Punk Rawk Boundary

Analyzing music for the sake of bloggers everywhere

[punkrawkboundary]

More Betterness! - No Use for a Name

More Betterness! - No Use for a Name

Background:

More Betterness is No Use for a Name's fifth full length album and was released on October 5, 1999. This is a straightforward pop punk album and by hearing the first song you will understand the feel for the entire album. 

Initial Thoughts:

This was another album that I first started to listen to when I was younger. I didn't actually listen to the entire album all the way through until recently, but I loved it just as much as I did 8 years ago. It's another example of one of those classic pop punk albums that really got me excited about this music. 

Favorite Song:

Coming Too Close

This is the song that represents the entire album for me. It is just so classic pop punk and everyone can easily connect to it. 

Least Favorite Song:

Fairytale of New York

I'm pretty sure this was actually a really popular song on this album but I just didn't really like it. It had a different structure then the other songs on the album which I just didn't get into. I like it when bands put random songs on their albums that don't directly connect with the rest of the album, but this song just was too different for me. 

Favorite Lyric(s):

"Do you remember when life was so simple and permanent?"

- Not Your Savior

"Maybe you don't understand it, what keeps them awake at night. What goes through their little minds when you turn off the light?"

- Why Doesn't Anyone Like Me?

"It's probably just another one of those adolescent cycles. I believe a child psychiatrists would refer to it as the punk phase."

- Pride

Overall Thoughts: 

This is just another one of those albums that I will never get enough of. I first listened to this album when I was 12 and I still find myself coming back to it. There was something about late 1990's and early 2000's that made pop punk so meaningful and exciting. There are so many times in my life where I almos wish I was born ten years earlier so I could've listen to these albums when I was in high school or college. I really hate the music of our generation and albums like More Betterness! remind me how awesome that generation of music was. Music is definitely timeless and I'm thankful that I was introduced to albums like this at such a young age and that I still love this music today. 

[punkrawkboundary]

The Heist - Macklemore

The Heist - Macklemore

Background:

Macklemore, also known as Ben Haggerty, is an up and coming rapper from Seattle. Haggerty was a solo rapper, until he met Ryan Lewis, a producer, in 2006 and they both came together to create their first album together, The Heist. The Heist was released on October 9, 2012 and reached number 2 on the US Billboard 200 chart. Haggerty and Lewis fought against the "typical" ways of the music industry and their song Thrift Song reached number 1 on the Hot 100 chart without the support of a major record label, something that hasn't happened since 1994. 

Initial Thoughts:

I know this isn't in the genre of all of my other albums, but I'm slightly obsessed with Macklemore. I have never really been into rap so when my friend was talking about this rapper who actually rapped about important things in life, I didn't believe him. He pretty much forced me to listen to one of his songs and he slowly started to grow on me. Whenever we were boating or just hanging out that summer, Macklemore was always playing. I eventually started to listen to his music and realized that some rappers rap about things other than sex, drugs, and other pointless shit. 

Favorite Song:

Wing$

This was the first song that I ever heard from Macklemore and it explains our society to a tee. I mean I am a little offended by the Phil Knight reference, but it's true. I just can't get over how much this meaning has to our society now and that this song actually has true meaning behind it. 

Least Favorite Song:

BomBom

I mean this may be a little bit of a cop out because this song has no lyrics. It songs really good, but I don't fully understand its purpose on the album. 

Favorite Lyric(s):

"Hope that no one is looking, that no one recognizes that failure under that hoodie."

- Starting Over

"The greatest trick that the devil ever pulled was convincing women that they looked better in their makeup."

- Thin Line

"A world so hateful some would rather die than be who they are."

- Same Love

Overall Thoughts:

As I said before I don't really listen to a lot of rap music but this album definitely made me re-think that. I've learned that I do love every type of music, but that music needs to have meaning in order for me to truly enjoy it. The Heist was the perfect remedy of serious and fun songs. Yeah, Thrift Shop wasn't seriously, but at least it wasn't about going to a club and getting crunk like every other rap song out there. I believe Macklemore and Ryan Lewis are changing the rapping world by creating songs about seriously problems in our society and giving people different perspectives on those problems. I will always love this album and I am so excited to see the albums they put out in the future.

