FIVES: THE BEST WONDER YEARS SONGSThis week Lansdale, Pennsylvania’s The Wonder Years released their fourth album - ‘The Greatest Generation,’ a record that sees the pop punk quintet reach their creative peak in a number of ways. With a wealth of material in their discography, Already Heard's Sean Reid and Tom Knott took on the tricky task of picking out the five best songs from The Wonder Years. Find out what we picked and let us know if you agree or disagree?
INTERVIEW: MALLORY KNOXFollowing the release of their superb 'Signals' album, Mallory Knox have certainly become ones to watch in recent months. We caught up with the band to discuss joining Search & Destroy Records, how vital the festival season and touring are, what it feels like to be a part
of the expanding British rock scene and much more.
ALREADY HEARD RECOMMENDS: OVER THE OCEANOver The Ocean have crafted a compelling, brooding record with their latest effort ‘Be Given To The Soil.’ With intense specific precision and delicate accuracy that echoes the likes of Explosions In The Sky and Sigur Ros. Jesse Hill from the band to discusses how the
album came together, the importance of precision, being compared to post-rock pioneers and more.
VERSUS: BRING ME THE HORIZON - 'THERE IS A HELL...' VS 'SEMPITERNAL'After a top ten UK album and an outstanding UK tour with festival dates on both sides of the Atlantic to follow, Bring Me The Horizon are having a fantastic 2013 and are now featured in the latest edition of "Versus." It's ‘There is a Hell, Believe Me I’ve Seen It. There is a Heaven, Let’s Keep it a Secret’ vs the bands latest release, 'Sempiternal.'
ALREADY HEARD TRACK GUIDE: ALEXANDER - SAY HELLOWe catch up with Newcastle Indie Rock quartet Alexander to find out more about their debut album 'Say Hello' for a “Already Heard Track Guide” feature.
INTERVIEW: TITLE FIGHTHaving briefly returned to the UK for the Hit The Deck Festival before starting a European
tour, we caught up with vocalist/bassist Ned Russin to discuss the bands progression in sound, differences between UK and US festivals, their recent split with Touché Amoré,
having friends on tour and more.
Something For The Weekend: Count Your Lucky Stars Special
This week the lovely people at Count Your Lucky Stars Records put everything they’ve released on their Bandcamp for pay-what-you-want download. So we absolutely had to delve right in and pick some of our favourite releases from CYLS for this weeks “Something For The Weekend.”
We have Ann Arbor favourites, Brave Bird. Chicago’s “feel good sad jams”, Dowsing. And last but most definitely not least we have Merchant Ships, a dead Midwestern screamo band.
If your label, band or company would like to become a guest writer for Something For The Weekend - contact Sean Reid to find out more information.
Brave Bird
For Fans Of: Cap n’ Jazz, Brand New
I honestly have no idea how I came across Brave Bird originally but it was love at first listen. ‘Ready Or Not’ was released in November 2010 and it was on constant, and I mean constant, rotation for months of my life. Then came about the full length ‘Maybe You, No One Else Worth It’ and it was like all my indie-emo musical prayers had been answered. The record to me is just a perfect example of the “emo” revival done well – because it isn’t just a revival, it’s almost an invention. The youthful exuberance, the jarring vocals and melodic guitar work all add to the layers upon layers found within this band and record. I genuinely cannot stress enough how much I love this record & band – so I’d advise you go grab a copy and see what I’m talking about!
Already Heard Track Guide: Page 44 - All That Changes, Stays the Same
Recently Birmingham rockers Page 44 released their new album ‘All That Changes, Stays The Same.’ Funded by the bands Red Bull Bedroom Jam win in 2011 and PledgeMusic, ‘All That Changes…’ sees the pop rockers take on issues such as depression and breaking up with a loved one and mixing it with soaring, hook-y guitars and upbeat harmonies.
Lead vocalist Adam Vygus recently spoke to Already Heard to give an in-depth account of each track on ‘All That Changes…’ in our latest “Track Guide” feature.
