Tag: Topshelf Records

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(Some Of) Our Favorite Albums Of The Year So Far

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We’re only halfway through 2016, but already this year is proving to be one of the best for new music in a long time. From rock and pop, to hip-hop, country, and even spoken word, 2016 has been chock full incredible surprises and expected delights. Our jobs give us to hundreds of records every month, so trying to decide just 10 or 15 that won our hearts proved to be fairly difficult. Instead of betraying our loves (and potentially starting an interoffice war that would no doubt resemble something out of Braveheart in execution) we decided to select a few of our absolute favorites that we’ve listed below in hopes you will take it upon yourself to discover everything they have to offer. It’s not a complete list by any means, and it’s being shared with no attention paid to the order in which albums appear, but if you ever find yourselves in our offices in Minneapolis in the near future you can rest assured on of the records will be playing through our stereo.

Hotel Books – Run Wild, Stay Alive (InVogue Records)

Spoken word artists like Cam Smith never receive the credit they deserve, but one listen to the newest record from Smith’s band Hotel Books proves that poetry can be just as exciting as the best punk records. Run Wild, Stay Alive has been on shelves for less than a month when this post goes live, but already we’ve logged over a dozen plays. This is an album that will break your heart and piece it back together again.

The Summer Set – Stories For Monday (Fearless Records)

Trying to deny our love for The Summer Set is like trying to deny our constant craving for hot pizza and cold (unsweetened) ice tea. We had a feeling Stories For Monday would be a perfect soundtrack for adventures when we first heard “Figure Me Out” in February, but when the record finally arrived in April that belief was proved completely true. Every track on this record is constructed in such a way as to make any moment experienced while they play a bit more memorable. There is fun, heart, and soul to spare on this release, and the band deserves heaps of respect for finding a way to create such an immediately infectious record. 

Slingshot Dakota – Break (Topshelf Records)

Sometimes a band with a rich history in the alternative scene delivers a new record that makes everything they’ve done in the past look like child’s play despite the fact those previous records are beloved by throngs of people worldwide. Such is the case with Slingshot Dakota, perhaps the most perfectly paired married couple in music, and their latest record released through Topshelf Records back in March. Break captures the sensations of growing up and making commitments to bettering yourself through catchy indie-rock tunes that make you want to dance almost as much as they make you want to share the record with anyone experiencing hard times around you. We’ve put Break on to lift our spirits, celebrate good times, and keep us company when times got hard. If the music of Slingshot Dakota were a religion we’d be the first in line at the chapel doors every Sunday, and after hearing Break we imagine you too will want to convert.

Empty Houses – Daydream (Sargent House)

There is no other band in alternative music today that has found a better way to combine the sensibilities of Motown songwriting with modern indie-pop aesthetics than Empty Houses. Their debut album, Daydream, is just what the title proclaims it to be, an escape from the world around you that is so pleasant to experience that you never want it to end. If you don’t already own this album, finish this article, share it with all your friends, and then rush out and buy a copy as soon as possible. We recommend the vinyl version, but even a download will suffice.

ROAM – Backbone (Hopeless Records)

Perhaps the first great album to be released in 2016, Backbone remains a staple of the Haulix staff playlist to this day. There is always room in our hearts for a young band who has found a way to convey boundless energy and positivity through original music, and that is exactly what you get when you listen to ROAM’s debut release on Hopeless Records. If you can make it through “Deadweight” (featured above) without feeling the urge to conquer whatever obstacles stand between you and your goals you may want to visit a doctor and double check that your heart is still beating. Yes, this band is so good that only the undead could possibly be hear their music and feel nothing. The best part of all? All signs point to ROAM only getting better with age, and that means they have several more anthemic records left to create. 

I See Stars – Treehouse (Sumerian Records)

Michigan’s Electronic Hardcore ringleaders I See Stars have spent the better part of the last decade refining a sound entirely their own, and along the way they inadvertently spawned an entire underground movement. Treehouse seems to be the culmination of these efforts, as the record finds the band simultaneously delivering their most cohesive and most experimental record to date. There is a vicious heaviness to certain songs, but also a lighter side to proceedings that offer the pop-laden hooks that helped establish the band early on. There’s even some hip-hop influence, which is perhaps most evident on the show-stopping track “All In,” adding to the creative output of the group. To say this is one of the year’s best party records would be an understatement, and we expect many more genre-defying releases from the band in the future.

