SONG OF THE WEEK: 11-19-2023

SONG:  "Twisted Duty"

ARTIST:  Crash-11

ALBUM:  "Crash-11" EP

YEAR:  2018

PLACE OF ORIGIN:  Wales, United Kingdom

YEARS ACTIVE:  2018 - present

WHAT I THINK THE SONG IS ABOUT:

I can't find the lyrics to "Twisted Duty" anywhere on the net so I'd hate to just speculate to what the song is about. I took a few close listens to the song before doing this but I couldn't get enough of the lyrics to take a crack at the meaning. Maybe if the lyrics come out on the net, i'll come back and edit this.

CRASH-11 DISCOGRAPHY (Full length albums only):

2022 - I'm Sorry, I Was Wrong (Flair Sounds)

* did not chart on the Billboard 200

MY THOUGHTS ON CRASH-11:

Crash-11 is actually a solo project for musician Nick Naylor from the United Kingdom. Naylor plays all the instruments, does the vocals and records and mixes all Crash-11 projects. The first release by Crash-11 I believe was the "Assimilate/Compassionless" split single in 2018. 2018 turned out to be a pretty busy year for Naylor as he also released three EP's during that year, "Crash-11", "Songs I Wish I Wrote" and "Surrounded By Misanthropy". Crash-11's debut full length album came out in 2022 titled "I'm Sorry, I Was Wrong". You can also check out the Crash-11 bandcamp page to hear some cool cover songs Naylor did like Lagwagon's "After You My Friend", AFI's "The Lost Souls" and A Wilhelm Scream's "Mute Print". Crash-11 is f'n solid! It's pretty awesome that this band is just one dude that's creating some really cool music. I'm pretty positive I first heard of Crash-11 through the punk blog Dying Scene. I've actually just recently checked out the cover songs by Crash-11. Naylor's take on A Wilhelm Scream is awesome! Naylor's a very talented dude and it's great to see that creativity come together in some pretty f'n cool punk rock songs!

SIMILAR ARTISTS:

Colorsfade

DC Fallout

Laughing In The Face Of

Bash Brothers

Dead Neck

TEN CRASH-11 SONGS YOU SHOULD CHECK OUT:

1. Save Myself

2. Lessons Ignored

3. What Will It Take?

4. Compassionless

5. Done With You

6. Without You

7. Mute Print (A Wilhelm Scream cover)

8. No One

9. Victim

10. The Last Time

SONG OF THE WEEK: 11-12-2023

SONG:  "The Big Shakedown"

ARTIST:  Requiem

ALBUM:  "The Unexplainable Truth"

YEAR:  2014

PLACE OF ORIGIN:  Santa Cruz, California

YEARS ACTIVE:  2011 - ????

WHAT I THINK THE SONG IS ABOUT:

I'm not quite positive what "The Big Shakedown" is about. Can't find the lyrics anywhere on the web and because the band incorporates what I like to call some "cookie monster" vocals, it's hard to figure out every lyric. If I had to guess, seeing that Requiem is kinda like a goth punk band, the song has to be about some sort of despair, or being held back or left behind or whatever! Typical goth type lyrics!

REQUIEM DISCOGRAPHY (Full length albums only):

2011 - Always And Forever (self-released)

* did not chart on the Billboard 200

2014 - The Unexplainable Truth (Cleopatra Records)

* did not chart on the Billboard 200

MY THOUGHTS ON REQUIEM:

Requiem formed as a band back in 2011, hailing from Santa Cruz, California. Vocalist Steven Juliano used to be the vocalist of another goth/punk band called I Am Ghost. Requiem is just basically an extension of that band. Originally the band was called Requiem For The Dead but they changed that moniker to just Requiem in 2014. The band dropped their debut album in 2011, the self-released "Always And Forever". After that, they dropped an EP in 2013 called "Memories". The band's final release would be 2014's "The Unexplainable Truth". As I said earlier, Requiem basically has a goth/punk vibe. They incorporate some gutteral vocals with mostly clean vocals. I was a fan of Steven Juliano's first band I Am Ghost, so naturally, I checked out Requiem pretty much when they first came out. They are a good band, nothing spectacular. They have their moments. I believe these guys are done as a band though I haven't really found anything official about that. They dropped their last album in 2014 and I believe played their last show some time in 2015 so, I think that pretty much adds up to them being broken up at this point in 2023. I found out that vocalist Steven Juliano is doing a lot of art now and writing novels as well. So, I pretty much think that Requiem is a wrap!

