For the past seven years, Spanish Love Songs have made a reputation for themselves across their previous three albums for creating some of the most emotionally powerful music, a feat that, with the release of their fourth album No Joy (Pure Noise Records), the punk quintet achieved yet again.
Pure Noise Records is well-known for the label’s pop-punk proclivity and delectable array of alternative rock signees, It’s an avenue to both discover up-and-coming acts and to rekindle interest with longstanding mainstays.
On July 29th, fans eagerly gathered in Phoenix, Arizona’s Financial Theater for Yellowcard’s highly-awaited comeback tour which celebrated 20 years since the release of their freshman album Ocean Avenue. Needless to say, after a long hiatus, the fans expected a night filled with nostalgia, energy, and powerful performances from all the bands that came together in support of this tour.
Recovery of any kind – both physically and mentally – is a massive process that should be seen for the courageous and brave act that it is. Whether from addiction or injury, the road to that recovery has to start with the person who has to undergo said recovery. And that’s no small feat. More importantly, recovery looks different for every single person, even with the same affliction. Most important of all, however, is that recovery isn’t always the destination, but rather the journey to something at least better.
With how common it has become for strong artists to get watered down by overproduction, it is refreshing to hear some raw, straightforward garage rock made solely for the love of music. Cardiff-based quintet James And The Cold Gun recorded their self-titled debut album (Loosegroove Records) from their very own garage, bringing an astute balance of polish and roughness – in other words, pure rock n’ roll.
The pop-punk genre will never die. It’s fresh, fun, sometimes a bit silly, and wholly needed in a world full of stress and hate. People need music that makes them happy. People need music that will put a smile on their faces. People need music that will invoke a fresh breeze, wind in their hair, and a joyful being. Thank Gallus for the new album We Don’t Like the People We’ve Become (Marshall Records).
Our favorite desert rockers Queens of the Stone Age are back just in time for the weather to heat up. The quintet have been building friction for the last few months, teasing fans with cryptic, eye-catching clips of gluttony and pleasure that hinted at big things on the horizon. Six years have flown by since their dance-rock album Villains and fans can breathe a sigh of relief with the announcement of their swanky and suave In Times New Roman… (Matador Records).
For reasons well documented that we are not going to touch on here, notverynicecream (Hassle Records) the sophomore record from Bristolian avant-garde noise merchants Phoxjaw, finally sees the light of day some six months after first scheduled. And focusing solely on the music, is this a record that was worth the wait? In a nutshell … Yes!
Ah, the age-old balance between the jagged, dirty edges of rock and the polish, apparently, required to make a commercial success of this left of mainstream universe we all inhabit. Get it right, and radio and playlists and such stardom-related “things” await… yet, to play that game too much and for too long is to risk losing the soul and joy that is at the heart of the art that got you there in the first place. So, seemingly as a response to the more contrived, collaborative, and involved process that led to their predecessor Fuck Art, alternative rockers The Dirty Nil have given themselves over to their natural instincts, indulging a Free Rein To Passions (Dine Alone) on their fourth album.
The multicultural and multi-talented Adanowsky has turned his hands to many things – acting, directing, producing, and making music. Written during the pandemic and taking inspiration from tarot cards, is his latest album The Fool (Universal Music Mexico). This is the French-Chilean-Mexican polymath’s tenth album and it is a down-to-earth one; a soft and melodious melting pot of pop, indie, folk, funk, and his Latin American roots.