Recently I was able to connect with singer-songwriter Adam Lytle to discuss everything that went his new single and video for the track “Heaven.” The song comes from Lytle’s sophomore album, Altars, that hits streaming services on May 2nd. If you’re enjoying the video for “Heaven”, please consider pre-saving Altars here.
Read More “Adam Lytle” If your life was a movie, what songs would make the soundtrack?
Earlier this year, I found myself trying to answer that question, all because I was looking for a project to get me excited about music writing again. A decade ago, I couldn’t wait to write up reviews of every new album I liked. Now, the thought of going through that process feels exhausting, and maybe meaningless. Does anyone care about album reviews in 2025? And if not, where does that leave those of us who love trying to articulate what it is about a certain piece of music that makes us think, or makes us weep, or gets our hearts racing a little faster?
I came up with the life soundtrack idea almost on a lark. It would be a fun challenge, I told myself, especially if there were limits and rules by which I had to abide. The first rule I gave myself was to theme this project around my forthcoming 35th birthday. In honor of that milestone, I decided, I’d have the space of just 35 songs to tell my life story.
I didn’t know how maddening this game would prove to be – or, ultimately, how emotionally fulfilling. I’m an old veteran when it comes to making lists, but this version of the music list was so much harder than anything else I’d ever attempted. Picking your all-time favorite albums is easy. Picking your favorite songs is harder, but still somewhat intuitive. Trying to boil down your entire life’s journey into what is essentially a two-CD compilation is an exercise guaranteed to result in constant hand-wringing, excessive second-guessing, and endless revising. There are currently 47,145 songs in my iTunes library. How was I supposed to be satisfied picking such a tiny percentage of that?
Read More “My Life In 35 Songs, Track 1: “One Headlight” by The Wallflowers” Recently I was able to connect with psychedelic indie composer, guitarist, and record producer Romi Peles, as he gears up for the release of his third studio album, Break Up Album, that hits streaming services on June 13th. Today, Romi Peles is releasing his new single and lyric video for “Demons Back In Town.” If you’re enjoying the new single, please consider supporting this talented artist here.
Read More “Romi Peles” Recently I was able to catch up with the lead vocalist of Anxious, Grady Allen, on the road to discuss everything that went into the band’s excellent sophomore LP, Bambi. I asked Grady about how the headlining shows have been going for Anxious, if he felt any pressure during the writing process between Little Green House and Bambi, and much more. If you’re looking to support Anxious on the road, check out a show, or visit their merch store here.
Read More “Grady Allen of Anxious”
The fourth studio album from pop-punk band, Hit The Lights, called Summer Bones is a solid collection of songs that bookmarked where the band felt most comfortable in. The record has since turned ten years old today, and Hit The Lights have not released a full-length record since then. The closest we got to new music was the 2016 EP, Just To Get Through To You, that also featured acoustic versions of several tracks from Summer Bones. Summer Bones was produced by Kyle Black (New Found Glory/All Time Low/State Champs) and highlights a familiar sound from the band’s most successful record, 2008’s Skip School, Start Fights. After the experimental Invicta, Summer Bones has the vibe of a more matured version of the band, and still plays out well to this day. The set would spawn three singles in “Fucked Up Kids,” “Life on the Bottom” and “No Filter.”
Read More “Hit The Lights – Summer Bones” The eighth studio album from A Day To Remember, called Big Ole Album Vol. 1, finds the band at a bit of a crossroads. This is the first record without founding bassist Josh Woodard, who departed the band in October 2021 due to allegations of misconduct, and A Day To Remember try to regain their footing after the lukewarm reception of their last record, You’re Welcome. Big Ole Album Vol. 1 features a litany of producers, six in total, including lead vocalist Jeremy McKinnon and the album has a bit of a tough time finding its direction. The album feels like an A Day To Remember record, but with so many artistic directions taken here, it’s a bit of a jarring listening experience. Instead, the album plays out almost like a “Greatest Hits” set that goes through the ground the band covered since their early days to now. Preceded by a physical only release on February 21st of this year, the streaming date has arrived for an album that has already achieved a Top Five Billboard 200 debut.
Read More “A Day To Remember – Big Ole Album Vol. 1” A couple of days ago, I was able to schedule a Zoom call with Brittany Luna (vocals) and Tim Hildebrand (guitar), of Philadelphia ska band Catbite, to discuss their newly announced EP, Doom Garden. In this interview, I asked the band members about where the EP title came from, the direction they took on Doom Garden, their recent performance doing the Operation Ivy cover set with Laura Jane Grace, and how they were able to get Patrick Stump to sing on one of the songs on the new record. Catbite will be supporting Doom Garden with a headlining tour, and the dates are below.
Read More “Catbite” I’d like to introduce everyone to ambient rock artist, Katerina Nicole, whose debut EP, Serene In Violent Oceans, is a solid mix of heavy styles similar to Spiritbox, paired with the songwriting sensibilities of Charlotte Sands, all with a style all of her own. I asked Katerina about her great new single called “Emotionally,” the meaning behind the EP title, and what she hopes fans will take away from listening to her dynamic music. If you’re enjoying the new single, please consider streaming her EP here.
Read More “Katerina Nicole” Losing a loved one can bring out so many emotions that we didn’t know that we even had inside of us. On her heartfelt tribute to her mother who passed away from cancer, Lily Meola has returned with a new EP, affectionately labeled as Postcards To Heaven. Meola shared, “Since losing my mom, writing music has been a form of therapy for me. These songs stem from my grief and the everlasting longing I have to communicate with her. I decided to put these out on her birthday as a way to dampen the heartache that this day brings and to honor her. I hope that sharing these songs will help others who are facing grief.” By creating a touching EP that tugs on all of the right heartstrings, Meola quickly showcases the healing power of music.
