2013's Top 5 Albums You Should Listen To (But Probably Missed)

Greetings everyone and welcome back to ROCK D3C0D3D! With the year coming to an end in the coming weeks it seemed only fitting to take a look back at everything 2013 has given us and give honorable mentions to some of the years best works. 2013 was a year full of big names making big moves such as Eminem's return to form with the  Marshall Mathers EP 2, Macklemore dominating the charts, and Fueled By Ramen flooding the market with its unique brand of rock music. So you can see how  hard it is to pick out just a handful of albums that truly stood above the rest. Thankfully, this list will be focusing on the albums that may have missed or overlooked in the flood of rock, pop, rap, and indie-fusion-techno-babylon. So with that let us start the list.

NUMBER 5: ZERO by HAWTHORNE HEIGHTS

Starting off our list is the incredible follow-up to the 2010 album Skeletons which saw a return to form for a band that has seen a great deal of change since its inception. While Zero is not the same type of screamo-pop/punk sound that made the band famous in The Silence in Black and White, it is an amazing concept album. The concept is a dystopian future (as always) where a collective known as the CALM (Coalition for Alternate Living Methods) reigns over the human population and a resistance faction known as ZERO must fight to overthrow them. Without giving away too much of the story, it is a nice encasement on the album's more punk-pop sound which shows a great evolution in songwriting within the band. Notable songs include: Darkside, Spark,  Zero, Hollow Hearts Unite, and Golden Parachutes.

 NUMBER 4: LITTLE MIND ALIKE by TWICEYOUNG

Now, I have already covered the album in full on my "Independent Closet" review located here, so feel free to check that out for the full rundown of the tracks. But, in short the album is quite the juxtaposition to what is currently offered within the realm of pop music. I myself am a sucker for any Keane-esque music that allows me to relax while offering something new to pick out with every listen. From its ambient musical score to lead singer Tyler Laspopoulos' great imaginative lyrics it is an album that I highly recommend giving a listen to. Notable tracks include: Oceans, Acacia, We Knew Her at Once, and Way Down.

 NUMBER 3: SUCH HOT BLOOD by THE AIRBORNE TOXIC EVENT

So I was not a huge fan of The Airborne Toxic Event until this year when a friend convinced me to give them a fair shot and am I glad I did. The follow-up album to the utterly amazing All At Once, Such Hot Blood does not fully live up to the addicting level of intensity of the prior but still offers a great sounding album with much to take away from. The only single to chart "Timeless" has a great chorus and leading verses but is by no means the greatest song on the album and I highly recommend taking a listen to this more refined, slower tempo sound from the band. Notable tracks include: The Secret, Timeless, Safe, This Is London, and Elizabeth.

 NUMBER 2: BATTLE SCARS by PARADISE FEARS 

 
Another album that was covered here on "Independent Closet" so I'll be quick on my examination of this album. The album itself is essentially 8 songs of pure pop music awesomeness. It is the album to listen to if you want to be pumped up even doing the most mundane tasks in human existence. From the opening poem this album launches in full force taking no prisoners but allowing breathing room that the slower songs do not feel out of place. Notable tracks include: Battle Scars, What Are You Waiting For, Fought For Me, and Used.

NUMBER 1: SWAY by BLUE OCTOBER

Now before I get a plethora of e-mails stating, "But Keith, Blue October is an amazing band that has been selling millions of albums since Foiled and no one in their right mind has missed this album," I would just like to admit that I did. I know it may be a musical crime considering this band offers something for every type of listener whether you want some electronic fusion, hard rock, or slowed down somber songs Blue October offers everything. Sadly, after Any Man in America I had lost a little faith in the band and decided to shelf Sway until I knew for sure it was worth the listen and do I regret that decision. I may one day do a D3C0D3D review of this album in full but for now I will say that this album is quite amazing and a very close runner-up for my favorite album of 2013. The album itself may seem to be lacking in the edgier department but Justin Furstenfeld's lyrics/vocal work has evolved immensely since the band's inception and the lyrics "I'm not broken anymore" from the track "Not Broken Anymore" are just chilling when one considered the band's back story. There is not a bad track on this album and I feel safe reccomending this to every person I know as it will have something for everyone. My personal favorite tracks are: Sway, Bleed Out, Fear, Hard Candy, Things We Do At night, and Not Broken Anymore.

So that would seem to be it for 2013 we may do one or two more lists or a D3C0D3D review before it ends but for now it seems that 2013's chapter in music has closed. Can 2014 bring the same amount, if not more, of the quality music 2013 has offered us? Well it looks to be shaping up well with U2, Foo Fighters, and Jay-Z all expected to release new albums. Have a safe holiday season everyone and see you in 2014!

As always please like, share, and comment below!

All of the albums shown are available on iTunes and Spotify for your listening pleasure.

*As with all things, the opinions expressed our purely that of the author and should be taken as such. ** All images, music, and information used are for entertainment purposes. No copyright infringement intended.

Independent Closet: TWICEYOUNG

History 

Welcome back To Independent Closet where we give the lesser-known artists a chance to shine. This week we're going to take a look at a Pennsylvania born trio going under the guise, TWICEYOUNG whom are a new up-and-coming act yearning for a chance to prove themselves. And prove themselves they did by originating the album Little Mind Alike in Harrisburg, PA with members Tyler Laspopoulos (lead vocals/guitar), Seth Lourdon (bass), and Zach Myers (drums). After finishing their first album they decided to expand their musical pool by moving to Nashville, TN where they currently reside. It's been a long time coming for the band to have a full lineup and release an album so let's explore Little Mind Alike.

Album "Review"

The album Little Mind Alike lets you know from the start what you are getting into, which is an ambient clash of indie, alternative, and a splash of classic rock. The best interpretation of the first song "Half Dust" is a song akin to Radiohead-esque vocals mixed with the instrumentation of a solemn Brand New single. The song does a great job showcasing the talents of guitarist/vocalist Tyler Laspopoulos, alternating between a somber vocal tone and airy falsetto with ease, a switch that is used frequently throughout the album. All in all it is a GOOD start to the album, allowing for just enough of a taste to wet our appetites for what is to come.

The next two songs entitled "Oceans" and "Acacia" are the perfect back-to-back pairing on the album growing on the ideas "Half Dust" started and running with them. Both songs have been released as singles with the latter (Acacia) having it's own very artistic music video I suggest checking out. The main sounds in "Oceans" are the largely-encompassing piano, sizzling strings/synthesizer, and dynamic drum work which allows the listener to truly hear the skill of Zach Myers as he switches from a heavy emphasis on the snare to booming bass in the matter of a verse/chorus length. This song is by far my favorite track on the album followed closely behind by the next official single.


