Tag Archives: music

Chatting With The Rocket Summer and Royal Teeth

Posted on by Ryan Kantor

I haven’t written a music post in ages, but I finally have some fresh content worth sharing.

I previously wrote about The Rocket Summer opening for Switchfoot at the Georgia Theatre in Athens. As I’d written, his stage presence was phenomenal and I enjoyed the show, but was disappointed by the limited time he had on stage. His subsequent headlining tour, where he would invariably have a longer set list, did not include any stops I would be able to attend. Fortunately, The Rocket Summer has just gone back on tour and stopped in Charlotte, NC on 3/22/13.

I was able to make it to the Charlotte show, and as before, his stage presence was great. This time performing in front of his own fans (as opposed to Switchfoot fans) he came off-stage and into the crowd for one song and during the encore joined the crowd to dance in the closest thing to a mosh pit you’ll ever see at a rock/pop concert.

The show was in a small venue, the Tremont Music Hall, with only a few hundred in the crowd. After the show, artists from each band were out socializing with the remaining fans and I was able to ask Bryce Avary, the man that is The Rocket Summer, about the meaning behind my three favorite songs.

“Colors” (Do You Feel, 2007) - I had always pondered the meaning behind this song and told him my theory was that it was about marriage, and that the “colors” referred to in the line “under these colors” were like the colors of a crest representing marriage, although I originally thought the line was “under these covers.” That was my theory at least. (MetroLyrics actually has his lyrics incorrect, as they mistake “colors” for “covers,” which he said was a common mistake.)

Avary said that it in fact is about marriage and touring. The colors allude to the skies in the cities where they toured. The lyrics capture the struggles of the gauntlet that is long nights on the road, but being blessed to do it with his wife.

“So Much Love“ (Do You Feel, 2007): Probably his most popular song, I asked what “So Much Love” was about, telling him that I initially thought it was about a girl, but more recently had interpreted the lyrics to be about the uncomprehending love only God can give. See below:

Oh, I swear, I know, I believe it
Oh, I can’t stop hearin’ all the singin’
Oh, my soul has never had this feelin’
And it feels like

So, so, so much love in you
You got so much love in you
I’m amazed that I’m talkin’ to you
You look like the songs that I’ve heard my whole life comin’ true

Others in the conversation joked that it must be about people climbing out of pianos, as seen in the music video that offers nothing for clarity. He said he often hears about a spiritual interpretation, and he has no quarrel with that, but it honestly wasn’t written with such a direct meaning. He continued saying

“It’s one of my most vague songs and it’s funny that it became my biggest.”

He also mentioned how hard it was for him to look back and think about a song he wrote nearly seven years ago and always remember exactly what it meant to him at the time.

“Ashes Made of Spades” (Life Will Write the Words) – Finally, although the meaning is a little more obvious, I had to ask him about my favorite Rocket Summer song. He said “Ashes Made of Spades” is about the “power of the Holy Spirit” (which is fairly clear in the lyrics) and that the “ashes made of spades” are a metaphor for the cards your dealt in life being set aflame and overcome through the power of the Holy Spirit. So I’d say I was pretty close on that one, but to confirm it first-hand was very cool. I told him I enjoy listening to that song on the way to Church most Sundays, and I’ll enjoy it even more now.

The Rocket Summer had a contingent of groupies who he had gotten to know personally. They were mostly Columbia, SC people who had followed him around on his East Coast stops. Who knew he had groupies? Anyway… be sure to check out the Rocket Summer on Spotify, he has a fairly extensive discography, and it’s all on there.

TRS Live at Tremont Music Hall in Charlotte, NC

The Rocket Summer Live at Tremont Music Hall in Charlotte, NC

One of the opening acts was Royal Teeth, a new energetic group from New Orleans. They only have an LP thus far with the full album set to release this coming summer. The best song on the LP is one called “Wild” which they are giving away as free download here.

I had listened to it a few times before the concert and enjoyed it, so I asked him if it was about what it seemed, a young romance. The lead singer of Royal Teeth said it was originally about just that, but it slowly evolved during the writing process and now the playing process to be about “giving up your real job to do ‘this’” (referring to touring with a start-up band).

The evolving meaning of a song to its own writer was something I had never considered and find very cool. It prompted me to wonder and ask if bands, and Royal Teeth in particular, intend to leave their songs open to interpretations. He told me that they do try to write lyrics that are clear and specific enough to communicate their message, but they also want to leave it open so it resonates with each listener’s own life and what they’re going through. So while the broad message remains the intact, it can take on a different interpretation to mean something special for each individual.

For some silly reason I feel like Katy Perry hasn’t thought about that…

Anyway, the Royal Teeth were very good, so be sure to get their free download, I mean, it is FREE so download it now and enjoy.

If you enjoyed this post, please click the Facebook “Like” button on the right sidebar. You can share your opinions in the comment section below or by tweeting to @Ryan_Kantor. Thanks for reading!

