Music for Monday - Sleep On It

There's something new brewing out of Chicago, IL and I have the pleasure of knowing one of the guys in the new pop punk group Sleep On It. They're currently working on a studio album, but you can check out the demos they've already put together on their bandcamp or right here.



I'm not the biggest fan of "Out in the Cold" because it's a bit too Blink 182 for me, but even if you don't dig it, stick it out and give the other two tracks a shot. They're less trite and definitely full of potential. Think something a little like A Loss For Words meets Man Overboard maybe? It's a throwback to how the genre used to sound, which is actually kind of nice. I love the direction that pop punk has taken, but it's nice to throw it back a from time to time. I'm looking forward to seeing what the studio versions sound like.

Check it out, tell me what you think, then hit them up.

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Music for Monday: Stages and Stereos

This Monday hurts, but I'm blaming that one on age, starting to become nocturnal and possibly sleeping on the couch after a show on Saturday night. That said? It was one of the best shows I've been to in a bit.

There'll be more to come on it later (and everything else I've been up to concert wise), but I wanted to get one thing out there, straight away, and that thing being, the next big thing you'll be listening to.

If you've got plans to see the Go Radio Go To Hell tour that's coming through your town do it. Not only are Go Radio perfect, Paradise Fears a ton of fun, but the first opener is the pure gold sounds of Stages and Stereos. And it is pure gold. The group is fronted by Daniel Lancaster, who's name, yes, does sound familiar as he's the younger sibling of Go Radio front man Jason Lancaster. Don't think this means they're a copycat of all things Go Radio, because they aren't. Stages and Stereos marches to their own drum, and does it well. Daniel's voice resembles Jason's, but not enough to sound the same and their style is more of a Taking Back Sunday (or even, shockingly enough, early Mayday Parade). They just released and EP that I picked up at the show, Anchorless and it's fantastic. Really it is. Four songs of great music, vocals, all of it. Bonus? If you get to see the guys out on tour with Go Radio, look for guitarist Zach. He's a total doll, super friendly and eager to talk about the band, anything. Give him a hug and tell him he's great.

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Music For Monday: Bonaventure

My good friend Kat came home from seeing Cartel the other night and when we met up to debrief about concerts she handed me a CD to check out. "You'll love them."

Oh man she was so right.

Meet Bonaventure, you're new favorite band. I went through one listen and I adore them. It was almost easy to be honest. Their music is beautiful, great lyrics combined with talent, which is always a killer combination. In five haunting songs they had me in their grasp (actually it was more like two songs, but you get the idea).

Don't believe me? Check out "I Dare You" off their Come Hell or High Water EP.



See what I mean? And I will honestly tell you, that's not my favorite song on the EP. This is the music for those of us growing up on our own terms, not someone else's. Add it to the playlist of your life.

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Music for Monday: Jocelyn

Happy Columbus Day! Though I am guessing most of you are still at work. That's how it usually works right?

That's okay though, I've got something to help shake up your Monday, bring a little light to the gloomy day we're having around here. (What is with fall striking with a vengeance?)

I know stop talking about other stuff and get to the music.

That said, your Music for Monday is one of my favorite small groups of the the Midwest (Iowa specifically), Jocelyn. And trust me, these guys don't disappoint.

Their EP, To You And Yours, is fantastic; something that reminds me of the likes of Cartel and Yellowcard, though all the while sounding like themselves. "Only The Best" is my favorite song on the EP, probably because it's such an anthem of sorts and it has this fantastic piano line at the end (which is probably why I like it so much). I'm such a sucker right? That's not the only reason though, it's that good of a song.

Every other track on the EP is well done, elegant lyrics that have room to grow with the listener, and upbeat (and talented) music backing excellent vocals. What more does a Monday need? If you ever got into The Endless Summer from reading this blog, you'll dig Jocelyn. (Fun fact: the two groups actually know one another.) The sound reminds me more of the original pop punk / pop rock I got into back in high school, holding true to the roots from those days, despite the fact that they are a good few years younger than I am.

Added bonus? These are some of the nicest guys I've met so far. I make a point of focusing on the music, only really getting involved with artists I really respect, and I'm planning on making a habit of supporting both these guys and their music.

I ran into them outside the BLG show in September (more on that later!) and you can too! They've been traveling around the US, promoting their music and are definitely worth having a chat with. Check their facebook page to see where they're at.

Pick up the EP on iTunes, or stream it on Spotify, but definitely check it out. You won't regret it. And keep looking here, I've got more from these guys coming up this week.

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Music for Monday: Tyler Hilton

With him being in town it only makes sense to turn on Tyler Hilton's tunes today, just to prep for the show that I may or may not be going to. I'm still not sure.