SIMILAR ARTISTS:

I Am Ghost

I Am Empire

Reverse The Curse

The Black Maria

Endless Hallway

TEN REQUIEM SONGS YOU SHOULD CHECK OUT:

1. The Deathnote Of Shipwrecks

2. Sticks And Stones And Her Lovely Bones

3. Ghost Of Winter

4. Where The Hell Did The Romance Go

5. Sad Boy Meets Sad Girl

6. Say Hello To The Devil For Me

7. I'm No Angel

8. The Unexplainable Truth

9. Always And Forever

10. Lost But Not Forgotten:  A Suite

SONG OF THE WEEK: 11-5-2023

SONG:  "Feathers"

ARTIST:  A Perfect Circle

ALBUM:  "Eat The Elephant"

YEAR:  2018

PLACE OF ORIGIN:  Los Angeles, California

YEARS ACTIVE:  1999 - present

WHAT I THINK THE SONG IS ABOUT:

"Feathers" appears to be a song about the importance of creating meaningful connections and letting go of things we tend to want to carry around with us.

A PERFECT CIRCLE DISCOGRAPHY (Full length albums only):

2000 - Mer de Noms (Virgin Records)

* peaked at #4 on the Billboard 200 on 5-23-00

* certified platinum

2003 - Thirteenth Step (Virgin Records)

* peaked at #2 on the Billboard 200 on 9-16-03

* certified platinum

2004 - Emotive (Virgin Records)

* peaked at #2 on the Billboard 200 on 11-2-04

* certified gold

2013 - A Perfect Circle Live:  Featuring Stone And Echo (A Perfect Circle Records)

* did not chart on the Billboard 200

2018 - Eat The Elephant (BMG Records)

* peaked at #3 on the Billboard 200 on 4-20-18

MY THOUGHTS ON A PERFECT CIRCLE:

A Perfect Circle formed as a band back in 1999, hailing from Los Angeles, California. Vocalist Maynard James Keenan, most famous as being the singer of the band Tool, let Tool's guitar tech Billy Howerdel stay at his home for a while. Howerdel took advantage of that by letting Maynard hear some of his demos. Keenan thought he could definitely see himself singing on those tracks and alas, A Perfect Circle was formed! Their debut album dropped in 2000, called "Mer de Noms". This album was an instant hit, peaking at #4 on the Billboard 200 charts and featuring hit singles like "Judith" and "3 Libras". In 2003, the band released their sophomore effort, "Thirteenth Step". Like "Mer de Noms" before it, "Thirteenth Step" also reached platinum status. In 2004, A Perfect Circle released a mostly covers album called "Emotive". Their cover versions were mostly drastically different than the originals and most of the songs were chosen as somewhat of a protest to the political climate at the time. After this release, A Perfect Circle went on a bit of a hiatus. Maynard, of course, began focusing much of his time on his main gig Tool, but he also started up another project called Puscifer as well. Howerdel, meanwhile, began releasing some solo material under the moniker Ashes Divide. The band did get back together for some live runs in 2010/2011 and released a live album in 2013 but much of their work together was sporadic. In 2017, the band decided to get back together and tour which led to the 2018 release, "Eat The Elephant". This was the last album the band has put out to date. Both Maynard and Howerdel have said that the book isn't closed on A Perfect Circle but because of their other projects, work together would be off and on. A Perfect Circle is a great band. Their sound is much different to Maynard's main band Tool, who is much heavier. A Perfect Circle is rock or maybe alternative rock, but their sound can be atmospheric at times. The songs are much more emotional than Tool as well. I actually like A Perfect Circle more than Tool. I find the songs to be a little more expansive and go in different directions a little more. I was hooked from this band right off their lead single "Judith". What a great song! And then they dropped "3 Libras" and I was like, fuhgetabout it!! Another fantastic song! I understand fully that Maynard has a lot on his plate managing Tool, A Perfect Circle and Puscifer so I accept that there probably won't be new music from A Perfect Circle as often as I would like but that's cool. The wait will make me appreciate the music even more when it finally does come out! Great band!