Whitechapel – Mark Of The Blade (Metal Blade Records)

Not many bands are able to say they’ve stayed together for a decade, and far less make it a point to celebrate this fact by releasing an album intended to reflect on all that has transpired while also looking towards the future. Whitechapel have never been your average band however, so the fact a record like Mark Of The Blade exists will likely come as no surprise to diehard fans of the long-running metal juggernauts. Everything about this record slays, and the creativity shown from the band tells us they have another decade of ideas and themes waiting to be explored. 

Tiny Moving Parts – Celebrate (Triple Crown Records)

Minnesota natives Tiny Moving Parts have been carving their own path in the world of alternative music since formation, but the group seems poised for a crossover into the mainstream of music with the release of Celebrate. Both elaborately designed and undeniably infectious, the record speaks to pains of growing up and the double-edged sword that is chasing your dreams. Though still young in age, the members of TMP seems to recognize that every positive action often has a negative consequence and vice versa, which gives them a lyrical sense of wisdom well beyond their years. More importantly, they have found a way to convey a wealth of emotion through their music without jeopardizing the inherent sense of fun that has always existed within their songs. We don’t mean to cast judgment on anyone, but those who have yet to hear Celebrate in full should not be allowed to claim they lived their 2016 to the fullest because they’re missing out on a truly exciting, not to mention wholly original, release.

Avion Roe – In Separation (Epitaph Records)

It is very possible that Avion Roe will be the biggest rock band in alternative music by 2017, and if so In Separation will be seen as proof it is a title they fully deserve. This Texas rock band has been grinding away in the underground music scene for several years now, but their decision to join Epitaph Records last year thrust them into the spotlight like never before. Their label debut, which just hit stores on June 17, is chock full of anthems that feel made for arenas, and we have no doubt they will be able to play them in rooms that size in a few years time. The band is currently on Van’s Warped Tour, and those attending should consider this summer their last opportunity to hop on the group’s hype bandwagon before its overflowing with fans.

Modern Baseball – Holy Ghost (Run For Cover Records)

What could we possibly write about Modern Baseball that hasn’t already been said on blogs or in the pages of The New York Times (yes, the band was in the NYT earlier this year)? Holy Ghost is an album ripe with soul-searching sincerity that is as catchy as it is absolutely heartbreaking. We don’t recommend your first experience with this record to take place in a crowded room unless you’re absolutely okay with your friends seeing you cry because we wept as if our relatives had just passed during our initial spin(s). If you get the chance to see the band live, do it.

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Inside Music Podcast #70: Cam Boucher (Sorority Noise)

On this episode of INSIDE MUSIC, host James Shotwell calls Cam Boucher from Sorority Noise to discuss his band’s incredible new EP, It Kindly Stopped For Me. James and Cam have been internet friends for a while, but this is the first chance they have had to have an in-depth conversation. Together the two cover the new release, its origin, the way the world has changed since the band’s last release, and a little bit of everything in between. Cam also shares his love of jazz, his tendency to play air sax instead of air guitar, and the story behind a song that was cut from the new record due to time constraints. If you’ve ever wanted to know what it’s like to be part of a band who spent the last year being told you were the new leaders of the alternative genre, this is one conversation you don’t want to miss.  

The music you hear in this episode is taken from Sorority Noise’s breakout 2015 full-length, Joy, Departed. The song is titled “Using” and it’s discussed at length in this episode of the podcast.

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Inside Music #63 – Carly Comando (Slingshot Dakota)

On this episode of INSIDE MUSIC, host James Shotwell calls Carly Commando of Slingshot Dakota to discuss her band’s new album, Break. James fell in love with Slingshot Dakota earlier this year and has been itching for the chance to speak with Carly about the numerous events and experiences that helped shape the record. Carly shares insight into the album, as well as some honest talk about life as a musician on the rise. Break is available now through Topshelf Records and comes highly recommended by the entire Inside Music team. Cancel whatever plans you have this week and make room to spin Break two-three hundred times. Trust us, you will love it.

