Song Of The Week: 10/16/16

Song: "Dead Wishes"

Artist: Chris Cornell

Album: "Higher Truth"

Year: 2015

Place Of Origin: Seattle, Washington

Years Active: 1984-present



WHAT I THINK THE SONG IS ABOUT:

Chris Cornell himself has said that "Dead Wishes" is kind of a song for the disenfranchised. By taking a look at the lyrics, I see the vocalist is deep with regret over how his life has turned out. Everyone has hopes and dreams or wishes, if you will, about how things will turn out in their future. As you get older, sometimes you feel like you don't know where all the years went. Time seems to fly by so quickly and now you wonder if those hopes and dreams will ever be fulfilled. I don't see the song as all somber however. It seems Cornell leaves glimmers of hope that he still believes some of those wishes will indeed come true.

CHRIS CORNELL DISCOGRAPHY (Full length albums only):

1999 - Euphoria Morning (A&M Records)
2007 - Carry On (Interscope Records)
2008 - Scream (Interscope Records)
2011 - Songbook (UMe Records)
2015 - Higher Truth (UMe Records)

CURRENT STATUS OF CHRIS CORNELL:

Chris Cornell is, of course, most famous for being the lead vocalist/rhythm guitar player of Soundgarden whose roots date back to 1984. At the forefront of a burgeoning Seattle music scene, Cornell was the powerful voice of some mesh of punk rock and heavy metal that morphed it's way into a generic term called "grunge". Soundgarden of course would go on, along with Nirvana, Pearl Jam and Alice In Chains, to blow up the face of hard rock music in the early to mid-90's. By 1996, however, the "grunge" movement was starting to get saturated and internal problems within Soundgarden caused them to disband. This allowed Cornell to explore his musical creativity with the release of his debut solo album, "Euphoria Morning". This album definitely showed a softer side to Cornell but it showed that his powerful voice could handle multiple genres, not just hard rock music. Of course, it wasn't long before he was back in the heavy music fray. When Rage Against The Machine vocalist Zack de la Rocha departed his band, Chris Cornell stepped in and Audioslave was born in 2001. The supergroup was an instant headliner and in five years, released three hugely successful albums. Cornell was again being pulled by his own creativity however, and he departed Audioslave in 2006. 2007 saw a continuation of his creative juices with the release of his second solo album, "Carry On". In 2008, things got a little weird. Cornell decided to hook up with R & B producer Timbaland and create a soul album, kind of devoid of real instruments. The album sold well, but to his core fans, was a disaster. Cornell is one of the best hard rock voices ever. Even though his solo albums weren't heavy like his work with Soundgarden or Audioslave, they were still based on real instrumentation, not programmed beats. "Scream" is not looked at fondly by his hardcore fans. Cornell did do a few rock re-makes of a couple of songs on "Scream" and their was rumors out there that he might re-do the whole album using real instruments but as of this date, that has not come to fruition. Thankfully, in 2011, Cornell released a live album called "Songbook". Just Chris and his acoustic guitar and it's complete magic. Spanning his entire career, he played stripped down version of Soundgarden songs, Audioslave songs, Temple Of The Dog songs, his solo songs and some covers. This album is just fantastic, showcasing one of the most powerful voices in rock history! More great news is that by the time "Songbook" was released, Soundgarden had officially got back together and were hitting many festivals. In 2012, Soundgarden released "King Animal", their first album in 16 years! Now it's different, however. Now Soundgarden will take time between touring and albums to give the members time to work on their other projects. Cornell did this in 2015, releasing his most recent album, "Higher Truth". As I've said before, for more than 30 years, Chris Cornell has more than made his mark as one of the greatest voices in rock and roll history. He can be delicate with an almost bluesy feel at one moment, then he can let out a gutteral scream from hell in the next. His work in Soundgarden is legendary. That band is often described as a modern day Led Zeppelin because of their ability to write monster riffs and weave through different styles with ease. His one off, Temple Of The Dog, with members of what would become Pearl Jam, is one of the holy grails of the whole grunge movement. Audioslave proved he could write hard rock anthems that were more accessible to the masses than some of his darker work with Soundgarden. His solo material showed that he has the range to handle any genre, whether that's acoustic, blues, country or soul. And, he's also collaborated with many of the biggest acts in the music world including Alice In Chains, Alice Cooper, Linkin Park, Slash, Carlos Santana, Zac Brown Band and Mad Season. Cornell will always hold a special place for me, along with the other Seattle bands, because it impacted my life at an age when I was really finding out who I was. It's really the soundtrack of my youth and I will always love the Seattle bands because of that.