"Acacia" is just a beautiful song. From the swelling piano and bells opening to the drum/piano outro it just capitalizes on what make this album so great. The song starts slowly (like a good majority of these) with only the piano, vocals, and a very impressive set of back-up vocals painting a vast landscape one can see when one close their eyes. From there the guitar swells in and it is time for this to start building to the pinnacle that is it's chorus which is well worth the wait. The chorus is a mix of vocals overdubs, piano chords, guitar slides, thundering bass, and quite the impressive drum beat that really finds itself incredibly engrossing/powerful despite the lack of dynamic change. This is another point of TWICEYOUNG that is impressive, the majority of their vocals do not change in terms of volume. Which Mr. Laspopoulos deserves a good bit of credit for not defaulting to a standard most singers rely on heavily which is screaming their lungs out. He has a way of conveying all of his emotions; the happiness, sadness, disappointment, and anger all by utilizing the instrumentation himself, Zach Myers, and Seth Lourdon throw onto the page, separating TWICEYOUNG from their contemporaries.

Linked the video for you. Go ahead... CLICK IT

The least impressive song on the album would have to be "Slow Down" which sadly follows both "Oceans" and "Acacia" and succumbs under the weight produced by the two heavy hitters. That's not to say it is a "bad" song in the slightest, I actually rather like the song but, it's here where first time listeners will notice the biggest problem on this album. Artistically Mr. Laspopoulos puts a good bit of reverb on his vocals which makes them sound very big and ambient but every once in a while his actually words are lost in translation because of this effect. I had to listen to songs such as "We Knew Her at Once" and "Slow Down" multiple times to fully understand the exact lyrics, which is true of most artists so it's not a complete loss, just a warning for listeners. That being said, "Slow Down" is probably the most vulnerable song on the album really only consisting of acoustic guitar, vocals, claps, and stomps which minimalistic approach helps it but as stated brings things down a few notches after the prior hits.


The last song I'd like to talk about is "Way Down" which at times sounds like a completely different band from it's intro echoing that of a slowed down Theory of A Deadman song and very clear vocals. Does this hurt the song? Not in the slightest, if anything it's nice to hear Mr. Laspopoulos' clear vocals really pierce through the soundscape and if anything should be done more in the future. The bass grooves a long which a great line that aligns perfectly with the drums before everyone picking up the pace to punch out an awesome chorus. The chorus (and subsequent bridge) on this song sound like a song just itching to be blasting from radio station to radio station across the U.S.

Conclusion

BUY IT: Oceans, Acacia, We Knew Her at Once, Way Down

HEAR IT: Half Dust, Brilliance

 

IGNORE IT: Slow Down

 

Band Page:http://twiceyoung.bandcamp.com/

Band FB: https://www.facebook.com/twiceyoung

Also available on iTunes and Spotify!

 

*As with all things, the opinions expressed our purely that of the author and should be taken as such. ** All images, music, and information used are for entertainment purposes. No copyright infringement intended.

Is Panic! Too Weird To Die Or Too Generic To Live

 Introduction

Meh. My thoughts when finishing the new album by Panic! At The Disco because unfortunately it does not live up to it's predecessors. While the band has seen many changes from it's original line up (most importantly the loss of bassist Jon Walker and main lyricist/guitarist Ryan Ross) it was nice to see Panic's lead vocalist and now lead writer Brendon Urie (along with original drummer Spencer Smith) was able to sustain such a behind-the-scenes change, releasing an album that many found to be superior to the 2008 follow-up Pretty Odd. But, let's take a moment to speak about not only "Pretty Odd" but the album that catapulted them into super-stardom A Fever You Can't Sweat Out Of.

The band formed back in 2004 in Summerlin, Las Vegas by Ryan Ross and Spencer Smith whom later invited Brent Wilson and Brendon Urie to join the band becoming nothing more than a Blink-182 cover band at the time. Eventually after hearing Brendon Urie sing during rehearsals, the band decided to change him to lead vocalist as opposed to current lead singer Ryan Ross. Focusing on making demos, as they felt the area they lived in would not be suitable for live performances, they ended up sending one to Pete Wentz of Fall Out Boy who ended up signing the boys to his label named "Decaydance Records," a subsidiary of "Fueled By Ramen," in 2005. This also was the year the band released A Fever You Can't Sweat Out Of to massively positive critical acclaim. The album featured a variety of sounds from electronic dance fuck to Vaudevillian piano strings and accordion making Panic! At The Disco a household name.

The band went on to write three-fourths of another album but after careful examination decided they were unhappy with the style and the scrapped the ideas. This led to the band creating an album that was so opposite of their first effort it has a heavy split among fans, some feeling it's genius while others bash it stating there was nothing wrong with the old Panic! sound. This album was titled Pretty Odd and featured a very Beatles-esque sound with many woodwinds, acoustic guitar, and a variety on the singers allowing both Ross and Urie chances behind the microphone. After the mixed reception the band had a split with Ross and new bassist Jon Walker publicly leaving to make The Young Veins while Urie and Smith stayed together retooling Panic!. For times sake I will skip over their return in Vices and Virtues and dive right into their newest effort Too Weird To Live, Too Rare to Die.

  Welcome to Brendon Urie the one-man show

The Singles

Clocking in at just under thirty-three minutes Too Weird To Live, Too Rare To Die! already has three singles released including the creepy serial killer inspired "Miss Jackson," the ballad-esque "This is Gospel," and their newest sex infused anthem "Girls/Girls/Boys." All of which are great songs but are very generic for the Panic! At The Disco fans have come to expect. "Miss Jackson" is a fun song if you can get past the semi-killer vibes. According to lead vocalist Urie it was about something that happened with him and how he felt when someone slept with him and disappeared without a trace the next day like he had done. This song in particular shows a huge disconnect from other songs that band has written in the past as it's electronics make it sound more like a new-age Fall Out Boy song (maybe rejected from Save Rock and Roll?). That being sad it along with it's follow-up "This is Gospel" do a great job of creating a pumped up electronic Panic! sound which unfortunately, cannot be said for the rest of the album.