If your band would like to set up a ‘Track Guide’ feature for Already Heard, email Sean Reid.
1. Growing Pains
This is a newer track and started out just as the chorus riff. We wanted a song that was a bit quicker tempo and you could bounce too so had experimented with a few Drop D riffs. Stanny (Adam Stanford) brought this one into the rehearsal room and we liked it, started jamming it out and eventually the words “Grow Up, Grow Up” came in. I then worked on the lyrics after just seeing how immature people were on social networking sites, constant bickering etc and worked it around the context that people seem to find it harder to grow up these days and become mature so its, kind of like giving advice to them.
2. Watch Me Fade
This is probably the oldest song on the album, we have had it for a long time, but it completely changed shape when we recorded it at Red Bull Studios. We had the hooks in place but the structure was a bit messy, a bit too stop starty, John Mitchell and Ben Humphreys pretty much rearranged it and it is so much better now! I wrote this many years ago, when I had my first bout of depression. I found that people around me didn’t understand it and started to distance themselves from me or weren’t themselves around me and that some people seemed to get upset themselves, as if they blamed themselves for my depression. So this song was wrote as a way of self therapy to get all that out.
3. Now That We’re Older
This song was again written recently, we were playing around with Drop D tuning again and Stanny came in with practically the whole verse and chorus section straight into the rehearsal room. We loved it, it starts off slow and builds up to a big shout along chorus! It just needed some bits to join it together and Zach obliged with the prechorus chord progression. It’s about growing out of a relationship. Stanny’s previous relationship was a long one and took him some time to realise that it wasn’t good for him. Relationships that were good when you were younger don’t necessarily carry on through as people mature. So now that we’re older we realise it wasn’t good for us.
“If I…” With Jared Ryan Maldonado (Dresses)
Portland twosome Timothy Heller and Jared Ryan Maldonado go by the name Dresses, a indie dream pop duo whose music proves to be vibrant with hints of summery harmonies and quirky indie folk. Their latest single ‘Sun Shy’ is a sweet catchy number made for the summer months.
We recently caught up with one half of the duo Jared Ryan Maldonado to quiz him for our regular “If I…” feature. Jared discussed which US boyband he’d like to see reform, a certain 50 Cent song, his adoration for a hometown venue and much more.
If your band would like to be featured as part of “If I…” full details can be found here.
If I could re-record one song it would be…
Jared Ryan Maldonado: One of my own? Probably a song we have called ‘Friends Are Dead’ I sing it on the recorded version, but live Timothy sings it and it sounds really cool with her voice.
If I could re-live one tour/show it would be…
Jared: A summer tour I did with the band I used to play for. We did a tour with The Ready Set in the early summer and they we’re some of the coolest shows in the nicest weather with the nicest people.
If I had the chance to play one venue it would be…
Jared: The Crystal Ballroom in Portland, OR. Its one of the oldest ballrooms in the USA, built in like 1919. It has amazing sound and history. And the floor is bouncy.
If I could play with one band it would be…
Jared: Local Natives. They are one of the most captivating and amazing bands I’ve ever seen. I just saw them at Crystal Ballroom the other week and was completely blown away.
FIVES: The Best Wonder Years Songs
This week Lansdale, Pennsylvania’s The Wonder Years released their fourth album - ‘The Greatest Generation,’ a record that sees the pop punk quintet reach their creative peak in a number of ways.
Throughout their eight years together, Dan “Soupy” Campbell and company have produced a wealth of material; four albums and several EP’s and compilation appearances to be precise. With so many stand out anthems of apprehension and pulling through the bad times, this edition of “Fives” proved to be a tricky one for Already Heard’s Sean Reid and Tom Knott.
Take a look at what Sean and Tom picked out as they delve into The Wonder Years’ discography.
What are your favourite songs from The Wonder Years? Do you agree or disagree with our choices? Let us know on Facebook and Twitter.