 

Appreciating The Evolution of Incubus – Concert Countdown

Posted on by Ryan Kantor

It’s despicable, it’s wrong, and it’s gutless… that I haven’t seen either of my favorite bands live in concert. Of course, that will change this month, when I Incubus perform on August 19, in Atlanta, as part of the Honda Civic Tour. To get myself pumped for a concert, I always like to listen through their discography in the couple of weeks preceding the show. For the upcoming Incubus concert, that means listening to Incubus’s older work (which I’m less familiar with) and seeing if what I’ve heard countless times–”I really like the old Incubus stuff”– is agreeable.

Released way back in 1995, Incubus’s first studio album, Fungus Amongus is reminiscent of some early Red Hot Chili Pepper albums (my other favorite band). As such, Brandon Boyd has explicitly credited the Chili Peppers as being a key influence for his band. Listening through the album, the funk stood out more so than other genres, but the jazz, rap, and heavy metal were also present and worked nicely together in “Deep Inside.” I fully intend to deep dive this album and get the whole Incubus picture before the concert.

S.C.I.E.N.C.E. is certainly very different from their most recent album, If Not Now, When?. Considering S.C.I.E.N.C.E. came out nearly a decade and a half prior, it’s not too surprising to see a band grow and evolve a good deal over that time. The blend of techno, jazz, and metal is pretty obvious and makes me think of the concept coined by Linkin Park, “Hybrid Theory”–bringing together an eclectic group of talented musicians with different styles and tastes to create a sound that is more powerful than any singular genre in the music. It certainly makes the pairing of Linkin Park and Incubus in the Honda Civic Tour seem fitting. Sailing Catamarans Is Every Nautical Captain’s Ecstacy is a pretty funny acronym too.

So, after looking at their entire discography chronologically and holistically, I can understand why some may only like their older music, because it markedly different from the smoother softer sound that appeared on Light Grenades and became more pervasive on If Not Now, When?. While different, I love both styles and respect the band’s evolution

What pre-Make Yourself song is your favorite? What must I listen to before I see them live?

Here are some of the Incubus songs I hope to hear live from the latter albums I know and love them for, starting with my favorite, Make Yourself, and progressing in chronological order.

Make Yourself (1999)
Top Tracks:

  • “The Warmth”
  • “Clean”
  • “Stellar”
  • “When It Comes”
  • “Drive”

Morning View (2001)
Top Tracks:

  • “Under My Umbrella”
  • “Wish you Were Here”
  • “Circles”

A Crow Left of the Murder (2004)
Top Tracks:

  • “Megalomaniac”
  • “A Crow Left Of A Murder”
  • “Beware! Criminal”

Light Grenades (2006)
Top Tracks:

  • “Dig”
  • “Anna Molly”
  • “Love Hurts”

If Not Now, When? (2011)
Top Tracks:

  • “Promises, Promises”
  • “Adolescents”
  • “If Not Now, When?”

As always, please subscribe to this blog by clicking the “Follow” button at the top of the right sidebar. If you don’t have a WordPress account, you’ll have to enter your email address. You can share your opinions in the comment section below or by tweeting to @Ryan_Kantor. Thanks for reading!

Living Things by Linkin Park – Album Review

Posted on by Ryan Kantor

In my previous blog post about Living Things and its lead single “Burn It Down,” I discussed how the new album would supposedly be an ode to the albums that made Linkin Park famous (i.e., Hybrid Theory and Meteora), and how the single had a new musical element–electronica–that I haven’t heard from Linkin Park before. I was very hopeful and excited for the new album’s release (6/26/2012) and interested to hear if this electronic sound would be the theme of the album.

After listening through the album’s 12 tracks, it’s clear the electronica element made a big stamp on the album, but the ode to the “nu metal” of Linkin Park’s heyday was a bit overstated. Read below for my song by song breakdown.

1. “Lost In The Echo” opens with some very cool electronic and bass sounds that get you primed for what you’re going to hear in the rest of the album. They work well with Chester Bennington’s smooth melodic chorus and Shinoda’s rapping. Bennington brings the intensity at the 2:16 mark in one of the album’s better tracks.
7.5/10

2. “In My Remains” certainly has the aspect of the electronica I’ve discussed, but there is so much more than that in this track. Smooth verses with a more intense chorus mark the song, before it transitions into an “interlude” (I use the term interlude here loosely) of repetitious, droning lyrics:

“like an army, falling one by one by one”

Although I could do without the “interlude,” the electronic sounding intro is great, Chester’s vocals are spot on, and the drums standout as especially excellent. This is probably my favorite song on the album.
8/10

3. “Burn It Down” is of course the album’s lead single and really highlighted the direction this album would take. If you didn’t grow sick of it after hearing it a million times during the NBA postseason, I imagine you will enjoy it. It lacks the classic Linkin Park intensity, but still makes for a strong track and fitting single.
7.5/10