SIMILAR ARTISTS:

Tool

Chevelle

Incubus

Staind

Seether

TEN A PERFECT CIRCLE SONGS YOU SHOULD CHECK OUT:

1. Judith

2. 3 Libras

3. The Outsider

4. Weak And Powerless

5. The Hollow

6. TalkTalk

7. The Doomed

8. Blue

9. Disillusioned

10. Passive

SONG OF THE WEEK: 10-29-2023

SONG:  "Thought She'd Be Mine"

ARTIST:  Stone Temple Pilots

ALBUM:  "Stone Temple Pilots"

YEAR:  2018

PLACE OF ORIGIN:  San Diego, California

YEARS ACTIVE:  1989 - present

WHAT I THINK THE SONG IS ABOUT:

"Thought She'd Be Mine" appears to be a song about lost love and missed opportunities. The lyrics suggest a sense of longing and regret for a relationship that didn't work out as desired.

STONE TEMPLE PILOTS DISCOGRAPHY (Full length albums only):

1992 - Core (Atlantic Records)

* peaked at #3 on the Billboard 200 on 9-29-92

* certified 8X platinum

1994 - Purple (Atlantic Records)

* peaked at #1 on the Billboard 200 on 6-7-94

* certified 6X platinum

1996 - Tiny Music... Songs From The Vatican Gift Shop (Atlantic Records)

* peaked at #4 on the Billboard 200 on 3-26-96

* certified 2X platinum

1999 - No. 4 (Atlantic Records)

* peaked at #6 on the Billboard 200 on 10-26-99

* certified platinum

2001 - Shangri-La Dee Da (Atlantic Records)

* peaked at #9 on the Billboard 200 on 6-19-01

* certified gold

2010 - Stone Temple Pilots (Atlantic Records)

* peaked at #2 on the Billboard 200 on 5-25-10

2018 - Stone Temple Pilots (Rhino Records)

* peaked at #24 on the Billboard 200 on 3-16-18

2018 - Live 2018 (Rhino Records)

* did not chart on the Billboard 200

2020 - Perdida (Rhino Records)

* did not chart on the Billboard 200

MY THOUGHTS ON STONE TEMPLE PILOTS:

