The Front Bottoms

May 2018 Alt Col Picks – Arctic Monkeys, Parquet Courts, CHVRCHES, & More

Admin1 Comment

A lot of great albums were released in May, so here are our favorite records of the month! (In no particular order.) Want a Spotify playlist? Click here!

  • Lake Street Dive – Free Yourself Up

After issuing a handful of sparkling indie blues rock albums, Lake Street Dive releases another fantastic addition to their victory streak with Free Yourself Up, characterized by soulful vocals and tastefully rough-around-the-edges instrumentals. Standout tracks include “Good Kisser,” “Dude,” “Hang On,” and “Baby, Don’t Leave Me Alone With My Thoughts.” Free Yourself Up will appeal to fans of Muddy Magnolias, Empty Houses, and St. Paul & The Broken Bones. Click here to listen.

  • Arctic Monkeys – Tranquility Base Hotel & Casino

For their sixth studio record, Arctic Monkeys steps out of their traditional wheelhouse for a lounge-y, nonchalant smooth rock timbre with Tranquility Base Hotel & Casino, seasoned with prickly guitar melodies and psychedelic vocal delivery. Standout tracks include “Four Out of Five,” “Star Treatment,” and “Tranquility Base Hotel & Casino.” Tranquility Base Hotel & Casino is bound to satisfy followers of The Kooks, The Last Shadow Puppets, and Bloc Party. Click here to listen.

  • Shinedown – Attention Attention

In an era where most popular rock bands aim for a more poppy, mainstream radio-friendly sound, Shinedown turns the other direction and unleashes a ripping, hard-hitting, pure rock record with soaring choruses and granular guitar riffs. Standout tracks include “DEVIL,” “ATTENTION ATTENTION,” “MONSTERS,” and “THE HUMAN RADIO.” Attention Attention is sure to attract listeners of Breaking Benjamin, Daughtry, and Three Days Grace. Click here to listen.

  • Parquet Courts – Wide Awake!

Parquet Courts’ seventh studio record Wide Awake! is nothing short of a dream. With funky melodies, nuanced synths and effects, and a sense of urgency, Wide Awake! will shake you right awake with the first listen. Standout tracks include “Wide Awake,” “Almost Had to Start a Fight/In and Out of Patience,” and “Before the Water Gets Too High.” Wide Awake! will interest fans of Protomartyr, The Vaccines, and The Wombats. Click here to listen.

  • Now, Now – Saved

Six years after their previous full-length Threads, Now, Now returns with Saved, a record that cements their indie rock style through playful tunes like “SGL” and moodier moments like “Can’t Help Myself.” The amalgamation of emo-tinged alt-rock and smooth synth pop makes for a delectable and endlessly replayable album. Standout tracks include “SGL,” “Yours,” “Set It Free,” and “Can’t Help Myself.” Saved will capture followers of Pinkish Blu, Anarbor, and The Aces. Click here to listen.

  • courtship. – Denial in Paradise

courtship.’s debut LP Denial in Paradise is an undeniably fabulous indie pop slice of paradise for the summer. The cascading guitar melodies and glistening synths combine with the unique percussion and hypnotic vocal performances to craft a breezy, sunny record worth countless listens. Standout tracks include “Nice Guy,” “Bad Fun,” “The Kind of Woman,” and “Sunroof.” Denial in Paradise is sure to satisfy listeners of HONNE, Smallpools, and COIN. Click here to listen.

  • CHVRCHES – Love Is Dead

CHVRCHES recrudesces with another dazzling indie pop full-length on Love Is Dead. Between scintillating synth lines and anthemic refrains, Love Is Dead also provides social commentary, self-reflection, and underlying angst to tie the explosive package altogether. Standout tracks include “Get Out,” “Graffiti,” “Miracle,” and “Deliverance.” Love Is Dead will appeal to followers of Broods, Shura, and Purity Ring. Click here to listen.

  • Beach House – 7

Aptly titled 7, Beach House’s seventh record is a hazy listen defined by surging walls of reverb and foggy atmosphere, complemented by meditative lyricism to make for a dreamy indie rock/pop album perfect for a lazy summer afternoon. Standout tracks include “Dark Spring,” “Dive,” “L’Inconnue,” and “Lemon Glow.” 7 will attract fans of Perfume Genius, Real Estate, and Grouper. Click here to listen.