"Girls/Girls/Boys" is the newest single released one day before the album flooded the internet and has quite the music videos for the ladies in the house (see below). The thing is you can hear the blatant 80's synth pop send up in this song which definitely is not a complete loss as the band is known for crossing over genres and decades. But the song itself does not have the energy of the past two songs, no matter how much Urie's belting tries to convince you otherwise. Aside from the cool synth line and groovy bass line there sadly is just not enough here to prove it deserved to be a single besides the success of their other sex-infused songs ("Lying is The Most Fun Girls Can Have Without Taking Their Clothes Off"). I may be missing the point with this bi-sexual decree of "Girls love Girls and Boys" but to me it just does not hit the mark other, much more deserving songs on this album have. Such as....

The Rest of The Album...

The rest of this album is best summed up through a few songs the band has written before. If you have listened to "Hurricane" and "Let's Kill Tonight"  from the album Vices and Virtues and liked them then you will like this album. If on the other hand you were like me and barely amused by the two songs, eventually finding them quite the watered-down version of Panic!'s sound, then you will you not like this album. The heavy hitters of the bad department are definitely the ill-fated Nicotine retreading over the commonly overused ground of a girl's love being an addictive substance and "Girl That You Love" which tries way too hard and sound like a  techno, synth-pop, Depeche Mode rip-off that does not lend itself any favors in an album filled with an homage to 80's synth pop. 

 

 The song may be absolute $h!t but this video is hilarious

The few stand-out tracks on the album are: "Vegas Lights" which is the pinnacle of this album's sound but  for some reason woks in a shameless sense; "Casual Affair" which offers a breathe of fresh air from the terrible "Girls/Girls/Boys;" and the ending track "The End Of All Things" which blends piano, strings, and vocals in a way I wish the previous tracks had as this sound would've suited Panic! much better. It's really the end of the album where I wish the album would've started as things start to pick up after "Girls/Girls/Boys" and evolve into what sounds like a Panic! album. But, sadly of the ten songs on this album far too many are meh or barely worthy of praise. It is for this reason I regrettably need to give this album such a low score.

Concluding Thoughts

I could sadly go on about how much of a disappointment this album was and where it could've done so much better but I will only leave with this: I was a huge fan of A Fever You Can't Sweat Out Of, feel that Pretty Odd is extremely underrated, and enjoyed the simple fun of Vices and Virtues from all of it's huge electronic sound scapes. That being said, this is overkill of electronics, though it could be that 80's synth pop is my least favorite genre of music, and really should've been shelved for the much more lively and better material we all know Panic! can provide. Next time we're flying back into my Independent Closet to listen to the debut release of TWICEYOUNG entitled Little Mind Alike.

DECODED: 6.5 out of 10

As always please like, share, and comment below!

BUY IT: This is Gospel, Miss Jackson, Casual Affair, Far Too Young Die, The End Of All Things

 

HEAR IT:  Vegas Lights, Collar Full

TRASH IT:  Nicotine, Girl That You Love,Girls/Girls/Boys

*As with all things, the opinions expressed our purely that of the author and should be taken as such. ** All images, music, and information used are for entertainment purposes. No copyright infringement intended.

I.C. Field Sleeper INTERVIEW: Part 2: The Performances

 *For part one of the interview feel free to click here

 After a nice break to fill up our tea pots, grab a snack at the counter, and decompress we started treading into the evolution of Field Sleeper. From the young boy who silently watched others perform at coffee shops, to his performances at those venues, progressing all the way to self-recording, producing, and distributing his first album Stay Quiet, Stay Ahead.

D3C0D3R: "We are sitting in Goldfish Tea, the place that originally got you started in performing at open mic venues, tell me what brought you into this environment?"

FS: "I was starting to write songs, though I didn't start playing originals until about eight months into playing the venues, but, my true interest was seeing what other talent was out there at these open mics. I mean in high school there's of course things for charity, the talent show, and those small events. But, I wanted to see where people who did this A LOT go and how do they perform live. Which I always had this image in my head when I went to Goldfish Tea they were gonna be these super serious, uber talented, classical trained musicians but it turned out these people were just like you and I."

D3C0D3R: "Now that you've played in multiple venues and states, what has been your favorite place to play and why?"

FS: "That's a tough one. I'd have to say Kafe Kerouac, it's a very humble atmosphere the walls are painted but there is not a ton of distractions for you, a bare bones venue if you will. It's a coffee shop that doubles as bar offering an assortment of beer, wine, coffee drinks as well as a book shop that sells old records. But my favorite part is that its a two room establishment with the the first room being the coffee shop/bar setting with record sales while the other room has the stage in it for the open mics. During the day, the coffee shop/bar half is very alive and sociable while the stage room is more of is a dead quiet study area for local students. At night though the stage room fills with people who are there to really listen to music not like a majority of open mics where you'll have people that show up to chat and eat only to find there is live music occupying the space as well. When you go on stage, you can just feel the people are there to truly listen and interpret your music, which greatly affects the performance you give out as any musician would tell you."

"'I'm gonna miss hearing you play Alex.' That right there...
was just perfect for me."

 D3C0D3R: :You've played open mics for a few years now and as I'm sure you've noticed, a good majority of venues now-a-days are actually trying to stop covers to be played. What are your thoughts on that as covers can really help you find your identity as an artist before you start polishing originals?"

FS: "It really is a shame as I ran into that problem hosting an open mic in Ohio as ASCAP is getting on them. The reason being is most venues have to pay a pretty hefty licensing fee for the ability to play covers in their venues. Sadly, I found out because my open mic got a fine for it, thankfully they were very nice about it, but still I feel it's kind of silly. Let's say you have a bar that has an awesome KISS cover band perform every Saturday night, I can understand paying the license for that because you, as a venue, are making money off these covers people are paying to come see and dance to. In an open mic setting though, you'll have a crowd of roughly 15-20 people two to four times a week and the people that come in are there to support their friends so the coffee shop is not making real money off those people."

D3C0D3R: "So, if you had to choose one favorite cover to perform live what would it be?"

FS: "I'd have to say Bon Iver's RE: Stacks, not only because I'm very good at it but because, like the song "Skeletons" on Stay Quiet, Stay Ahead, at the end I take a deep breathe and just feel good about myself."

D3C0D3R: "Being on the other side of the fence, what would you say to someone who is looking to perform at open mics but may be too afraid to make the jump, doesn't know enough songs, etc.?"

FS: "Ask yourself  'What are you trying to get out of playing?' Is this to have fun with friends, the nervous rush of being on stage, to be better at music, or your own personal reasons? I feel too many people get caught in making a perfect record,  or other miscellaneous tasks though to me, the most important thing should be to make sure you're having fun in the long run and you can be proud of what you've done. From there, go to the open mic a few times and scope out it to see if maybe it's too loud, the talent is too good, or any number of those things. Definitely, bring some friends to support you though as it does help."