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Monday Motivation: Slingshot Dakota

If you’re anything like me, you probably started the day by recognizing that the start of a new work week had indeed arrived and then immediately began shaking your fists at the sky in anger. Monday is rarely anyone’s favorite day, and from what I have seen firsthand it feels safe to say it’s the one day of the week some people outright hate. I guess to them the arrival of the work week symbolizes the end of their quote/unquote freedom, and as a result they head into the office/factory/restaurant/store with a negative outlook already on their mind. This leads to bad attitudes, which only makes the experience of being at work worse, and for some reason it also seems to make time slow to a crawl. We’re not about that life, and we hope this post can do the same you that the song contained within it did for us.

Nothing you have ever read or been told about life in the music business can prepare for the day when you realize it is possible for you to make a career in this business. Maybe that is due to the fact that so few ever find themselves in a place where they truly feel as if they belong in the world of music, or maybe it’s because the individual journeys we all take to become the people we are meant to be are so different that know two paths to success are the same. Instinct tells us it’s probably the latter, but emotions leads to believe the former. Wherever you stand, don’t worry. You are not alone.

The longer you live and work in the world of music the stranger a place the industry becomes, and that is largely through no fault of your own. We each decide to chase the dream of a life dedicated to music for our reasons, but somewhere along the way we come in contact with other dreamers whose success we wish to see just as much as our own. We believe, on some level, that if one of us succeeds then there is a chance we all can do the same, but time has proven again and again that is rarely the truth. What usually happens, as hard as it may be to admit, is that a select few achieve lasting success while everyone else, including those who earn fleeting notoriety with a hit song or album, find an alternative path or career. This is neither good or bad, but rather the way things are. It’s life, plain and simple.

What separates those who work on the business side of the industry from those one the artistic side during this time is what motivates you to continue fighting for your place in music with each passing year. Where artists typically attempt a career in hopes of sharing their ideas and creations with the world, those working behind the scenes often enter the industry to help others succeed. The publicists, managers, bloggers, journalists, podcasters, lighting techs, guitar techs, and even label owners in this business usually got their start in music because of their love for a specific band or genre of music. They didn’t attempt to spend their lives behind keyboards or sitting backstage to work with just anyone, but rather with someone or some group they believed could change the world with their music. Those professionals dedicate their lives, especially early on in their careers, to making the talent that lead them into music as widely recognized as possible. It’s how they cut their teeth, so to say, and it’s how they began networking toward the jobs they will have in the future.

The things is, not every artist that every professional believes in will become a talent whose career spans several decades and numerous albums. A few will succeed, but the vast majority will not, and as time passes those individuals who started toward a life in music because of a specific band or sound begin question why they remain. If the world has moved on from the music that gave them a door into the music business, why should the business keep a place for them? Professionals, whether intentionally or subconsciously, often tie their success to the success of those they aim to help the most. Be it PR clients, a band signed to a new indie label, or even the seven bands a blogger covers on their site each and every week, the success or failure of those artists reflects on the individuals who dedicate their lives to making them a household name.

When the artists you loved one day one begin to fade away, the key to keeping your passion alive lies in the world of new music discovery. Regardless of the genre you claim to love or work in, allow yourself to entertain the notion that something completely different may take you by surprise. Scour the net, listen to every promo you can, and do you best to take in the ever-evolving world of popular music. You probably won’t love most of what you hear, but somewhere along the line you will hear an album, artist, or sound that fills you with the same passion for music that first lead you into this industry. Who knows? Maybe the artist you discover has been around for a decade, but their music is knew to you. Use that renewed faith in the arts to fuel your work, and look for ways to further align yourself with whatever it is you’ve begun to adore.

Slingshot Dakota, a two-piece group from Pennsylvania with an indie rock sound that isn’t afraid of sonic exploration, recently saved my professional life. As the new year began I felt an overwhelming sense of loss in regards to the bands who had inspired me to pursue a life in music. Pop-punk was the place I had called home for over a decade, but after seeing even the biggest acts from my early days begin to hang it up I thought that perhaps I too needed to reevaluate my life’s work. If bands with fans around the world were capable of reaching a point where they could no longer support themselves then how was I, a blogger who had made his mark on the industry by promoting those same bands, going to stay afloat? My current job isn’t connected to pop punk per se, but my passion to music is, and I worried that aspect of myself would begin to fade as I found myself working with more and more artists that were unlike anything I had gotten in this business to help succeed.