MORE GREAT ALBUMS

  • Honey, Be Well – These Emo Kids and Their Damn Polaroids

Standout tracks include “Secret Agent Michael Scarn,” “I Wanna Go Home,” and “Enough for You.” These Emo Kids and Their Damn Polaroids is for fans of Modern Baseball, Joyce Manor, and The Front Bottoms. Click here to listen.

  • Dream On Dreamer – It Comes and Goes

Standout tracks include “Stay,” “Let It In,” and “Runaway.” It Comes and Goes is for fans of The Word Alive, Hands Like Houses, and I See Stars. Click here to listen.

  • Frank Turner – Be More Kind

Standout tracks include “Be More Kind,” “Blackout,” and “Make America Great Again.” Be More Kind is for fans of Brian Fallon, Dave Hause, and Beans On Toast. Click here to listen.

  • James Bay – Electric Light

Standout tracks include “Pink Lemonade,” “Sugar Drunk High,” and “Wild Love.” Electric Light is for fans of George Ezra, Hozier, and Vance Joy. Click here to listen.

  • Courtney Barnett – Tell Me How You Really Feel

Standout tracks include “Crippling Self-Doubt and a General Lack of Confidence,” “Need a Little Time,” and “City Looks Pretty.” Tell Me How You Really Feel is for fans of Kurt Vile, Soccer Mommy, and Snail Mail. Click here to listen.

  • TT – LoveLaws

Standout tracks include “Love Leaks,” “The Dream,” and “I’ve Been Fine.” LoveLaws is for fans of The Japanese House, Anna Burch, and Sunflower Bean. Click here to listen.

  • The Word Alive – Violent Noise

Standout tracks include “Red Clouds,” “Human (ft. Sincerely Collins),” and “Why Am I Like This?”  Violent Noise is for fans of Miss May I, blessthefall, and The Color Morale. Click here to listen.

  • Remember Sports – Slow Buzz

Standout tracks include “No Going Back,” “Up From Below,” and “Pull Through.” Slow Buzz is for fans of Ratboys, Dude York, and Diet Cig. Click here to listen.

  • The Sidekicks – Happiness Hours

Standout tracks include “Weed Tent,” “Twin’s Twist,” and “Don’t Feel Like Dancing.” Happiness Hours is for fans of Cheap Girls, Wild Nothing, and The Menzingers. Click here to listen.

  • At the Gates – To Drink From the Night Itself

Standout tracks include “Daggers of Black Haze,” “To Drink From the Night Itself,” and “The Mirror Black.” To Drink From the Night Itself is for fans of Dark Tranquility, Hypocrisy, and In Flames. Click here to listen.

  • Elder Brother – Stay Inside

Standout tracks include “Weak Days,” “You & Me Forever,” and “Sway.” Stay Inside is for fans of Daisyhead, Head North, and Chase Huglin. Click here to listen.

  • Chase Huglin – Will the Sun Ever Come Back

Standout tracks include “Pennies,” “Heaven Come My Way,” and “90 Days of Summer.” Will the Sun Ever Come Back is for fans of Mat Kerekes, McCafferty, and Elder Brother. Click here to listen.

  • Middle Kids – Lost Friends

Standout tracks include “Mistake,” “Bought It,” and “On My Knees.” Lost Friends is for fans of Methyl Ethel, Camp Cope, and Varsity. Click here to listen.

  • Parkway Drive – Reverence

Standout tracks include “The Void,” “Prey,” and “Wishing Wells.” Reverence is for fans of Miss May I, The Devil Wears Prada, and Architects. Click here to listen.

  • Strung Out – Black Out the Sky

Standout tracks include “Town of Corazon,” “Requiem,” and “Black Out the Sky.” Black Out the Sky is for fans of Face to Face, Ten Foot Pole, and Good Riddance. Click here to listen.

  • Iceage – Beyondless

Standout tracks include “Catch It,” “Pain Killer (ft. Sky Ferreira),” and “Take It All.” Beyondless is for fans of Ought, Preoccupations, and IDLES. Click here to listen.

 

Extended Plays

  • Honest Men – Honest Men

Standout tracks include “Mad Love” and “Lose My Head.” Honest Men is for fans of COIN, Bad Suns, and The Ivy. Click here to listen.

  • DALES – Demos

Standout tracks include “Bulletproof” and “Young for the Summer.” Demos is for fans of Go Radio, The Maine, and The Summer Set. Click here to listen.