D3C0D3R: "I think that's perfect advice for everyone out there now tell me about your proudest moment so far in music."

FS: "There's this musician in Ohio by the name of Michael Kohn and he rarely talks. But, he's a phenomenal musician that you can get, through his music, that he may have a had a few hard times in life. He plays in a very awesome rag-time band while doing solo stuff on the side and would come out to the open mics when I was out there for school. We had a few conversations among friends though he never truly gave me any critic on my music until my last open mic out there when he just simply stated 'I'm gonna miss hearing you play Alex.' That right there, that confirmation that I was heading in the right direction was just perfect for me."

 "...there's a lyric that sums up half of the message very well, it goes, 'Restless but too scared to move.'"

D3C0D3R: "We've barely touched upon you album entitled Stay Quiet, Stay Ahead. So why don't you tell me a little about the album such as the process of recording and what the album means to you."

FS: "I feel Stay Quiet, Stay is a culmination of songs I've been writing for years as it was one of those things I felt I needed to buckle down and do to get a taste of what music had to offer outside of open mics. The process was incredible because I loved having the ability to hear my own music come out of speakers rather then live once. The captivating part was the ability to dub, layer, and re-record parts to enhance the song itself above just one guitar and one vocal track live. I really can't wait to do it again as now when I'm writing material the first thing that pops into my head is 'What else can I do with this once I'm in the studio, because it will not end just with these tracks.'

D3C0D3R: Stay Quiet, Stay Ahead is the official title but what is the message behind it?

FS:  "Of course it's a very personal album to me as it shows just how far I've come but, in the song 'Silver Circles' there's a lyric that sums up half of the message very well, it goes, 'Restless but too scared to move.' I feel that very much describes the characters in the album as they are full of so much potential, ideas, and aspirations but for whatever reason they are stuck in this very nervous/tense state. The other reason for the title is in high school I always thought I would 'stay ahead' of the drama because I thought I was above it so I was staying quiet to stay ahead of my peers. Ultimately when I get to college though I realize that you will be interacting and living with other people your whole life. You have to be social especially as a musician because I've come to find that the people that are friendlier and nice have more friends which can lead to more popularity. Of course that's something I've tried myself to work on over the past year and feel I've come a long way.

Next time, on Independent Closet it's time for judgement as we put Field Sleeper's first album, Stay Quiet, Stay Ahead on display for the internet to see. Till next time everyone thank you for reading and feel free to like, comment, and share!

Links to Field Sleeper Music:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FieldSleeper

Band Camp(Full Album available): http://fieldsleeper.bandcamp.com/

*As with all things, the opinions expressed our purely that of the author (or interviewer) and should be taken as such.   

** All images, music, and information used are for entertainment purposes. No copyright infringement intended.

I.C. Field Sleeper INTERVIEW: Part 1,The Man

Walking into Goldfish Tea I did not have any idea walk really to expect from this interview. Would it be an overblown journey into the psyche of a megalomaniac, a casual conversation among musical colleagues, or something that would throw me completely off kilter? Thankfully, it was the second as Alexander Paquet (hereon referred to as "Field Sleeper" or FS) was calmly sitting sipping some tea eagerly awaiting our interview. 

As I sat down he offered me what he referred to as Baozhong tea, and not being a stickler, I obliged the request. After prepping the recording equipment, ordering another fantastic tea, and getting our minds situated the discussion began.

D3COD3R: "What Originally got you interested in music?"

FS: "As far as pop rock music and playing for people is concerned, in 7th grade I had this friend who played Green Day's 'Holiday' in the talent show as a solo instrumental piece. After that everyone thought he was like 'the coolest kid on the face of the earth' and I was this awkward really skinny sixth grader that wanted to be cool so I thought I'd try to learn to play guitar.

D3C0D3R: "From there how did music affect your life?"

FS: "I had originally been in orchestra but it was not until sophomore year of high school that I really started to recognize I enjoyed music and felt confident to declare it. It was also at this point I started talking with my history teacher who was a huge music buff both listening and performance wise who introduced me to great artists such as The National, Bon Iver, and these other very cathartic artists. Of course, as I discovered my style it made me popular and really feel in tune with myself."

In the words of Garth, "I like to play".

D3C0D3R: "Now, it's funny you mentioned you were in orchestra as within your newest album 'Stay Quiet, Stay Ahead,' you actually have a few piano/synth parts overlaying your guitar and vocals what instruments can you play?

FS: I play viola, piano, bass, guitar, and sing. I've fiddled around on drums before but there have always been a few big things in my way; One, drums are expensive and two, they are loud (chuckles). So, for those two reasons it makes it difficult to really practice drums. But looking forward I'm hoping to recruit a drummer to play some snare or brush sticks."

D3C0D3R: "Following up on recruiting do you consider yourself a solo act or and entity that can allow a multitude of members?"

FS: "Honestly, hopefully one day it becomes more than just one person but, the fact that I'm still in college, it's a very busy time for me so it's hard to find time to practice and perfect enough with others to feel comfortable we're playing at a high enough quality. I do feel though that people are still willing to accept you playing solo as I don't feel they are in the crowd thinking 'Man this would sound so much better with drums,' or anything like that.

As we continue talking I question FS his feelings on being back in his hometown after being away for a year studying in Ohio and which scene he feels he enjoys more.

FS: I of course say I'm from the Detroit area as that is known as it's own scene if I said I was from Troy no one would know where that is but, as far as that scene itself, I've done very little exploring as I have not had the opportunity though I've heard great things about it. I will say though that Columbus, Ohio does have some great talent and tricks they pull on music.

He then went into detail on how Columbus seems to completely throw genre limitations out the window to open an avenue of new musical discovery.

 Insert shameless promotion here.

FS: They have a lot of weird spins on what we say is the classic singer/songwriter for example there's a group that has auto harp mixed with hip hop rapping which has it's own unique vibe to it which. It seems everyone is always collaborating together and putting out fantastic combinations of music acting more as melting pot of styles then specific people staying in their respective bands.

D3C0D3R: "You actually do not like to thought of or brought on stage as 'Alex Paquet' you prefer your stage entity 'Field Sleeper,' can you tell where the name originated and what it means?"

FS: "'Field Sleeper' came from boy scouts originating from the real act of sleeping in fields, but I did not have a name till I sat down and thought 'I really need a moniker' but that did not hit me until I went to college. This was because I did not realize how much 'Boy Scouts' had effect my decision making process or social norms until I went off to college. There's that part to it and the theme of reflectiveness that I feel most people do not do until they are about to sleep with thoughts of the day circling through their heads. Its very much about how the past has lead you to where you are today as field sleeping has for me."

