092811

What's It Called?

Neon Trees - Animal

What's The Story?

This tune was in a tourism commercial for Vegas last week, and when asked if I knew it, I insisted that it was Two Door Cinema Club for like five minutes before I got contrary enough to jfgi. Neon Trees are a four piece from Utah, and Animal was the lead single from their first & only album to date, Habits.

Who's To Blame?

His beard is probably what a playoff beard would've looked like on an Oilers fan in the 80s.

Why ♥ It?

As stated above, despite its radio appeal and generally maligned teen/young adult audience, Animal is a tune that could easily be by a band your hipster friend was telling you about last week. Neon Trees nail the genre rudiments of singable chorus and a clean vocal line, laid over some power chords and a happy, upbeat chord progression.

But don't think that it's entirely boring.

Having the bass guitar turned up to 11 or so can always give a track an added voice, and this is true of Animal as well. See also from 1:25 until the second chorus for a great quirk in the vocals. For a song called Animal, it mostly wears kitten mittens, but at this point the vocals have a sandpaper moment that'll make you feel better about listening to such a pseudo teeny-bopper song.

You know that 14-year old cousin you have with the jet-black dyed hair, skinny jeans and goofy superfluous glasses? They like this song, but so will you.

092011

What's It Called?

Panic At The Disco - Hurricane

What's The Story?

Well, you've heard Panic. They famously had a great, punk-poppy first album, and then like countless others, had a sophomore flop. Then, 2 members left the band in 2009, and they're now a two-piece. Hurricane is from their third album & first with the new lineup, Vices & Virtues.

Who's To Blame?

...It's something about a pond in my bathroom?

Why ♥ It?

One of the things that appealed to me most about Panic's first album was how often they'd borrow a snippet of another genre into their own music. Lots of string sections, occasional electronic bursts, etc. Hurricane does this in the form of a disco-ball bass that demands center stage. The whole track is lit up by this sound, and by the many crowd sounding vocals. It feels like being in a particularly wild nightclub.

Fans of Panic's radio-ready choruses will find a home here, also. Although that happening bass is still busy funking it up, the rest of the chorus could be any other pop-punk song, as well as the you'll dance to anything hook-bridges that pop up a few times.

I still haven't figured out what it is about two-piece rock groups in the last few years that make them so excellent, but Panic At The Disco are a more-than-welcome addition to the bandwagon.

090411

What's It Called?

Paramore - Fences

What's The Story?

Paramore are a band from Tennessee, known for both their catchy pop-punk style and for Hayley Williams' ventures outside the band. Fences is from their second release Riot!, also known as the Paramore album with all their hits.

Who's To Blame?

A forum troll with better taste in music than in humor.

Why ♥ It?

Pop-punk is, as a genre, oft-maligned for its generic factory-produced sound. However, there are a number of bands that, once you get past the stereotypes and the labels, create some pretty neat tunes. Fences is one such example of a gem in the genre.

There's just something about Hayley Williams' voice, and that's probably why she gets so much work as a feature outside of Paramore, this song being as good an example as any. The bass line is a classic walk which is rare for Paramore and bands like them, but a walking bass line is never unwelcome. The guitar in the chorus is great, and combined with the rest of the song's atmosphere, comes off awfully heavy for a song like this. The chord progression in the solo section (2:10) is awesome, and sounds like a briefer Don't Make Me A Target (Spoon).

Is it pop? Is it punk? Don't be fooled by the label, this song rocks either way.

100910

What's It Called?

Anberlin - Time & Confusion

What's The Story?

Anberlin are an originally pop-punk Christian band from Florida. Time & Confusion is from their second album, Never Take Friendship Personal. Fun fact: their lead singer's last name is Christian.

Who's To Blame?

A bent curtain.

Why ♥ It?

At times introspective and sincere, and others upbeat and poppy; the guitar catches and the tune rushes through 3:23.

080810

What's It Called?

The Sleeping - Stayin' Alive

What's The Story?

Well, you can tell by the way I use my walk; I'm a woman's man, no time to talk...

(It's also from a soundtrack to a crappy movie!)

Who's To Blame?

The New York Times affect a man, ya know.

Why ♥ It?

A punk band in the vein of Rise Against or Thursday take the Beegees' classic disco tune, keep much of the disco charm, and punk up some of the lead vocals and the lead guitar riff.

If you don't already ♥ it from that description, nothing I say will make you think I'm anything other than a clown, and as such, I will keep this short as to avoid wasting any more time than I already have.

Postscript: covers are cool.