Around this very same time a friend at Topshelf Records sent me Break, the fourth full-length album from Slingshot Dakota. I had seen the band’s name floating around the alternative music scene for as long as I could remember, but I could not recall if I had ever given them a chance, so on a Monday with temperatures in the low teens I put the album on with not a single expectation on my mind. “You,” the album’s shimmering opener, poured through my headphones with an inherent sense of urgency that was hard to deny. My toes began to tap along with the music, and my head began to bob. By the time the fourth song, “Stay,” began, I discovered I had essentially stopped working altogether. My monitor was open, an email was half-written, and my eyes were glued to the screen, but my mind was a million miles away. For the first time in what felt like years I was completely carried away by the music of a band who I had only just discovered, and as the album carried on I allowed myself to drift further and further out to sea in hopes of being fully engulfed by their sound. If music can cast a spell, then Slingshot Dakota had me in a trance, and though I was aware of what was happening I had no desire to see it end.

By the time I reached “Storytellers,” Break’s killer second to last track, I knew my life would never be the same. Slingshot Dakota had entered my world with the ferocity and catchiness of Miley’s “Wrecking Ball” and left me emotionally devastated, yet begging for more. In one album with just nine tracks the duo of Carly Comando and Tom Patterson had flipped my world upside down in the same manner Blink-182 did when I was just twelve years old. For about an hour I was that same kid who first fell in love with music, and when the album was over I immediately reached for the repeat button while also grabbing my phone to tweet about how great my first impression had been. I was hooked, and I remain that way to this day.

Break finally arrives in stores this Friday, and next week I have my first chance to see Slingshot Dakota live. I imagine myself being calm, cool, and collected while shaking their hands, but in reality I will probably resemble Wayne and Garth falling at the feet of Steven Tyler in Wayne’s World 2. If Break hadn’t entered my life I don’t know that the fire required to make a life in this industry work would still be burning inside my soul. Slingshot Dakota saved my life, and they did so by reminding me why I got in this industry in the first place. They can do the same for you too, if you only give them your time.

James Shotwell is the Digital Marketing Manager for Haulix. He is also a professional entertainment critic, covering both film and music, as well as the co-founder of Antique Records. Feel free to tell him you love or hate the article above by connecting with him on Twitter. Bonus points if you introduce yourself by sharing your favorite Simpsons character.

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Our 23 Most Anticipated Albums Of 2016

New year, new music. We are still discovering the best release of last year that we didn’t know existed until our peers published their annual best-of posts, but that doesn’t mean we have forgotten about all the new material the lies on the horizon. We have only scratched the surface as far as what bands have new material in the work, but we already have nearly two dozen releases we cannot wait to own. What follows is a list of the artists and albums we believe will define the sound of the 2016, and we think if you give any one a chance you will find something to love. Who knows? You might even find the next band that will change your life.

PUP (Spring/TBA)

SideOneDummy may be the only label to appear twice on this list, but it’s an accomplishment their roster has more than earned. Pup, Canada’s answer to everything American rock is not, have criss-crossed the globe several times over since the 2014 release of their debut album. The world has been chomping at the bit for new music for quite sometime, and it seems the group is gearing up to share what they have been working on sometime this spring. Our hope is that there will be more anthems on par with “Reservoir,” but at this point we are willing to follow the band anywhere. All we ask is that a tour immediately follows the album’s release so that we may mosh with all our friends to what will surely be the soundtrack to summer 2016.

It Lies Within – Paramount (1/8)

Michigan’s It Lies Within have been through hell and back since inception, but every time people count them out they come back with a new record that commands the attention of any genre fan open to new ideas. Their latest, Paramount, is no exception. The band’s signature aggression is as present as ever, but its met with forward-thinking guitar work and globally focused lyricism that cuts through the ego-boosting noise currently polluting far too much much of the modern heavy music scene.

