Song Highlight: Julien Baker - Shadowboxing

If you have paid even passing attention to independent music in the past few years, you have undoubtedly heard about Julien Baker. The singer-songwriter burst onto everyone’s radar when her debut album Sprained Ankle was re-issued in 2015. The album was recorded while she was still a student at Middle Tennessee State University at just 19 years old. The album is a very personal examination of depression, substance abuse, and questions of faith, all set to sparse acoustic guitar. Before the success of her solo career, Baker toured and performed in the punk rock band The Star Killers (later renamed Forrister). While sonically that music is very different from her solo work, there is a groundwork of earnestness that runs through all of her music.

Song of the Week: Leatherface - Punch

In all of my time listening to music, I have never heard another singer quite like Frankie Stubbs of Leatherface. He has an extremely gravelly rasp, but not of the death metal sort. He is not trying his damnedest to sound gruff and tough (like a lot of metal bands), it is just his best singing voice.

Leatherface broke up in 1993, after releasing the now classic records Mush and Minx and inspiring a host of punk bands. In what seems like nothing short of a miracle, they reformed in 1999 to record songs for a split with Hot Water Music. And what a split record it is, finding both bands in top form. The Song of the Week is from that split, and is probably my favorite song from it. Required listening for punk rock fans.

Song of the Week: Hot Water Music - Position

Another song by Hot Water Music, I can hear you say! Didn't you have one of their songs as Song of the Week earlier in the month? I certainly did, and since then I have been hard pressed to want to listen to anything else. If you have a penchant for emotive punk rock, you really need to stop what you are doing and familiarize yourself with Hot Water Music. While their catalog of recorded work might seem a little daunting at first (8 full lengths and a plethora of EPs), I can assure you that no matter which you decide to spin first, you won’t be disappointed. 

Song of the Week: Hot Water Music – Paid In Full

I am here to start the new year off right with the first, of hopefully many, “Songs of the Week.”

After an 8 year hiatus, Hot Water Music graced punk rock fans with a new album in 2012 called Exister. For fans of punk rock, Hot Water Music needs no introduction, with their gruff, Leatherface/Jawbreaker-indebted pop-punk inspiring a legion of subsequent bands.

“Paid in Full” is probably my favorite track off of Exister. 

Hot Water Music is about to embark on a headlining tour with La Dispute and The Menzingers (both bands which I have talked about here on the blog). It goes without saying that if they are playing anywhere nearby, you should make an effort to go see them.

Song of the Week: The Menzingers – Good Things

When I heard that the Bouncing Souls were coming through Pittsburgh on their current tour cycle supporting their new album, Comet, I knew that I had to make an effort to go see them. The Bouncing Souls were the first band that I ever saw in concert, it was right after my first year of college, and was in Baltimore at the Ottobar. And while I have not listened to the Bouncing Souls much in the last few years, I figured it would be nice to relive old times.