  • Somme – Somme

Standout tracks include “Holding On to You” and “Ordinary Fools.” Somme is for fans of Clairo, Ally Hills, and LAYNE. Click here to listen.

  • Clairo – diary 001

Standout tracks include “Pretty Girl” and “4EVER.” diary 001 is for fans of Temporex, boy pablo, and SALES. Click here to listen.

  • Jeremy Zucker – glisten

Standout tracks include “all the kids are depressed” and “better off.” glisten is for fans of EDEN, gnash, and nothing,nowhere. Click here to listen.

  • The Front Bottoms – Ann

Standout tracks include “Tie Dye Dragon” and “Somebody Else.” Ann is for fans of Joyce Manor, Tigers Jaw, and Modern Baseball. Click here to listen.

  • Times Like These – Take It or Leave It

Standout tracks include “Pipe Bomb” and “Passing Cars.” Take It or Leave It is for fans of Face Value, The Gospel Youth, and Every Avenue. Click here to listen.

  • HalfNoise – Flowerss

Standout tracks include “All That Love Is” and “Flowerss.” Flowerss is for fans of Now, Now, Beach Weather, and Paramore. Click here to listen.

  • Pridelands – Any Colour You Desire

Standout tracks include “Slowly” and “The Sulfur Inside Your Hell.” Any Colour You Desire is for fans of Belle Haven, Tapestry, and Apate. Click here to listen.

  • Dream State – Recovery

Standout tracks include “White Lies” and “New Waves.” Recovery is for fans of Picturesque, Greywind, and Thousand Below. Click here to listen.

  • emoceans – Lost in Love

Standout tracks include “I Give Myself to You” and “I Swear.” Lost in Love is for fans of blackbear, gnash, and Bazzi. Click here to listen.

  • Late Night Bull Fight – Something Doesn’t Add Up

Standout tracks include “Superhuman” and “Slow Your Roll.” Something Doesn’t Add Up is for fans of Mt. Joy, Pacific Radio, and Naked Giants. Click here to listen.

 

Featured Singles

Let us know what you think of May’s releases down in the comments below!

Our Alt Col Picks are curated lists of the best albums and EPs for each month! We keep a schedule of upcoming releases and pick our favorite ones at the end of the month, giving them a spotlight here and on Twitter. To be featured in one of our lists, hit us up on our contact page or Twitter, though nothing is guaranteed. (We rarely make exceptions to include past releases, so if your album came out in June, we might be hesitant to include it in July or August, for instance.)

“Worst” Albums of 2017

AdminLeave a comment

2017 offered up some amazing albums (click here to check out our best albums list), but the year also regurgitated some less-than-stellar releases. While we have no definitive list for the “worst” albums, we do have a handful of picks for the most disappointing and most overrated full-lengths. As always, this is just my personal opinion, and keep in mind that theses lists are in no exact, particular order since my views fluctuate relatively frequently.

Most Disappointing Albums of 2017

These artists have set some pretty high standards with their past discographies, but their albums unleashed in 2017 did not live up to those expectations. These albums are not necessarily terrible by any means but are simply underwhelming compared to the artists’ earlier releases.

8. Ultralife by Oh Wonder

Alt-electropop singer/songwriters Oh Wonder’s self-titled debut in 2015 was atmospheric, stirring, and entertaining. It put them on the map as an up-and-coming indie pop act, but Ultralife failed to pack the same punch with its forgettable melodies and poor, overcrowded production quality.

7. Gossip by Sleeping With Sirens

Sleeping With Sirens loosely maintains their rock edge for certain tracks on Gossip but just ever so slightly. A vast departure from their previous efforts, Gossip loses everything that gave the band their “melodic hardcore” or even “rock” label … and credibility in the scene. I don’t even know if “pop rock” is remotely suitable here; it’s pop, I think. It’s something.

6. Something to Tell You by HAIM

2014’s Days Are Gone delivered energy, vibrancy, and angst, proving that HAIM was a promising newcomer in the alternative pop scene. With their ’80s throwback sound and youthful attitude, we expected their follow-up to be even better, something more mature and expansive. But Something to Tell You didn’t really leave us with much to say after all. The emotion and sonic gusto felt muted, to say the least, and nothing kept me coming back to this album, which was frankly a let-down.

