Straight from the Golden State

This Will Be The Death of Us (by Set Your Goals)

Tracklist:

1.) "This Will Be The Death of Us" - 3:09

2.) "With Hoffman Lenses We Will See The Truth" - 0:42

3.) "Look Closer" - 3:50

4.) "Summer Jam" - 3:05

5.) "Like You to Me" - 4:26

6.) "The Fallen..." - 3:24

7.) "The Few That Remain" - 3:21

8.) "Equals" - 3:23

9.) "Gaia Bleeds (Make Way for Man" - 2:52

10.) "Flawed Methods of Persecution & Punishment" - 4:09

11.) "Arrival Notes" - 1:08

12.) "Our Ethos: A Legacy to Pass On" - 4:34

What it's about:

These Warped Tour darlings hail from San Francisco. Although I didn't spot that in their sound while I was listening to them, they definitely have a very refined and fast-paced punk rock sound.

I would not call SYG "heavy" with their musical style. Although they scream, they are not screamo. They are somewhere in between, and they flavor their music with a refined style that I cannot put a finger on.

The best songs on the CD are easily Summer Jam and The Few That Remain. These guys are definitely going in my summer playlist this year!

Rocks a little like:

"Don't Let Her Pull You Down" (by New Found Glory, off the CD Not Without A Fight)

"State of The Union" (by Rise Against, off the CD Siren Song of the Counter Culture)

3 out of 5 Nate-Points

MySpace link

This Will Be The Death of Us music video

The Few That Remain (song only)

I couldn't think of a good title. Sorry.

When The Flowers Bloom... (by Promise of Redemption)

Tracklist:

1.) "Getting Through" - 0:46

2.) "How Fast" - 4:38

3.) "From the Second I Wake Up..." - 3:46

4.) "Oh the Way" - 5:07

5.) "Remember the First Day" - 3:21

6.) "When the Flowers Bloom" - 4:46

7.) "Live in Love" - 4:39

8.) "Sunsets and Pictures" - 5:12

9.) "A Long Way Home" - 3:14

10.) "Rough Road Leads to the Stars" - 5:46

11.) "Dana Leigh" - 3:26

12.) "It Just Takes Time" - 4:21

13.) "Trace Those Steps" - 4:29

What it's about:

Not only is it acoustic, but it's also incredibly Indie. Shane Henderson, the solo man behind this record, pours his heart into this record. It definitely shows through.

Potential listeners should be warned; this is a very sorrowful CD. I would not call it Emo, but it is definitely not a cheerful and upbeat collection of songs. However, the world needs this kind of music sometimes, and it's a good thing that Shane does such a good job as he's playing it.

Standout tracks on the album include Sunsets and Pictures and Trace Those Steps.

Rocks a little like:

"She's Got Style" (by NeverShoutNever!, off the CD NeverShoutNever! - EP)

3.5 out of 5 Nate-Points

MySpace link

How Fast (song only)

Warm summer night music

Reach For The Sun (by The Dangerous Summer)

Tracklist:

1.) "Where I Want to Be" - 3:39

2.) "Settle Down" - 3:41

3.) "Weathered" - 3:54

4.) "Symmetry" - 3:00

5.) "Surfaced" - 4:05

6.) "A Space to Grow" - 4:03

7.) "Reach for the Sun" - 3:27

8.) "The Permanent Rain" - 3:24

9.) "Northern Lights" - 4:31

10.) "This is War" - 4:03

11.) "Never Feel Alone" - 3:23

What it's about:

Other than sounding like the perfect summer band, The Dangerous Summer have one thing on their side; They are actually quite good at writing catchy hooks that try to never leave your mind.

It's scary how they will occasionally sing a certain note and strum a chord on the guitar, and you'll say, "Oh my word, that's __________ (insert band here)." I have heard The All-American Rejects, Blink-182, and some other bands from my youth while I was listening to this CD, and it made it that much cooler.

I'll be honest; musically, The Dangerous Summer is not the absolute best band I've ever heard. But they are still a really talented band, and if they can somehow figure out a way to get their music out to more people, I could see them becoming really, really popular.

Rocks a little like:

"Six Feet Under the Stars" (by All Time Low, off the CD So Wrong, It's Right)

"Someone Like You" (by Boys Like GIrls, off the CD Love Drunk)

4 out of 5 Nate-Points

Myspace link

Where I Want to Be music video

If I was on an island forever with one CD..