4. “Lies Greed Misery” – After a promising beginning to the album, Mike Shonoda takes over, handling the majority of the vocals in this (rap/hip-hop) song, and well… listening to it in order to review it made my headache come back.
2/10

5. “I’ll Be Gone” gets the album back on the right track after “Lies Greed Misery.” Chester Bennington’s vocals carry the track as he combines smooth verses with a powerful chorus.
7/10

6. “Castle of Glass” is one of the album’s more mellow songs, but that doesn’t stop it from being an enjoyable tune.
6.5/10 

7. “Victimized” - At only 1:51 seconds long, this track seems like one loud scream with some electronic sounds and rap lines mixed in. I like the creativity of a short intense song between two of the album’s softer songs, but execution is lacking.
3/10

8. “Roads Untraveled” is one of the album’s softer songs. It is made unique by a high-pitched bell sound leading the intro and then present throughout.
5/10

9. “Skin to Bone” - You really have to listen to this one to fully understand where I’m coming from when I say it is somewhat muddled with electronic sounds, thumping, and other headache-inducing sounds. I’ll take it over some of the bland, blah that was on Minutes To Midnight, but that doesn’t make it good.
5/10

10. “Until It Breaks” - Shinoda’s rapping in this song is excruciatingly unenjoyable. He takes the lead in this song in a big way, rapping through first two-thirds of the track. Chester then takes over singing very softly for the final minute and change.
3.5/10

11. “Tinfoil” is finally a move back to some real rock ‘n roll after a couple weak songs. The vocal delivery seems a little unfamiliar from Linkin Park, but not necessarily in a bad way. It’s a shade repetitive, but it is the best song on the second half of the album.
6.5/10

12. “Powerless” is a nice tune, but ironically, is somewhat…powerless. It could be epic in a live show, but the studio version doesn’t evoke a lot of emotion (at least from me). Nonetheless, as I said, it is a nice song and worth listening to.
6.5/10 

Before I started writing this review, I thought it would be scathing and end in a  sub-five overall rating, but as I listened through each track over-and-over I found that there were quite a few decent, if not outright solid tracks.

The problem is that the album lacks a great song. Even a so-so album will often have one or two great songs that influence your opinion of the entire album upward. 

 I’ll admit, that much like my friend going into the movie Prometheus, my expectations were too high. I was hopeful for something as good or even better than Hybrid Theory/Meteora and that probably wasn’t fair. I’m tempted to say this is their best album since those early albums, however it doesn’t have a track as strong as “No More Sorrow” (Minutes to Midnight) or “Waiting For The End” (A Thousand Suns). I like “In My Remains” a lot, but I hesitate to call it truly great, and an album without a single great song isn’t that good. 

Living Things 6/10

What is your favorite track on the track on the new album? Share your thoughts in the comments below.

Ratings are subject to change. As always, please subscribe to this blog by clicking the “Follow” button at the top of the right sidebar. If you don’t have a WordPress account, you’ll have to enter your email address. You can share your opinions in the comment section below or by tweeting to @Ryan_Kantor. Thanks for reading! 

Vertical Horizon Raises The Bar For Musicianship

Posted on by Ryan Kantor

Best known for their 1999 hit, “Everything You Want,” Vertical Horizon is much more of the technically sound, jam band than the (admittedly enjoyable) radio hit would lead one to believe.

At Charlotte’s Fountain Plaza, Vertical Horizon lead singer, Matt Scannell, brought a stage presence that highlighted the emotion behind his music while never taking himself too seriously in a show that was enjoyable for long time fans and newbies alike.

At one point he stepped away from the mic to allow the crowd to sing the lyrics. The problem was that only half the crowd knew the lyrics. So, he told the other half to just sing the name of their grammar school best friend. It led to a murmuring mess, but a fun mess and involved the entire crowd. He then shared the actual lyrics so everyone could sing along, and from that point, everyone (maybe it was just me) seemed totally engaged.

Later, he told a story about one of his band’s trips to the Middle East. They had gone to play for the Marines, and during one of the shows on base, a Marine requested that they play the song “Forever” in honor of his best friend, who just days earlier had died in his arms. Now, whenever he plays the song, he thinks of that Marine and his lost friend. With that story told, the lyrics ring so much more powerfully:

Send me letters from above
Send me strength, send me love
Such sweet love
Sing me songs that echo in my head and in my heart
That’s where you are

After a few more songs, Matt’s three bandmates stepped off the stage, allowing him to play an acoustic song with an especially emotional story behind it. As he told us, he had a big fight with his father over something “that seemed important at the time.” It led to them to not speak for well over a year. He was living in D.C. and his parents in Massachusetts. Late one night, he finally broke down and drove to his parents home. He arrived at their house at 6 a.m. and knocked on the door. His father answered, and surprised to see him, asked “Are you ok? Are you ok?” He responded, “I will be after I play you this song.” He then shared the heartfelt song with us. It was a great song, but was especially powerful with the context he shared. It was also very appropriate for Fathers’ Day Weekend (Happy Fathers’ Day, Dad). It’s the emotion behind the music that makes it special, and (arguably) what makes it art.