D3C0D3R: "Now for my readers and people you actually introduce your music to it has to be a little hard to nail down exactly what your sound is with them since you do have a pretty broad range of sound, how do you describe your music to them?"

FS: "When I was writing a year and a half ago I could see that pop music had a very grounded framework with the pulsing thumping bass drum, heavy guitar, etc while to counter that they had very airy ooh-ahh vocals. Well I wanted to flipped that on it's head with very airy guitar parts but have everything grounded in the vocals which for the longest time led my vocals melodies to have very little pitch change because I wanted to outline the chords but not go too crazy. If I had to pin it down though I'd call it 'Art Folk' though it's a strange term but if you were to strip away everything to the acoustic guitar I think you'd find it sounds very folk-like under the effects. But, I feel with the effects I use on the electric guitar and my vocal styling it sort of, spins it off into more original."

Over the next couple of days I will continue to upload parts 2 and 3 which will include a detailing of his thoughts on the album "Stay Quiet, Stay Ahead," his own recording process, a heated discussion on ASCAP with it's grip on coffee shop open mics, the internet's effect on the modern independent artist, and what the future holds for Field Sleeper. Till next time everyone thank you for reading and feel free to like, comment, and share!

Links to Field Sleeper Music:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FieldSleeper

Band Camp(Full Album available): http://fieldsleeper.bandcamp.com/

*As with all things, the opinions expressed our purely that of the author (or interviewer) and should be taken as such.   

** All images, music, and information used are for entertainment purposes. No copyright infringement intended.

Independent Closet: Paradise Fears show off their Battle Scars

Introduction:

Hello and welcome back to ROCK D3COD3D! I know I've been gone for a long while and I wanted to thank you all who still continually check in to see if anything new has been released. Well, as of today I can say without a shadow of a doubt  that I have some great stuff cooked up for you guys over the next few months that are going to expand upon everything put forward so far. But enough about the behind the scenes stuff let's get to the real reason you're here THE MUSIC.

History 

 Now to be honest I came across this band through the wonderful avenue that is Spotify (I highly recommend this service to any music lover). Since stumbling across this I had originally intended to do a full-on D3COD3D review of the EP but I was shocked to find out that Paradise Fears is a fairly newcomer to the rock and pop landscape and have truly only been around since mid 2010. Originating in Vermillion, South Dakota, six friends decided to put off college for one year in hopes of making their rock and roll dreams come true. Now, I'm not going to lie to you there is not a whole lot known about this band with them only being around for a few years so if you want more info I highly suggest this article here for a much more detailed look at their short but sweet history. The have released a few records including Make Them Believe and a Youtube Covers (Part 1). It was only after an extensive touring and an acoustic EP that they decided to release the labor that is today's discussion, their newest EP entitled Battle Scars.

Now I know what you're thinking. "But, Keith all they have done is release EPs what makes this one stand out?" To be honest with you I could not tell you questioning viewer except that it seems this is the EP getting a huge amount of publicity for it and after the "Prelude" it's easy to see why.

  " I'll be saddened and surprised if this is the last we hear of Paradise Fears..."

Album "Review"

The album opens with the song "Prelude (Intro)" and my god does it do a great job building up the hype for the coming onslaught of songs. The lyrics are all about what it means to the band to really be able to put out this effort and why it is special to them. After finding out the alternative title (Call To Arms), it definitely makes sense why the speech is said with such passion/drive but does the good thing of avoiding becoming over the top or outstaying it's welcome as it is gone within a minute.


The title track "Battle Scars" is actually broken up into two tracks, the original and it's reprise which both doing an amazing job of painting a picture of moving forward and being bookends for the bulk of the songs here. The reason I bring this up as a majority of the songs on the EP while fun, are also stem from varying degrees of pain. That is why, it's nice that the sentiment of "Marching on" is still prevalent throughout the album. It's the feeling that regardless of what you're going through life it's still worth pursuing as everyone  has their own "battle scars" and that's what bonds us in one way or another. 

It's at this point we get to my favorite tracks on the EP "What Are You Waiting For," "Fought For Me," and "Used." "What Are You Waiting For" is so cookie cutter pop music from the soaring chorus, the feel good upbeat demeanor, and the final chorus key change but my god if it's not addicting! One of my favorite lines comes directly from this song (You wanna live forever huh, well then just do it) and it's at this point I should mention that the lead vocalist (Sam Miller) will sporadically dive into an moments of talking (rapping?) throughout his songs which at first can throw you for a curve ball but eventually it just becomes a staple. One last sentiment about this song is you won't be able to listen to this without wanting to go out and do something, anything to better yourself. Then again, that can be said for a majority of the EP.

 "...everyone  has their own "battle scars" and that's what bonds us.."

"Fought For Me" and "Used" are both broken-heart songs that are very much in two different veins. "Fought For Me" follows an ex lover continually haunted by the memory that he should have done more for the person he was with eventually becoming so fed up with the notion that he himself starts asking if the other person would've done the same things they are asking of him for him. It's a song that definitely deserves at least one listen through while "Used" is the most reserved song on the album. Consisting of purely vocals, piano, and a simple synthesizer that rounds out the feeling of being letdown by someone you really let into your inner workings. To me, I feel it appears to be a one night stand and being a "means to an end" and my god does Sam Miller bring every bit of range he's got to this song. From the soft verses, the falsetto first and last chorus, to the belting repeat chorus, it's marvelous to see what Paradise Fears does with only half of it's members for a song.

The other two songs on the album "Warrior" and "Lullaby" are not completely my cup of tea with the latter being just over the cheesy pop song line that "What Are You Waiting For" walked so well though I'm sure it will find it's place on your girlfriend's iPod. "Warrior" is actually the first (so far only) single on the album and I just don't see it being super spectacular as it's a very slow song acting as a polar opposite from songs like "Fought For Me" and "Battle Scars." The chorus does an okay job of keeping the song from being stale but it doesn't soar like the rest of the songs on the album so I'm hoping this is not the only single released from such a great EP.

Conclusion

In all, this is a don't miss for an fan of pop music, someone looking for that missing piece to their summer jams, or anyone searching for what's new and on it's way up. I'll be saddened and surprised if this is the last we hear of Paradise Fears as you can see so much potential and already realized talent in  Battle Scars. If you have Spotify search this one immediately but, if you do not it's available on iTunes, Amazon, and last.fm.

Next time we'll be going back to basics with a band resurrected from the grave the one and only Hawthorne Heights and their newest experiment Zero.