TEN CHRIS CORNELL SONGS YOU SHOULD CHECK OUT:

1. Sunshower
2. You Know My Name
3. Seasons
4. The Keeper
5. Nearly Forgot My Broken Heart
6. When I'm Down
7. Thank You (Led Zeppelin cover)
8. Can't Change Me
9. Nothing Compares 2 U (Prince cover)
10. Cleaning My Gun

Song Of The Week: 10/9/16

Song: "An Outbreak"

Artist: Paper Arms

Album: "Days Above Ground"

Year: 2010

Place Of Origin: Adelaide, Australia

Years Active: 2007-2016



WHAT I THINK THE SONG IS ABOUT:

To me, "An Outbreak" kinda reminds me of the movie "Fight Club". The vocalist appears to be stuck in the mundane, everyday rut of getting up at the same time, going to work at the same time, coming home and repeating over and over again. Ok, maybe it's like "Groundhog Day" too!! Where I say it's like "Fight Club", is that I feel he needs a drastic change to stir up something in his life to spark something in him. He definitely needs change to light a fire under him.

PAPER ARMS DISCOGRAPHY (Full length albums only):

2010 - Days Above Ground (Poison City Records)
2013 - The Smoke Will Clear (Poison City Records)
2015 - Great Mistakes (Poison City Records)

CURRENT STATUS OF PAPER ARMS:

Paper Arms is an Aussie punk band that got it's start in 2007. Right off the bat, the band forged a great relationship with Poison City Records who released all three of their full length studio albums beginning with 2010's debut, "Days Above Ground". 2013 saw the band release their second full length, "The Smoke Will Clear" as well as a split 7" with the band Nothington. The band's latest album was 2015's "Great Mistakes". There are many punk bands who were influenced by legendary bands of the past. Take your pick, The Ramones, The Clash, Misfits, Black Flag, Bad Religion, The Descendents. All great bands to emulate no doubt. There are a slew of bands, however, that began coming out in the mid to late 2000's that clearly are influenced by Hot Water Music. The gritty vocals, the melodies but not so much in a pop way, but in a meaner, heavier way. Paper Arms is a band that I feel falls into that category. Their contemporaries are bands such as Polar Bear Club, Timeshares, Apologies, I Have None, Above Them and Banquets. Paper Arms was a very solid band. It disgusts me that I used the term "was". Too many good bands just don't seem to make it now-a-days for a multiple of reasons and it sucks, especially when you listen to a band that had so much potential like Paper Arms. Unfortunately, the band announced it was breaking up on it's Facebook page and played it's last official show on February 26, 2016 in it's hometown of Adelaide.

TEN PAPER ARMS SONGS YOU SHOULD CHECK OUT:

1. Bricks And Mortar
2. Wrong Again
3. An Outbreak
4. Tanks Of Dust
5. Blackout
6. Write Us (Blueline Medic cover)
7. Medicine
8. In Silence
9. You Don't Speak For Me
10. These Nights

Song Of The Week: 10/2/16

Song: "A Synonym For Acquiesce"

Artist: Bayside

Album: "Sirens And Condolences"

Year: 2004

Place Of Origin: Long Island, New York

Years Active: 2000-present



WHAT I THINK THE SONG IS ABOUT:

"A Synonym For Acquiesce" appears to be about a break-up so bad that it has left the vocalist depressed and possibly suicidal. He is more comfortable being alone, dealing with his pain and emotional scars than he is amongst friends so his rut is deep. Bayside's Anthony Raneri is a very solid lyricist, something that separates Bayside from their contemporaries and the line "So take this razor, sign your name across my wrists. So everyone will know who left me like this.", pretty much sums up what this song is about and the pain she has left him in.