Stone Temple Pilots formed as a band back in 1989, originally called Mighty Joe Young. When they signed with major label Atlantic Records, the band changed their name to Stone Temple Pilots. The band dropped their debut album "Core" in 1992. Riding the wave of the grunge/alternative explosion of the early 90's, "Core" would go on to be certified 8X platinum! The album includes the single "Plush" which is arguably STP's best song. The band kept on rolling with their sophomore release "Purple" in 1994. This album was certified 6X platinum! On the band's third release, 1996's "Tiny Music... Songs From The Vatican Gift Shop", the band veered away from the grunge/alternative rock style and really started to incorporate more of a glam rock style. This would also be a time when lead vocalist Scott Weiland's addiction problems began to cause some unrest within the band. In 1997, STP members Dean DeLeo (guitar), Robert DeLeo (bass) and Eric Kretz (drums) formed a short lived band with vocalist Dave Coutts called Talk Show. Weiland released a solo album in 1998 as well. STP worked through their differences to release their fourth album in 1999 called "No. 4". This was a return to their early, heavier sound. In 2001, the band released "Shangri-La Dee Da". This album marked another slight shift in sound, becoming a little more experimental. The record was seen as a bit of a disappointment for the band even though it was certified gold. In 2003, the DeLeo brothers pretty much put it out there that STP was done. In 2004, Weiland joined a supergroup with Slash and Duff McKagan of Guns 'N Roses called Velvet Revolver which went from 2004 till 2008. The DeLeo brothers also formed a supergroup in 2006 with Richard Patrick of Filter called Army Of Anyone. This short-lived outfit only released one album. In 2008, STP again worked out their differences and reformed, releasing a self-titled album in 2010. As the band was working out what they were going to do for the 10 year anniversary of their debut album "Core", in fighting again started to derail the band. By 2013, the DeLeo brothers decided to fire Weiland and all kind of legal battles ensued after that. Ultimately, the DeLeo brothers were awared the right to keep the name Stone Temple Pilots. Weiland would go on to form a band called The Wildabouts and STP recruited Linkin Park's Chester Bennington as vocalist and they recorded an EP called "High Rise" in 2013. Bennington would leave the band in 2015 however to focus on his main band Linkin Park. In 2015, tragedy struck the band and the whole music world when Scott Weiland was found dead on his tour bus in Minnesota. Though Weiland and the band went through some tumultuous times, the news still carried a lot of weight for the remaining STP members. There was always the thoughts of what might have been had addictions not taken over Weiland. In 2017, STP announced new lead vocalist Jeff Gutt and the band released yet another self-titled album in 2018. The lead single of that album "Meadow" showed clearly that STP still had it. Gutt's vocals and delivery are eerily similar to Scott Weiland's. In 2020, the band released "Perdida", an album that is mostly acoustic and played with vintage instruments. The lead single "Fare Thee Well" is an excellent song. Stone Temple Pilots are an incredible band. These guys got some shit early on, critics panning them as grunge light or whatever. Those critics were totally wrong. STP is a band that can stand on it's own and stand shoulder to shoulder with the best of the grunge era. Lead vocalist Scott Weiland had a definite David Bowie and Jim Morrison influence to his style. You could always see that the band was more glam than grunge. "Purple" in my mind is one of the greatest albums of all time. It's a shame that Weiland just couldn't control his addictions because we definitely missed out on more great music from these guys. It's great to see the band still pushing forward with their new lead vocalist Jeff Gutt. He does Weiland justice for sure. It's been 3 years since their last release so hopefully STP has something in the works for the near future. Top 10 band for me for sure.

SIMILAR ARTISTS:

Soundgarden

Alice In Chains

Temple Of The Dog

Mad Season

Pearl Jam

TEN STONE TEMPLE PILOTS SONGS YOU SHOULD CHECK OUT:

1. Interstate Love Song

2. Plush

3. Trippin' On A Hole In A Paper Heart

4. Fare Thee Well

5. Sour Girl

6. Meadow

7. Out Of Time

8. Days Of The Week

9. Between The Lines

10. Andy Warhol (David Bowie cover)

SONG OF THE WEEK: 10-22-2023

SONG:  "Shoot The Moon" (Face To Face cover)

ARTIST:  Avenues

ALBUM:  "Undercover On The Streets:  A Vagrant Records Tribute"

YEAR:  2022

PLACE OF ORIGIN:  Milwaukee, Wisconsin

YEARS ACTIVE:  2006 - present

WHAT I THINK THE SONG IS ABOUT:

"Shoot The Moon" appears to be a song about the very beginnings of being in a band. The vocalist maybe had a naive view of the music world but it was that initial fire that made him think that he and his band could change the world with their songs and no matter what, they're just gonna go for it. Maybe now he's wiser and he sees that, yead he didn't exactly change the world, but he did leave an impact on his fanbase and it's for them and his passion for creating music that keeps that flame lit. "Shoot The Moon" was originally written by the band Face To Face and appears on their 2002 album "How To Ruin Everything". My song of the week is a cover of that song by the band Avenues.

