NewYearsDayProject | a song a day blog

  It was Superbowl Sunday of 2005 when I bought Anberlin ’s Never Take Friendship Personal .  It was the perfect album for high school. The band’s style took a turn on their sophomore album from a classic or '90s rock sound to a more emotional, mid-2000s sound. The band would redefine themselves with this album, becoming a lesser-known emo staple. Stephen Christian ’s vocals meeting Joseph Milligan ’s riffs, Deon Rexroat ’s heavy bass, and Nathan Young’s reliance on the cymbals make this one of the band’s heaviest records. The band released two recordings of this song on two different albums and many fans debate which one is better. The original feels grungier and Stephen’s scream was perfectly aligned with the musical trends of the day. The New Surrender version beefs up t he guitar intro and the solo has a bend that is quite satisfying.  THIS WAS OVER BEFORE IT EVER BEGAN. However, having already chosen an Anberlin song this month, and without cheating, I’m choosing a cover I

  I first started listening to MGMT in the spring of 2009. Their debut album Ocular Spectacular had been released at the end of 2007, but tracks like " Kids " had hit the alternative radio stations by 2009. My roommate in college loved the opening track " Time to Pretend ," which is a fun song about moving to Paris and marrying models, and when things get difficult, just get a divorce. After enjoying OS, the next year the band released their follow up, Congratulations , which boasted more experimental electronica. After reading the review about how the band refused to release radio singles, I never tried the band and felt that they were venturing into a musical realm that wasn't for me. However, in 2019 when I heard their single, " Me and Michael " in a book store and when I started listening to " Little Dark Age ," I realized that the MGMT that I loved in college was back.  THE MORE I STRAIGHTEN OUT, THE LESS IT WANTS TO TRY . The lyrics

I must admit that I know very little about deadmau5 . Somehow the DJ music of the late '00s and '10s just never appealed to me beyond a few catchy songs I heard at the gym just because I heard them over and over again. But when I heard this song today, I had to listen again. The calm House electronica and the melody were pretty catchy. And what was that about being raised by machines, digital families? And lions? It started making me think about something I had read before. But what was it? Was it Hemingway? No. It was based on Ray Bradbury's short story by the same name, " The Veldt " or originally "What the Children Made." HERE, THE WORLD THAT THE CHILDREN MADE. A few years ago, I binge read Ray Bradbury. I think I became aware of Bradbury from the episodes of Alfred Hitchcock Presents  which were adaptations of his short stories. I became enthralled with Bradbury's description of the double-edged sword that is technology. Though the story "Th

In many ways Underoath 's 2018 release has seen the band's climb to new levels of success, yet the album and the band have become controversial with longtime fans and critics. Not only were the fans debating the band's expansion to mainstream-sounding rock, but also the band's denouncing of organized religion. However, spiritual themes on this record are undeniable, and the lyrics come from an honest place that the Christian Rock gatekeepers don't allow to make it to the Family Christian shelves. At a time when the Christian bookstores that used to hold the power over if an artist was sold or banned have gone out of business, bands like Underoath can start the honest conversations many would rather sleep through. I HOLD MY TONGUE. For years Underoath toured and recorded music keeping the secret of lead singer Spencer Chamberlain's drug addiction. On an old episode of Labeled tells the story of when the band tried to confront Chamberlain in the summer of '

  For all of my fantasies about an alternate reality in which I decided to peruse music after high school, the state of the music industry during COVID is certainly something I’m glad I never had to deal with. Imagine being a new band in 2019, releasing your first EP which has earned enough hype to put you on a big tour with a veteran band, only to have that tour canceled. That’s what happened to Welsh brothers Sam and Ben Taylor and their friend Nathan Beaton of Paradise Now. The tour with Disciple may have been canceled, but depending on the state of Covid, they will return to the States with the Juliana Theory. IT’S GETTING OLD. A listen to Paradise Now’s Supernatural is a bit confusing. Sometimes it’s hard rock that gets a little soft with poppy electronic elements like the title track and “Anvmals.” Their hit single “Baptist” plays with a Steve-Milleresque synth intro before taking a hard rock turn. “ WildOnes ” sounds like a Hillsong track until the chorus turns up the electri

  Olly Alexander grew up next to a church, and as a boy he was fascinated by the what he heard and saw from his home. His parents were not religious, but his impressions of the rituals that took place, during particular liturgical holidays sparked his interest in organized religion. However, as Alexander grew up in his sexuality, he came to realize that the church next door was not a place for him. He was still captivated by the symbolism of ritual. He sought community in gay clubs, which became like a church to him. If you listen to Years & Years two albums, the themes of religion may almost trick you that you are listing to a Christian album. I DON'T REALLY WANT TO BE FINE. The opening track to their debut album, Years & Years start their brand of Pet-Shop-Shop-Boys inspired electronica with an atmospheric, lyrically minimal track. However, it doesn't take a lot of words to convey the complex emotions in this song. And if you take the track with the highly symbolic mu

I first heard The Cranberries ' " Zombie " when I was at a 4-H state presentation. All the different counties of North Carolina sent their qualifiers in different categories to Charlotte to compete with other counties. My presentation was about coin collecting, which was something I was kinda-sorta into, and I'm pretty sure I qualified for State only because I was the only one in the category in that section. It was a good experience with public speaking; however, I realized that there was a talent show which was far more interesting than anything I could have presented. The only talent I remember was the gothic people, members of a 4-H group from another county. They performed "Zombie," and may have won the talent show. I T'S NOT ME; IT'S NOT MY FAMILY . Today is St. Patrick's Day. I like to pick Irish artists; however, this song is not a cheery song about drinking in the pub and dying the river green. Instead, this song delves into the issues i