It's been far too long since anything was posted on here, and there was good reason for that. In an attempt to keep to a more strict writing schedule, I have decided to begin posting a weekly theme of every week, be it a mood, artist, album, or anything else I can think of. The most exciting part of all of this, at least to me, is that I will be running these updates in conjunction with the dayside radio show I will be hosting on 91.3FM (WTSR) this college semester. The show will run from 3-5PM on Wednesdays, and you can listen by going to the station's website and clicking on the "Listen Live!" button on the top right of the page.
Now that we have all that self-promotion out of the way, let's get this shindig started. In celebration of the end of summer (not really something to celebrate, I know), this week's recommendation is all about the end of summer: the sun setting on a carefree season, the painful goodbyes as you return to school, and of course, the flings that give the summer its heat. To help set the mood, whether you're setting up your dorm room for the first time, finishing that summer work you put off until the last possible minute (again), or just saying goodbye to the summer months, here are a few albums (and artists) to take you right back to your fondest summer memories:
The Dangerous Summer- Reach for the Sun
Easily one of the better parts of the summer is the breathtaking sunsets that seem to get better and better as the season progresses. There's something about that swirl of reds, oranges, and yellows that invoke a sense of self-examination. And if that idea proves true, The Dangerous Summer's AJ Perdomo took it and ran with it on the band's debut full-length, Reach for the Sun. With catchy, upbeat hits like "Where I Want to Be" and "Settle Down" to the emotional outpours Perdomo displays on tracks like "Weathered" and "Never Feel Alone," RFTS has the perfect song for any mood for your much-needed "me time."
Key Track: "Never Feel Alone"
All Time Low-So Wrong, It's Right
Let's be honest: summer time is almost directly synonymous with party time. And there is no better band to write the perfect "it's summer, let's have a good time" song than All Time Low. So Wrong is so right in the summer time, thanks to its undeniably catchy verses and an overall carefree, enjoyable attitude throughout the album. Songs like "Six Feet Under the Stars" and "The Beach" are straight-up party tunes, while it's nearly impossible not to sing the chorus to "Dear Maria, Count Me In." Throw in ATL's undying, underaged legion of fans, and kids will be putting songs from So Wrong, It's Right for many years to come.
Key Track: "The Beach"
Sparks the Rescue- Eyes to the Sun
When you think of the summer, you almost simultaneously think of beaches. A few states that come to mind when beaches are mentioned include Florida, Hawaii, California, and, thanks to MTV, New Jersey. In addition, I doubt anyone's list of the top beaches in America would include Maine. However, Sparks the Rescue prove that just because you hail from the country's northern-most contigous state doesn't mean you don't have anything to do in the summer, and Eyes to the Sun is their testament to that (just look at that gorgeous album cover). Eyes is very similar to The Dangerous Summer in that it speaks to a myriad of different emotions one goes through, but STR rely more on catchy hooks (see "We Love Like Vampires" and "Hello Mexico" for proof), while TDS rely on raw emotion. That's not to say that Sparks can't bring the emotion into it though, as the band shows in "Skeleton" and "Autumn." And while it's probably started snowing in Maine already, Eyes to the Sun is the perfect testament that so long as you're having a good time, it doesn't matter where you are.
Key Track: "Hello Mexico"
New Found Glory- Entire Discography
Since the first three bands mentioned were all relatively new bands (All Time Low has been a band the longest, at around five years), it's time to unlock the vault and bring out some legends of pop-punk to show the newcomers how its done. Quite simply, there is no better band to do that than southern Florida natives New Found Glory, who know a thing or two about the summer heat. Throughout the band's illustrious, two-decade spanning career, they've created anthem after anthem for your summer mix in your car. Whether it's the jams to celebrate the best of friendships ("My Friends Over You"), the worst of break-ups ("All Downhill From Here"), the summer flings ("I Don't Wanna Know"), and of course, seeing that special someone after time away ("Coming Home"). New Found Glory have been a mainstay in pop-punk for more than a decade now, and thankfully, they seem to show no signs of slowing, with a new album due out just in time for next summer.
Key Track: "My Friends Over You"
That'll about do it for this week's installment, and now it's your turn? What did I leave out? Who did I miss? Who were you listening to more than anything this summer? Leave it in the comments, I'd love to hear from you.
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