Blue Sky Noise [Deluxe Version] (by Circa Survive)

Tracklist:

1.) "Strange Terrain" - 3:59

2.) "Get Out" - 3:05

3.) "Glass Arrows" - 4:12

4.) "I Felt Free" - 3:56

5.) "Imaginary Enemy" - 4:24

6.) "Through the Desert Alone" - 4:06

7.) "Frozen Creek" - 4:59

8.) "Fever Dreams" - 4:34

9.) "Spirit of the Stairwell" - 5:30

10.) "The Longest Mile" - 4:04

11.) "Compendium" - 1:49

12.) "Dyed in the Wool" - 4:58

13.) "I Felt Free (Safe Camp Sessions) [Acoustic Version]" - 4:13

14.) "Dyed in the Wool (Safe Camp Sessions) [Acoustic Version]" - 4:08

15.) "100 Steps (Demo) [Bonus Track]" - 3:41

What it's about:

I won't lie; I'm in love with this CD. This is an incredibly biased opinion. But is that so bad? I have never encountered a band that plays quite the same as Anthony Green and his crew of East Coast comrades.

From start to finish, this record is audio ecstasy. Strange Terrain leads off with a kind of surreal sound that is extremely hard to pin down (but is infinitely enjoyable). The next personal favorite comes up with the hard-hitting Glass Arrows. The midsection of the record is held up by the uplifting tracks Imaginary Enemy and Through the Desert Alone. The best songs toward the end is the joyful and free-flowing Dyed in the Wool. This synopsis of the Cd really can never be fair, because everything is just so good on Circa's work this time around.

The best song out of the bonus songs (by far) is the acoustic version of Dyed in the Wool. They slowed the pace down a little, which allowed the track to really lend itself to the organic nature of an acoustic cover.

If there is one CD that you look into after reading my blog this year, make it this one!

5 out of 5 Nate-Points

MySpace link

Get Out music video

Yeah.. there's a bear in the picture.

Above The Golden State (by Above The Golden State)

Tracklist:

1.) "Loud and Clear" - 3:47

2.) "Gaze Into Your Eyes" - 3:23

3.) "Sound of Your Name" - 3:26

4.) "Streets" - 4:40

5.) "I'll Love You So" - 3:09

6.) "Comeback" - 3:05

7.) "Love" - 3:42

8.) "Chapter 13" - 1:34

9.) "Scared" - 3:26

10.) "One Thirty-Nine" - 3:58

11.) "The Haunting" - 4:49

12.) "All My Heart" - 4:01

13.) "Real to Reel" - 3:32

What it's about:

I'm one of the first people you'll hear talking about how Christian bands have mostly lost their touch. From what I've seen, the vast majority are in it to make a quick buck off people willing to buy any uninspired music labeled "Christian."

Having said that, Above The Golden State is the real deal. They obviously have but their hearts into it, and that's why they deserve to be listed on this blog. They've got great tracks (the best of which are Comeback and Sound of Your Name), big hooks, and spot-on harmonies.

For those that are totally geographically illiterate, the band is from Portland, Oregon. They tap into just enough of the laid-back West Coast to make a nice blend of pop-rock with a Christian flair.

3.5 out of 5 Nate-Points

MySpace link

Sound of Your Name music video

Kicked out of a band? Write music.

With Love (by Craig Owens)

Tracklist:

1.) "Cardigans and Swing Sets" - 2:18

2.) "Products of Poverty" - 3:38

3.) "My Love" - 3:57

4.) "A Poem By Adam Wolfson" - 0:52

5.) "Big Apple Big Heart" - 3:54

6.) "All Based On a Storyline" - 3:25

7.) "First One, I Love You So Much More" - 3:32

What it's about:

Craig Owens, the former lead singer for Chiodos, should have every reason to be bitter after his band decided to take the jerk route and kick him out. However, the best revenge is obviously success, and Craig has apparently taken this to heart.

His acoustic CD is the perfect blend of heart-felt lyrics and straight-forward lyrics. His songs seem to a blend of random thoughts and recollections of thoughts of past lovers. I highly recommend this CD.

3.5 out of 5 Nate-Points

MySpace link