SONG OF THE WEEK: 6-25-2023

SONG:  "True Believer" (live version)

ARTIST:  Superdrag

ALBUM:  "Changin' Tires On The Road To Ruin"

YEAR:  2007

PLACE OF ORIGIN:  Knoxville, Tennessee

YEARS ACTIVE:  1992 - 2023

WHAT I THINK THE SONG IS ABOUT:

By the time Superdrag was working on their third full length album, "In The Valley Of Dying Stars", vocalist John Davis was deep in alcoholism. "True Believer" is kind of Davis admitting his problem and realizing he needs help. This is about his aberration. He needs to stop living a lie and heal himself. This is a live version of the track, performed on 6-21-2003 at the Exit/In in Nashville, TN.

SUPERDRAG DISCOGRAPHY (Full length albums only):

1996 - Regretfully Yours (Elektra Records)

* peaked at #158 on the Billboard 200 on 3-26-96

1998 - Head Trip In Every Key (Elektra Records)

* did not chart on the Billboard 200

2000 - In The Valley Of Dying Stars (Arena Rock Records)

* did not chart on the Billboard 200

2002 - Last Call For Vitriol (Arena Rock Records)

* did not chart on the Billboard 200

2003 - The Paradise - Boston, MA 9/5/03 (Instant Live Records)

* did not chart on the Billboard 200

2007 - Changin' Tires On The Road To Ruin (Arena Rock Records)

* did not chart on the Billboard 200

2009 - Industry Giants (Superdrag Sound Laboratories)

* did not chart on the Billboard 200

MY THOUGHTS ON SUPERDRAG:

Superdrag formed out of the ashes of a band called The Used, who then changed their name to The Used To Be as to not be confused with the Utah emo/punk band The Used. Hailing from Knoxville, TN, Superdrag as we know them now formed in 1992. The band released five EP's, beginning with 1994's "Senorita", before dropping their debut full length album "Regretfully Yours" in 1996 through major label Elektra Records. This would be their only release to enter the Billboard 200, peaking at #158. This also featured their most successful single, "Sucked Out". Though Elektra pumped more money into the recording of the band's sophomore record, "Head Trip In Every Key", the label was not happy with the finished product and barely promoted it, eventually dropping Superdrag from the label. Revitalized from the constraints of their label, Superdrag put out what I feel is their best album, 2000's "In The Valley Of Dying Stars". After the release of the band's fourth album, "Last Call For Vitriol", Superdrag announced they were breaking up in 2003, mostly due to vocalist/songwriter John Davis' battle with alcohol. In 2007, however, the original Superdrag line-up got back together, initially to perform six shows, but eventually writing and recording what would be their most recent full length studio album, 2009's "Industry Giants". Unfortunately, by 2010, the band had once again disbanded. All the band members began focusing on their own projects, most notably John Davis' new band called The Lees Of Memory. In 2021, Superdrag once again started working together, posting photos of themselves working in the studio and what not. They even were rumored to have a new record coming out, tentatively titled "JINX". But, in 2023, Davis all but confirmed that Superdrag was done and the project they were working on may be released as a John Davis solo album. Superdrag was a solid little band. They somewhat caught the alternative wave of the mid 90's. Their song "Sucked Out" was a staple on MTV, when they actually showed videos! I always found their sense of pop melodies and hooks reminded me a little of The Beatles. John Davis could really craft a good pop song. I'm a little surprised they didn't get more popular. As I wrote earlier, I really love their "In The Valley Of Dying Stars" album. I think it all came together for them on that record but really all their records are pretty good. I was really happy with their comeback album of sorts in 2009, "Industry Giants". I guess sometimes, things just ain't meant to be. I'm hoping that the band gets over whatever conflict arose while they were working on this new album and they can release it and tour. I'd love to see these guys play live again. I saw them at T.T. The Bear's years ago and it was a great show!