His new album, Forget the Storm is out and I do really enjoy it. It's similar to my favorite album of his (Tracks Of) but a little more rock and roll, which just makes it all the more fun. Give it a listen on Spotify and enjoy. The single off the album "Prince of Nothing Charming" is fantastic, downright perfect, an the rest of it? It's fun, easy to listen to, easy to get into while working, studying, or just doing housework.

And if you feel like going back in time? Grab some of the older stuff and let yourself get sucked into it. Sure he did a stint on One Tree Hill, but that was when the show was good and honestly I always found his character amusing. And it wasn't like the show didn't prove he could sing. He blew us away.

As for the show, we'll see if I wind up there, it's a nice tiny venue which is always fun, but it's alos in about 6 hours and I don't have plan yet. While I'm fine with flying by the seat of my pants, it doesn't always work out. If I do wind up there, I'll obviously have a post about that too. If not...well Warped Tour is on the horizon.

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Music for Monday - The Goo Goo Dolls

Champ and I road tripped to Florida to visit my family this weekend, and with that much time in the car we were sitting there, the iPod hitting Hootie and the Blowfish, The Goo Goo Dolls and Matchbox Twenty, just right in a row and all I could think was "man, remember when music was just so tragic and so good?"

There really was nothing like the 90s with music that was so tragically depressing, but so beautiful that you listen to it over and over again. Take the entire Dizzy Up the Girl album. It's tragic, with songs like "Acoustic #3" and "Black Balloon", but it's gorgeous. I love it and I swear if the laser in my CD player could have worn a hole in the CD it would have.

It was inevitable that I was going to put them on for the day after, while cleaning up around the house. The Goo Goo Dolls have a discography that spans genres, decades and most of my lifetime. My favorite song is still "Name" off the Boo Named Goo album, but the new album, Something for Everyone while not as punk rock as the old days, it still great, still full of emotion. They are always good, always solid and super talented. And while the music has become more pop music friendly? It's never lost those words so full of heart, feelings and tragedy. Definitely a mainstay in my music collection.

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Music For Monday - Matchbox Twenty

It's a throwback Monday for music, with today being rooted in one of my all-time favorite bands, Matchbox Twenty. Though throwback isn't entirely accurate anymore.

The guys have finished up another album and the AOL Music blog dropped the sneak peak of the single, "She's So Mean", that comes out tomorrow on their website. If you loved them before, you'll love this. It's amazing and it sounds like what we've always loved from Matchbox Twenty. Years later? They still have it.

So for your Monday? Check out the new song, get super excited for the album, then go back and re listen to the old stuff. Relive all the memories that comes with that music (there's no way their albums weren't soundtracks for your life, they were for mine for sure).

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Music For Monday - William Beckett

What better for a slightly rainy Monday (how much of my music choices are linked to weather?), but something uplifting, something with enough backing to it that you can't help but ignore the rain? I want to make my Monday a good one and focus on the little bits of sun poking through.

With that in mind, I've got the new EP from William Beckett, Walk the Talk, playing, waking up the day (even if it is already the afternoon). It's a great sound, especially for a girl who fell in love with William the first time I saw him head up his band, The Academy Is... when they opened for The All American Rejects (many eons ago). The sound is different from TAI, but not in a bad way. It's got a foot tapping kind of sound, something that reminds me of Rooney (especially "Girl You Shoulda Been a Drummer"), and yet at the same time sounds completely different. It's got a beautiful groovy feel to it that can only come from William. And "You Never Give Up" is such a beautiful song, uplifting and reassuring.

Pick up your copy on iTunes, or William's webstore or cruise it on spotify. Put on the headphones, crank it up and survive the rest of the day. And hey, the sun's starting to peek out more here. Maybe there's nothing but good things on the horizon.

While you're at it? Follow William on twitter and see if his tour hits your town. I'm pretty sure I'll be going to see him play when he hits Atlanta later this month. I'm already excited.

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Music for Monday - The Tower and The Fool

I know. I talk about these guys all the time. I can't help it.

But it's Monday and I've spent most of it a my local Starbucks, writing out a handwritten letter for the Art House Co-op Note Swap and I just can't turn off the new album.

How Long is such an epic ride, it's great for that blues you're feeling on your Monday, getting back into the groove as summer dares to start. You want it to be summer. I want it to be summer, and this is the album for reminding you why. For those moments you long for that summer love lost. For those nights where work and life and school aren't more important than the moment. Maybe elsewhere that happens year 'round, but down here in the South that only usually happens in the summer.

So go stream the album, then pick up a copy. You won't regret it.

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Music for Monday - Pretend Surprise

It's oddly windy and cold here today (which is strange for April, though everyone else I talk to has rain and I at least still have some sunshine), and it's a day that needs something to distract you from that weather. (If I had rain, the mood might change, but I'd rather perk up the windy weather).