Passing Through A Screen Door
The first single from the bands new album, ‘Passing Through A Screen Door’ captures all that is great about The Wonder Years; a bold, catchy chorus, introspective lyrics and tons of energy. As “Soupy” gives one of his most heart-wrenching lyrical performances as he questions “Jesus Christ, did I fuck up?” I can’t help but feel a personal connection; the second-guessing, the anxiety and wondering where did I go wrong is something I’ve experienced in recent times. It’s about being pushed to your limits and challenging your character as a person.
‘Passing Through A Screen Door’ is The Wonder Years at their most open, whilst musically it demonstrates their growth and progression from “whatever-core” you want to label their early material, to a structured, melodic and passionate band who are confident and who show realism in their songwriting. (SR)
Already Heard Recommends: Over The Ocean
Hailing from Virginia Beach, Virginia, Over The Ocean have crafted a compelling, brooding record with their latest effort ‘Be Given To The Soil.’ With intense specific precision and delicate accuracy that echoes the likes of Explosions In The Sky and Sigur Ros, the quintet take you on an honest, dark journey that demands all of your attention. Over The Ocean are not a band you play as “background music” as you become immersed in the their stunning sound.
After blowing us away with ‘Be Given To The Soil,’ we caught up with Jesse Hill from the band to discuss how the album came together, the importance of precision, being compared to post-rock pioneers and more.
Already Heard: Can you introduce yourself and your role in Over The Ocean? Jesse Hill: My name is Jesse Hill, and I play guitar and sing. I also write the lyrics.
AH: For new listeners, how would you summarise the bands sound?
Jese: This is always a difficult question for me, because I’m too close to the music to be objective. I would describe it as being dynamic and very moody.
AH: From hearing ‘Be Given To The Soil,’ the album has a strong post-rock feel with comparisons being made to Mogwai, Explosions In The Sky, and Sigur Ros. Would you say that’s fair?
Jesse: That seems fair. We have certainly referenced all of those bands at some point during the songwriting process. The uncomfortable thing about comparisons like that is always the fact that we have a pretty straight forward vocal sound, which all of those bands have done away with.
AH: Can you tell us how ‘Be Given To The Soil’ came together?
Jesse: This album came together in around three or four months of writing. Some of the songs were arranged as a group, some I wrote more or less on my own and then brought them to the band to flesh out. We did quite a bit of writing for this record with me, Ben (the bass player), and Whittle (the drummer). Basically just the rhythm instruments. Writing songs this way helped us build frameworks for the other guitars to decorate. I think we’ll do more of this kind of writing in the future.
“If I…” With Zach Sebree (Adelaine)
With their latest release, ‘Currents,’ Magnolia, Texas’ Adelaine have produced an outstanding record which consists of roaring riffs and melodic, soaring vocals with harmonies some bands may never attempt.
After wowing us with ‘Currents,’ we caught up with drummer Zach Sebree to find out which movie star-fronted band he’d like to play with, who would play his dream festival and more as he takes part in our “If I…” questionnaire.
If your band would like to be featured as part of “If I…” full details can be found here.
If I could re-record one song it would be…
Zach Sebree/Adelaine: None of them. I am 100% happy with every song.
If I could re-live one tour/show it would be…
Zach: Sent By Ravens farewell tour. Good times.
If I had the chance to play one venue it would be…
Zach: Wembley Arena. Fah Sho!
Tour Tales: Violet - European Tour with Now, Voyager
Last month Derbyshire sextet Violet teamed up with emerging Belgium rockers Now, Voyager for a UK and European tour, which saw the Violet return to Mainland Europe for the second time this year.
Already Heard has teamed up with the band to bring you this exclusive “Tour Tales” feature. The alt-rockers tell us what they got up to as they played shows in France and Belgium.
If you would like Already Heard to promote and sponsor your tour/show or set up a “Tour Tales” feature, send an e-mail to info@alreadyheard.com for more information.
Whats up guys, we’re Violet and for the last 6 days we’ve been travelling mainland Europe as part of our tour with Now, Voyager. Here’s a little write up of what we’ve been up to!
