SONG OF THE WEEK: 10-25-2026

SONG:  "The Northside, The L&L, And Any Number Of Crappy Apartments"

ARTIST:  The Lawrence Arms

ALBUM:  "A Guided Tour Of Chicago"

YEAR:  1999

PLACE OF ORIGIN:  Chicago, Illinois

YEARS ACTIVE:  1999 - Present

WHAT I THINK THE SONG IS ABOUT:

“The Northside, The L&L, Any Number Of Crappy Apartments” by The Lawrence Arms is a bittersweet, deeply melancholic look at the burnout, stagnation, and fleeting youth of a hard-partying lifestyle within the Chicago punk scene.

THE LAWRENCE ARMS DISCOGRAPHY (Full length albums only):

1999 - A Guided Tour Of Chicago (Asian Man Records)

* Did not chart on the Billboard 200

2000 - Ghost Stories (Asian Man Records)

* Did not chart on the Billboard 200

2002 - Apathy And Exhaustion (Fat Wreck Chords)

* Did not chart on the Billboard 200

2003 - The Greatest Story Ever Told (Fat Wreck Chords)

* Did not chart on the Billboard 200

2005 - Cocktails & Dreams (Asian Man Records)

* Did not chart on the Billboard 200

2006 - Oh! Calcutta (Fat Wreck Chords)

* Did not chart on the Billboard 200

2014 - Metropole (Epitaph Records)

* Did not chart on the Billboard 200

2020 - Skeleton Coast (Epitaph Records)

* Did not chart on the Billboard 200

MY THOUGHTS ON THE LAWRENCE ARMS:

The Lawrence Arms are a Chicago band that formed back in 1999. The band's original members, Brendan Kelly (bass/vocals), Chris McCaughan (guitar/vocals) and Neil Hennessy (drums), are still the line-up to the current day. The band's debut full length album would be 1999's "A Guided Tour Of Chicago". While this album only featured Kelly on vocals, every album from here on out would feature Kelly and McCaughan on vocals starting with 2000's "Ghost Stories". In 2002, the band inked a deal with Fat Mike of NOFX's Fat Wreck Chords. The Lawrence Arms released three albums through Fat. 2002's "Apathy And Exhaustion", 2003's "The Greatest Story Ever Told" and 2006's "Oh! Calcutta". "Oh! Calcutta" is arguably the band's most successful album to date. It would be eight years until The Lawrence Arms released another full length album. In 2014, the band released "Metropole" through Epitaph Records. The band's most recent release would be 2020's "Skeleton Coast". The spaced out releases from 2006 till the present day is most likely due to the members focusing on some side projects, most notably The Falcon, which features Brendan Kelly and Neil Hennessy and Sundowner, which is a solo project by Chris McCaughan. Brendan Kelly also released solo projects in those years as well. The Lawrence Arms stamped their space in the Chicago punk scene alongside such acts as Alkaline Trio, Rise Against and 88 Fingers Louie. They play a melodic punk style that feels urgent. Their songs reflect personal stories as well as pop culture. They are indeed one the more influential bands to emerge from the early 2000's punk scene. I knew of The Lawrence Arms right when they came out, probably from compilations and such, but I didn't become a huge fan till I heard 2006's "Oh! Calcutta". Once I heard that album, I quickly got up to pace with their earlier releases and have been following them ever since. They're a really solid, maybe even underrated band in my eyes. I love Brendan Kelly's vocals too, even tho he said he wanted to try and sound like the guy from the Goo Goo Dolls! I'll let it "slide" BK!!

SIMILAR ARTISTS:

The Falcon

Dillinger Four

Banner Pilot

Dead To Me

Red City Radio

TEN THE LAWRENCE ARMS SONGS YOU SHOULD CHECK OUT:

1. The Devil's Taking Names

2. Spit Shining Shit

3. Great Lakes/Great Escapes

4. Porno And Snuff Films

5. On With The Show

6. Seventeener (17th And 37th)

7. An Evening Of Extraordinary Circumstances

8. PTA

9. Turnstyles

10. Quincentuple Your Money

 

SONG OF THE WEEK: 10-18-2026

 

SONG:  "Wannabe"

ARTIST:  Staind

ALBUM:  "Staind"

YEAR:  2011

PLACE OF ORIGIN:  Springfield, Massachusetts

YEARS ACTIVE:  1995 - Present

WHAT I THINK THE SONG IS ABOUT:

The song "Wannabe" by Staind is a direct, confrontational attack on anonymous online critics, internet trolls, and detractors who insult successful musicians from behind a keyboard.

