Thieves - Colorchange EP Review

                  I'd never heard of Thieves until they contacted me regarding their latest EP, but after asking around it turns out they actually have quite a few fans in my town. I also once had a teacher who spent a moderate amount of time talking shit on the state of Texas, but these guys could definitely take her. Thieves most recent release is a thirteen minute spin of pleasure and grace. The Colorchange EP was released on 90 Five Records and production-wise, came out flawlessly. Music wise, I can't find anything to complain about. There is enough variety throughout the five tracks to keep you involved, but the band is very definitely planted in their genre. Genre hopping/stretching works for some bands (Brand New) and not for others (most everyone else), but Thieves know who they are, and are confident in it. This is a band I would actually like to see live, and maybe have them sing me to sleep.

Tl;dr

• Thieves (Austin, Texas)
• For fans of: With The Punches, Stickup Kid, Hawthorne Heights
• Colorchange EP
• Favorite Track: Colorchange
• 4.5/5

facebook.com/thievestx

http://thievestx.bandcamp.com/album/colorchange

Infinite Singal - "Nox Opus" Album Review

       Today I come to you with a review of Infinite Signal’s full length “Nox Opus”. “Why?” you ask. Well, because it’s my job, and with great music comes great responsibility. But I digress, this trio out of Minneapolis not only came to me for a review, but they ended up playing in my town as well on tour supporting this new album. Everything about this band screams “I grew up to [2004 pop punk band].” And while the band may not necessarily be doing anything progressively mind-blowing, what they are doing – they are doing well. The album has a smooth sense of alternating between lyrically packed fast songs (Z-word) to slower ones that get you in the feelings (The Sounding Line). Altogether, I don’t have anything negative to say about the album, but it’s nothing ground breaking either. It’s good, and very well written and performed, but it might not amaze you.

Tl;dr

• Infinite Signal (Minneapolis, Minnesota) 
• For fans of: New Found Glory
• Full Length Release
• Favorite Track: The Sounding Line
• 2.5/5.

Variants - The Concept Of Color album review

              This album kicks ass. There's no way around that. Variants' full length, "The Concept Of Color" comes out tomorrow, and you do not want to miss it. The album strays from anything you would expect out of a pop punk album today. The 11 track album comes on heavy, and lays it on thick. If you're expecting the upbeat rhythm and nasally vocals of today's pop punk world, forget it. The voice alone is enough to put this band on a path of it's own. His voice reminds me of some metal band I heard one time that I can't remember, but used in a much more melodic and audibly pleasing way. Between the distinguished vocals and flawless harmonies, the words are a true pleasure to take in. The music is no doubt heavier than what you're probably expecting, but I assure you that this is worth venturing outside your comfort zone. All 11 tracks are flawless, I'm off to see if they have some shirts or something. 

Tl;dr

• Variants (New Orleans, Louisiana)
• For fans of: A Loss For Words, Lakota De Kai
• Full Length Release
• Favorite Track: All of them. But mostly "Sentences"
• 5/5. Entirely flawless. 

The Black Sox Scandal - Forward Progress EP Review

          prog·ress [n.] - a movement toward a goal or to a further or higher stage; growth or development, continuous improvement

            The Forward Progress EP embraces just that. A three song release by The Black Sox Scandal focuses on getting over and moving on. The pop punk trio may still be relatively knew, but they have the distinct advantage of residing in the pop punk breeding ground that is the Philly/Jersey area. The vocals on the release are reminiscent of Mayday Parade before we graduated high school, with a distinct melodic style. The EP is good, there's no arguing that. Even if the style isn't your thing, there's no denying the talent put into this music. My biggest complaint is that it's only three songs, but I'm genuinely interested to see what else they come out with. 

Tl;dr

• The Black Sox Scandal (Asbury Park, New Jersey)
• For fans of: Mayday Parade, Head North, Bayside, Anberlin
• Debut Release: Forward Progress
• Favorite Track: Anchors
• 4/5

facebook.com/theblacksoxscandal

http://theblacksoxscandal.bandcamp.com

88 To Yesterday - Choose Your Own Adventure Review

           Shout out to Australia for making love with itself and producing these fine young gentlemen and their reflection of textbook pop punk. The 5 quintet from down under is working their way up with their debut EP "Choose Your Own Adventure." The five song release is everything you thought had worked its way out of the scene. Lucky for you though, here it is. "Choose Your Own Adventure" starts off right with a mellow few seconds and then a power crunch riff that will drag in anyone who was once a Sum 41 fan. The album starts off fast and and the songs slow down towards the end of the EP, but never loses it's ability to captivate. As the latter half mellows out, the aggression is lost, but never the passion. You can hear in the slightly nasally vocals, that these guys care about what they're doing, and that's what's important, right?

Tl;dr

• 88 To Yesterday (Perth, Australia) 
• For fans of: Sum 41, New Found Glory, Blink 182, Yellowcard
• Debut Release: Choose Your Own Adventure
• Favorite Track: Sarah Says
• 4/5

facebook.com/88ToYesterday

88toyesterday.bandcamp.com/

Dugout - Where There Used To Be Meaning Album Review

        Super classic pop punk. Pennsylvania natives Dugout are the band that those 2004 pop punk elitists that hangout next to the venue would actually approve of. If you had to explain the genre to your grandmother, you could probably skip the $70 vintage New Found Glory album and just play her this. As corny as that sounds, this is good stuff. 

        The Lansdale four-piece is holding nothing back and taking no prisoners on this one. Where There Used To Be Meaning is the title needed to describe the "move on and forget you" attitude throughout the album. 8 tracks of mid-song tempo changes, upbeat drums, and one song with some guy named Ziggy changing the vocals up. I couldn't find a bad song on this album, and I would 100% recommend this band to anybody missing the good old days or whatever. 

Tl;dr

• Dugout (Lansdale, Pennsylvania)
• For fans of: New Found Glory, Blink 182, Bowling For Soup, Yellowcard
• Third Release,  Where There Used To Be Meaning
• Favorite Track: Distance
• 3.8/5

www.facebook.com/dugoutpa

http://dugoutpa.bandcamp.com/

http://www.twitter.com/dugoutpa
http://www.reverbnation.com/dugoutpa
http://www.dugoutpa.stereokiller.com
http://www.paintedoxrecords.com

Second-Hand Hero - "Pictures" Album Review

          I recently got my hands on the new release "Pictures" by Berlin pop-core band Second-Hand Hero. And if pop-core wasn't a term before, it is now. The German quartet's 15 track full length packs a serious punch. I'll be honest and say this isn't normally what I'm in too, and after the first few songs I wasn't expecting to really get into it. But about halfway through, it struck a chord with me. It's like the old ADTR we all grew up on that still holds a place in our hearts.
           And boy, do these guys kill it. Unlike a lot of similar music in the scene today, the album has notable variety. No two songs are too alike, and as the cool jazz riff at the end of "Evacuation" establishes, there are no boundaries here. I dig this album a lot, it's actually one of my favorites I've reviewed so far, though if you initially described it to me I probably would not have been too stoked. Funny how that works.

Tl;dr

• Second-Hand Hero
• Debut Full Length: Pictures
• For Fans Of: City A Day To Remember, Four Year Strong
• Favorite Track: Evacuation
• 4.5/5 Stars

facebook.com/secondhandheroband

http://www.reverbnation.com/secondhandheroband