BAYSIDE DISCOGRAPHY (Full length albums only):

2004 - Sirens And Condolences (Victory Records)
2005 - Bayside (Victory Records)
2006 - Acoustic (Victory Records)
2007 - The Walking Wounded (Victory Records)
2008 - Shudder (Victory Records)
2008 - Live @ The Bayside Social Club (Victory Records)
2011 - Killing Time (Wind-Up Records)
2014 - Cult (Hopeless Records)
2016 - Vacancy (Hopeless Records)

CURRENT STATUS OF BAYSIDE:

Bayside formed as a band back in 2000, hailing from Long Island, New York. The band New Found Glory actually took Bayside under their wing in the early days after hearing the band's demo. Bayside's first offering to the masses was their 2001 EP, "Long Stories Short". By 2003, Bayside hooked up with Victory Records, a partnership that lasted 8 years and delivered four studio albums, a live album and an acoustic album. The band's second album, "Bayside", was the release that really began sparking interest in the band that led to success, thanks in part to the hit single "Devotion And Desire". In 2005, tragedy struck the band when the van they used while on tour hit an ice patch and flipped. Though most of the band sustained minor injuries, their drummer, John "Beatz" Holohan was tragically killed in the accident. The band wrote the song "Winter", which is on their "Acoustic" cd, as a tribute to Holohan. 2011 saw the band part ways with Victory Records and they released "Killing Time" through Wind-Up Records. This proved to be a one time deal with Wind-Up as the band's next and current label mate would be Hopeless Records, who released the band's 2014 album "Cult", which is the band's highest charting album, peaking at #24 on the U.S. Billboard charts and their latest record, 2016's "Vacancy". Bayside is parts punk, parts pop and parts melodic rock. What makes them really stand out is Anthony Raneri's vocals and his lyrics. He is a solid writer as I said earlier. His vocal style is somewhat unique as well. His voice and his vocal delivery really don't seem to mimic someone else's style. If you did ask me to compare Bayside's sound, I would say they have similarities with bands such as I Am The Avalanche, Taking Back Sunday, The Menzingers, The Swellers and The Early November. Bayside has been a headlining act for quite some time now and they have also appeared at several festivals such as The Warped Tours, Bamboozle Fests and Riot Fest. The band is planning an upcoming Australian tour in November of 2016 to support their latest release, "Vacancy".

TEN BAYSIDE SONGS YOU SHOULD CHECK OUT:

1. Already Gone
2. Devotion And Desire
3. Duality
4. Winter
5. Pigsty
6. Masterpiece
7. Pretty Vacant
8. No One Understands
9. Sick Sick Sick
10. Carry On

Song Of The Week: 9/25/16

Song: "It Could Have Been Me"

Artist: From Plan To Progress

Album: "Evolution In The Wrong Direction"

Year: 2008

Place Of Origin: Brighton, United Kingdom

Years Active: 2005-2011 ???



WHAT I THINK THE SONG IS ABOUT:

"It Could Have Been Me" appears to be a song about two people. The guy, who talked to her about his depression and his desire to end his life, and the girl, who listens to his stories and spent the time with him in hospital rooms. It's a pretty sad song lyrically, knowing that he did in fact go through with his warnings of ending his own life and she is left to grieve something she knew was inevitable.

FROM PLAN TO PROGRESS DISCOGRAPHY (Full length albums only):

2008 - Evolution In The Wrong Direction (Lime Records)
2010 - Ink Stains & Incidents (Fond Of Life Records)

CURRENT STATUS OF FROM PLAN TO PROGRESS:

The U.K.'s own, From Plan To Progress got it's start as a band back in 2005. They self-released their first EP in that very same year called "Bombs, Towns And Chords". In 2008, the band hooked on with Lime Records, who released their first full length album, "Evolution In The Wrong Direction". Most recently, which isn't really that recent at all, the band released "Ink Stains & Incidents" in 2010 through Fond Of Life Records. The band's style isn't breaking any new music territory with their melodic hardcore brand of punk rock. I'd say if you made up a recipe to achieve From Plan To Progress' sound, I would start with the melodic hardcore stylings of bands like Strung Out and Propagandhi. Then I would sprinkle in some pop punk tendencies of bands such as MxPx and Unwritten Law, especially the songs of those bands that are more uptempo. Then I would add the punk vocal stylings of a band like Autopilot Off. Mix that up and you'd get a little bit of an idea of what From Plan To Progress sounds like. The band really hasn't been heard from since about 2011. I haven't heard anything about them officially breaking up, but it's been about 5 years since they have been heard from so it could be a wrap for From Plan To Progress.