STAIND DISCOGRAPHY (Full length albums only):

1996 - Tormented (Self-Released)

* Did not chart on the Billboard 200

1999 - Dysfunction (Elektra Records)

* Peaked at #74 on the Billboard 200

* Certified 2X Platinum

2001 - Break The Cycle (Elektra Records)

* Peaked at #1 on the Billboard 200

* Certified 7X Platinum

2003 - 14 Shades Of Gray (Elektra Records)

* Peaked at #1 on the Billboard 200

* Certified Platinum

2005 - Chapter V (Atlantic Records)

* Peaked at #1 on the Billboard 200

* Certified Platinum

2007 - Live At The Hiro Ballroom (Eagle Rock Records)

* Did not chart on the Billboard 200

2008 - The Illusion Of Progress (Atlantic Records)

* Peaked at #3 on the Billboard 200

2011 - Staind (Atlantic Records)

* Peaked at #5 on the Billboard 200

2012 - Live From The Mohegan Sun (Eagle Rock Records)

* Peaked at #127 on the Billboard 200

2021 - Live:  It's Been Awhile (Yap 'em Records)

* Did not chart on the Billboard 200

2023 - Confessions Of The Fallen (BMG Records)

* Peaked at #64 on the Billboard 200

2026 - Break The Cycle (25th Anniversary Live) (BMG Records)

* Did not chart on the Billboard 200

MY THOUGHTS ON STAIND:

Staind formed as a band back in 1995, hailing from Springfield, Massachusetts. They self-released their debut album "Tormented" in 1996. Early on, Fred Durst of Limp Bizkit took the band under his wing and even helped produce the band's sophomore effort, 1999's "Dysfunction". This album was the spark for Staind, thanks in part to songs like "Mudshovel", "Just Go" and "Home". If "Dysfunction" was the spark, 2001's "Break The Cycle" was the all out explosion! This album began a string of three straight #1 albums on the Billboard 200 and thanks in part to the smash single "It's Been Awhile", "Break The Cycle" would go on to be certified 7X Platinum! Thus, making it Staind's most successful album of their career to date. Staind continued success with their next two #1 albums, 2003's "14 Shades Of Gray" and 2005's "Chapter V". 2008 saw the band release "The Illusion Of Progress" and in 2011, the band's self-titled "Staind" was released. In my mind, "Staind" was a return to the heavier sounds of "Dysfunction". I love this album! By 2012, the band reached a point where they needed a breather and they decided to take a hiatus. After playing a few live shows in 2014, the band's hiatus continued up to 2019. During that time, it allowed vocalist Aaron Lewis to focus on his solo country career as guitarist Mike Mushok would form a band with Three Days Grace vocalist Adam Gontier called Saint Asonia. In 2019, it was announced that Staind would start performing live show and appearing at several festivals. On 2023, the band was fully back in business with a brand new full length studio album titled "Confessions Of The Fallen". Most recently the band released a brand new single in 2026 called "Ghosts" which will be on a brand new studio album titled "The Space Between The Darkness And The Light" which is slated for release in 2027. Staind is a post-grunge/alternative metal type band. They started out as a very dark and heavy band but as the years went on, their songs tended to get more melodic and radio friendly, especially their singles. I got into Staind when "Dysfunction" came out so I'm a little biased to their heavier side but if you dig around the singles to the albums that followed, there's still plenty of dark, heavy material filtered through their catalogue. And that's not to say I don't like their singles. I think they're great songs. Staind overall is a great band. I've seen them live a few times and they were great every time and put on an awesome live show. It's great to see they are getting active again over the past 5 years or so. It seemed like when Aaron went solo there, it might have been it for Staind but I'm happy they are still making great music and still playing live. Great band. What more can you say? These are my home state Massachusetts brothers!

