Soundcheck
Posted September 4, 2008 — in Music News
Better luck this time? Pennsylvania act Runner Runner which features former members of the pop/punk band Over It (formerly on Virgin) has generated some buzz lately with a more Top 40 friendly sound. Tracks like “So Obvious” and “Believe” seem prime for success on the heels of the likes of Metro Station’s “Shake It”. Take a listen to Over It’s first single “Siren on the 101” from their Virgin records debut and decide if the change in sound was one for the better, or worse.
Under Appreciated Indie: Atlanta indie rock group The Constellations have remained seemingly under everyone’s radar with the release of their debut LP “Southern Gothic”. Check out the track “Love is a Murder” featuring Cee Lo of Gnarls Barkley.
Singer/songwriters: A few international singer/songwriters worth a listen are Canada’s Shawn Hlookoff who generated buzz with one of his newer tracks, “Without You”. Australia’s Axle Whitehead has also been receiving some airplay in Australia with his singles “Anywhere” & “I Don’t Do Surprises”.
Shifting genres in Australia, the post-hardcore, rock band Closure in Moscow has signed to the US label Science Records and should be seeing a 2009 release. Comparisons have been made to anyone from The Mars Volta to Saosin, check out the single “We Want Guarantees” and the hard hitting “Breathing Underwater”.
Signing? Ohio pop/rock band The Undeserving have apparently signed a record deal, but have not yet revealed with who, read their blog here
Quick Hits:
Rev Theory
Listen to: Wanted Man
Definitely an improvement from the first and fist pumping lead single
“Hell Yeah”.
Valencia
Listen To: Where Did You Go?
Jack McManus
Listen To: Bang on the Piano
UK piano rocker with radio ready singles.
Soundcheck is written by Dallas who currently attends San Francisco State University and works on the Live 105 (KITS) Action Team.
The fact that “Sirens On The 101″ wasn’t a huge hit on radio is an outrage.
Comment by JohnnyL — September 4, 2008 @ 8:20 am
I agree Johnny, still love that song.
Comment by Dallas — September 4, 2008 @ 8:25 am
Okay, I listened to “So Obvious”, and the first obvious thing that stood out was that this sounded like your garden variety Avril Lavigne tune sung by a dude. Meh. Even “Siren on the 101″ sounds more like a cynical attempt at a “hit” than trying to actually make any kind of musical statement.
Both are perfectly competent, and both completely disposable and indistinguishable from anything else Clear Channel might have played last week.
Either might catch a few fans if they hit the right high school sophmore at home watching TRL on just the right day.
The Constellations, on the other hand, actually seem to have something interesting going on, even if it isn’t quite my bag.
As for Closure in Moscow, If you strip away all the overcompression and tired use of the same old triple rectified guitar tones, it seems okay. But if their label pays for them to join next year’s Warped Tour, they’ll sell a few copies. It’s not bad, and at least more original sounding than Runner Runner.
Good call on Rev Theory. They’re not breaking any new ground at all, but at least “Wanted Man” will surely show up on some “as advertised on TV” Rock Power Ballads compilation in about 15 years.
Comment by Mondogarage — September 4, 2008 @ 8:47 am
The Runner Runner stuff is really disappointing. I always said It Feels Like Affection was the hit on that record… why they stuck that track on the end of the record is beyond me. Those guys know how to lead into a chorus. I know Don was really behind the band, someone at the label really dropped the ball with that album. It’s a shame that they’re writing this crap now.
Constellations slays. I thought Elijah was really great in Gates of Berlin, & I haven’t decided whether I like the Constellations better or not, but I’ve seen them play two really great, jam packed shows here in Atlanta.
Comment by Jon Cole — September 4, 2008 @ 8:54 am
It’s insulting to all musicians that a band like Metro Station even exist.
Comment by full devil jacket — September 4, 2008 @ 1:28 pm
After sitting through their live show last november, I can agree with that statement.
Comment by Dallas — September 4, 2008 @ 2:38 pm
Hey Kings,
Once again you are missing out on whats going on with
The Vettes out of New Orleans, La.
Major music publication OffBeat Magazine has them on the cover(September 2008 issue) Top 40 station B97 plays their hit song “Give em What They Want” in daily rotation. plus they are being played all over La. at local stations. Just locked down a great showcase in NYC for CMJ and are playing the main stage at VooDoo Fest. It would be nice to see them featured with a picture of the band (btw they are brothers and sister)on your ones to watch with all this action.
Comment by jill — September 5, 2008 @ 1:17 pm
Rev Theory is a killer live band,but their recordings never capture who they are…… even with BH piloting the ship!
Comment by full devil jacket — September 7, 2008 @ 1:39 pm
RunnerRunner is actually from Huntington Beach, California. I live right next to them…haha. The members are from Rufio, Over It and Don’t Look Down.
Comment by tim.towner — September 9, 2008 @ 7:30 am