboard 200 on 2-15-14

2014 - Get Hurt (Island Records)

* peaked at #4 on the Billboard 200 on 8-30-14

2018 - The '59 Sound Sessions (SideOneDummy Records)

* did not chart on the Billboard 200

MY THOUGHTS ON THE GASLIGHT ANTHEM:

The Gaslight Anthem are a Jersey band that formed back in 2006. The band's debut album, 2007's "Sink Or Swim", garnered the band some buzz on the independent circuit. They would soon sign a deal with famous punk label SideOneDummy records to release two monster albums, 2008's "The '59 Sound" and 2010's "American Slang". "The '59 Sound" really put The Gaslight Anthem on the map and it was obvious to many that ever imagined, hmm... what would Bruce Springsteen sound like if he were in a punk band?! Well, it would most likely sound like The Gaslight Anthem! "Bring It On" from their "American Slang" album is to this day my favorite track by the band. Sooo damn good!! The band signed a one off record deal with major label Mercury for their 2012 release "Handwritten", which would be their highest charting record, peaking at #3 on the Billboard 200. Their next release, through Island Records, "Get Hurt" would peak one spot lower at #4. In 2015, the band announced they were going on an indefinite hiatus. Lead vocalist and chief songwriter Brian Fallon embarked on a successful solo career during this time. In 2018, the band got back together for a small tour to celebrate the 10 year anniversary of "The '59 Sound". The band went back on hiatus after this tour and there was really no sense that they would ever get back together to create new music. But wait.... there's more. In March of 2022, The Gaslight Anthem announced that they were back, full steam with tour dates planned and eager to get to work on a new album as well!! Oh joyous day!! At their roots, The Gaslight Anthem are a punk rock band, but they are much more than that. Their sound has continued to evolve and Brian Fallon has really become quite the songwriter. While punk rock bands like The Clash are definitely influences, there is also the obvious Bruce Springsteen influence as well as Pearl Jam, who is Fallon's favorite band. Gaslight had once in a lifetime moments by having Springsteen join them on stage in 2009 to help out on "The '59 Sound" as well as Pearl Jam's Eddie Vedder joining them in Florida to perform a cover of that band's "State Of Love And Trust". I first heard of The Gaslight Anthem when I heard the song "The '59 Sound". I thought it was such a different vibe and it really made me feel that rock and roll still has a heartbeat. In my mind, these guys should be huge. They just write great songs and it totally baffles me how these guys aren't household names. I think they've put out some of the best music period in the last 10 to 15 years. I'm so psyched that these guys have put the band back together and I can't wait for new music and I have to see these guys live when they come around Boston!

SIMILAR ARTISTS:

The Horrible Crowes

The Menzingers

Dave Hause

Chuck Ragan

The Loved Ones

TEN THE GASLIGHT ANTHEM SONGS YOU SHOULD CHECK OUT:

1. Bring It On

2. The '59 Sound

3. Handwritten

4. Tumblin' Dice (The Rolling Stones cover)

5. American Slang

6. I'da Called You Woody, Joe

7. Boxer (acoustic version)

8. 45

9. Great Expectations

10. Rollin' And Tumblin'

SONG OF THE WEEK: 4/10/22

SONG:  "Lost In Taiwan"

ARTIST:  Air Show Disaster

ALBUM:  "Air Show Disaster" EP

YEAR:  2013

PLACE OF ORIGIN:  San Francisco, California

YEARS ACTIVE:  2008 - 2015 ??

WHAT I THINK THE SONG IS ABOUT:

"Lost In Taiwan" appears to be a song about a relationship that's toxic. The vocalist describes his partner's love as "poison". He needs to seperate because it's almost as if she is killing him mentally.

AIR SHOW DISASTER DISCOGRAPHY (Full length albums only):

None.  Air Show Disaster only released two EP's in their short stint as a band.