SIMILAR ARTISTS:

Seether

Creed

Puddle Of Mudd

Trapt

3 Doors Down

TEN STAIND SONGS YOU SHOULD CHECK OUT:

1. Not Again

2. Mudshovel

3. Right Here

4. Epiphany

5. So Far Away

6. Zoe Jane

7. Tangled Up In You

8. Come Again

9. Lowest In Me

10. Ghosts

SONG OF THE WEEK: 10-11-2026

SONG:  "Those Lovely Shark People"

ARTIST:  Requiem For The Dead

ALBUM:  "Always And Forever"

YEAR:  2011

PLACE OF ORIGIN:  Santa Cruz, California

YEARS ACTIVE:  2010 - 2015

WHAT I THINK THE SONG IS ABOUT:

"Those Lovely Shark People" functions as a dramatic, horror-romance story about two outcasts choosing to bleed out together rather than let the metaphorical "sharks" of the world tear them apart.

REQUIEM FOR THE DEAD 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 FOR THE DEAD:

Requiem For The Dead got it's start as a band back in 2010, hailing from Santa Cruz, California. The band, fronted by Steven Juliano, formed out of the ashes of his former band, I Am Ghost. The band's debut album dropped in 2011, titled "Always And Forever". This was a concept album about two star-crossed teenagers who fall in love and die together. In 2013, the band dropped an EP called "Memories". Around this time the band changed it's name to just Requiem. Under their new moniker, the band dropped their second, and what would be their last album, "The Unexplainable Truth". By 2015, Requiem broke up and Juliano basically left the music scene. Requiem For The Dead was a gothic, post-hardcore band. Think AFI or My Chemical Romance. As I said earlier, it's kind of a continuation of Steven Juliano's former band I Am Ghost. I'd say they are a good band. They don't stand out like an AFI or My Chemical Romance. I would say they are following in the pack rather than being lead dogs like those two aforementioned bands. Still, I enjoyed their music. I'd probably say I like I Am Ghost better compared to Requiem but again, they are very similar.

SIMLAR ARTISTS:

I Am Ghost

AFI

My Chemical Romance

Aiden

Save Face

TEN REQUIEM FOR THE DEAD SONGS YOU SHOULD CHECK OUT:

1. The Death Note Of Shipwrecks

2. The Misadventures Of Coffin Kid

3. Sticks And Stones And Her Lovely Bones

4. Ghost Of Winter

5. The Terrible Tale Of Two

6. Say Hello To The Devil For Me

7. Poison Girl

8. Where The Hell Did The Memories Go

9. The Unexplainable Truth

10. I'm No Angel

 

SONG OF THE WEEK: 10-4-2026

 

SONG:  "Phantasma"

ARTIST:  Finch

ALBUM:  "Phantasma (Demos 2015)"

YEAR:  2016

PLACE OF ORIGIN:  Temecula, California

YEARS ACTIVE:  1999 - Present

WHAT I THINK THE SONG IS ABOUT:

Ultimately, "Phantasma" acts as an atmospheric window into emotional disorientation, capturing what it feels like to live inside a psychological illusion where boundaries blur and your sense of reality begins to spin.

FINCH DISCOGRAPHY (Full length albums only):

2002 - What It Is To Burn (Drive-Thru/MCA Records)

* Peaked at #99 on the Billboard 200

2005 - Say Hello To Sunshine (Drive-Thru/Geffen Records)

* Peaked at #24 on the Billboard 200

2009 - A Far Cry From Home (In-n-Out Records)

* Did not chart on the Billboard 200

2014 - What It Is To Burn - X Live (Tragic Hero Records)

* Did not chart on the Billboard 200

2014 - Back To Oblivion (Razor & Tie Records)

* Peaked at #103 on the Billboard 200

2015 - Steel, Wood And Whiskey (Self-Released)

* Did not chart on the Billboard 200

MY THOUGHTS ON FINCH:

