Song of the Day 12: Radiohead - I Might Be Wrong

Radiohead had a lot to live up to after the release of their masterpiece in 2000, Kid A. Fortunately for them, they're a band who delivers. Amnesiac was recorded at the same time as the aforementioned record and it shows. There is the definite electronic influence, but with a bit more rock added into the mix. Track five of the record, "I Might Be Wrong" is one of the signature smooth, but still powerful songs that Radiohead has always been wonderful at crafting. Like many of the songs on Amnesiac, it starts simplistic but slowly progresses into a layered and expertly produced look into Radiohead's psyche. They've always been a tad bit strange, but "I Might Be Wrong" shows them at their strangest - and that's a beautiful thing.

While We're Young Review

It's odd how appropriate the album art for Pegasus Bridge's debut LP, While We're Young is. The young boy wearing the get-up of a full grown business man is almost a self-aware message of what's to come from the record - a mostly young band trying to show themselves off as seasoned veterans in order to get their name into the industry. They wear a indie-pop veneer akin to that of a watered down version of The Killers but with a lot less gaudy theatrics to make themselves an easier pill to swallow for newer audiences. As unappealing as that may sound they manage to not break the barrier between catchy pop music and unbearably polished radio-electronics. For the first track, "Like Dogs", we receive the utilization of the classic clap-along beat to hook us and an explosive chorus to reel us in. The tried and true methods of former British indie-pop groups both help the group establish their voice, while ultimately bogging them down with their lack of variation and unwillingness to try anything fresh or unique. For a debut LP, While We're Young is everything that Pegasus Bridge desires it to be, but never quite reaches the heights that the band seems capable of.

But in a scene so easy to please, what sense does it make to try to break the mold? They provide the energy and the catchy tunes to make radio stations jump all over them, as well as a young luster to make them a band young listeners pine for. With the electronic fueled energy of "Ribena" (paired with an acoustic version for the sake of filler) sure to be a hit, along with the sing-along appeal of "Yoko" (also paired with an alternate version), there is a definite appeal to the group in terms of just pure fun, but the lyricism leaves much to be desired. The snappy drum beats and swift guitar licks try their best to make up for lines like "She gets jealous when I'm away/I've got nothing else left to say/Yoko Ono" but unfortunately fall very short. As much as the catchiness of While We're Young begs to be embraced, it barely holds its own in the overwhelming number of bands trying to do the same. However, there still remains potential for the young band, so here's hoping Pegasus Bridge takes up the challenge. 

Song of the Day 11: The Nightmare Before Christmas - What's This?

Merry Christmas, now I go back to eating ham.

Song of the Day 10: Brand New - Luca

Brand New has never been a band known to compose the most cheerful songs in the world, however on their now adored third LP The Devil and God Are Raging Inside Me, the emotion they convey is nearly pure dread. It's sorrowful, dark, and brooding, but still it finds a way to be completely capturing. Track nine of the record, "Luca" is easily one of the best that Brand New has done to date, as it builds slowly and explodes with raw energy toward the end, much like many of the tracks throughout the rest of the record. Jesse Lacey's wonderful vocal control building up to the blowup, as well as the smooth guitar at the begging all make this track memorable as well as moving. Without a doubt one of the top tracks of the record.

Song of the Day 9: Glassjaw - Ape Dos Mil

"Ape Dos Mil" is one of those strange songs that lasts more than five minutes, but doesn't feel like more than three. Perhaps it's the change in flow and tempo throughout the song that keeps it interesting or perhaps the creeping instrumentals that carry the listener with ease. No matter the case, it's a fantastic song that encompasses practically everything that Glassjaw's critically acclaimed Worship and Tribute has to offer. Some really fantastic instrumentation paired with solid lyricism and the strange vocal work by Daryl Palumbo makes "Ape Dos Mil" an enjoyable listen and a nice sample of what Glassjaw has to offer.

Song of the Day 8: Titus Andronicus - A More Perfect Union

Titus Andronicus is inspiring in the strangest of ways. In every single aspect of their personality, they should be shunned. They're angry, depressed, and plagued with what appears to alcoholism - but yet they perform music in such a riveting and grandiose fashion that one can't help but be attached immediately. The speech from Abraham Lincoln at the beginning of track one of The Monitor is a wonderful entrance to what comes for the rest of the record. "A More Perfect Union" is Titus Andronicus in a not-so-miniscule nutshell. Patrick Stickles throws himself onto the audience with pure force and exhilaration to declare one thing - Titus Andronicus is a name you better know. By the end of the record, you'll know damn well.

Song of the Day 7: Thrice - Between The End And Where We Lie

I'm a sucker for catchy drum beats. There's something in the rhythmic pounding of a snare drum that hooks into my brain so easily, and because of this Thrice's "Between the End and Where We Lie" couldn't escape my mind after a single listen. This paired with the ever-smooth vocals of Dustin Kensrue setting the subtly intense atmosphere of the beginning of the song up until it explodes with the chorus and sustains that energy until the creeping conclusion makes it a very fulfilling listen. Everything about this song works so well and is a real gem in Thrice's Vheissu, an album certainly worth your time.