They saved their best song for last though. They chose to close with my favorite Vertical Horizon song, “We Are.” It is a four-minute song, but they broke it out into a 15 minute jam fest that included a 90 second bass solo and back-to-back guitar solos by the singer and guitarist, respectively.

Someone recently told me, “If I want to hear them exactly as they sound on their studio album, I can just buy the album.” Rather, Vertical Horizon offered a fun, not-too-serious stage presence and displayed musicianship and creativity, especially with their last song. For that, I became a fan after seeing them live in concert, and I wrote this blog post twice (WordPress bugged out and deleted the post the first time I wrote it).

…and for me this was just a warm up concert for the big one in August.

Thanks for reading! As always, please subscribe to this blog by clicking the “Follow” button at the top of the right sidebar. If you don’t have a WordPress account, you’ll have to enter your email address. You can share your opinions in the comment section below or by tweeting to @Ryan_Kantor.

Life Will Write The Words by The Rocket Summer – Album Review

Posted on by Ryan Kantor

After his tour with Switchfoot, Bryce Avary released his newest album, Life Will Write The Words. My last post in the music category was a review of one of those shows with Switchfoot, and as such it is only appropriate that I give his newest album a review as well. Rather than linking each individual song to a YouTube video, I included the full album in one place, which can be heard here.

Enjoy the review. Please share my blog and the album with you friends, and of course, give each song a few listens before casting judgment.

1. “Run And Don’t Stop“ is the album’s lead single and was played on The Rocket Summer’s tour with Switchfoot. This track strikes me as the one with the most classic Rocket Summer sound to it. To that end, it risks blending in the rest of his work, but is held up by some of his best guitar work including solos at the 2:17 and 3:09 marks and its highly metaphorical lyrics, which I’m still working on deciphering. Some of my favorite lyrics are the opening lines:

“A desert rain is falling
A southern cold in July.”

and this mind bender:

“The tree bearing apple now bears a lime…” 

7/10

2. ”Revival“ is another album single that was played on the Switchfoot tour. It’s a very catchy track with great contrasts between the soft piano at parts, passionate vocal delivery (even a faded scream around the 3:06 mark), and vowel utterances that are the trademark of the song (you know, like a modern-day version of shooby do wop).
7.5/10

3. ”Prove It” seems to be about a very specific situation Bryce Avary experienced with a woman holding a grudge from long ago. Despite the guitar solo at the 2:34 mark, the song is bit too poppy and a let down after the first two tracks.
5.5/10

4. “Old Love “ is a tribute to the very notion of selfless love, and a solid track, but the vocal delivery is just slightly off from some of the stronger tracks.
6/10

5. “200,000“ is one of the album’s pre-release singles. After an awkwardly choppy piano intro it settles into smooth verses and a passion filled chorus that makes “200,000″ one of the best song on the album. The lyrics,

“There are not one, but two hundred thousand miles on my car. To be with I’ve driven far, but I loved you that much”

ring loudly in this anthem of love, likely written to his high school sweetheart–now wife–Tara. If not for the (intentionally) choppy piano work at parts of the song I’d be tempted to give it a higher rating, but as is, I feel comfortable stopping just short of giving it an excellent score.
8/10

6. “Just For A Moment Forget Who You Are“ asks the listener to forget for a moment who they think they are, and remember that they were made in an image of greatness. While that notion is something worth some mental mastication, the song doesn’t blow one away and is just another quality song on the album.
6.5/10

7. “Circa ’46″ is somewhat similar to “200,000″ in it’s intentionally choppy piano work (this time overlayed with snapping fingers), but otherwise very different. After the similar start, “Circa ’46″ delivers the lyrics for which the album is named:

“Life will write the words, but you choose your own melody.”

Unfortunately, it incorporates the worst parts of “200,000″ without the passionate chorus or the smooth melodies. Nonetheless, it is still a good track.
7/10

8. “Underrated” is a fun and enjoyable tune that should resonate with many listeners who feel underrated or unappreciated. It is light, but upbeat and an overall good track.
7.5/10

9. “Soldiers” is the album’s first attempt at an acoustic ballad, and it is somewhat mediocre. It pales in comparison to the best songs of the album. Maybe additional listens and delving into the lyrics will “open my eyes,” or more aptly, my ears. It is one of Avary’s favorite tracks on the album though.
5/10

10. “The Rescuing Type” is another fun an enjoyable tune, much like “underrated.” It is upbeat and thoughtful. “Be the rescuing type. Be reckless, be bright.” It doesn’t stand out as one of the album’s better songs, but it is solid nonetheless.
6/10

11. “Scrap Book” is a second effort at a piano ballad. The stellar piano work carries the song, and the last 50 seconds introduce the electric guitar into the mix
5.5/10

12. “Ashes Made of Spades,“ Hallelujah! Track 12 is the best song on the album both for its guitar work and its lyrical content.