Fun Story:

So Macklemore and Ryan Lewis actually came to my college town and had a show. So obviously I had to go and they made it super cheap for students, it was like $20 for floor level seats. Anyways I got there early and got pretty close to the front and the first act went on and everything and then Macklemore and Ryan Lewis came out. They were amazing and I was only getting closer to the front of the crowd. SO many people pre-gamed the show but didn't realize that it would be hot as balls and that Macklemore and Ryan Lewis wouldn't be on right when the show started. This caused for quite a few people to slowly start to move to the back and I got closer to the front. I love going to concerts but I am not one of those girls who pushed my way to the front and just screams the entire concert. I just like to appreciate the music I am listening to and I'm already so thankful I am listening to it live. Well I was in like the third row and Macklemore started to crowd surf. I am also not one of those people that needs to touch and grab the performer either because that's just weird, until that night. Macklemore was just so close to me and I just had to touch him. So i turned into a slight fan girl for about 2 minutes, enough to touch Macklemore's knee. While that's kinda embarrassing  it was also the best concert I have ever been to because of his energy and the energy all around me. Needless to say, it was pretty awesome. 

[punkrawkboundary]

Burnout- Anarbor

Burnout - Anarbor 

Background: Anarbor is an alternative rock band from Phoenix, Arizona who formed in 2003. Burnout is only their second full length album, which was released on June 4, 2013. Even though the album has only been out for over a month, fans and other musicians have only said positive things about it. 

Initial Thoughts:  I first heard Anarbor when I was listening to Spotify radio while I was studying for yet another dreadful accounting midterm. I remember listening to “Mr. Big Shot" and just having that overly excited feeling that I found a band I couldn’t get enough of. It was just one of those bands where you heard one song and I knew I would love the rest of their music.

Favorite Song: Damage I’ve Done

This is my favorite song on this album because of it’s up tempo sound. I also was able to connect to it because of the lyrics “I wish I knew what the world had in store, For me and all my life." I am going to be a junior in college and it’s starting to become the time where I actually start to live in the real world and this song represents that for me. Even though I have made mistakes in my past, I have to live with them and move on.

Least Favorite Song:  Rock to My Roll

This song definitely stood out for me, but not necessarily in a positive way. To me it just doesn’t really fit into the rest of the album. It ukulele? in it and it brings an entirely different sound to the song, which I don’t think fits into the others songs at all. 

Favorite Lyric(s): “If this is love then, fuck it I don’t want it anymore." - I Don’t Love You Anymore

"I’m wasting too much time on girls like you I can’t vibe on."  - Who Can Save Me Now?

"You got my high like cocaine." - Take My Pain Away

Overall Thoughts:

Anarbor just has the genuine sound that I can’t get enough of. They have kept their songs pretty simple, but perfected that alternative rock sound. I also love their lyrics and meanings to their songs. I feel that a lot of bands imply a lot of meaning behind their lyrics, but Anarbor’s are a lot more straight forward and real to me. Their music is just pure and classic, something that is difficult to find in bands now. Also the acoustic songs on this album are unreal. 

[punkrawkboundary]

Before Everything & After - MxPx

Before Everything & After - MxPx

Background:

Before Everything & After was MxPx' 6th full-album and was released in 2003. The pop punk album was one of the bands most successful albums when it hit number 51 on the Billboard 200, the band's highest chart position to this day. 

Initial Thoughts:

MxPx has definitely been around for awhile, given that they came together the year I was born, 1992. This is one of the first bands that I listened to when I was growing up. When I was 10-12-years-old my brother was always listening to bands like Blink 182, Sum 41, New Found Glory, Ect. and I wanted to be just like him so obviously I started to steal his CD's and play them in my portable CD player. Before Everything & After was one of the CD's I "borrowed" and instantly fell in love with it. This CD embodies pop punk and it was definitely one of the first CD's that opened my eyes to this genre of music. 