BUY IT: What Are You Waiting For, Fought For Me, Used

HEAR IT: Prelude (Intro), Warrior, Battle Scars (reprise)

IGNORE IT: Lullaby

Band Page: http://www.paradisefears.com/

Band FB: https://www.facebook.com/paradisefears

*As with all things, the opinions expressed our purely that of the author and should be taken as such. ** All images, music, and information used are for entertainment purposes. No copyright infringement intended.

Alkaline Trio Bearing it's Shame For the World to See

 Introduction

So I'll be honest, I was never truly into the whole punk rock scene growing up. The fact of the matter was I just saw no point in listening to a genre that consisted of yelling, screaming, and fast guitar chords. As the years dragged on I was slowly introduced to bands such as Blink 182, Green Day, and The Offspring which offered me the slightest dip into the huge ocean of the punk rock scene. Being a 90's kid it's pretty much cemented into your brain that you will like either grunge or pop punk music because it was what sold well and was continually blasted in your ears. It wasn't until my high school years that a simple miss search on Youtube brought me to today's band. Alkaline Trio. At the time I was actually just looking for All Time Low but instantly fell in love with their newest album at the time entitled This Addiction, which stills plays repeat on my iPod to this day. It was so refreshing to hear a punk rock band that was not afraid to write about darker more personal issues. Of course, the band would later release the greatest hits album Damnesia which, in the same way of Foo Fighters' Skin and Bones, changed my outlook on a band I had really only seen play heavier inspired music.

Alkaline Trio started back in December 1996 consisting of Matt Skiba (guitar, vocals), Rob Doran (Bass,vocals), and Glen Porter (drums, vocals) in their community of McHenry, Illinois. The band released their first EP, Sundials, in 1997 which saw the depature of Rob Doran and the acceptance of Dan Andriano to fill his place. They were very busy the next few years releasing a multitude of EPs and 2 albums before releasing From Here To Infirmary in 2001 which saw the first time one of their albums reached above the top 200 Billboard ranking and grossing in more than six figures income. After a few albums the bands drummer was replaced with Derek Grant to which the band went on to release six studio albums before parting ways with their newest label "Epic Records." They released This Addiction in 2010 to the highest chart on the Billboard 200 of 11. Subsequently, the band followed it up with an album only to be describe as a love letters to their fans, Damnesia, in 2011 that consisted of fan-favorite songs across their very long career. Fans heard nothing for a year when it was announced the band was heading back into the studio and with the recent divorce Matt Skiba had gone through it seemed to be a very personal album entitled My Shame Is True.

"Kudos to Skiba who is not afraid to really bare his soul"

The Singles

While this album has seen it's slew of lyrical videos from the band, sadly only one song has actually been released as a single the oddly named "I Wanna be a Warhol." Now this song takes no prisoners as it starts up nearly full force with the drums and distorted guitar launching into a build-up to the first verse. It's here that the aforementioned "Warhol" singer, Matt Skiba wants to be is one of the famous painters works hanging on the wall of, from what we can gather, his ex's place. It's a very fun song that can really get the blood pumping and get you excited for the band has to offer this time around. Also, the song has a very This Addiction feel to it and is definitely the safest bet for a first single by the band but as we'll see, it's far from the best song on the album.

The Rest of The Album...

Sadly, the album itself opens with a song that is far too safe for the band as "She Lied to the FBI" feels like a song that has everyone on auto-pilot which, for a opener definitely does detract major points. If you stay through this song though you are greeted with the opener that should have been "I Wanna Be a Warhol" which as I have stated gives you a good idea of what to expect from the album. A majority of the songs on this album are quite brilliant even if they are not guaranteed hits. For example, "I'm Only Here to Disappoint" and "I, Pessimist" are great songs on the album that are fun fast paced songs with lyrics that hide a much darker and deep narrative mostly because as Skiba stated "I just wrote this one more as a love letter to my ex-girlfriend, or an apology note set to music." Quick side note, the second singer on "I, Pessimist" sounds an awful lot like the singer from Rise Against when he yells it was quite jarring the first time hearing. I should also note that while a majority of punk has a reputation for fast power chords and not a whole lot of diversity with the keys but as a band I've never heard a more diverse group uninhibited not only with the key or time signature but also the feel of a song but, more on that later.

Songs of note on this album are the somber "Kiss You to Death," the thought provoking "Only Love," and the amazing finale "Until Death Do Us Part." "Kiss You to Death" follows on the heels on "I'm Only Here to Disappoint" and shifts to a much more intimate setting with Skiba painting the picture of man so depressed with the separation he has been inflicting that he is pulling himself to the person he loves to try and make everything alright. The song envelopes into a drum tirade that I found this band does so well, allowing the drums to circle completely around the vocals without detracting from them which is owed to a lot to the producers on the album who meticulously pick apart the song to bring out only the best. The song is very heartbreaking it's narrative as I have said it's about losing someone and really not knowing the starting place to be on your own and regardless of how the confrontation may go ("I don't care if we fuck, or we talk, or we cry") it's all about being there with that person which I'm sure everyone has felt at one point or another in their lives. Kudos to Skiba who is not afraid to really bare his soul regardless of how it may come across.

Vampires or Secret service agents? YOU DECIDE!

"Only Love" starts out with a riff just a few notes short of a Coldplay song but slowly narrowing focus around the idea that no matter how much money you have, things you buy, or leisures you abuse, at the end of the day the only reason we are Earth is love. It's a great song that asks a lot of good questions while also bringing out one of my favorite lines from the album, "I hear the telephone works both ways think you can make a little effort someday?" This song as well as a majority of others accolades should be given to drummer Derek Grant whom has slowly become one of my favorite drummers of today. This is because he is a great dynamic drummer who knows not only how to stand out, continually switch up his style of playing to make different songs and sections sound distinct, but he also knows how to illustrate the high points in the song for other instruments such as Skiba's louder singing parts.

The last song we'll talk about is the near perfect ending track "Until Death Do Us Part." This song starts with a split of acoustic guitar on one end and electric on the other which goes for a minute straight before the rest of the band starts a build up to the chorus which I at first though may fall flat because the lyrical content for the song was very intimate so turning it up to eleven may ruin the appeal. But oh boy was I wrong, with Skiba singing another amazing pre chorus before the build up, "Now I want you back and waiting there for me. I won't hold my breath I don't expect a thing but a boy can dream." This leads into Skiba belting out, with the rest of the band throwing their intensity through the roof, for his ex to "Tell him everything will be okay," begging her to say she still in love with him and how he can get back in her arms. This ladies and gentleman is the perfect way to represent the emotion one feels at the end of a relationship they were truly invested in. Skiba is not angry, only really showing that emotion a few times on the album. Instead, he leaves the album with the sentiment that he wants it to work out, he wishes there was something he could do but realize it may be a delusion, but, it's his delusion and he is completely fine with that. 

