Song Of The Week: 5/15/11

Song: "Get It Right"

Artist: Don't Look Down

Album: "Start The Show"

Year: 2002



"Get It Right" follows a common theme that occurs in many pop/punk songs of a relationship on the brink. You get the feeling that outside forces, such as old friends, are influencing the girl to end the relationship while the guy (vocalist) is trying to hold on to the relationship telling her that they don't need them, they only need each other. In the end, it seems like he loses. Maybe next time he'll "get it right". Don't Look Down formed as a band back in 1998 in New Jersey. After several years of being nothing more than a punk cover band, they finally got their break in 2002 and released their first album "Start The Show". This album showed that they were a typical pop punk band, perhaps a cross in style of bands like MxPx and Jimmy Eat World. With their follow up EP "Five" and 2004's "The Fear In Love", Don't Look Down began showing a more mature songwriting style and sound without totally losing their focus on hooks and melodies. It wasn't long after the release of "The Fear In Love" that Don't Look Down ceased to exist as a band. Perhaps it was just getting lost in the overload of pop/punk bands that were coming out at the time or maybe the band just ran it's course. In 2006, Don't Look Down lead singer Ryan Ogren joined another pop/punk outfit Over It as a guitarist and background vocalist. Some years later, Ogren and members of Over It and Rufio formed a new band called Runner Runner. Ogren, once again assumed lead vocals and guitar for this band. Currently, it seems Runner Runner is the main focus for Ryan Ogren which means Don't Look Down probably will not see the light of day anytime soon. Barring a change of heart from Ogren, it's probably safe to close the book on Don't Look Down as a band.

Song Of The Week: 5/8/11

Song: "Radio Prayer Line"

Artist: Sponge

Album: "New Pop Sunday"

Year: 1999



This song is about a mother-to-be. In the song, she's is hoping or praying that her newborn child does not have to suffer the same pains and misfortunes that have plagued her own life. She has seen her own parents go through a divorce and her father pushed most of the blame on her growing up. She's worried that the father of her child will do the same to her that her father did to her mother. By the end of the song, you get the sense that she is being comforted and that she should not have these fears because everything is going to work out fine for her. Sponge formed as a band back in 1991, hailing from Detroit, MI. They are one of the bands that hopped on the grunge/alternative bandwagon and enjoyed the ride, at least for a short while. Their 1994 debut, "Rotting Pinata" was a huge success for the band as hit singles "Molly" and "Plowed" were constant staples on any modern rock radio stations. Their success would continue with their follow-up album "Wax Ecstatic". By the time of their third album, 1999's "New Pop Sunday", the roller coaster ride of success began going down for Sponge. They experimented with a less grittier sound and a more polished pop style, much to the dismay of their fan base. During the 2000's, Sponge would continue on as a band, releasing three more albums as well as an EP. Lead singer, Vinnie Dombroski has remained the only original member in the band as the line-up has changed several times. During their music career so far, Sponge has gone from headlining arena shows, to now filling much smaller clubs but their core fanbase has remained loyal to the band. They're almost like an underground band now compared to their 90's heyday. Currently, rumors are out there that Sponge are going to release a new album in 2011 tentatively titled "Soak It Up".

Song Of The Week: 5/1/11

Song: "Divine Intervention"

Artist: Autopilot Off

Album: "Make A Sound"

Year: 2004



After reading the lyrics to "Divine Intervention", I get the sense the vocalist is trying to figure out the various questions that life brings us. Why do we bring people into our lives while we leave others behind? Why do we grow attached to some things while letting other things go? Why do we make the choices we do? Perhaps it's just easier to say that the reasons we do what we do are because of divine intervention. Our path has already been determined so there is no need to question our actions, just act. Autopilot Off formed as a band back in 1996. Originally, the band went under the moniker Cooter. They would release a full length album as well as an EP and a split with the band Slick Shoes under the Cooter name. In 2002, Cooter was forced to change their name to Autopilot Off due to legal action brought forth from another band who held the name The Cooters. As Autopilot Off, the band would release a few more EP's as well as their major label debut, 2004's "Make A Sound". While there's nothing extraordinary about Autopilot Off, nor anything that totally separates them from other pop punk/skate punk bands, "Make A Sound" was quite a solid album from beginning to end. This makes it all the more surprising that in 2005, just one year after releasing "Make A Sound", the band would go on an indefinite hiatus. This hiatus would turn into an eventual break-up of the band. This was very unfortunate news for fans of the band. Autopilot Off seemed to have a lot of promise as a band and this abrupt end seemed to happen all too soon. Currently, the band members have all focused on their lives away from the band and on their families. There is no sign of Autopilot Off working together again.

Song Of The Week: 4/24/11

Song: "Slumbering"

Artist: Samiam

Album: "Soar"

Year: 1991



"Slumbering" is a song about zoning out. Sometimes to get away from the daily grind that is life, you need to just step away and take some time to yourself to just collect your thoughts. Call it vegging out, day dreaming or whatever, it's all about taking some time to escape the realities surrounding you and just taking a moment to breathe. Samiam formed as a band back in 1988. They were considered "emo" before emo was a bad word! As for style, they are very similar to a band such as Jawbreaker. There are some definite punk elements without going full on punk. I just consider them a solid all around rock band. Samiam never quite broke out of the underground when it came to gaining any long term success as a band. Their high point was probably the single "She Found You" which was released in 1998. Even that song only achieved moderate success. Samiam was very much a part of the alternative movement that was a huge part of the 90's music scene. In 2000, following a tour to support their album "Astray", it appeared as if Samiam was going to call it quits. A break-up turned out to be nothing more than a hiatus for the band however and in 2006, they would release "Whatever's Got You Down". This would be the band's last studio recording as of now. From 2006 to 2010, Samiam became quite the touring band. Most of their tours would focus on playing Europe and South America as well as a stint in Australia. They also sprinkled in a few U.S. tour dates along the way. Currently, as of March 2011, word is that Samiam is hard at work on a new album. No release date has been posted yet for a new release however.