SIMILAR ARTISTS:

Everclear

The Get Up Kids

Ash

Hot Rod Circuit

The Vines

TEN SUPERDRAG SONGS YOU SHOULD CHECK OUT:

1. Lighting The Way

2. Keep It Close To Me

3. Do The Vampire

4. Slot Machine

5. Sucked Out

6. I'm Expanding My Mind

7. Aspartame

8. Baby Goes To Eleven

9. Live And Breathe

10. I Know The Score

SONG OF THE WEEK: 6-18-2023

SONG:  "No Break Till Dawn"

ARTIST:  Strike Twelve

ALBUM:  "Huminsanity"

YEAR:  2015

PLACE OF ORIGIN:  Temecula, California

YEARS ACTIVE:  2003 - present

WHAT I THINK THE SONG IS ABOUT:

"No Break Till Dawn" appears to be a tongue in cheek type of song about how the band will be relentless, with anything! Whether that's practicing, rehearsing, touring, partying or trying to be the best band around! There's no rest in them and there's no quit. The train keeps a rollin'!

STRIKE TWELVE DISCOGRAPHY (Full length albums only):

2009 - Killing California (Felony Records)

* did not chart on the Billboard 200

2012 - Moonshine (Felony Records)

* did not chart on the Billboard 200

2015 - Huminsanity (Felony Records)

* did not chart on the Billboard 200

2017 - Down With The Ship (Felony Records)

* did not chart on the Billboard 200

2018 - Does It Live (Felony Records)

* did not chart on the Billboard 200

2023 - Last Band Standing (Thousand Island Records)

* did not chart on the Billboard 200

MY THOUGHTS ON STRIKE TWELVE:

Strike Twelve formed as a band back in 2003. This Temecula, California band started when the members were still just sophomores in high school. The band's first release was an EP titled "Born Naked Die Naked" in 2006. From there the band inked a long term deal with Felony Records. They dropped their first full length studio debut album in 2009 called "Killing California". Strike Twelve started gaining some buzz in the California punk scene with their energetic songs and raucous live performances. In 2012, Strike Twelve dropped their sophomore effort, "Moonshine". 2015 saw the release of "Huminsanity" while 2017 saw the release of "Down With The Ship". In 2018, the band released their very first live album, "Does It Live" through their bandcamp page. Strike Twelve's brand new full length studio album, "Last Band Standing", is slated to be released in just two weeks on June 30, 2023. As I said earlier, Strike Twelve is a very energetic band. You could really hear a band maturing from album to album without losing any of their youthful spunk! I first heard of Strike Twelve when "Killing California" came out in 2009 and to this day, the title track is still my favorite song by them. Overall they are a very good punk band, maybe a little lite lyrically. Definitely worth a listen for sure.

SIMILAR ARTISTS:

Boardroom Heroes

Sic Waiting

Curbside

We're Not Afraid

Resistors

TEN STRIKE TWELVE SONGS YOU SHOULD CHECK OUT:

1. Killing California

2. Zom B. Nation

3. Joe's Apartment

4. The Long Tail

5. Zom B. Nation II

6. Homicide

7. Baseball Bat

8. Watch It Burn

9. The End Is Near

10. Kodachrome (Paul Simon cover)

SONG OF THE WEEK: 6-11-2023

SONG:  "Damage Deposits"

ARTIST:  Leagues Apart

ALBUM:  "Buffalo Club" EP

YEAR:  2011

PLACE OF ORIGIN:  Manchester, United Kingdom

YEARS ACTIVE:  2009 - ????

WHAT I THINK THE SONG IS ABOUT:

i couldn't find the lyrics to "Damage Deposits" anywhere on the net so I'm not totally sure exactly what the song is about. I tried to give it a few close listens to pick out the lyrics but my cat was purring in my face so that didn't quite work out! If anyone got the lyrics, please send them.