Frameworks – Time Spent (2/5)

We cannot think of the last time Topshelf Records let us down, but we know for certain it’s not the latest release from Frameworks. The band’s upcoming 2-song EP serves as an introduction into what could be the future sound of the group, with elements of industrial noise and synth being injected into their trademark noise. Some artists would struggle to leave a lasting impact on listeners with only two tracks, but the material on Time Spent is so interesting we have no doubt you’ll still be talking about it weeks, if not months after release. If this is indeed where Frameworks hope to focus their efforts moving forward they have more than earned our unwavering support.

YG – Still Krazy (TBA)

“Twist My Fingaz” and “I Wanna Benz” were the only two tracks released by YG in the last year, but they were also two of the best hip-hop tracks to hit radio in 2015. The Compton raised rapper has been busy working on the follow-up to My Krazy Life for months on end, but all signs point to the album finally seeing the light of day sometime in early 2016. Rumors claims DJ Mustard may contribute to the record, but unlike YG’s debut we expect a wide array of production talent working behind the boards.

Modern Baseball – Holy Ghost (TBA Spring)

Run For Cover is a label that can do no wrong, but their greatest offering in 2016 (based on what we know they have planned) will no doubt be the third studio album from Philadelphia natives Modern Baseball. The group spent the fall recording the album, and when Spin spent time with the group in the studio the publication claimed the material was more expansive and anthemic than anything that has previously been released. We hope this is true, and we have no reason to doubt the band, especially after the wonderful evolution showcased on The Perfect Cast EP in late 2015.

Gojira (TBA)

The world needs more Gojira. Three and a half years have already passed since ‘L’Enfant Sauvage’ hit stores, and that is three and a half years too long. There are numerous talented death metal bands in the world, but none of them can compete with our love of Gojira, and we think any true genre fan will probably feel the same. Every release in the band’s catalog has been littered with envelope pushing ideas and lush guitar work that has helped to inspire an entirely new generation of musicians, and we expect something even better might be on the horizon.

ROAM – Backbone (1/22)

We are tired of people claiming to reinvent or bring meaning back to pop punk, so we’re choosing to call Hopeless Record signees ROAM pop rock’s much needed saviors. The band is everything 5 Seconds Of Summer are not, offering heartfelt anthems capable of inspiring a generation to move their feet and chase their dreams with songs they themselves wrote, but they could easily capture the same audience if given the chance. They are also tough enough to roll with Warped Tour regulars, boasting the intermittent heaviness of New Found Glory alongside the motivation lyricism of Set Your Goals.

Pierce The Veil (TBA)

There are few bands in the alternative rock world with a bigger global reach than Pierce The Veil, and it doesn’t take more than a simple Twitter search to understand how anxious their fans are for new music. The band has infamously teased the release of their fourth release for over a year, but a recently released 2016 preview from Fearless Records has now confirmed the release might actually be closer than fans think. If the material is even half as good as “The Divine Zero” we will be happy.

Lionheart – Love Don’t Live Here (1/22)

As long as bands like Lionheart exist we can sleep knowing hardcore music is alive and well. Four extremely long years have passed since the band released their last album, but now they are back with an LP dropping through their own label, LHHC Records, that does not disappoint. The album’s title is a nod to a Motown song of the same name, which plays well with the band’s refusal to abide by the so-called rules of hardcore far too many bands continue to cling to in 2016. Lionheart, like all true fans of the genre, understand hardcore is more a state of mind than anything, and they make that clear on this insanely good release.

Empty Houses (TBA)

Detroit’s Empty Houses quietly entered the music scene in 2015 with a short EP released through Bandcamp that quickly got alternative music snobs and throwback pop fans talking. It was the kind of magical moment that happens all too rarely in our oversaturated media landscape. The album had no major promotion and few reviews, but for whatever reason it resonated with listeners all year long. We have it on good authority that the band has another release prepped for 2016, and we have our fingers crossed this one is longer than four tracks. If you grew up with your parents’ Motown collection playing on repeat this is one group not to miss in the new year.

Pusha T – King Push (TBA)

Have you heard ‘King Push – Darkest Before Dawn: The Prelude’? If not, finish reading this article and immediately head to your local record store to purchase a copy of Pusha T’s late 2015 release. Yes, Pusha T just released a 10-song album ahead of an already announced 2016 full length, but that is just the way the angsty half of Clips likes to roll. Pusha has never been one to shy from controversy or saying what needs to be said, and he more than proved with that fact with the material on ‘Darkest Before Dawn.’ Knowing that album is essentially everything that was not good enough for ‘King Push’ proper leaves us foaming at mouth. Yes, we are so excited for this release the mere thought of it transforms us into rabid animals.