“Standing in the streams without a branch to rescue me and pull me from the tormenting. Will I die here in the water? I closed my eyes so I could see then there grew a tree out of my belief.”

I think it is somewhat clear what this metaphor is describing, but I’ll let you arrive to the conclusion on your own (If you haven’t figured it out yet, I asked him in person at a concert in Charlotte and his answer is here).

Rarely does an artist save the best for last. Not only that, but the best part of the entire album starts almost exactly halfway through the song around the 2:25 point, when the intensity really picks up. The album ends with Bryce Avary screaming “Oh My Light!” with all the passion that built up throughout the song and then a nice guitar outro.
9.5/10

Life Will Write The Words 7.5/10

Overall, the album lived up to my expectations. This was the first self-produced album for Bryce Avary after leaving his record label to explore more creative freedom. Strong lyrical content is the hallmark of the album, so I tried to include some interesting snippets that I hope you enjoyed.

Thanks for reading! As always, please subscribe to this blog by clicking the “Follow” button at the top of the right sidebar. If you don’t have a WordPress account, you’ll have to enter your email address. You can share your opinions in the comment section below or by tweeting to @Ryan_Kantor. 

The Rocket Summer And Switchfoot Visit The Georgia Theatre, The Rocket Summer To Release New Album On June 5th

Posted on by Ryan Kantor

Touring together, The Rocket Summer and Switchfoot made a stop off the beaten path, coming to Athens, Georgia, as part of their pre-summer tour. In the historic Georgia Theatre, pictured below, a full crowd was treated to about eight songs by The Rocket Summer who was the opening band for the show.

Image

For those of you who are not familiar with The Rocket Summer, Bryce Avary is the song writer, producer, and lead singer… He’s on the keyboards, guitar, bass, and drums too. He’s a multi-talented musician who pays every piece of the band. Of course, this isn’t possible when performing live so I was unsure how good they would be in concert, but his touring bandmates filled in admirably, and there wasn’t a discernible difference from his recording sessions, when he plays every piece.

Avary’s showmanship was a big plus for the show. He took a picture of the crowd and posted it to social media for everyone to tag themselves. He also gave out free MP3 files of “Run And Don’t Stop.” You can click here to have one of the free MP3 files for yourself. It’s the lead track on his new, yet to be released, album which will be available on June 5th. I plan to listen to it in-depth a write a full review blog post, time permitting. (UPDATE: Life Will Write the Words Album Review)

Avary chose to play a lot of his newer songs such as “Of Men And Angels,” “Walls,” “I Need A Break…But I’d Rather Have A Breakthrough,” and track off his upcoming album, “Run And Don’t Stop.”

“Walls,” probably his slowest song of the night, was one of the best. My favorite song of his performance was “Do You Feel.” It was the only one that most of the crowd knew well enough to sing along, and frankly it was the best song on his set list. I was very disappointed that he chose not to play “So Much Love” or “Colors,” but there’s not time for everything when you’re only the opening act rather than the headliner. Speaking of which, The Rocket Summer will be going on tour again this summer after finishing the tour with Switchfoot, and they will be the headline act then, however they won’t be playing in the Carolinas. (UPDATE: Although the Rocket Summer skipped the Carolinas in their summer tour, I attended their stop in Charlotte on 3/22/13)

Though I went to see The Rocket Summer, most were there for Switchfoot. The song they are best known for, “Meant To Live,” was their second to last song and it was even better than expected. It was really brought to life in concert.

Aside from that though, a lot of the songs I didn’t know and were just decent. One song did stand out though. “The War Inside,” a track of their newest album that I hadn’t heard before was great live. I recommend checking it out. The lyrics are pretty well done on it. “This Is Your Life” was another really strong song that the crowd got very into. They played it early and closed with “Dare You To Move.” Overall, Switchfoot was solid. I was never a big fan of theirs, but I gained some respect for them after seeing them in person.

One last note, Bryce Avary said he had played in Athens once before. It was eight years ago at 40 Watt when he opened for Something Corporate. That would be a show I’d pay to see. Unfortunately, Something Corporate is now defunct, though seeing The Rocket Summer open for Jack’s Mannequin (Something Corporate’s successor in a sense) seems viable and nearly as fun.

Anyway, look out for my review of Life Will Write The Words by The Rocket Summer coming in June.