LEAGUES APART DISCOGRAPHY (Full length albums only):

2010 - To Anywhere (TNS Records)

* did not chart on the Billboard 200

2014 - Brief Interviews With Hideous Men (Cats? Aye! Records)

* did not chart on the Billboard 200

MY THOUGHTS ON LEAGUES APART:

Leagues Apart is a punk band hailing from the United Kingdom. They formed as a band in 2009. The band's first release was the 2010 album "To Anywhere". They put out an EP and a split release after that before putting out their sophomore full length album, 2014's "Brief Interviews With Hideous Men". In 2016, Leagues Apart announced their break-up on Facebook. In 2018, they played a reunion show and in 2019, they announced a new line-up, hinting of some new material or shows or both. Nothing really has come of that since. I'm sure I found out about these guys from the dyingscene.com blog. They kinda have that, what I call gruff punk sound. Think bands like The Flatliners or Off With Their Heads where the vocalists have that scratchy style vocals over melodic punk rock music. These bands all seem like they were heavily influenced by Hot Water Music. I'm not really sure if Leagues Apart is still around or not. Like I said earlier, they haven't really posted anything on their Facebook page since 2019 so I have no idea as to their status as a band. Hopefully they are still kicking as they're a pretty good band.

SIMILAR ARTISTS:

Above Them

How Dare You

Timeshares

Banquets

House Boat

TEN LEAGUES APART SONGS YOU SHOULD CHECK OUT:

1. Kat Dennings:  You Are My Everest

2. I Knew You Guys Were Smart...

3. Rampant House Is Rampant

4. Davey And The Slick Cigarette

5. Kieran Looks Like Rob Brydon

6. Penelope Booze Cruise

7. In Spite Of It All

8. Hail To The King, Baby

9. All This Talk Of Sinking Ships Is Making Me Thirsty

10. I Thought You Meant Wales The Country

SONG OF THE WEEK: 6-4-2023

SONG:  "Just A Sentiment"

ARTIST:  Shallow Cuts

ALBUM:  "Empty Beach Town"

YEAR:  2016

PLACE OF ORIGIN:  Minneapolis, Minnesota

YEARS ACTIVE:  2014 - ????

WHAT I THINK THE SONG IS ABOUT:

"Just A Sentiment" appears to be a song about being at home and at peace with your surroundings. I get the sense from the vocalist that there's nothing over the top great going on in his life and his environment but he's very content with life as it is. He seems to be very much in the present and he's cool with that.

SHALLOW CUTS DISCOGRAPHY (Full length albums only):

2016 - Empty Beach Town (No Idea Records)

* did not chart on the Billboard 200

MY THOUGHTS ON SHALLOW CUTS:

Shallow Cuts is a side project band hailing from Minneapolis, Minnesota. The band formed from members of the bands Dan Padilla, Madison Bloodbath and Dear Landlord in the year 2014. Their first project was an EP called Storm Watch in 2014. Then they had a split release with the band Radon in 2015 before releasing their debut full length, "Empty Beach Town", in 2016 through No Idea Records. As I said earlier, this is a side project for these guys. They seemed to focus on Shallow Cuts for a solid two year period then the guys either went back to their main gigs or did whatever as Shallow Cuts went on the back burner. As of today's date, the band's Facebook, Twitter and Instagram accounts are all closed which most likely suggests that the project is dead, though I haven't read anything official anywhere, I would safely assume that Shallow Cuts is no more. I found out about these guys from being a fan of the band Dear Landlord. They bring a similar style to them, nothing out of the ordinary. They're a solid listen but I'll take Dear Landlord any day of the week!

SIMILAR ARTISTS:

Timeshares

The Tim Version

Western Settings

The Arrivals

Banquets

TEN SHALLOW CUTS SONGS YOU SHOULD CHECK OUT:

1. Common Theme

2. Winter Song

3. SLC

4. Decision Tree

5. Berlin

6. 89 Suzuki

7. Just A Sentiment

8. Flash Floods

9. The Mission

10. Tony Alamo