Avion Roe (TBA)

The future of Epitaph Records ability to continue their foothold on the world of alternative rock rests on the shoulders of Dallas natives Avion Roe. If this were any other band we would be concerned, but having watched the group build their career brick-by-brick with a fiercely DIY mindset since day one we have the utmost faith in their ability to win over rock fans around the globe. The group is a blend of everything that is popular today in alternative rock, but mixed with just a dash of mid-2000s influence that helps add an additional layer of emotional resonance to every track. Their four-song 2015 EP has been on repeat at HQ for weeks, and we cannot wait to have something new to enjoy (hopefully) early in the new year.

Microwave (TBA)

Georgia’s Microwave is perhaps the young band to beat in 2016. With SideOneDummy backing their every move, the band is set to finally release a follow-up their amazing full length album Stovall, which has been the talk of alternative music circles since its initial release in late 2014. Add to all this the fact the bandore than proved their ability to live on the road throughout 2015 and you have a recipe for indie punk success that knows no bounds.

Good Charlotte (Late Spring/Summer)

We never expected to be talking about Good Charlotte again, especially after hearing a whole lot of promise on The Madden Bros. solo record, but here we are at the start of 2016 feeling like our high school selves all over again. A recent profile in Rolling Stone covering 5 Seconds Of Summer revealed it was the contributions the Madden Brothers (Joel and Benji) made to that group’s first two records album that initialy inspired them to return to their punk roots, which means we now have a reason to love 5 Seconds Of Summer. GC dropped “Makeshift Love” back in November to prove they still know how to rock, but since then they have kept quiet as far as talk of new music is concerned. We suspect the group will have something ready by summer, but don’t hold your breath just yet.

Candy Hearts (TBA)

Nearly two years have crawled by in the wake of Candy Hearts’ All The Ways I Let You Down, and the world of female lead punk has been aching for the band’s return ever since. An acoustic EP released during summer 2015 was more than enough to keep us interested in the band’s unique take on rock’s angsty stepchild, but 2016 should see the band return with a proper third LP. If such a release never arrives, we may spend the year heartbroken, but we have a good feeling new material will surface sooner than later.

Drake – Views From The 6 (“Very soon”)

The world has been waiting for Views From The 6 since it was announced in the fall of 2014. Drake said it would arrive in 2015, but sometimes greatness takes time, and it’s not like Drizzy has left fans waiting in the interim. His biggest distraction from completing his long-awaited new LP has been working on other music projects, from his beef with Meek Mill that resulted in a Grammy nomination for “Back To Back,” to his chart-topping collaborative release with DS2 mastermind Future, and he’s more or less delivered quality material throughout. Drake always saves the best material for his albums, but considering everything we heard in the last year it’s hard to imagine what might still be on deck.

Deftones (TBA)

If there is one rock band we hope remains a band long enough that we can one day to our children (who do not yet exist) to see it’s California’s hard rock kings, Deftones. The band has been working on a follow-up to 2012’s Koi No Yokan since 2014, but numerous production delays has forced the release of the record into the first half of 2016. There is still no date set in stone, but we imagine the album will almost certainly be out by summer, which means a single should surface before the last of the winter snow begins to melt. Having already waited basically four years, what’s a bit longer?

Blink-182 (TBA)

There will be some who claim there is no Blink-182 without Tom Delonge, but we are trying to approach the Mark, Matt (Skiba), and Travis show with an open mind. Hoppus and Barker proved with their short-lived +44 project that they can pen powerful pop punk anthems without the aide of their longtime Blink brother, and Skiba is certainly no stranger to the band’s world of music. There is a possibility this new version of Blink falls flat, but there is equally good chance this unique trio delivers something truly special that no other act can imitate. Here’s hoping the latter comes true.

Explosions In The Sky (TBA)

Five years have passed since Austin’s Explosions In The Sky released a proper album, but they have contributed a number of enthralling soundtracks to the world of independent film in the interim (Prince Avalanche, Lone Survivor, Manglehorn). It’s hard to know where the world’s leading post rock group will go next, but there are throngs of listeners around the world waiting with bated breath to find out. If the only reason you know this band is because you loved Friday Night Lights we highly recommend using the time you have now to familiarize yourself with the rest of their catalog.