Life Will Write The Words: Track Listing

  1. Run and Don’t Stop (3:23)
  2. Revival (3:33)
  3. Prove It (3:44)
  4. Old Love (3:48)
  5. 200,000 (4:07)
  6. Just For A Moment Forget Who You Are (4:00)
  7. Circa ’46 (3:41)
  8. Underrated (3:48)
  9. Soldiers (3:26)
  10. The Rescuing Type (4:00)
  11. Scrapbook (4:09)
  12. Ashes Made of Spades (4:40)

As always, please subscribe to this blog by clicking the “Follow” button at the top of the right sidebar. If you don’t have a WordPress account, you’ll have to enter your email address. You can share your opinions in the comment section below or by tweeting to @Ryan_Kantor. Thanks for reading! 

Linkin Park Releases ‘Burn It Down,’ New Album and Honda Civic Tour to Follow

Posted on by Ryan Kantor

If you’re like many Linkin Park fans you enjoyed the band’s first two studio albums–Hybrid Theory and Meteora–but only a smattering of their newer songs. The trouble is that Meteroa, the bands second album, is now nearly a decade old. The good news is that if you’ve stopped following Linkin Park it’s time to get back on board. The band recently announced a June 26 release date for their upcoming album which is entitled Living Things. While the album certainly won’t mark a full move back to “nu metal,” it does promise to incorporate the type of sounds that made their first two albums so wildly successful and beloved.

Mike Shinoda, the Linkin Park rapper and producer, recently wrote a very interesting blog post explaining how the band intentionally avoided the style and sounds that brought them their initial fame. A great read from a forthcoming artist, this is totally worth any fan’s time. In the same post he also explains how band grew willing to use all the tools in their toolbox for this album, including those that were more commonly used in their earliest albums (excerpt below).

Over the course of the last year, the subject kept popping up, and we talked about how to tastefully bridge the gap between all the musical places we’ve been, to marry together all the ideas we’ve accumulated about how to make a song. And as LIVING THINGS began taking shape, the most powerful shift I saw take place was the acceptance and eagerness to use all the tools in the toolbox, not just some. Everything at once, together.

Some people have already compared our new album to the early ones. I suppose it depends on how you want to make that comparison (by the way, it’s certainly not about guitars). For me, it’s all about getting back to the real “hybrid theory” — not the album with that name, but the idea that the six guys in our band have drastically different tastes in music, and the blending of all those sounds into one is exactly what we built our band upon.


Comments like that have me excited about the potential of Living Things, but it’s not just what the band is saying it’s also their new single which they released on April 16th. It doesn’t sound like all their other stuff, which is their promise–to not produce music that sounds like everything they’ve done before–but it somehow harkens back to their old days while infusing a new electronic/techno element I haven’t heard from them before. Check it out yourself.

That’s not the end of the good news. Linkin Park has also just announced dates for the album’s supporting tour. Tickets for the Honda Civic tour will go on sale April 27th and they will be touring with one of just two bands I enjoy more than Linkin Park–Incubus!

Brandon Boyd, Incubus’s lead singer, was recently interviewed on Beat TV and made a great comment about how they refuse to pander to fans and called each album an exercise in “self-indulgence.” (skip to the 1:00 mark) Given Linkin Park’s refusal to continuously put out reruns of Hybrid Theory, these comments underscore why these two experimental rock bands will compliment each other so well this summer.

You can expect an album review and likely a concert review of their Alpharetta show. Until then, enjoy their new single and look out for more music blog posts. I’ll be attending a Switchfoot/The Rocket Summer concert in Athens, Ga in two weeks and will probably have a concert review for the show. Hopefully The Rocket Summer plays “Colors” live!

As always, please subscribe to this blog by clicking the “Follow” button at the top of the right sidebar. If you don’t have a WordPress account, you’ll have to enter your email address. You can share your opinions in the comment section below or by tweeting to @Ryan_Kantor. Thanks for reading! 

Amaryllis by Shinedown – Album Review

Posted on by Ryan Kantor

Two months ago I previewed the release of Shinedown’s first studio album since their 2008 release of The Sound of Madness. More than three years after its release, Amaryllis is here and while some of their oldest fans may be disappointed in the band’s evolution, I welcome it. Below is song-by-song breakdown and an overall score for the album. Enjoy, and please leave your thoughts.

Amaryllis offers some interesting album art. If you'll notice, the border of the circle is made of clasping arms, alluding to one of the album's tracks, "Unity."