Day 1: Paris
We decided to get to France a day early so we could do a bit of sightseeing before the show which we all agree was a pretty good idea. We had one of the best days we’ve ever had as a band! We were lucky enough to see most of the sights in this beautiful city. Charlie (Bass - vocalist), Liam (Westnidge - Bass) and Kyle (our driver) went to the very top of the Eiffel Tower. Sam (Bass - guitar/vocals), Joe (Middleton - Guitar), Robbie (George - drums) and Jordan(Samuel - vocalist) became tourists for the day through the city with our friends Melody, Laura and Alexia. These guys treated us extremely well and we’d like to say if they’re reading this then thank you! The sun came out for us and we wanted to stay there forever basically. On to the show.
Already Heard Track Guide: Alexander - Say Hello
Hailing from Newcastle, Alexander are an Indie Rock quartet who have just unleashed their debut album, ‘Say Hello.’
With influences ranging from Jimmy Eat World to Futures to Two Door Cinema Club, ‘Say Hello’ sees the four piece delivering a fresh, perfectly styled record with a pop edge.
To give you an insight to what the band and album is about, we caught up with Alexander for our latest “Track Guide” feature.
If your band would like to set up a ‘Track Guide’ feature for Already Heard, email Sean Reid.
Say Hello
‘Say Hello’ is about putting aside worries, promblems and anxieties. It’s about living in the moment and having a week of feeling better. As a band we try and be optimistic about problems so this song represents that every cloud has a silver lining.
Maybe I Was Wrong
‘Maybe I Was Wrong’ is based on a common mistake that many people make in relationships. People make promises to themselves not to be a certain way or do certain things but you don’t always realise how relationships can change you as a person. This song is about realising those changes and accepting them.
Already Heard Monthly Staff Playlist: May 2013
With a new month beginning brings a new Monthly Staff Playlist from us good folk here at Already Heard. Each month we bring you a playlist showing what the Already Heard team have been listening to.
Head on over to our Facebook page to tell us what you think of this months “Staff Playlist.”
View the full playlist on our Youtube channel. Whilst a selection of this month’s playlist can be streamed on Spotify.
Over the Ocean - God In My Own Image
Despite the good (brief) weather we’ve been having, I’ve been completely stunned by Virginia Beach’s latest effort ‘Be Given To The Soil.’
With comparisons to Mogwai, The Appleseed Cast,and mewithoutYou, Over The Ocean is a raw, cinematic and compelling experience that leaves you overwhelmed. (Sean Reid - @SeanReid86)
‘Be Given To Soil’ by Over The Ocean is available now on Spartan Records.
Over The Ocean links: Facebook
Astroid Boys - Minging
I remember seeing a live video of this Welsh mob sometime last year, but it was only after this track that the whole idea of Astroid Boys finally clicked with me. It really is an insane mashup of rap, hardcore and dubstep and I love it. Music can do whatever it wants and this is a perfect example. Hear ‘Minging’ released on their upcoming EP this summer, released through Pinky Swear. (Mikey Brown - @MikeyMiracle)
Astroid Boys links: Official Website|Facebook|Twitter
Something For The Weekend with Cats? Aye! Records
For this weeks feature, we have another wonderful guest writer in the form of Cats? Aye! Records. Giving us a rundown on themselves, and some of the “must watch out for” bands they’re working with!
If your label, band or company would like to become a guest writer for Something For The Weekend - contact Sean Reid to find out more information.
Hi! We’re Cats? Aye! Records. We are a small label based between Huddersfield and Southampton and we formed in January 2012. There are five of us that co- run the label and Kev, who is Huddersfield based also promotes under the name Cats? Aye! The label started as a drunk idea in Kev’s living room. During our first year, we have some incredible opportunities to work with aritists such as Arliss Nancy, Wegrowbeards, Young Attenborough, Kelly Kemp, Roo Pescod (Bangers), Giles Bidder (Great Cynics) and many more. We’ve also had success with a free download compilation featuring bands covering songs for free download and have been lucky enough to work with the likes of The Menzingers, The Flatliners and Jon Snodgrass among others.