Concluding Thoughts

I could go on about not only how this song is awe-striking but a majority of the album is, though sadly songs like "She Lied To the FBI" and "One Last Dance" seem very auto-pilot for the band though 12 out of 14 is not a bad score at all. I will say this album is not for everyone as my hard core punk fans may think this is too poppy and my pop fans vice versa. All I can tell you definitively is that it is a great look at the inner works of the end of a relationship and I'm sure anyone who has gone through one can listen to this album and pick out points where they were at the same low. If you find you like this album I also suggest taking a look at any of their other work including the ones I've listened above. But, unfortunately that is all for now I'll see all you back here next time when we take a look at the new album by pop sensation One Republic.

DECODED: 8.0 out of 10

As always please like, share, and comment below!

BUY IT: I Wanna Be A Warhol, Kiss You to Death, Only Love, Midnight Blue, Until Death Do Us Part

 

HEAR IT: , I'm Only Here to Disappoint, The Temptation of Saint Anthony,I Pessimist, Torture Doctor, Young Lovers

TRASH IT:  She Lied To The FBI, One Last Dance

*As with all things, the opinions expressed our purely that of the author and should be taken as such. ** All images, music, and information used are for entertainment purposes. No copyright infringement intended.

Independent Closet: Broke City

Rules

Welcome everyone to a new experiment here at ROCK D3C0D3D! Independent Closet is a side project I have wanted to do for a quite a while that showcases amazing artists you have probably never heard of. Because this is a showcase, there will be a review of the work itself but grading will be change from a 1-10 scale to strictly BUY IT, HEAR IT, IGNORE IT as I feel it will better differentiate from the regular review show. But, before we start a few ground rules MUST be laid down.
1. Only one work from the artists can be reviewed.
This includes EP's, LP's, and full length albums so as to keep the artists featured fresh
2. All artists featured must NOT have a top 10 hit
I would prefer to keep it to local acts that have labored to create something mainstream music does not
3. One song MUST be a BUY IT and one song MUST be an IGNORE IT
This is too avoid favoritism in albums as a majority of these will songs from my teenagedom.
Without further ado though, let's dive into our first episode featuring the hometown heroes of Broke City from Salt Lake City, UT and their last EP entitled No Thanks For The Ride

History

 Now I was first introduced to this band way back in the summer of 2007 when they were guest instructors at a week-long summer camp for young aspiring musicians entitled "Jam Camp." This place was awesome and I had the distinct honor of having our band taught by their then bassist Dave Briggs. Sadly, Dave would later leave the band in the coming years but, for their 2007 release entitled The Answer, their line-up consisted of Joel Pack (lead vocals/guitar), "The Rob" Moffit (drums), and Mr. Briggs (bass). Watching this trio perform was definitely an awe inspiring moment as they belted out the songs from their first (and sadly only) debut album. 

The following year when we returned to "Jam Camp" Joel Pack and "The Rob" were very much still apart of Broke City creating songs for the upcoming EP we are looking at today. Finally after 2 long years of waiting Broke City was able to release No Thanks For The Ride as a six-track EP in 2009 to much of my excitement. Sadly though on October 9th 2010, Broke City played it's last show before calling it quits. Thankfully Joel Pack and "The Rob" still record music to this day and Joel has even become a producer in Utah under his studio "Rigby Road Studios." They created a band called Joel Pack and the Pops in 2011 and continue to play around the Utah circuit to this day.

Album "Review"

Now for myself the build up for No Thanks for The Ride was painstaking as the first song was teased on New Year's Day 2008. The Song was called "I Feel Alive" and my god does it pack quite a wallop. The song starts very melodically with Joel playing a piano part perfectly illustrating the cold winters day outside before the rest of the instruments launch in and create a powerful wall of sound worthy of knocking anyone off their ass. It is here I must say that "The Rob" is a fantastic drummer that not keeps the beat alive by the change ups he throws throughout the whole song, by also by the sheer mass of sound projecting out of his kit. This song is a must hear for anyone looking for something different but still in the realm of rock.

A few of my other favorites on the album are "A Life You Won't Miss" and "Failure" another two songs I was teased of throughout the years leading up to the eventually release of the album as both songs are filled with very thought provoking if not a tad depressing lyrics ("I woke today, all the colors of the rainbow bend in different shades of grey") and amazing musical craft man ship. Besides "A Life You Won't Miss" has a very clavier solo which is mind-blowing how well it works in a song about how the radio, movies, and TV have desensitized us into believing  it's the life we need. Well done Mr. Pack well done indeed.

The two songs on the album that will probably split the crowd of people. "Anything Stronger" is a great example of a rocking tune with a blues feel that I'm sure will take a few listens to get used to. "The Dark Passenger" though has slowed worked itself into my consciousness as my favorite on the album as the instrumentation and subtle vocal changes create an ambience that will really have you pounded your first in the air as you scream the chorus at the top of your lungs ("I'm not falling, I'm not drowning you're just trying to take control"). It's here I should note Joel's incredible control of his register as throughout the album he will change from belting at the top of his lungs to his soft almost falsetto sound in an instant.

"...an amazing finisher for a band that I am quite sad has come and past."

The one song that I found most artist though is "Snowed In" from the opening crushed almost 8-bit sounding drums to the solemn guitar part it creates a very different vibe than the rest of the album teasing us with a completely different sound. Of course being the magicians of sound they are the slowly build into the first chorus before flipping the script on the second verse going from soft and solemn to all out wall of rock that must be heard. This is definitely an amazing finisher for a band that I am quite sad has come and past.

While I am sad to see Broke City go I am completely confident that Joel and Rob are doing what is best with creating Joel Pack and The Pops and eagerly await a chance to listen to a full album by the bunch. Till than it's time to break down the songs on the album to which ones you should run out and grab and which you should avoid. Of course, I would like to state that this is a beautiful EP that any music fanatic should have in their collections but as are the rules here we go.

Broke City is available to be listened to here and on iTunes for purchase:  http://www.reverbnation.com/artist_87611/bio

BUY IT: "I Feel Alive," "A Life You Won't Miss," "The Dark Passenger," "Snowed In"

HEAR IT: "Failure"

IGNORE IT: "Anything Stronger"

*As with all things, the opinions expressed our purely that of the author and should be taken as such. ** All images, music, and information used are for entertainment purposes. No copyright infringement intended.