5. Going Grey by The Front Bottoms

Going Grey marks a change of pace for The Front Bottoms, signifying a tonal shift to a more colorful array of electronic tinges throughout their indie pop rock blend. Still retaining their organic instrumentation, The Front Bottoms crafts a savory kaleidoscope of sounds begging for repeated listens. … However, I just wasn’t truly impressed. After a couple spins, none of the melodies or lyrics really stuck with me. The sound didn’t work for me after going back and listening to their earlier releases, and I’m ultimately disappointed by Going Grey. Seems as if Fueled By Ramen is attempting to transform another rough-around-the-edges band into a more pop-friendly act, and I’m honestly not here for it.

4. Evolve by Imagine Dragons

Imagine Dragons burst onto the alternative pop scene in 2012 with their debut LP Night Visions. It scored them multiple hits and also big points with me personally. (“Selene,” “Amsterdam,” “Hear Me,” “The River,” all amazing, timeless songs.) 2015’s Smoke + Mirrors put them on rocky ground among critics, including myself, but most let it slide as the almost inevitable sophomore slump. I didn’t have high hopes for Evolve upon listening to the singles, but I held out a little longer and wished for a return to form, a revival of the sincerity, passion, and exploration of Night Visions. But no. It’s an uninspired pop record. A big skip for me.

3. Pacific Daydream by Weezer

For me, Weezer has always been a hit-or-miss kind of band. One year they put out a fantastic album and then they put out a mediocre album the next. Their discography is like a checkerboard of alternating qualities, but after 2014’s exceptional Everything Will Be Alright In the End and 2016’s self-titled “white album,” I actually set my standards pretty high for Rivers & Co. Really, I can’t say I was immensely surprised that Pacific Daydream was relatively second-rate considering my past experiences with their other releases. (And the fact that I’ve never been one to favor yearly full-lengths.) Still, I was expecting Weezer to keep up their positive winning streak and yet…

2. Last Young Renegade by All Time Low

Pop rock veterans All Time Low transition to a more electropop rock vibe for their seventh studio album Last Young Renegade. The band clutches on to their organic instrumentation for a number of tunes, but many are dazzled by synth-driven melodies and artificial beats. While there were some outstandingly redeeming songs on this record, Last Young Renegade overall is a weak, unoriginal outing for All Time Low. If this was a debut effort from a new band, I’d be pretty impressed and interested to hear more. But taking into account All Time Low’s history, this is a veritable misfire in their catalog.

1. ÷ by Ed Sheeran

From our full review of the album: “Ed is acclaimed for his diversified styles, from upbeat hip-hop to syrupy sweet love ballads to acoustic campfire singalongs. His earnest lyricism and authentic intimacy is one of the many reasons to love this amiable redhead. ÷ is a typical Ed Sheeran album, a mixture of those various approaches and then some. But unfortunately, ÷ plays it extremely safe in personality, although he does tiptoe outside of his comfort zone on a few moments. This is his most noticeably commercial record to date, which thus sacrifices risk-taking and is ultimately underwhelming. After 2014’s phenomenal ×, touring the planet, and taking a year off social media, we set the bar high for Ed. We expected something more personal, something introspective and astonishing, but ÷ really does not meet those standards. It’s the same-old-same-old but yet not as stunning and gripping as his earlier material. Of course, ÷ is alright; it’s not a terrible release by any means, but it certainly is disappointing in multiple categories.” Continue reading the review here.

Most Overrated Albums of 2017

Before we finally delve into what I think are the most overrated albums of 2017, let’s discuss what it takes to make this list. For me, a record must have garnered positive ratings or mainstream attention when it was not entirely deserved. These LPs have some decent songs sprinkled throughout (well, some of them do) but the quality of the albums as complete works is overall weak and contradictory to mass reviews or public perception.

4. hopeless fountain kingdom by Halsey

Is this even alternative? Halsey’s edginess and blatant desire to make some kind of, um, statement has always crept on my nerves a bit, but at least I could enjoy a few moments throughout 2015’s Badlands, like “Castle,” “Drive,” and even bigger hits like “Hold Me Down” and “Colors.” But hopeless fountain kingdom aims to be a Romeo & Juliet-influenced concept album with all the edgy, modern-day melodrama. Her vocal delivery sounds like a poor man’s Ellie Goulding impression, and the atmospheric production seems so overblown. It’s a cringe-worthy record, but yet it seems to be faring pretty well in the “alt”-pop circle.