Further info Cats? Aye! Records on can be found on Facebook, Bandcamp
Break Ups
For Fans Of: The Lawrence Arms, Spraynard
This Dorking based three piece played there first show in October 2012 and have since been stirring up a storm. We’ve just released their debut EP on CD/Digital download.
FIVES: The Best Frank Turner Songs
Having gatecrashed the UK album chart at number two this week with his latest album, ‘Tape Deck Heart,’ what better time to feature the one and only Frank Turner.
Since going solo following Million Dead’s break up in 2005, Turner has toured relentlessly far and wide working his way from London pubs to selling out Wembley Arena. Along the way Turner has released five albums, a handful of EP’s, compilations and splits and perhaps, most importantly, built a large, dedicated fan base that has supported throughout the years.
With such a credible back catalogue to pick from Already Heard’s Sean Reid, Tom Knott and Colin Henderson have took on the difficult task of picking out just five of Frank’s best cuts.
What are your favourite Frank Turner songs? Do you agree or disagree with our choices? Let us know on Facebook and Twitter.
Photosynthesis
I’ll before seeing Turner at Leeds Festival in 2010 I hadn’t paid much interest in his folk punk stylings. However after watching his set by chance, it left a lasting impression and turned me into a fan.
Throughout the years Turner’s live reputation has blossomed as his shows are engaging, upbeat and memorable. With ‘Photosynthesis’ its easy to see why. With its teenage angst, punk rock-like message of “And I won’t sit down, and I won’t shut up” combined with a joyful folk sound, Turner has created an anthemic number in ’Photosynthesis’ that works brilliantly in a live setting. (SR)
Already Heard Track Guide: Bike Tuff - Into Shore
Hailing from Kalamazoo, Michigan, Bike Tuff are a take no-bullshit punk band in the vein of Boysetsfire, Samiam, and The Movielife. Their latest release, ‘Into Shore’ combines speed and aggression with melody and reflection resulting in a wealth of rapid, anthemic choruses.
Mason from Bike Tuff recently took some time out to take us through ‘Into Shore’ for a “Already Heard Track Guide” feature.
If your band would like to set up a ‘Track Guide’ feature for Already Heard, email Sean Reid.
Each Purling Note
Several of my friends have been involved in bad car wrecks over the last few years; two passed away in separate incidents. In one case, my friend’s mother was very critical of everyone her son had associated with, looking for anyone to blame. It was hard, but it seemed like a necessary step in her grief process, hence the line, “I’ll let you hate me for this, sometimes, that’s why we exist.”
I’ve never had to make that horrible call in the middle of the night, but I’ve been on the receiving end too many times and the crush never gets easier. I have a tendency to romanticize events, especially when dealing with tough emotional issues. My allusion to Greek mythology (“The sirens sing you into shore tonight”) is an example.
Oak St. Market
We’re all made up of matter. We’re just an immense mass of molecules. It’s amazing to think that everything we know is simply chemistry in action. At the same time, constantly viewing your peers, relationships, etc. through a microscopic lens gets extremely tedious.
‘Oak St. Market’ is a song about this balance. It is a song about an unstable relationship. It is a song about Kalamazoo.
Something For The Weekend (26/04/2013)
Our resident “Something For The Weekend” writer, Rosie Kerr is back once again with three exciting new bands for your weekend listening pleasure.
This weeks picks consist of Southampton’s resident musician, an emotional London hardcore band, and a stripped down and bare folk/pop artist.
If your label, band or company would like to become a guest writer for Something For The Weekend - contact Sean Reid to find out more information.
Big Fin
For Fans Of: Onelinedrawing, Bon Iver.
