Rating System: 5 stars=Bruce Lee 4 stars=Jackie Chan 3 stars=Jet Li 2 stars=Ralph Macchio
1 star=Steven Seagal
This is a fantastic summer album. All of the songs really put me in a great mood. The sound is classic New Found Glory; in other words, light-hearted pop-punk. Recommended tracks are: "My Friends Over You", "The Story So Far", and "Singled Out". The only drawback is on the track titled "Forget My Name". Supposedly Matt Skiba from Alkaline Trio does backup vocals on this song, but you would never know it unless you read the liner notes. More Matt Skiba! Rating: ***1/2
This is my favorite Dismemberment Plan record yet. Each song has it's own feeling and sound. You can't go wrong with fantastic variety. My favorite tracks are "Secret Curse" and "Pay for the Piano." This is great music to study to. And I know what I'm talking about. Because I listened to it while studying for Algebra. And guess who got a 97% on the exam? Oh yeah. Sweet. Rating: ****
My favorite drunk-punk band of all time is the Murphys. I'm very picky about my harder punk music, and these guys always do it for me. I also feel like a total bad-ass every time I wear my Dropick t-shirt, so bonus points for that. This is my favorite record by them, and I recommend it be played at every college party. I'm so sick of bootie banging rap music at parties. Play some Murphys, especially "Boys on the Docks" and "Barroom Hero".
Rating: ****1/2
This is a great new hard-core record. It's a mix of Finch, Thursday, and Anti-Flag. The lead singer, Daryl Palumbo, has a fantastically unique voice, and as we all know, I am a sucker for unique voices. I'd definitely give this band a try, even if you aren't a hard-core fan, just because they are really different from all the mainstream music out there, and it's a nice break. Really good to listen to when you're running or at the gym. Try tracks "Pretty Lush" and "Ry Ry's Song" Only drawback...sometimes a bit too screamy. Rating: ***
Rocket from the Crypt is a band on Vagrant that sounds like no other band out there. They're a little bit of drunk punk with a dash of ska and hardcore thrown in. They sound like they would be fantastic to see live, and if you get a tattoo of the band's logo, you can get into every show free for the rest of your life. Can't go wrong with that deal! The only drawback is that the songs do all sounds similar, but at least they all rock. Rating: ***1/2
Vagrant's second artist comp., and it is my favorite. Most of the tracks are fantastic, giving listeners a scrumptious morsel of each band that leaves you wanting more. Much like the effect popsicles have on me. One lick, and you must have more. The Anniversary's "Sweet Marie" is a little eh, and Hey Mercedes' "Everybody's Working for the Week" as well is a little eh. But the unreleased tracks from Saves the Day and Alkaline Trio are superb. Only one RFTC song, unfortunately. Rating: ***
My favorite ska-punk band of all-time. This album will always put you in a good mood. You can't help but have the desire to jump around like a six-year old (with cheetos smeared on your face), when you hear the bright brass instruments. My favorite song by far is "Lost It", which, incidentally, is also on the soundtrack to one of my favorite movies, "100 Girls". If you are sick of being sad and emo, pop in this CD and turn off your brain. You will feel better.
Rating: ***
There are some of us who simply will never get over SDRE's break-up. I am one of those people. All of their records are fantastic, but this one is my favorite. It's the most mellow of all of them, but also the most refined. They really hit their peak on this record. The whole album is fantastic emo-core, that is perfect to listen to while watching the sunset with someone you love. Awww...so mushy. My favorite track is "Pillars". Rating: *****
Though this is my least favorite album of the Weez, I have a new-found appreciation for it since the concert. They played my favorite track from the record, and I immediately went home and gave it another listen. It still isn't my favorite, but it is a good summer record. And I will always love "Simple Pages".
Rating: ***