Whitechapel (TBA)

Speaking with HoustonPress back in November, WhiteChapel guitarist Alex Wade perked out interest about the band’s future when he said to expect the unexpected with the group’s upcoming 2016 release. He teases a complete turn in term of sound, even alluding to the possibility of clean vocals appearing on the record, and we haven’t been able to stop trying to imagine what that might sound like ever since. We haven’t heard as much as a second of this new record, but we already wish to know every detail about its inspiration and production.

Bob Seger – I Knew You When (TBA)

2016 marks Bob Seger’s 50th year in music. Go ahead and let that sink in for a minute. Crazy, right? In all that time Seger has released more hit songs than we can begin to count, and he’s certainly not letting a milestone like this pass by without sharing some new(ish) material with the world. I Knew You When will reportedly feature unreleased material, as well as updated takes on old songs. Seger will also tour next year, and we cannot urge you to see him enough.

Sum 41 (TBA)

There was a time not that long ago when it seemed like the world would never see Sum 41 again, but an outpouring of support for frontman Deryck Whibley as he fought for sobriety reigniting the vocalist’s creative passion. Whibley found healing through venting his songwriting, and as a result he committed himself to the studio to vent whatever demons were dragging him down. The rest of the band followed Deryck’s lead and soon the group was working on their most aggressive release since Chuck. We don’t know when we’ll hear the finished product, but we know that time cannot come soon enough.

Moose Blood (Summer)

We caught Moose Blood for the first time during Warped Tour 2015, and the impression they left on us has been the topic of numerous conversation ever since. The UK born band has been compared to everyone from Brand New to Mallory Knox, and their debut album I’ll Keep You in Mind, From Time to Time is already considered a classic. We believe the band will continue to carve their own path with an ever-evolving sound that challenges the alternative norm, which is something that cannot be said about most leading rock bands today. No Sleep has yet to tease any material from this release, but we really don’t need to hear anything to know we want this album in our personal record collection as soon as possible.

James Shotwell is the Marketing Coordinator for Haulix. He is also a professional entertainment critic, covering both film and music, as well as the co-founder of Antique Records. Feel free to tell him you love or hate the article above by connecting with him on Twitter. Bonus points if you introduce yourself by sharing your favorite Simpsons character.

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Monday Motivation: Sorority Noise

If you’re anything like me, you probably started the day by recognizing the start of a new work week had indeed arrived and then immediately began shaking your fists at the sky in anger. Monday is rarely  anyone’s favorite day, and from what I have seen firsthand it feels safe to say it’s the one day of the week some people outright hate. I guess to them the arrival of the work week symbolizes the end of their quote/unquote freedom, and as a result they head into the office/factory/restaurant/store with a negative outlook already on their mind. This leads to bad attitudes, which only makes the experience of being at work worse, and for some reason it also seems to make time slow to a crawl. We’re not about that life, and we hope this post can do the same you that the song contained within it did for us.

There is a very good chance that by the time 2015 comes to a close Sorority Noise will be the biggest band in alternative music. Their upcoming album, Joy, Departed, is an unforgettable listening experience that doesn’t shy away from tough topics or honest conversation. You can sense the heartache and unabashed emotion pouring through nearly every verse and chorus, though never so much so that it becomes a bore. In fact, the album is one of the more diverse and unique releases to be produced by the current scene in quite some time. It’s like Brand New’s iconic Deja Entendu, only this was written in the last year with an additional decade of cultural change and influence backing its creation. I know that’s a big comparison, but when you hear the album you’ll understand its entirely justified.

“Nolsey” is just one of many songs from the new Sorority Noise album to find its way online ahead of the official record release, so if you enjoy what you hear above then you can find a number of other songs currently available online. If you love those, please make it a point to pre-order Joy, Departed as soon as humanly possible. Sorority Noise is the kind of band that could very well change the world, and they’ve written a record that possesses the kind of artistic genius that only shows itself once in a great while. Don’t let this band or record slip through the cracks. Who knows? They might just change your life.

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