TEN FROM PLAN TO PROGRESS SONGS YOU SHOULD CHECK OUT:

1. This Gig Has Electric Shock Written All Over It
2. The Last Destroyer
3. Ink Stains & Incidents
4. A Promise To Disperse
5. Immersed
6. Product Of The Past
7. It Could Have Been Me
8. The Times Are Changing
9. Departed
10. Audi Alteram Partem

Song Of The Week: 9/18/16

Song: "Sinking"

Artist: Ambitions

Album: "Stranger"

Year: 2007

Place Of Origin: Plainville, Connecticut

Years Active: 2005-present



WHAT I THINK THE SONG IS ABOUT:

"Sinking" appears to be an anthem of sorts for those who have been shunned and cast aside by the powers that be. It's definitely an outsiders type of song. It's a declaration of those who don't feel they have a voice and who feel that they haven't been given the opportunity to grow that they will stand for their ideals in the face of those who deem them unworthy or even unuseful.

AMBITIONS DISCOGRAPHY (Full length albums only):

2007 - Stranger (Bridge Nine Records)

CURRENT STATUS OF AMBITIONS:

Ambitions formed as a band back in 2005, hailing from Connecticut. In 2006, the band released their debut EP, "Question". 2007 would be a rather extensive year for the band, not only releasing their first full length album, "Stranger", but also three EP's, "Neon Lights", "Exile" and "No Limits". The band's most recent release was the EP "Surface To Air" in 2015. Though "Surface To Air" was released in 2015, the songs were actually written in 2010. By 2008, the band basically went on a hiatus while the band members moved on to other projects, most notably Hostage Calm and Defeater. They wanted to get "Surface To Air" out in 2011 but several factors prevented them from doing so. In support of finally getting "Surface To Air" out, the band reunited for two New England shows in March of 2016. Does this mean Ambitions might work on new material? Not sure. But perhaps those shows sparks an interest amongst the bandmates to work together again in the future. Ambitions style is that of a post hardcore/punk band. If you are a fan of bands such as With Honor, The Argument, Ignite, Great Collapse or Avail, then you'd probably like Ambitions. There's nothing extroadinary about their music, nor anything that stands out, but they're a nice little post hardcore/punk band that's definitely worth a listen.

TEN AMBITIONS SONGS YOU SHOULD CHECK OUT:

1. Sinking
2. Lines I've Drawn
3. Uphill Battle
4. Surface To Air
5. Running Like Thieves
6. Distant
7. There Is A Difference
8. Neon Lights
9. Rapid Succession
10. Astro Zombies (Misfits cover)

Song Of The Week: 9/11/16

Song: "Blood Bank" (Bon Iver cover)

Artist: A Great Notion

Album: "A Little Scared" EP

Year: 2014

Place Of Origin: Peterborough, United Kingdom

Years Active: 2010-present



WHAT I THINK THE SONG IS ABOUT:

"Blood Bank" appears to be a song about a relationship between two people, beginning with the initial encounter, moving to a part where their love for each other is reciprocated and finally, to the point where they foresee their lives as always together with children in their future. It's kinda like the past, the present and the future and all the while, even at their first meeting, you feel like they know that this love at first site is going to turn into something more and they will forever be entwined together. "Blood Bank" was originally written and performed by the American indie folk band Bon Iver in 2009. A Great Notion covered this song for their 2014 "A Little Scared" EP.