3. Evolve by Imagine Dragons

Imagine Dragons utilizes their knack for creating bombastic, robust tunes with pounding percussion and over-the-top energy like on “Believer,” which was the prevailing lead single for their third album Evolve. While this track isn’t terrible, it does grow to be quite grating after multiple listens. “Thunder,” the other big hit, is artlessly annoying between its pitch-shifting and lyrical repetition. The clumsy experimentation on Evolve causes it to fall flat on its face and conjures a feeling of disjointedness throughout the record.

2. The Click by AJR

I mean, this album isn’t too overrated considering most critics perceive it to be infernal excrement and it didn’t seem to be a popular success, but yet, AJR fans will fiercely defend The Click as some of their best material to date. The Click, the sophomore effort from those guys who somehow incorporated a SpongeBob sample in their biggest single in 2014, is a mixed bag of electronic “indie” pop music and God knows what. Supposedly (messily) drawing influences from Jon Bellion and fun., AJR tries to be experimental and fresh but The Click really just doesn’t click. The lyrics are mediocre and at times childish and the production sounds like it was done in their living room. Oh, wait. It was. I’m not against that DIY, homemade attitude, but God, couldn’t it have been executed better than this? (Especially on that Warner Brothers budget.) I will give them credit where it is due; I did find myself getting some of the more enjoyable melodies stuck in my head. But when the best thing I can say about an album is, “Well, some of the hooks were nice,” does it really deserve to be espoused as a masterpiece? (Also, those high-pitched vocal harmonies sound like a bunch of crooning cats in an alleyway.)

1. ÷ by Ed Sheeran

(Read my full review of ÷ before you decide to tear me apart for this.) Listen, I’m not saying Ed doesn’t deserve his success. He’s crafted a very accessible, easily listenable, pop-oriented record, arguably his most commercial outing to date. He’s scored big #1 hits from ÷ and all of the tracks charted in one way or another. But I think that coupled with my personal disappointment is why I find ÷ to be overrated. “Shape of You” and “Perfect,” the two prominent chart-toppers, are some of my least favorite tracks on the full-length. While most critics are predominantly lukewarm on ÷, a major portion of Ed’s fanbase touts this record as his magnum opus. For me, I always enjoyed Ed at his most vulnerable and authentic. I adored cuts like “The Man,” “Nina,” “Runaway,” and “Afire Love” from his antecedent × largely due to their intimacy and personal subject matters. They felt like pages from his diary, snapshots of his deepest thoughts and experiences. However, those songs were unfortunately overlooked by mainstream casual listeners, and Ed even regrets including “The Man” on × because it was “too personal.” So I can’t say I was exceedingly shocked to realize that ÷ was brashly insincere, disingenuous, and slanted for a more pop-desiring, widespread audience. So yeah, I guess Ed accomplished what he loosely set out to do: take over the charts and earn some monstrous radio hits, sell millions of copies, and capture that general audience. But from an artistic standpoint, ÷ is hugely underwhelming and frankly overrated. I’m not saying Ed “sold out,” but he really didn’t hit the mark concerning the true quality and potential of his songwriting, especially in comparison to his previous releases.

Keep in mind this is all my personal opinion. Let us know your most disappointing or overrated albums of the year down in the comments below!

October 2017 Alt Col Picks

AdminLeave a comment

A lot of great albums were released in October, so here are our favorite records of the month! (In no particular order.) Want a Spotify playlist? Click here!

  • Citizen – As You Please

Emo revivalists Citizen recrudesce with their third full-length out on Run For Cover Records titled As You Please. As You Please is nothing short of expressive and cultivated through heartfelt lyrics, enticing vocal delivery, and poignant melodies, demanding you to listen again and again to catch every detail. Standout tracks include “Jet,” “Fever Days,” and “In the Middle of It All.” As You Please will appeal to fans of Sorority Noise, The Wonder Years, and Turnover. Click here to listen.

  • Julien Baker – Turn Out the Lights

Emotional libretto and morose melodies define Julien Baker’s sophomore studio effort named Turn Out the Lights, displaying the solo performer exploring new instrumental territories within a more piano-driven realm. This haunting collection is eerie, emotive, and undoubtedly memorable. Standout tracks include “Appointments,” “Everything That Helps You Sleep,” and “Hurt Less.” Turn Out the Lights is sure to attract followers of Casey Bolles, Birdy, and Gordi. Click here to listen.