AVENUES DISCOGRAPHY (Full length albums only):

2021 - We're All Doomed (Wiretap Records)

* did not chart on the Billboard 200

MY THOUGHTS ON AVENUES:

Avenues formed as a band back in 2006, hailing from Milwaukee, Wisconsin. It took them six years before they had an official release, being the 2012 EP "NoHo". The band dropped two more EP's, 2013's "Postcards From Ann Arbor" and 2015's "Creep Show". In 2021, some 15 years after they formed, Avenues finally dropped their debut full length album, "We're All Doomed". Avenues is a melodic punk rock band. Being from the midwest, they are often compared to bands like The Lawrence Arms and Alkaline Trio. Avenues cut their teeth by supporting acts like Rise Against, Strung Out, Less Than Jake, 88 Fingers Louie, Pulley, The Gamits and Red City Radio over the years. They're still out playing shows supporting their "We're All Doomed" album. This is a pretty F'n good punk band. Hopefully these guys start putting out more music though! One full length in 17 years?!! Come on boys! I know you got it in ya! 

SIMILAR ARTISTS:

Harker

Timeshares

Face To Face

Dillinger Four

I Against I

TEN AVENUES SONGS YOU SHOULD CHECK OUT:

1. Lights Out

2. Devious

3. Blood On The Moon

4. Shoot The Moon (Face To Face cover)

5. Rad Rad Ebola

6. Hipster 101

7. Messin' Around

8. Transistor Radio

9. Drag You Down

10. Thrasher

SONG OF THE WEEK: 10-15-2023

SONG:  "You Get So Alone At Times That It Just Makes Sense"

ARTIST:  Senses Fail

ALBUM:  "If There Is Light, It Will Find You"

YEAR:  2018

PLACE OF ORIGIN:  Ridgewood, New Jersey

YEARS ACTIVE:  2001 - present

WHAT I THINK THE SONG IS ABOUT:

"You Get So Alone At Times That It Just Makes Sense" appears to be a song about how someone can come into your life and literally save you from yourself. The vocalist didn't have much hope in life and suicidal thoughts flooded his brain. Then he met someone who saved him from despair and lifted him up when he needed lifting and always had his back no matter what. And while he is still neurotic at times, she has helped to keep him stable and gave him reason for living.

SENSES FAIL DISCOGRAPHY (Full length albums only):

2004 - Let It Enfold You (Vagrant Records)

* peaked at #34 on the Billboard 200 on 9-7-04

* certified gold

2006 - Still Searching (Vagrant Records)

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

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

* peaked at #18 on the Billboard 200 on 10-7-08

2010 - The Fire (Vagrant Records)

* peaked at #32 on the Billboard 200 on 10-26-10

2013 - Renacer (Staple Records)

* peaked at #84 on the Billboard 200 on 3-26-13

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

* peaked at #109 on the Billboard 200 on 6-30-15

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

* peaked at #57 on the Billboard 200 on 2-16-18

2021 - Joshua Tree (Live) (self-released)

* did not chart on the Billboard 200

2022 - Hell Is In Your Head (Pure Noise Records)

* did not chart on the Billboard 200

MY THOUGHTS ON SENSES FAIL:

Senses Fail is a Jersey band that got it's start back in 2001. The band's first release was an EP titled "From The Depths Of Dreams" which was released in 2002. This caught the ear of Vagrant Records who promptly signed Senses Fail to a four record deal. Their debut full length came out in 2004, titled "Let It Enfold You". This album eventually certified gold and Senses Fail was officially on the musical map! The band followed that album up with 2006's "Still Searching", which is the band's highest charting album to date, peaking at #15 on the Billboard 200. 2008 saw the band drop "Life Is Not A Waiting Room" and the band fulfilled their contract with Vagrant with the release of the 2010 album "The Fire". 2013 saw the band release "Renacer" through Staple Records, then the band hooked up with Pure Noise Records for their last three studio albums, 2015's "Pull The Thorns From Your Heart", 2018's "If There Is Light, It Will Find You" and their most recent release, 2022's "Hell Is In Your Head". Senses Fail are kinda like a melodic, pop punk, emo type band that sometimes ventures into some hardcore at times. They have been known to mix clean vocals with gutteral screaming vocals, some records more, some records less. I've kinda grown out of the "cookie monster" vocals as I've gotten older. I prefer their songs that have cleaner vocals. That's why I really love their 2018 album "If There Is Light, It Will Find You". That's pretty much an entirely clean vocal record. I got into these guys pretty much from their beginning. I'm pretty sure "Buried A Lie" was the first song I heard from the band and I was a fan right from there. Even though these guys are pretty consistent when it comes to putting out music, pretty much every two to three years, the line-up is a revolving door besides frontman Buddy Nielsen. Senses Fail is his baby. Senses Fail is also a pretty solid band. If you like bands like Silverstein, you'd like Senses Fail for sure so check 'em out!