Read More “Lily Meola – Postcards To Heaven” It sure feels like Coheed and Cambria have been around much longer than 23-plus years since their debut album was released. Is it the mix of classic rock and prog rock elements that give them that nostalgic feel? Possibly. Is it the rich concepts of traveling through epic space storylines? Could be that as well. All things considered, Coheed and Cambria feel right at home with their tenth studio album, The Father of Make Believe. The record blends a lot of what Coheed have been best at over their storied career thus far, and adds in some new creative elements to their sound to prevent the album from feeling like a retread of already covered ground. Instead, The Father of Make Believe is a gripping exploration of mortality, legacy, and human connections that make us want to keep navigating through this crazy life. Look no further than the opening track of “Yesterday’s Lost” where vocalist/guitarist Claudio Sanchez ponders, “If this life ends early / Would I have spent our time right?” before later confessing, “It won’t get any easier / As I start to get old / Please share with me something / Before I lose control,” and you start to get the feeling like this band is in a reflective state of where they have been so far, and yet they embrace whatever comes next. And yes, while these lyrics are wrapped up in the space rock narrative of The Armory Wars/Vaxis storyline, there is still a beating heart behind each of these words that can be applied to the realities we all experience today. That’s the magic of Coheed and Cambria. They have been able to relate to not only their fellow “comic book nerds” but also those who appreciate great rock music that leaves us feeling fulfilled.
Read More “Coheed and Cambria – The Father of Make Believe” The pressure that bands must feel after delivering a successful debut album must be enormous. Add the backing of a major label to the mix, and the expectations that come with all of that, and it can be enough to make even the most confident songwriters take pause. Radiohead stormed onto the Alt Rock scene with 1993’s Pablo Honey, that spawned a now-legendary lead single in “Creep.” The debut set has gone on to sell over 1.5 million copies in the U.S. alone. The expectation from Radiohead’s label (Capitol Records) was that they could easily replicate this success on their sophomore effort, The Bends. But true art can’t be forced or so easily matched at the click of a button. The reality that began to sink in for this ultra-talented band during the songwriting sessions for this record led to the realization that they would have to go even bigger than anyone could’ve ever dreamt of. Through these sessions, The Bends has gone on to receive numerous critical accolades, including Rolling Stone’s “500 Best Albums of All Time” list and several platinum certifications worldwide.
Read More “Radiohead – The Bends” Recently I was able to connect with Florida punk band, Debt Neglector, about their newly announced LP called Kinda Rips that will be released everywhere music is sold on April 4th via Smartpunk Records. In this interview with bassist/vocalist/ band founder Alex Goldfarb, I asked him about the themes present on Kinda Rips, the band’s music upbringing, and why they feel their music should connect with those upset with the political status quo. You can pre-save Kinda Rips here.
Read More “Debt Neglector” There’s a lot to love about the band Fountains of Wayne. From their humble beginnings that grew out of admiration for solidified rock bands like R.E.M. and The Cars, the band’s primary songwriters, Adam Schlesinger and Chris Collingwood, met at Williams College in Northern Massachusetts and would begin to craft not only the early stages of Fountains of Wayne, but a lifetime friendship. Fountains of Wayne is loving tribute to the beloved band that while only having one true “hit” in “Stacy’s Mom,” there was so much more to them and their music. Author Fiona McQuarrie cuts right to the core of what this band so special, talented, and does a fantastic job of researching all that went into the band’s early days, all the way to their eventual breakup. McQuarrie’s writing style is warm, and you can easily tell she is a fan of the band’s work through her endearing biography of Fountains of Wayne.
Read More “Fiona McQuarrie – Fountains Of Wayne” The sophomore album from Spiritbox, Tsunami Sea, is an absolute monster. The new record comes hot off the heels of 2023’s EP The Fear of Fear, and the much-buzzed about debut LP Eternal Blue, and two consecutive Grammy nominations for Best Metal Performance. The new album was co-produced by Spiritbox’s Mike Stringer and Dan Braunstein, and early on you get the vibe that the band is out for world domination, and they just may achieve their goal. From the opening visceral one-two punch of “Fata Morgana” and “Black Rainbow”, Spiritbox reinvent what it means to make a metal album today, and have filled the void with a record that demands to wash over anyone who takes the time to listen to it. Lead vocalist Courtney LaPlante can confidently go from the most punishing of screams to a softer croon with ease as she showcases why she is one of the most talented front women in today’s music scene. Spiritbox have improved vastly upon their sound that combines melodic metal, metalcore, electronica, and EDM into a massive package that will do nothing to dissuade others from joining the bandwagon.
Read More “Spiritbox – Tsunami Sea” If you’ve ever wanted to explore the vastness of space through a great-sounding ambient track that fits somewhere in the realm of Thrice’s Vheissu, paired with the sprawling rock of band’s like Caspian, IOTA CENTAURI is your next obsession. With the release of the project’s new single called “Lullaby For A Dying Sun,” IOTA CENTAURI have also announced their debut LP called Supermassive. IOTA CENTAURI is the solo moniker of TJ Fulfer, and the new album explores themes of love, loss, tragedy, and the growing distance between two people, expressed through the vastness of space, the mysteries of the universe, and the weight of darkness—all woven into sweeping soundscapes and deeply evocative melodies.
The latest single features some guest vocal spots from Ken Pendola and Meg Zahora to help round out this band’s approach to songwriting. The epic final chorus of, “And when it vanishes / Nothing is remembered / Only an emptiness / Where light once lived,” takes the concept of traveling alone through the depths of space and still hones in on the human element of what makes us all want those key connections to others.