 

Fooled By Ramen Finale: Fall Out Boy

Over the last month, and time here at Rock D3C0D3D, we've taken a look at a multitude of artists preforming through a plethora of genres. From Alternative rock, to hip-hop, to even country Fueled By Ramen has definitely shown itself to be a diverse record label. Put finally we come to the end of this journey and with that comes not only one of the most anticipated albums of 2013, but also the return of one of my favorite rock groups to come out of the 2000's. I am of course speaking of Fall Out Boy and their return venture entitled Save Rock and Roll.

Fall Out Boy was founded by members Pete Wentz and Joe Trohman in early 2001 after being in various hardcore punk bands in their Chicago area. It wouldn't be until a little later on that Trohman met future lead singer Patrick Stump at a bookstore to which they talked of a common interest in the band Neurosis. Oddly enough, Stump originally auditioned for the open drummer spot in the band until Wentz and Trohman heard his huge vocal register and decided he would be better suited as their lead. After a few more lineup changes, and the band being give it's name at a concert, they found Andy Hurley to be their drummer.

They went on to release a few EP before making their first album entitled Take This To Your Grave releasing it on May 6, 2003. It was a big hit with singles such as "Grand Theft Autmun/Where is Your Boy" and "Saturday." it achieved gold status but only after their breakthrough album entitled From Under the Cork Tree. The album saw them change to the bigger label "Island" and eventually led to the creation of Decaydance Records. This is when I started getting involved with the band as I watched all of their music videos back when Fuse TV was a better source than MTV. They released their big hits "Sugar We're Going Down," "Dance, Dance," and my personal favorite "A Little Less Sixteen Candles, a Little More Touch Me." They released two more albums entitled Infinity on High and Folie A Deux before going on hiatus in 2010. I personally have not heard Folie A Deux but, I do recommend Infinity on High for all of you music lovers out there. They reformed in 2013 much to the delight of myself and said they had been secretly recording an album they were to release later in the year. Well, we've got the album now so let's see if Fall Out Boy still has it or if they should've stayed in hiatus.

The Cover for the most anticipated album... I don't get it.

The Singles

So this album's actually has a lot of videos for the songs on it but sadly only two singles have been released so far. The first being "My Song Knows What You Did in the Dark (Light 'Em Up)" and the later titled, "The Phoenix." Both of these songs are energetic thrill rides that create an amazing atmosphere for the start of the album.

From the pulse pounding drums, string sections in the intro and pre-chorus, to Patrick Stump's awesome falsetto "The Pheonix" will definitely get you in the mood for what Fall Out Boy is offering this time around. The song has three sections to it, the first being a swirl of strings and percussion leading directly into a slowed down solemn pre-chorus lead-up that pays off fully in the chorus as it turns into a dance floor "call to arms" that is a beauty to hear. 

I honestly prefer this over the first single, "My Song Knows What You Did in the Dark (Light 'Em Up) though I may be in the minority here because it definitely has a classic reformed Fall Out Boy sound reminiscent of "Thnks Fr Th Mmrs." Though the song does take a page from Fun's "We Are Young" creating a sort of anti-chorus that is fun to listen to but seems to keep things in the same place if not lower the intensity. Of course, Stump's voice has never sounded better not only on this song but the whole album because when he squeals "FIRE" you know Fall Out Boy will not be shying away from doing what they want on this album.

The Rest of the Album...

This has easily become the most anticipated album of 2013 and it's not hard to see why when you have a band that not only defined the pop rock genre in the 2000's but also were huge contributors to pushing great artists to the forefront of public consciousness. Of course the album isn't fully paved in gold as I found myself more than displeased with songs "The Mighty Fall" and "Rat a Tat." It's not that they are horribly songs as Fall Out Boy at their 'meh' is still better than a majority of the artists today's 'good.' The only real problem with these songs is the industrial drums in "The Mighty Fall" and the performance by Coutrney Love ("It's Courtney Bitch") are a nice touch but are real letdowns as the songs do not seem to lead much of anywhere as opposed to other songs on the album that blow preconceived notions out of the water.

"...even if Fall Out Boy doesn't save rock and roll it's a damn good start."

Now that we have the bad out of the way let's talk about the songs that are a shoe in to be singles. "Alone Together," "Young Volcanoes," and "Save Rock and Roll" are some of the best songs on the album that are assured, if given the chance, can slaughter the charts with "Alone Together" being a fun love song about being young, having fun, and doing what you want because you strictly can. It also features one of my favorite lines from the album ("My heart is like a stallion, they love it more when it's broken). "Young Volcanoes" while not my personal favorite will be an easy song to sell over summer with it's acoustic guitar, ethnic drums, and lyrics that for myself can easily be seen as an around the campfire ballad lending more to the free and wild nature they have been going for throughout the album.

It is the finally though that is the standout track on this album as it offers not only a very reserved musical performance from Fall Out Boy but also a collaboration with the musical savant himself Sir Elton John. I do not think there is enough good things that can be said about this album, from its intermediate piano melody, simple vocal melody, and HUGE soaring chorus this song is a masterpiece. I must say I am a little sad that Elton John's part is reserved to a half verse and repeat prechorus but, take what you can I guess. If you are only going to buy one song off of this album this is the song as it is a love letter to "the songs worth singing" and proves that even if Fall Out Boy doesn't fully save rock and roll it's a damn good start.

Though I'm barely skimming the awe-inspiring album that is Save Rock and Roll I highly recommend to go out and buy this album as it is a testament that not only can a band reinvent their sound, come back after years of hiatus, but also record an album in complete silence from it's fans an make something that is truly fantastic. This is the rock album we have been waiting for and it does not get much better than this.

Well that is all for this month "Fooled By Ramen" month was an amazing experience and goes to show that rock music while evolving, is not truly dead in mainstream eyes. Next time, we take a turn to the punk rock side and look at Alkaline Trio's My Shame Is True.

DECODED: 9.5 out of 10

As always please like, share and comment below!

BUY IT: The Phoenix, My Song Knows What You Did In The Dark, Alone Together, Just One Yesterday, Death Valley, Save Rock and Roll

 

HEAR IT: Where Did The Party Go, Miss Missing You, Young Volcanoes

TRASH IT:  The Mighty Fall, Rat a Tat

*As with all things, the opinions expressed our purely that of the author and should be taken as such. ** All images, music, and information used are for entertainment purposes. No copyright infringement intended.