By: Mike & Ry
Ever since I saw The Front Bottoms with Weezer in at the end of July they've been one of my favorite new acts. If you don't know what i'm talking about, it was reviewed here:
http://musictimewithmikeandry.weebly.com/home/weezer-w-the-front-bottoms-portland-maine-73115
http://musictimewithmikeandry.weebly.com/home/weezer-w-the-front-bottoms-portland-maine-73115
With a voice eerily similar to former Blink-182 Frontman Tom DeLonge and acoustic power chords complimented by extraordinary drumming, these guys are a force to be reckoned with. They recently just added Tom Warren on bass and Ciaran O'Donnell doing trumpet and lead guitar to their previous two man line-up. They also released their major-label debut, Back On Top with Fueled By Ramen backing it. Fueled By Ramen hosts bands like the insanely talented Twenty One Pilots and Fun. frontman Nate Ruess. These guys put on an electrifying live performance with tons of live energy and a raw sound that they have been actively smoothing out as you can hear on Back On Top. The album was a solid project that doesn't really execute the potential this band has but showcases what they are capable of. 2013's Talon Of The Hawk is my personal favorite with 12 songs that grow on you more and more every time you hear them. You learn the lyrics and feel like you know the band personally as you scream out the lyrics to 'Twin Size Mattress' while driving your shitty car at night. This band is arguably my favorite at the moment and will pleasantly surprise you with their deep, metaphor-filled, and extremely well written lyrics and their catchy hooks.
-Ry
-Ry
Next up is one of the hardest, loudest and impressive rock bands i've heard in years. Royal Blood came out of fucking nowhere last year with their self-titled debut gathering rave reviews. It was again a pleasant surprise to hear a new refreshing band make music that they are passionate about with no pop radio singles to appeal to the mainstream group. As loud as this group sounds, they are only a duo, with the drummer, Ben Thatcher and the bassist and guitarist, Mike Kerr. You wouldn't believe that arguably the least famous of the classic 4-piece rock band could create such a gnarly sound that sounds completely different from The White Stripes although they use the same instruments. Royal Blood demonstrates such musical talent with their music and is the perfect soundtrack to raise hell with tracks like 'Figure It Out' and 'Loose Change'. With a critically-acclaimed debut backed by the major-label Warner Bros. And a tour opening for the Foo Fighters that lasted all year. The duo is ready to follow it up with their sophomore effort next year with all eyes on them to see if they are going to be a one-hit wonder and fall into the sophomore-slump or turn heads and become one of the biggest rock bands of the decade.
-Ry
-Ry
One of my favorite things about summer is the music that goes with it. To me, there is nothing better than having a car full of your friends, a sky full of sunshine and the windows rolled down and the stereo cranked heading to the beach. Circa Waves captures that feeling of euphoria in their major-label debut Young Chasers. Circa Waves is an indie/surf rock band from the UK that has more of a poppy edge to them than the punk/surf rock/indie Wavves. You've probably heard their poppy single 'T-Shirt Weather' while shopping at American Eagle. The only downfall of this band is their songs can begin to sound the same after a while. Luckily they are able to shift the mood to a mellow acoustic campfire ballad like 'Deserve This' but follow it up after with one of their most adrenaline fueled songs, 'Young Chasers' which is named after the title of the album. Don't be surprised if you hear these guys on the radio more often. 'T-Shirt Weather' brought them a lot of exposure this year so they could easily follow this album up with a huge summer smash that could potentially catapult them to fame like it did Imagine Dragons a couple summers ago. Next time the cold weather has you bummed out, put this album on and i'm sure you'll immediately start to warm up.
-Ry
-Ry
Now for my favorites. I must admit I am not as big of a fan of rock music as my counterpart Ryan is, but I know when I hear good music and these two bands have got it, whatever "it" may be. My first new favorite in rock is a four piece of devoted musicians by the name of Palace. These soulful blokes from London have made me start loving the smooth and choppy sounds of Rock 'n' Roll. The song Veins is an absolute masterpiece, its my favorite song from their album Lost in the Night . It completely captures my heart with its smooth guitar chords and the rockabilia hit to their drums, this mixture goes right to my mind and soul as the remaining reminders of why I loved this dirty nostalgia for the most basic of instruments in our modern world. In the best way I can sum it up Palace is right near and dear to my heart as the bluesy sounds of The Black Keys and maybe even Elmore James. That is how excited I am for this band to get their rise to the kind of fame all rock bands adore.
My second favorite "new" rockband has been on the scene since 2011, so they're not technically old in Lamen's terms, but dammit I gotta tell someone about them. Where do I begin with Morning Teleportation they are everything one could hope for in a rock band. They have the veracity of punk in there vocals but yet something old school in their guitar chords, and their style on stage reminiscing psychedelic rocks greats. The one song I urge you all to listen to is Crystalline, it has to be one of the top songs I go to when I'm trying to show off my music knowledge. The sweet fact that I know about the rock industry's best kept secret. A little band based out of Portland, Oregon called Morning Teleportation. I can't even begin to compare them to anyone else because their sound is so unique. They're comprised of so many varying factors of all kinds of rock it makes it hard to find a comparison for an amazing band like this, so I won't do it. I'll let this band seep into the minds of whoever is reading this and allow them the knowledge to listen in on a band who should be more famous.