  • Knuckle Puck – Shapeshifter

Knuckle Puck returns with their pop punk sensibility and a desire to explore on their new record Shapeshifter. Fine-tuned production and stellar musicianship causes this LP to be instantly replayable, bound to suck you back in over and over between its head-bobbing choruses and intriguing lyrics. Standout tracks include “Gone,” “Conduit,” and “Double Helix.” Shapeshifter will capture listeners of Like Pacific, Homesafe, and The Story So Far. Click here to listen.

  • Movements – Feel Something

Movements’ debut album Feel Something will certainly make you feel something. This long-player hurts in the best way possible. As the artwork implies, Feel Something is haunting, dark, and raw, destined to keep your head spinning for hours to come when the closer ends. Standout tracks include “Colorblind,” “The Grey,” “Under the Gun,” and “Daylily.” Feel Something is sure to satisfy followers of Seahaven, Turnover, and Citizen. Click here to listen.

  • Wolf Parade – Cry Cry Cry

Cry Cry Cry, the fourth full-length album from indie rockers Wolf Parade, serves up some delectable tunes characterized by raucous distortion and gleaming synths, supporting the interesting melodies and effortlessly impressive vocal performances. Standout tracks include “Valley Boy,” “You’re Dreaming,” and “King of Piss and Paper.” Cry Cry Cry is sure to interest fans of Spoon, Islands, and Divine Fits. Click here to listen.

  • Coldfront – Float Around

After signing to Equal Vision Records in 2016, Coldfront issues their debut full-length titled Float Around, an energetic pop punk listen that is bound to turn heads in the scene. The opening half busts down the door and shakes you by the shoulders as the album fluctuates cohesively from more aggressive moments to calmer serenades. Standout tracks include “Everything You Want Me to Be,” “So Typical,” “Float Around,” and “Natalie.” Float Around will appeal to listeners of Neck Deep, State Champs, and Grayscale. Click here to listen.

  • The Front Bottoms – Going Grey

Going Grey marks a change of pace for The Front Bottoms, signifying a tonal shift to a more colorful array of electronic tinges throughout their indie pop rock blend. Still retaining their organic instrumentation, The Front Bottoms crafts a savory kaleidoscope of sounds begging for repeated listens. Standout tracks include “Vacation Town,” “Peace Sign,” and “You Used to Say (Holy F**k).” Going Grey is bound to attract listeners of The Mowgli’s, Slow Bullet, and Magic Giant. Click here to listen.

  • ROAM – Great Heights & Nosedives

Just one year following their debut album, Hopeless Records signees ROAM make a splash with their sophomore long-player release titled Great Heights & Nosedives, outlined by soaring vocal performances, upbeat percussion, and saccharine guitar work. Standout tracks include “Playing Fiction,” “Alive,” “Flatline,” and “The Rich Life of a Poor Man.” Great Heights & Nosedives will capture fans of WSTR, Neck Deep, and State Champs. Click here to listen.

MORE GREAT ALBUMS

  • Julia Louise – Love Jail

Standout tracks include “Brat,” “Philly Heartbreak Song,” and “Left Handed.”  Love Jail is for fans of Mitski, Slow Bullet, and Julien Baker. Click here to listen.

  • Cheem – Downhill

Standout tracks include “Kate,” “Game Boy Color,” and “Monster Gorp.” Downhill is for fans of Glass Towers, Guide Dog, and Remo Drive. Click here to listen.

  • Beck – Colors

Standout tracks include “Dear Life,” “Up All Night,” and “Colors.”  Colors is for fans of Andrew McMahon in the Wilderness, Weezer, and Smallpools. Click here to listen.

  • Stick to Your Guns – True View

Standout tracks include “Married to the Noise,” “The Sun, the Moon, the Truth: ‘Penance of Self’,” and “Cave Canem.” True View is for fans of Stray from the Path, Trapped Under Ice, and Counterparts. Click here to listen.

  • New Politics – Lost in Translation

Standout tracks include “One of Us,” “Lifeboat,” and “Tell Your Dad (feat. Rivers Cuomo).” Lost in Translation is for fans of The Griswolds, Finish Ticket, and Vinyl Theatre. Click here to listen.

  • The Used – The Canyon

Standout tracks include “Over and Over Again,” “Selfies in Aleppo,” and “Rise Up Lights.” The Canyon is for fans of Taking Back Sunday, Bayside, and Anberlin. Click here to listen.