1. “Adrenaline” starts with a fast stop-and-go guitar riff. With prominent drum work, a fast pace, and heavy guitar work, Shinedown could have made this the lead single if they wanted to entice their core fans. 6/10

2. “Bully” was the track the first single from the new album. The lyrics are pretty self-explicated, obviously condemning childhood bullying. Towards the end of the song a collection of children’s voices backup Brent Smith in his final run through the chorus. Overall, a good song, a good single, but not mind-blowing.  7/10

3. The title track, “Amaryllis,” opens with a clean sound and generally lacks the metal/hard rock style that is was Shinedown’s hallmark. While this may not satisfy purist headbangers that long for the raw sound of Shinedown’s early work, I was impressed with this track, as it reminds me of the band’s biggest hit, “Second Chance.” 8/10

4. “Unity” starts with a great piano intro that moves flawlessly into the electric guitar. The chorus is catchy, despite using the cliché line “put your hands in the air” a little too often. According to Songfacts.com, lead singer Brent Smith explained that “It’s about loving your brothers and sisters. We’re all in this together and we should be building each other up instead of tearing each other down!”  It was one of the album’s pre-release singles. 8/10

5. After Amaryllis and Unity, “Enemies” picks up the pace with a fast guitar riff and loud vocals. Much of the guitar work coincides with the vocal delivery which makes for nice synergy, but overall the song doesn’t standout and could come from any band in the genre. 6.5/10

6. Like some of the other tracks, “I’m Not Alright” starts with a soft intro, but sounds that is wildly unlike other Shinedown songs. With a Irish folk flavor, this track has a poppy chorus and very interesting string sounds. While this isn’t what I’m looking for when I turn on Shinedown, I can’t deny that it was an enjoyable song. 8/10

7. “Nowhere Kids” is one of the more forgettable tracks on the album. It is very upbeat, but that only makes it blend in more. They develop a somewhat catchy hook in the chorus with Brent Smith’s delivery of the lyrics “No one needs you after all,” but even so it doesn’t have any particular element that is especially enjoyable. Overall, a very average track. 5/10

8. “Miracle” gives Brent Smith a great opportunity to showcase his talent. The vocals take center stage in this song, and with a vocalist like Brent Smith that is a positive.  7.5/10

9. “I’ll Follow You” breaks any and all expectations for a Shinedown song. Shinedown included a touching piano track on their last album with “Call Me,” but this track goes for a louder, more rousing, f0lksy, and intense sound while still keeping it slow and piano based. It certainly makes for an interesting song, even if not as strong as their last “Call Me” from The Sound of Madness. 6.5/10

10. “For My Sake” opens with great guitar work leading into Brent Smith vocals, building to a great chorus. 7/10

11. “My Name (Wearing Me Out)” is one of the weaker tracks on the album. Forced cursing, a lack of novelty, and lyrics that don’t resonate bring this track down. The biggest problem is it sounds like every other song in the mish-mash of Three Days Grace, Three Doors Down, Puddle of Mudd, etc. 5.5/10

12. “Through the Ghost” There’s nothing wrong with this track, it’s just a little boring. There are some cool bell sounds in the background and the acoustic guitar is spot on, but it doesn’t do anything special for me. 5.5/10

Amaryllis was not what I was expecting, but because I prefer alternative rock to heavy metal/rock, I was pleased with the evolution of the band and direction of this album. The title track, “Unity,” and “I’m Not Alright” were standouts. This album surpassed my expectations, but will probably disappoint fans of Shinedown’s earlier work who prefer a heavier more metal type sound. In all, I grade the album: 7/10

For a dissenting opinion, check out this negative Nancy’s blog.

Rating are subject to change…if I change my mind. As always, please subscribe to this blog by clicking the “Follow” button at the top of the right sidebar. If you don’t have a WordPress account, you’ll have to enter your email address. You can share your opinions in the comment section below or by tweeting to @Ryan_Kantor. Thanks for reading! 

Shinedown Set To Release New Rock Album, Amaryllis

Posted on by Ryan Kantor

“Shinedown has announced the upcoming release of their much anticipated new album. Entitled ‘Amaryllis,’ the record will arrive in stores and at all digital retailers on March 27.”

Music snobs often lump Shinedown in with the mash of other similar bands like Three Doors Down and Puddle of Mud. With their new album Shinedown plans to break through the clutter and demonstrate their continued growth. Brent Smith explains:

“I’ve always seen Shinedown as its own entity – this living thing that’s been growing and developing and evolving over the past 10 years. During the recording, the vision of what Shinedown is and where it’s going became completely clear. ‘Amaryllis’ is the manifestation of that vision, the centerpiece of what Shinedown is. It reflects on everything we’ve done and where we’re heading.”

The band has released the album’s first single, “Bully.” Below is the video–one of the very best lyric videos I’ve ever seen. The song itself though may leave fans of Shinedown’s early more unrefined, raw sound concerned about what the new album may hold. I expect a continued evolution of their sound, and I think that’s good as it shows artistic growth. “Amaryllis” is set to be released in about two months, and it’s one I’m looking forward to.

As always, please subscribe to this blog by clicking the “Follow” button at the top of the right sidebar. If you don’t have a WordPress account, you’ll have to enter your email address. You can share your opinions in the comment section below or by tweeting to @Ryan_Kantor. Thanks for reading! 