MY THOUGHTS ON AIR SHOW DISASTER:

Air Show Disaster is a San Francisco band that formed around 2008 but I haven't confirmed that. The first piece of music they put out was the 2008 EP "Bridges". It would be five years before they released more music, which would be yet another EP titled "Air Show Disaster" in 2013. The last time there was anything coming out of the Air Show Disaster camp was around 2015 when their Twitter page was still active. There just isn't a whole lot of information out there about this band. I'm not even 100% positive I remember how I heard of them! If I had to guess, I would say I found out about Air Show Disaster on the old purevolume.com website. They used to feature a lot of independent and unsigned bands that you could search through genres. In the early 2000's I was really getting into post hardcore bands like Bleed The Dream and A Static Lullaby and stuff like that and I used to be a lot more intense with how I would scour the internet to find new bands and new music so I'm sure I fell into Air Show Disaster at that time. As I listen to them now, I'm not so sure I would have gotten into them like I did back then. I think their sound overall is ok but nothing that pops out to you. But it was fun to go back in time and try to remember where I was at music wise in the early 2000's and remembering how insane I was at finding new bands. Good old purevolume.com definitely brings back memories!!

SIMILAR ARTISTS:

Bleed The Dream

Blinded Black

The Hurt Process

Therefore I Am

Roses Are Red

TEN AIR SHOW DISASTER SONGS YOU SHOULD CHECK OUT:

1. Earthbound

2. Clock Dem Hours

3. Explosions In Slow Motion

4. Sick As Our Secrets

5. Party Song

6. Lost In Taiwan

7. Strip Malls And Cemeteries

8. Need For Revenge

9. Feel Good Song Of The Year

10. Two If By Sea

SONG OF THE WEEK: 4/3/22

SONG:  "A Brief Lesson In Repetition"

ARTIST:  Red City Radio

ALBUM:  "Spinning In Circles Is A Gateway Drug" single

YEAR:  2010

PLACE OF ORIGIN:  Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

YEARS ACTIVE:  2007 - present

WHAT I THINK THE SONG IS ABOUT:

"A Brief Lesson In Repetition" appears to be a song about how this country, that was founded on a solid base of strong ideals of democracy, seems to stumble and make the same mistakes over and over again. Whether it's capitalistic mistakes of relying on Wall St. Or it's military mistakes, especially when trying to impose it's will on other countries in an imperialistic way. The vocalist will always voice his dissent and fight for what makes our democracy great while shining a light on the mistakes it has made repeatedly.

RED CITY RADIO DISCOGRAPHY (Full length albums only):

2011 - The Dangers Of Standing Still (Paper + Plastick Records)

* did not chart on the Billboard 200

2013 - Titles (Paper + Plastick Records)

* did not chart on the Billboard 200

2015 - Red City Radio (Gunner Records)

* did not chart on the Billboard 200

2020 - Paradise (Pure Noise Records)

* did not chart on the Billboard 200

MY THOUGHTS ON RED CITY RADIO:

Red City Radio formed as a band back in 2007, hailing from Oklahoma. Early on the band released a few EP's, most notably 2009's "To The Sons & Daughters Of Woody Guthrie". This caught the ear of punk label Paper + Plastick who signed the band and released their debut full length album, 2011's "The Dangers Of Standing Still". Red City Radio followed that album up with 2013's "Titles". These were two very solid albums and showed that Red City Radio definitely had a lot of promise as a band. In 2014, Paul Pendley left the band. Up until this time, Red City Radio featured the dual vocal attack of Pendley and Garrett Dale. Now, Dale would take over full vocal duties from here on out. In 2015, the band released "Red City Radio". After some more EP's and splits, 2020 saw the band release it's most recent full length, "Paradise". Red City Radio is a helluva band! These guys just create some great melodic punk rock and roll. And their sound just seems to be getting tighter and tighter. Lead vocalist Garrett Dale loves the band Kiss so he describes his music as rock and roll but you can't hide the punk rock foundation in their sound. I definitely caught wind of this band from reading about them on the old dyingscene.com website. I believe the first song I heard by them was "Spinning In Circles Is A Gateway Drug" and was hooked right off the bat. I definitely gotta make it a point to see these guys live as they are really becoming one of my favorite bands.

SIMILAR ARTISTS:

The Draft

The Falcon

Dead To Me

The Flatliners

Off With Their Heads

TEN RED CITY RADIO SONGS YOU SHOULD CHECK OUT:

1. Never Bring A Cup Of Water To A Gunfight

2. Two Notes Shy Of An Octave

3. Rebels

4. Two Out Of Three Ain't Rad

5. Spinning In Circles Is A Gateway Drug

6. A Version Of Events

7. Help Save The Youth Of America From Exploding

8. Apocalypse, Please!

9. Rest Easy

10. Baby Of The Year