  • Hotel Books – Equivalency

Standout tracks include “Celebration,” “I Knew Better, but Did Nothing,” and “I’m Almost Happy Here.” Equivalency is for fans of Casey Bolles, Kyle Fasel, and Levi the Poet. Click here to listen.

  • Weezer – Pacific Daydream

Standout tracks include “Mexican Fender,” “Sweet Mary,” and “La Mancha Screwjob.” Pacific Daydream is for fans of Best Coast, Big Data, and The Mowgli’s. Click here to listen.

  • Muskets – Chew

Standout tracks include “Truck,” “Chewing Gum,” and “17 Years.” Chew is for fans of Modern Baseball, Moose Blood, and Brand New. Click here to listen.

  • The Polarity – Hurts So Good

Standout tracks include “// No Different Than You //,” “// Cigarette Burns //,” and “// Runaway //.”  Hurts So Good is for fans of Vinyl Theatre, Catfish and the Bottlemen, and Knox Hamilton. Click here to listen.

  • World War Me – World War Me

Standout tracks include “War Zone,” “Break a Leg, Kid,” and “Mr. Misery.”  World War Me is for fans of ROAM, Seaway, and WSTR. Click here to listen.

  • We Came As Romans – Cold Like War

Standout tracks include “Cold Like War,” “Lost in the Moment,” and “Wasted Age.”  Cold Like War is for fans of Our Last Night, A Skylit Drive, and Crown the Empire. Click here to listen.

  • Wild Ones – Mirror Touch

Standout tracks include “No Money,” “Invite Me In,” and “They’re Not Me.” Mirror Touch is for fans of Broods, Oh Wonder, and HONNE. Click here to listen.

  • Thousand Below – The Love You Let Too Close

Standout tracks include “No Place Like You,” “Sleepless,” and “Sinking Me.” The Love You Let Too Close is for fans of Counterparts, Stick to Your Guns, and Too Close to Touch. Click here to listen.

 

Extended Plays

  • Oh, Weatherly – Make You Bright

Standout tracks include “Make You Bright,” “Six Feet,” and “Say You’re My Friend.” Make You Bright is for fans of Every Avenue, The All-American Rejects, and With Confidence. Click here to listen.

  • The Band Royale – Delusions of Grandeur

Standout tracks include “Dying in California” and “Who’s Got It Better.” Delusions of Grandeur is for fans of, um, Foo Fighters, Wolfmother, and Glass Towers. Click here to listen.

  • Heavy Hearts – On a Chain

Standout tracks include “Easy Mark,” “Unravel (Your Love),” and “Headroom.” On a Chain is for fans of Citizen, Movements, and Balance and Composure. Click here to listen.

  • Kill the Ideal – Kill the Ideal

Standout tracks include “Dangerous!,” “Know Your Name,” and “Crazy.” Kill the Ideal is for fans of Nothing More, Nothing But Thieves, and Our Walking Hour. Click here to listen.

  • COPE – Tooth & Nail

Standout tracks include “The Great Divide,” “Tooth & Nail,” and “Stray Bullets.” Tooth & Nail is for fans of Expire, Trapped Under Ice, and Stick to Your Guns. Click here to listen.

  • New Chums – See It for Myself

Standout tracks include “Come On, Come On,” “Cave In,” and “Disposable Music.” See It for Myself is for fans of Beach Weather, LEDGES, and Bad Suns. Click here to listen.

  • LIMBS – SLEEP

Standout tracks include “POISON,” “SLEEP,” and “BONES.” SLEEP is for fans of Thousand Below, The News Can Wait, and Hail the Sun. Click here to listen.

  • Hold Close – I’ll Never Go Back

Standout tracks include “Autumn,” “Bloom,” and “Blue Dream.” I’ll Never Go Back is for fans of Coldfront, Seaway, and Homesafe. Click here to listen.

  • Brian Clifford Dowling – Learning to Laugh Again

Standout tracks include “Eternal Defeatist,” “Learning to Laugh Again,” and “Show Your Cards.” Learning to Laugh Again is for fans of Dave Hause, Front Porch Step (ugh), and Casey Bolles. Click here to listen.

  • Shine Bright – More Wild Than the Wind

Standout tracks include “Remorse,” “More Wild Than the Wind,” and “Grow Up.” More Wild Than the Wind is for fans of Like Ghosts, What We Lost, and Counterparts. Click here to listen.

Let us know what you think of October’s releases down in the comments below!