Finch formed as a band back in 1999, hailing from Temecula, California. Their first release would be an EP titled "Falling Into Place" in 2001. Their debut full length album would be released in 2002, titled "What It Is To Burn". This is really the peak for Finch. A great album driven by songs like "What It Is To Burn" and "Letters To You". Finch would follow that album up with their sophomore effort, 2005's "Say Hello To Sunshine". Though this was their highest charting album, it was not as successful as their debut. By 2006, the band went on a short hiatus but by 2007, they were back touring. They would release a self-titled EP in 2008 and in 2009, they dropped a live album titled "A Far Cry From Home". Friction within the band caused another break-up in 2010. Again, this was short lived as two years later, the band reunited for one show, which led to two shows, then three and so on and so on. In 2014, the band dropped another live album to celebrate the 10th anniversary of "What It Is To Burn" and they also released their third full length studio album, "Back To Oblivion". And, of course, in 2016, the band broke up again! They had been working on what would have been their fourth album, but tensions made the process impossible. The band did release demos of those songs through their various social media platforms. In 2022, Finch reunited to celebrate the 20 years anniversary of "What It Is To Burn" and embarked on a tour that went through 2023. Although there has been no news as to the band working on or releasing any new material, they often play live shows, especially jumping on various festivals. Finch is a band that is heavily influenced by the Deftones, but they have many influences that shaped their sound. They have been pegged from anything like pop punk, emo, alternative rock and so on. They're a solid band, they just can't seem to coincide for long stretches. "What It Is To Burn", as I wrote earlier, is clearly their peak. Sometimes it's hard to attain that again as a band. I love that album and the title track is a great f'n song. To this day, that song makes most of the playlists I make, either the studio version or the acoustic. It's great to see the band still playing live. Hopefully they can work on some new music in the near future.

SIMILAR ARTISTS:

Senses Fail

Funeral For A Friend

Thursday

Armor For Sleep

From First To Last

TEN FINCH SONGS YOU SHOULD CHECK OUT:

1. What It Is To Burn

2. Letters To You

3. Bitemarks And Bloodstains

4. New Beginnings

5. Ink

6. Two Guns To The Temple

7. Anywhere But Here

8. Insomniac Meat

9. Monuments

10. Play Dead

SONG OF THE WEEK: 9-27-2026

 

SONG:  "Unthought Known"  (Pearl Jam cover)

ARTIST:  Eddie Vedder

ALBUM:  "Water On The Road"

YEAR:  2011

PLACE OF ORIGIN:  San Diego, California

YEARS ACTIVE:  1988 - Present

WHAT I THINK THE SONG IS ABOUT:

The core meaning of the song "Unthought Known"  centers on human agency, self-worth, and tapping into deep, internal intuition. Written solely by Eddie Vedder, the track serves as an anthem for breaking free from negative thought cycles, overcoming social conditioning, and realizing your own untapped potential.

EDDIE VEDDER DISCOGRAPHY (Full length albums only):

2007 - Into The Wild (J Records)

* Peaked at #11 on the Billboard 200

2011 - Ukulele Songs (Monkeywrench Records)

* Peaked at #4 on the Billboard 200

2021 - Flag Day (Seattle Surf/Republic Records)

* Did not chart on the Billboard 200

2022 - Earthling (Seattle Surf/Republic Records)

* Peaked at #29 on the Billboard 200

MY THOUGHTS ON EDDIE VEDDER:

Eddie Vedder was born in Evanston, Illinois, just outside of Chicago but his musical roots formed in San Diego, California. He bounced around in a few local bands, one was called Indian Style which also featured future Rage Against The Machine drummer Brad Wilk. In 1988 he was in a band called Bad Radio which was a slight Red Hot Chili Peppers knock off. Of course, the infamous story of befriending Chili Peppers drummer Jack Irons and Jack Irons giving Eddie a demo from  Stone Gossard and Jeff Ament from Mother Love Bone, who just lost their singer Andy Wood to a drug overdose. Eddie put words and vocals on 3 instrumentals which would become "Once", "Alive" and "Footsteps" and in 1990, Pearl Jam was born. Ok, they were initially called Mookie Blaylock! Pearl Jam, of course, has been one of the most influential and successful hard rock bands of all time and I could go through their entire history but I'll save that for when I have a Pearl Jam song as my "song of the week".  Eddie would drop little nuggets out there solo, mostly a song for a soundtrack or whatever. He would guest for bands during their live sets as well, think The Doors ("Break On Through", "Light My Fire") and Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers ("The Waiting"). There's a lot more too. Eddie's first solo full length album would be the soundtrack for the movie "Into The Wild". This album was basically Eddie and an acoustic guitar. It was a very stripped down album and there are some killer tracks on there like the Indio cover "Hard Sun" and "Guaranteed". In 2011, Eddie dropped "Ukulele Songs". What rock star puts out a ukulele album?! It seemed logical as when Eddie did solo tours, he would do a few uke songs so. 2021 saw Eddie contribute music to another soundtrack called "Flag Day". This album also featured first time vocals by his daughter Olivia. In 2022, Eddie put out his most ambitious solo effort and it featured a full band too. Eddie Vedder on vocals/guitar, Glen Hansard on guitar, Josh Klinghoffer on guitar and keyboards, Andrew Watt on guitar, Chris Chaney on bass and Chad Smith on drums. The band would be called The Earthlings and the album was also called "Earthling", produced by Andrew Watt. Eddie loved working with Andrew Watt so much that he got the guys in Pearl Jam to agree to have him produce their latest album "Dark Matter", which is just a killer album. Most recently, Eddie released the single "Save It For Later" in 2024, which is an English Beat cover. Eddie Vedder is legendary. One of the best vocalists and lyricists not only of his generation but of all time. One of the most influential rock vocalists of all time for sure. His solo stuff is really cool. I mean, if you're a Pearl Jam fan you're gonna love his solo stuff as well. But there's nothing better than when the guys get back together and work on new music together. Like I said earlier, their "Dark Matter" album is just fantastic and I love the way Andrew Watt made the band really work together on the songs, almost from scratch. Eddie's doing some solo tour dates in Japan coming up pretty soon. After that, I don't know if Eddie's gonna do another solo project or if the PJ guys are going to release something. Either way, I'm always wanting new stuff from Eddie and PJ!