SIMILAR ARTISTS:

Hawthorne Heights

Armor For Sleep

Silverstein

Taking Back Sunday

Scary Kids Scaring Kids

TEN SENSES FAIL SONGS YOU SHOULD CHECK OUT:

1. Calling All Cars

2. Buried A Lie

3. New Jersey Makes, The World Takes

4. The Fire

5. Between The Mountains And The Sea

6. Rum Is For Drinking, Not For Burning

7. Death By Water

8. Carry The Weight

9. Early Graves

10. Family Tradition

SONG OF THE WEEK: 10-8-2023

SONG:  "Sick Of Sorrys"

ARTIST:  North Lincoln

ALBUM:  "Last Show At Mulligan's Pub"

YEAR:  2012

PLACE OF ORIGIN:  Grand Rapids, Michigan

YEARS ACTIVE:  1999 - 2010



WHAT I THINK THE SONG IS ABOUT:

"Sick Of Sorrys" appears to be yet another song about a breakup. It seems like she did the breaking up with the vocalist more than vice versa. You can tell he still misses her, even saying that she's seen him at his very worst but where it seems he wants to repair or rekindle the relationship, I think she's done with him. I chose a live version of "Sick Of Sorrys" for my song of the week. The original version of the song could be found on North Lincoln's 2009 self-titled 7".

NORTH LINCOLN DISCOGRAPHY (Full length albums only):

2000 - North Lincoln (Offsite Records)

* did not chart on the Billboard 200

2004 - Truth Is A Menace (No Idea Records)

* did not chart on the Billboard 200

2009 - Midwestern Blood (No Idea Records)

* did not chart on the Billboard 200

2012 - Last Show At Mulligan's Pub (Self-Released)

* did not chart on the Billboard 200

2020 - Singles Collection (Extended Version) (Self-Released)

* did not chart on the Billboard 200

MY THOUGHTS ON NORTH LINCOLN:

North Lincoln is a band from Grand Rapids, Michigan that got it's start back in 1999. All the members were in high school when the band started. The trio's self-titled debut album came out in 2000 through Offsite Records. The band's sound caught the ear of well known punk label No Idea Records whom the band would share a relationship with for the rest of their career. In 2004, the band's first album through No Idea was released called "Truth Is A Menace" and five years later, the band dropped their last full length studio album together, "Midwestern Blood". The band also sprinkled in a few EP's, split singles and 7" singles around their three major releases. The long time between releases was mostly due to all of the bandmembers being active in other bands as well as North Lincoln. One year after the release of "Midwestern Blood", North Lincoln decided to call it quits as a band. They played their last official show on January 16, 2010 at Mulligan's Pub in Grand Rapids, Michigan. The band recorded this show and put it up for sale on it's bandcamp page in 2012, in what would be the final recording that the band would release. You can clearly tell that North Lincoln is a band that is highly influenced by the band Hot Water Music. Gritty vocals, melodic songs but with a heavy feel to them. North Lincoln became a pretty big deal in their home state and surrounding midwest areas. If you enjoy bands like The Tim Version, Samiam, The Arrivals, A Death In The Family and obviously Hot Water Music, then you should definitely check out North Lincoln. A very solid gritty punk band! It's a shame they couldn't keep it together to provide us fans with more solid music!

SIMILAR ARTISTS:

The Tim Version

The Riot Before

A Death In The Family

The Sainte Catherines

How Dare You

TEN NORTH LINCOLN SONGS YOU SHOULD CHECK OUT:

1. Bridge Jumpers
2. Truth Is A Menace
3. This Is Gonna Hurt
4. Seasons
5. Satellite
6. Sick Of Sorrys
7. In Your Hands
8. Weight Of The World
9. Jeane
10. Swan Song