Song Of The Week: 4/17/11

Song: "Through My Window"

Artist: Cub Country

Album: "High Uinta High"

Year: 2002



This is a beautifully written song about the one that got away. In the song, the vocalist can only dream about what would have been the perfect life had his relationship with the love of his life survived. Now he just wallows in his own depression and loneliness knowing that that life is nothing more than a fading dream. Cub Country is a country/folk, indie type of band that was formed back in 2000. Cub Country is really the baby of Jeremy Chatelain. Chatelain had been the bassist of Jets To Brazil prior to starting Cub Country. Fellow Jets To Brazil member and legendary frontman of the punk outfit Jawbreaker, Blake Schwarzenbach also helped Jeremy out on some Cub Country material. Some may also recognize Chatelain as the front man for 90's hard rock band Handsome. Far removed from those hardcore days, Chatelain wanted to focus on songwriting and bringing forth a sense of Americana with his new band. A listen to Cub Country's music almost seems to take you out on the plains and plateaus of the western part of the United States. "High Uinta High" started out as a solo project of sorts for Chatelain, but soon more and more musicians would contribute to the project, and especially later projects to give Cub Country an overall band feel. The band would release two more albums, adding some electric guitar elements to what was mostly an acoustic style on the first record. The band's most recent release was 2009's "Stretch That Skull Cover And Smile". Currently, though Cub Country does not tour as much as in the early days of the band due to Chatelain focusing on his family, the band is still very much intact and will continue to be the main vehicle for Chatelain to put his music out to the masses.

Song Of The Week: 4/10/11

Song: "God Is In The Radio"

Artist: Queens Of The Stone Age

Album: "Songs For The Deaf"

Year: 2002



This song appears to be a shot at popular radio nowadays. It points out how radio stations use overkill and repetition to force their opinion on the listeners as to what "they" feel is popular or should be popular. Some bands even tend to fall into the radio's trap in that, when they achieve some success on the airwaves, they start trying to recreate the same song over and over again instead of just being true to their art and creativity. Queens Of The Stone Age formed from the ashes of Kyuss back in 1997. The one constant in the band since it's inception has been singer/guitarist Josh Homme. Through the years the band has been somewhat of a revolving door when it comes to studio musicians, touring musicians as well as contributors from other bands such as the Foo Fighters' Dave Grohl and Screaming Trees' Mark Lanegan. Lanegan, who performs vocals on "God Is In The Radio", has been a long time contributor and off and on again member of Queens. Grohl performed all the drums on 2002's "Songs For The Deaf" and toured with the band briefly on their 2002 tour in support of that album. "Songs For The Deaf" would be Q.O.T.S.A.'s most successful album to date, but success also brought about some turmoil for the band. Long time bassist and musical contributor Nick Oliveri was fired from the band due to a conflict with Homme. This would altar the band's sound a little bit on future albums done without Oliveri. As for style, the label "stoner rock" has been used to describe Q.O.T.S.A.'s sound, a term that Homme does not like at all. The band's music focuses on repetitive riffs, almost robot-like style. In a music world that is often saturated by carbon copies where you can't tell one band from the next, Queens Of The Stone Age is kind of like a breath of fresh air. They really have a style that is all their own and makes them stand out amongst the crowd. The band has released five studio albums to date and, currently, the band has been back in the studio since January 2011 working on a new album. The band has also re-released their second album "Rated R" featuring bonus b-sides as well as a live performance. Josh Homme is also hard at work remastering the bands first self-titled album which is due to be released sometime in 2011.

Song Of The Week: 4/3/11

Song: "Time Flies"

Artist: Puddle Of Mudd

Album: "Life On Display"

Year: 2003



This song appears to be about knowing that there is not much time left in your life and really stressing about it because there is so much left you want to do and you desperately aren't ready to die. Puddle Of Mudd was a band officially as far back as 1992. They would release two independent albums with very little success to the point where ultimately the band would break up. One of their albums found it's way to Limp Bizkit frontman Fred Durst who liked what he heard from the band. When Durst got in contact with Puddle Of Mudd lead singer Wes Scantlin, he was disappointed to find out that the band was no longer. Durst, however, convinced Scantlin to reform the band albeit with new members. The results were the band's major label debut, "Come Clean" which turned out to be a major success thanks to the hit singles "Control" and "Blurry". Puddle Of Mudd followed up the success of their debut album with 2003's "Life On Display". This would begin a trend of somewhat disappointing record sales for the band. They would release two more studio albums by 2009 with moderate success. Though the band did not totally fall off the map, they never achieved the success that their debut album would garner them. Their singles would, however, continue to receive radio play thus keeping the band in the conversation. In 2010, the band would release their first "best of" collection titled "Icon". Currently, Wes Scantlin has confirmed the Puddle Of Mudd should have a new record out by the end of 2011.