People and Things by Jack’s Mannequin – Album Review

Posted on by Ryan Kantor

Jack’s Mannequin released their third studio album on October 4th, 2011. Titled People and Things, the band’s third album follows Everything in Transit, and The Glass Passenger, which peaked at number eight on the Billboard 200. Lead singer Andrew McMahon explains the album:

“I consider ‘People and Things’ a relationship record. My goal with many of the songs was to strip away the flowery language and sentiment attached to newer love and replace it with starker, less blinded language about more binding love. In the time following the last Jack’s album the people in my world were moving in together, getting married, trying to find quote unquote ‘real jobs’ and reconciling new lives that looked a lot less like youth than some of us cared for. Marriage is a bit of a beast to tackle in a pop record but when I wrote ‘My Racing Thoughts,’ it became clear how powerful and loaded a subject this kind of love is and somewhere in that moment I began to lock into the broad concept for the writing sessions to come.”

What are your thoughts on the album art?

Here’s a unique album trailer on YouTube, definitely worth checking out!
Now for a song by song breakdown. Be sure to share your favorites.

1. “My Racing Thoughts“ The debut single off the new album, “My Racing Thoughts” features a beautifully simple piano melody, but is actually somewhat average for the album’s debut single. Nothing really stands out about the track beyond the piano melody. 6/10

2. “Release Me“ starts off with a great intro that really defines what “piano rock” is all about, and was the standout track the first time I listened through the album. The guitar work in the background around the 2:45 mark is simply stellar. The harmony that closes the track is a great touch. Standout track! 8/10

3. “Television” immediately made me thing of U2. I imagine it is somewhat intentional, but I’m reminded of “I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For,” a #1 hit on the music charts U2 released in 1987. Now it doesn’t sound at all like the Disturbed cover of  “I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For,” which is pretty fantastic. “Television” for what it lacks in uniqueness is a very solid song that most people should enjoy. 6.5/10

4. “Amy, I”  is one of three songs on the album in which Matt Thiessen of Relient K contributed. The song gradually works its way into a chorus where McMahon uses nature imagery to explain a relationship, some pretty interesting lyrics:

Another long winter trying to fight this freeze
Waiting but the cold’s got a hold on me
Hold on to me
So hold on to me

Amy, I
I never felt this kind of cold before

A very good song with well done lyrics and nice guitar work.
7/10

5. “Hey Hey Hey (We’re All Gonna Die)” starts off with McMahon belching out slow lyrics in front of piano and violin, making an effort to sound epic, but coming up short. The vocal delivery wasn’t my cup of tea. 4.5/10

6. “People, Running” has a very Jack’s Mannequin sound to it. It seems to be about the minuteness of our lives, but is a little boring until the 2:37 mark when the pace picks up, hitting it’s highlight at the 2:52 mark with some nifty guitar work. Rarely is guitar the highlight of a Jack’s Mannequin song. Unsurprisingly, there’s a nice piano hook that will get the tune stuck in your head. 6/10

7. “Amelia Jean” is a s nice smooth song that is great for what it is. It doesn’t stand out, and you won’t immediately search this track out on the CD, but when it comes on you’ll always enjoy it without realizing how much. It was actually originally written for the previous album, The Glass Passenger. 7/10

8. “Platform Fire” has some “stodgy” vocals that didn’t work for me. The piano work is nice throughout and the guitar work at the 2:20 mark stands out. 6.5/10

9. “Hostage” is one of the more interesting songs on the album. It’s about those people in your life who you may not see for a while, but you immediately connect when you see them, regardless of how long it’s been. It’s a “banner track” on the album. There are great videos on YouTube with McMahon explaining each song. They’re worth checking out. 7.5/10

10. “Restless Dream” is a nice attempt at a soothing acoustic ballad, but it ends up being boring and the weakest song on the album. 4/10

11. “Casting Lines” was originally written for a television show, but when it wasn’t selected for the show the demo was re-recorded for People and Things. It’s about being part of family, and (in my opinion) how family is always there for you regardless of the path you take through life. While the lyrics are pretty cool, the music is a little bland in parts. 6.5/10

People and Things, overall the album is solid, but not quite as good as The Glass Passenger, and definitely not as good Everything in Transit. Many of the tracks lacked intensity and a catchy hook, but a few stood out–”Release Me,” “Hostage,” and “Amy I.” The overall album gets a 6.5/10

These ratings would probably drastically change if I listened for a few more weeks and really came to appreciate them before writing the review, especially since the lyrics seem pretty deep and may take a while to understand. I’ll try to resist going back and editing, as I just did to my past review of “I’m With You” from the Red Hot Chili Peppers, which deserved more than the 7.5 I originally gave it. There as some bonus tracks as well, but I’ll leave those for you to discover. I hope you liked the review and enjoy the album. If you’d like the album for yourself, check out this blog.

As always, please subscribe to this blog by clicking the “Follow” button at the top of the right sidebar. If you don’t have a WordPress account, you’ll have to enter your email address. Thanks for reading!