Big Fin is Matthew Reynolds (of Howards Alias & Drawings fame) solo venture. Mostly recorded from his own flat, with added parts from Neil Kennedy at The Ranch Production House, this 4 track EP highlights Matt’s solid writing capability and his musical prowess. Instead of your standard solo acoustic, one man and his guitar, this EP is abundant with layers which create an astoundingly full finish. Going into this I wasn’t entirely sure I’d love it but coming away from this record I believe that Matt has really achieved something special here. If you enjoy the emotional givings of artists like Bon Iver and Onelinedrawing then it’s absolutely necessary you listen to this record.
Versus: Hot Snakes - ‘Automatic Midnight’ VS ‘Suicide Invoice’
Now this one here’s a bit special. Rather than two of our own writers pitting their wits and writing their rights to their favourite albums of certain bands, we’ve got two guest writers! Intrigued? You should be.
It’s been a while since we’ve let some outsiders dive straight into ‘Versus’, but a mighty fine job they’ve done. Normally we’d give a brief bio of said band, but one of these lovely gentleman has nailed that on the head as well!
So, without further hesitation, this week’s “Versus” is all about Hot Snakes and our two guest writers are vocalist Dave Verellen of Narrows, delivering his colloquial accounts of the 90’s and ‘Automatic Midnight’ whilst in the other corner is guitarist Ryan Patterson of Coliseum giving you the absolute factual lowdown on Hot Snakes and ‘Suicide Invoice’ right until this very day. Read on.
Let us know which is your favorite Hot Snakes album on our Facebook and Twitter pages.
‘Automatic Midnight’ (by Dave Verellen of Narrows)
The 90’s are over and kids all over the oceanic rim of the United States are freaking out. Who can they turn to? Who will provide them with the angular rock and rhythmic thrust they desire?
It’s not enough to listen to your favorites time and time again. For most of us we are looking out onto an endless ocean we perceive to be flat and barren and sailing to the edge. The famed and seemingly indestructible Drive Like Jehu dead and gone. Then like a motherfucking implanted alien life form the Goddamn motherfucking Hot Snakes rocket from it’s quivering corpse. Teeth gnashed and fucking guts all over its face… or whatever.
Already Heard Recommends: Young Classics
Formed from the ashes of pop-punk group Paige, Hertfordshire’s Young Classics have come out armed with a wealth of experience. Their members have shared stages alongside some of Britain’s finest talent, including You Me At Six, Enter Shikari and Bring Me the Horizon, and they’ve released two singles, ‘Don’t You Dare’ and ‘Lungs.’
2013 looks to be a good year for this quartet. They’re currently working on their debut album and, if their singles are anything to do by, it’ll be packed full of big, bold anthems that will get fans singing along in no time.
We caught up with guitarist Aaron Hunt for a quick chat to find out what direction the band is going in, how the writing and recording process for the debut album is going and what else we can expect from Young Classics this year.
Already Heard: Hi there! Could you introduce yourself and your role within the band?
Aaron: Greetings Already Heard. I’m Aaron and I play guitar in Young Classics.
AH: Young Classics formed from the ashes of Paige. What prompted the demise of Paige and the formation of Young Classics?
Aaron: We never really all sat down and had “that chat” as a band but we all knew that after Paul (Hinwood) our keyboard player leaving the sound we had been working on since, we simply couldn’t use the name Paige anymore, purely because we wasnt “Paige” anymore. After so many lineup changes and experiences we’d all had during Paige, we felt that something new and different had been unsaid but inevitably coming for a while.
AH: How does this band differ in terms of sound? Do you feel that Young Classics is going in a different direction, compared to the direction that Paige was once going in?
Aaron: Definitely but it was never a conscious decision/process, I think for a while after we knew we were “done” with Paige. We just wrote songs as a four piece for the fun of it and hadn’t really even had any idea for a name or idea of becoming a new band. I think it was only after a while into mixing our ideas for this unnamed project, that we all just thought that we have an album of songs and we all really like it, we should try and do something with them. As far as direction, goes I definitely think that we’re now on a completely different level both as both song writers and musicians as we were and the natural progression of that is to change direction.