SIMILAR ARTISTS:

Pearl Jam

Chris Cornell

Temple Of The Dog

Mad Season

Audioslave

TEN EDDIE VEDDER SONGS YOU SHOULD CHECK OUT:

1. Against The 70's (w/ Mike Watt)

2. The Waiting (Tom Petty cover w/ Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers)

3. Hard Sun (Indio cover)

4. Mrs. Mills

5. My City Of Ruins (Bruce Springsteen cover)

6. Guaranteed

7. Brother The Cloud

8. Drive (REM cover)

9. Constellations (Jack Johnson cover w/ Jack Johnson)

10. The Haves

SONG OF THE WEEK: 9-20-2026

 

SONG:  "It Starts In Our Heads"

ARTIST:  The Living Daylights

ALBUM:  "What Keeps You Breathing"

YEAR:  2011

PLACE OF ORIGIN:  Lincoln, England

YEARS ACTIVE:  2007 - 2017

WHAT I THINK THE SONG IS ABOUT:

Positioned as the introduction to an album titled "What Keeps You Breathing", the track implies that survival, resilience, and our perception of reality are entirely psychological. The struggles or the drive to keep pushing forward "start" internally.

THE LIVING DAYLIGHTS DISCOGRAPHY (Full length albums only):

2008 - Ways To Escape (Fond Of Life Records)

* Did not chart on the Billboard 200

2011 - What Keeps You Breathing (Fond Of Life Records)

* Did not chart on the Billboard 200

MY THOUGHTS ON THE LIVING DAYLIGHTS:

The Living Daylights formed as a band back in 2007, hailing from England. The band quickly came out the gate self-releasing an EP titled "The Living Daylights". The band followed that up in 2008 with their debut full length album "Ways To Escape". The band toured extensively to support that album and followed it up with their sophomore full length album, "What Keeps You Breathing", in 2011. If ever a band could wear themselves out by being on the road, this is exactly what happened with The Living Daylights and in 2012, they announced a hiatus. In 2017 the band did a short reunion tour which also served as a farewell tour. The band played their last live show on April 29, 2017 in their hometown of Lincoln, England. The Living Daylights played a melodic style of punk rock music offering some harsh vocals, think Hot Water Music or Rise Against. They got some pop punk to their sound as well. They had definitely created some buzz in their home country of England and across Europe. They were known for their energetic live shows and their commitment to the road. Perhaps they just overdid it as touring exhaustion was a definite factor in them calling it quits. I don't remember exactly, but I think I learned of The Living Daylights through the website DyingScene.com. I used to find out about a lot of bands through that site and I still do. It's too bad that The Living Daylights couldn't keep things moving as they seemed to definitely have some promise as a band.

SIMILAR ARTISTS:

Consumed

Rise Against

Hot Water Music

The Bouncing Souls

A Wilhelm Scream

TEN THE LIVING DAYLIGHTS SONGS YOU SHOULD CHECK OUT:

1. What Keeps You Breathing

2. Carve It Out

3. It Starts In Our Heads

4. Maps

5. These Roads

6. Wasted On The Rain

7. A Thousand Lights

8. Undertow

9. Melancholy

10. Beyond The Town