A GREAT NOTION DISCOGRAPHY (Full length albums only):

2012 - Fun With Swifts (Ashes Records)
2013 - Possibilities (Self Released)

CURRENT STATUS OF A GREAT NOTION:

A Great Notion is an acoustic/folk/punk project of Jordy, who plays in the bands Evil Macaroni and Sammy's Fatal Mistake, two bands entrenced in the Peterborough, U.K. punk scene. The band first broke on the scene with the "Still Singing" EP in 2010. Along with their two full length albums, 2012's "Fun With Swifts" and 2013's "Possibilities", A Great Notion also released the "Demos" EP and a split 7" with Andrew Cream in 2011, a split 7" with Luke Hilly & The Cavalry in 2013 and the "A Little Scared" EP in 2014. Most recently, the band was on the bill on the Leeds, U.K. "Scene Better Days Fest 2016" in August of 2016. A Great Notion brings a brand of acoustic/folk/punk with their sound. They do at times, however, incorporate some electric instrumentation in some of their songs but acoustic guitars are at the foundation of what their music is all about. If you are a fan of bands such as Onward, Etc, Chuck Ragan, The Horrible Crowes, FM359 or Flatfoot 56, then you would probably enjoy the music of A Great Notion. It's been quite commonplace for punk rock bands, or at least bands with punk rock roots to explore the acoustic format and A Great Notion is no different. I would say they aren't one of the top acoustic folk punk bands, but good enough to warrant being checked out.

TEN A GREAT NOTION SONGS YOU SHOULD CHECK OUT:

1. Black Lungs
2. Anywhere
3. Sleep Well
4. Long Live Tonight
5. Drinking For Possibilities
6. This Isn't Kansas
7. Ode To The Grove
8. Late Nights In The Morning Sun
9. Insecure V (Political Jam)
10. 5th February

Song Of The Week: 9/4/16

Song: "Straight Papers"

Artist: The Dopamines

Album: "Expect The Worst"

Year: 2010

Place Of Origin: Cincinnati, Ohio

Years Active: 2006-present



WHAT I THINK THE SONG IS ABOUT:

"Straight Papers" appears to be an anthem for the total slacker! The vocalist is well aware that he is a failure surrounded by others who are seemingly successful all around him. He seems quite content, in a way, to live his life in boredom, laziness and drunkeness! A total slacker!!

THE DOPAMINES DISCOGRAPHY (Full length albums only):

2008 - The Dopamines (It's Alive Records)
2009 - Insubordination Fest '08: Live From Baltimore (Insubordination Records)
2010 - Expect The Worst (Paper + Plastick Records)
2012 - Vices (It's Alive Records)

CURRENT STATUS OF THE DOPAMINES:

Cincinnati, Ohio punks The Dopamines got their start in 2006, forming as a side project of members of the bands Black Tie Bombers and Ukraine Crane. It wasn't long before The Dopamines became the main focus of all the members involved and those other bands soon disbanded. Getting their music out there via pop punk forums and message boards, The Dopamines caught the ear of It's Alive Records who released their debut self/titled album in 2008. 2009 saw the band release the live cd/dvd "Insubordination Fest '08" as well as an EP called "Soap and Lampshades". 2010 saw the band hook up with Paper + Plastick Records to release their sophmore effort, "Expect The Worse". The band landed the opening slot on a Less Than Jake tour to promote that album. Their last full length release, 2012's "Vices", saw the band return to It's Alive Records. The Dopamines most recent release was the 2015 7" single "Guided By Vices". The Dopamines are known for their beer drenched, energetic live performances and their infectious brand of melodic, pop punk with a little snarl. This is a band that definitely draws it's influence from skate punk of the mid to late 90's. As for contemporaries, if you're a fan of bands like Dear Landlord, House Boat, Off With Their Heads, Banner Pilot and Dillinger Four, then The Dopamines should be right up your alley! Gritty pop/skate punk at it's finest!

TEN THE DOPAMINES SONGS YOU SHOULD CHECK OUT:

1. Public Domain
2. Useless
3. Try This Kids At Home
4. Molly
5. You're Ruining My Life
6. Soap And Lampshades
7. Vices
8. October 24th
9. Car Trouble
10. The Satisfaction Of Physical Retraction From A Chemical Reaction