Which leads me to today's music choice Pretend Surprise. Perfect choice for this sort of weather. "The Product of a 24-hour News Cycle" is the kind of song you listen to and you can feel your hair blowing around your face, sweeping you up into sky like Dorothy or something.

The band hails from Wilmington, NC and can't really fit into a specific genre in my mind, but their upbeat beats and thoughtful lyrics give them the energy of all your favorite bands smashed into one. Every track on their EP, HOTmath, makes me think of a different band that I love and I can't stop bobbing my head with each one.

So as your Monday tries to blow you away or freeze you out when you should be in strictly summer clothes, add Pretend Surprise to you headphones. Their EP is up for streaming at their bandcamp page. You can also pick up a copy of it there, with a portion of every purchase going to DREAMS Center for Arts Education in Wilmington NC (how awesome is that? Getting good music and doing good in one click).

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Music for Monday - Darling Parade

(image source)



I got a tip on this one from one of my favorite girls, Colleen who suggested I check out today's Music for your Monday, Darling Parade. She's a big supporter and honestly, I almost always trust her tastes.

As always, she hit the mark with this one. The Nashville based group claims their own new genre of "popcore" (I love that. I love coming up with new genres.) and it definitely is fitting. With a front girl on vocals there's a fine line to tred, one side very Avril and obnoxious and the other side very Evanescence, which toes the line of rock opera. It's not an easy no man's land to be in but Darling Parade shines their way through it. While other girl-lead rock groups tend to leave me wanting more, the only thing Darling Parade leaves me wanting more of is more music.

The answer might be coming soon though, with new music on the horizon. According to their website, a new album, full length, will be in the works this spring, which means the answer to what you want is definitely headed your way.

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Music For Monday - Go Periscope

Eletrorock. Hey, don't you dare go clicking somewhere else, I know you're being skeptical, but stick with me here, I wouldn't lead you astray.

If you visit here half of regularly, you have an idea of what my type of music is. You think: Who cares how cute the guys are from Seattle-based Go Periscope, it's not your style of music. You aren't going to like it. And I'm here to tell you: I do like it.

Take a deep breath and give these guys a shot. Their new single "Boys Like, Girls Like" isn't too far from anything from Cobra Starship and face it you like them. It's like listening to 3Oh!3 and not cringing at how stupid the lyrics are. It's a fun ride, peppy and enough to get you dancing.

Their album, which you can stream off their website is just as good and after you dig it? You can go get it on iTunes or Amazon, whichever you prefer.

So maybe you want to go slow, dip your toe into something that sounds more familiar? Check out The Mixtape or Remix which are mash-ups and mix ups of songs you've heard before, taking a new spin on songs that you thought you were tired of, but you might actually start to like again. And face it, if anyone can make "Like A G-6" not be annoying, it's worth a second shot in my mind (it's a song about an airplane. It's as cool as it gets it's it's the worst song ever, at least until Go Periscope got their hands on it).

Love it and adore it and add it to your playlists. I know I'm already considering dumping it on my half marathon training list at the very least.

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Music For Monday - Young Statues

I've talked about this one before, and I am more than excited for their show when they come through Atlanta in March. I'm stoked, more than stoked. I've seen these guys before, when they opened for The Tower and The Fool and was very pleased, more than pleased. (You can see how excited I am from the constant need to repeat myself for no good reason.)

Fall in love with Young Statues, fall fast in love with them. They have the perfect music for a rainy day, a long sunny drive (a long drive in general) and a lazy afternoon. Without much effort they've made their way up to my "go-to" list when I'm digging around the car for a CD that just gets me through the drive, or on the iPod when I need to be soothed.

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Music for Monday - Mansions

Starting a new thing as best I can try to remember to post it, featuring a band or artist on Mondays for you to check out. You might not always love it and I'll try and keep up some variety (and not post about my five favorite bands), but give it a shot. See what happens. Maybe you'll find something that speaks to you. (Which really, to me? That's the point. Finding music that speaks to you.)

This week's choice is Mansions. I was doing some research for the upcoming Young Statues show (they deserve their own post, expect that later). I'm way too excited about that show, but I didn't want to stand there confused through the other two groups and then spend the entire time only enjoying one band.



So I gave Mansions a shot and I've go to tell you, I was more than pleasantly surprised. They have a great sound, and that's not even counting my bias for them, being that they're from Kentucky (I have an odd attachment to these KY bands. I blame having lived there.)


Mansions - "City Don't Care" from Cluster 1 on Vimeo.

They have a similar feel to Young Statues, that same sort of Death Cab For Cutie under current without sounding whiny. "City Don't Care" is beautiful. It's music that needs to be on television shows that care about music like The O.C. used to (yes, I did say that in a way that takes that show seriously). It's something you can put on and drive for miles, lost in the music and the changing landscape.

Put it in, lay back and drink in the sound. Stream their stuff off their Facebook page then check out their twitter.

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