Favorite Song:

More Everything

You Make Me, Me

I'm sorry I couldn't decide between the two. Both of these songs are just songs that I lose myself in. They have so many memories behind them and  remind me of so much. They also have that hopeless romantic feel that I'm always a sucker for.

Lease Favorite Song:

First Day Of The Rest Of Our Lives 

This was actually really hard because I truly love every song on this album. This song is a little repetitive and never truly hooked my like the other songs on this album.

Favorite Lyric:

"The sun was going up when we were laying down,

We felt like kings and we loved that town,

The sun was coming up when we were laying low,

We felt like kings, we were living a dream."

-Kings Of Hollywood

"I'm not crying, but my eyes they really sting."

-Brokenhearted

Overall Thoughts: 

I can only say positive things about this album. It is the definition of pop punk and was one of the albums that made me fall in love with this genre. All of the songs on this album have the same sound, but that's what I love about it. I like how they stuck to that one sound throughout the album and really perfected it. Sometimes bands try to hit every corner of pop punk in one album, but MxPx found the corner they were shooting for and stayed with that. This was one of their most popular albums in the 20 years they have been a band and there are many reasons for that. 

[punkrawkboundary]

Collide With The Sky - Pierce The Veil

Collide With The Sky - Pierce The Veil 

Background:

This is Pierce The Veil's 3rd full-length album, which was released on July 12th, 2012. The album was extremely successful and AbsolutePunk stated this album "proves Pierce The Veil are seemingly still one step ahead of everyone else when it comes to concocting energetic slices of post-hardcore and that they won't be dropping the ball anytime soon."

Initial Thoughts:

I was first introduced to PTV because they were also headlining the Spring Fever Tour with All Time Low (one of my favorite bands). I was familiar with Mayday Parade and You Me as Six, who were also on the tour but I had never really heard of Pierce The Veil. I went on Spotify (where I find a majority of my music) and started to listen to their popular songs. And to be honest I really didn't like it. I've never been into hardcore music at all and it just seemed to be too hardcore for me. Looking back at that I realized I was an idiot because Pierce the Veil isn't even that hardcore, they just have a few screamy parts. Anyways, I kinda blew it off but slowly songs from this album started popping up in my playlists and this has become one of my favorite albums of all time. 

Favorite Song:

Props & Mayhem

This was one of those songs that just pumped me up and I could listen to it on repeat for hours. The mix of slow and fast pace was unique and drew me to this song. 

Least Favorite Song:

Tangled in the Great Escape

I don't know I just never really got into this song, I think it had to do with the long intro. But I did love sound of the flickering lighter, it was something very different. 

Favorite Lyric: 

Lyrics make or break a song, or album, for me. If I can connect to the lyrics, or if they just make me think about the world differently, I instantly fall in love with it.  PTV's lyric definitely make you think and that's why I love this album so much. 

I couldn't just pick one, so i narrowed it down to three..

"My love for you was bulletproof, but you're the one who shot me."                

-Bulletproof Love

"I met a girl who never looked to alone

Like sugar water in your mouth lukewarm."

-Hell Above 

"Separate me from my own two hands. I've killed so many times,

But I can't save the world from the creatures that don't die."

-Props & Mayhem

Overall Thoughts: 

Even though I initially did not like this album, I have grown to love it. Pierce The Veil has such a unique sound and I feel that they have opened me up to a variety of different bands in their genre. Vie Fuentes' voice definitely make their music stand out, along with their strong guitar and drum presence, and a slight touch of techno/electric sound. 

[punkrawkboundary]

Imma Do Me

Why did I start this blog?

I personally want to expand my music library and experience new bands and new music. I want to find new bands and listen to one of their albums and analyze it on this blog. I have fallen so much in love with this type of music and I can't get enough of it. I want to know the ins and outs of every album I listen to and by making posts about each album, I am able to do that. My analysis will be my personal opinion, I am no expert on any of this. I'm just trying to find some new music to jam to on a regular basis.

Either experience the journey with me or not. Just know that you're going to be missing out on some awesome music and lame jokes on my part if you don't.