Anyone in their right mind can notice the effective shift taking place in the music industry. With at-home recording equipment becoming less expensive than some professional studio sessions, “musicians” and anyone with about $3000 to spare can produce their own top-notch material. But just because you own a Korg, a MacBook, and a set of Bose headphones, doesn’t mean you are a platinum recording artist… and odds are, you never will be.

Recording pop/electronica music digitally can be done in a small studio apartment or your mom’s living room using a pirated version of Pro Tools and a synth with 37 keys or less. Sure, you can now create thousands of variations of sounds using as little as two machines and accomplish feats that music industry professionals would’ve deemed impossible 10 years ago. Just keep in mind that real talent cannot be purchased at Guitar Center.

Bands are now producing entire albums in the studio using simulations of drums and bass and taking themselves out on the road to tour the country. So would this be considered on-the-road-karaoke? That makes no sense to me. Also, in what sense are these acts worthy of being signed to labels like Fearless and Epitaph? I suppose two million myspace plays is all it takes.

A blend of musical talent including instruments and digital sounds is ideal, and can add depth and spectrum to simplified pop rock music. Although no longer original, bands are adding vocal effects and snazzy beats to play up their sound to get fans moving and attract a wider range of listeners. This is acceptable, and oftentimes encouraged. However, being solely dependent on a generic dance beat that can be created in seconds on a keyboard by my little sister, is not. If that is all you have on your resume, you shouldn’t quit your day job. I blame the popularity and simplicity of talentless rap and hip hop music for this discraceful shift in the industry. Some kid must have caught on to how easy and marketable it is to tap some keys in synchronization with rambling into a microphone, and selling it as talent. Note: being a keyboardist is different. That involves dedication, skill, an ear for tones and melodies, and oftentimes the ability to read and compose sheet music.

All that is being suggested here is this: if you have a talent, use it to the best of your ability. If you do not, then please remove yourself from this business. Don’t play into the trends, and stay away from falling into something because it is “hot right now.” Be true to yourself and your skills. Most of all- if you are in this for the money, you will fail. Let your music speak for itself.

<3

There’s something about this kid’s music that makes me want to give him a high five. I give Jordan Witzigreuter props for being more than just a one-man-band/wannabe who schemes to make it big using a keyboard and a computer. The electronica/pop movement is overpowering the scene in large numbers these days, but Jordan is taking the road less traveled. What I refer to as the “male version of Lights,” this 19-year-old solo pop sensation is on his way toward releasing an EP titled “Stays Four The Same,” which will be available for purchase on iTunes June 23.

Like every musician should, Jordan dabbles with multiple instruments including drums and keyboards. This upcoming popstar’s tunes are the result of his own creativity and love for music, with his fancy harmonious vocals to top it all off. With all of the synthesizers and vocoder effects crowding my earphones on a daily basis, I am relieved to hear something original come out of someone so unexpected. Catchy lyrics, hip-hop-influenced (yet not overdone) beats, and surprising melodies are not all that you can expect from this recent high school graduate from Fort Wayne, Ind. His original sound sold me on first listen, and that deserves some sort of reward. Seriously.

The opening track, “Stays Four The Same” immediately hooks me with a piano melody and then kicks into an upbeat electronic/pop rhythym. While the lyrics are a bit childish, it fits with his overall image. Jordan cites a few hip hop and electronic influences on his myspace bio, including Kanye West and Daft Punk, which can clearly be picked out of this track. The pitch and depth of his pop rock vocals fit in quite nicely to incorporate all elements that make The Ready Set marketable as hell to kids spanning quite a few genres.

Secondly, “Unender” starts off sounding like something Usher would have created in the 90s (not complaining). Being a keyboardist and synth extraordinaire, I can relate to the difficulty and complexity of this tune. When listening closely, you can catch multiple unique sound effects, beat variations, and different genre influences. Also, how refreshing is it for an electronic musician to not overuse vocal effects? The answer is, “very.”

This three-song EP rounds out with “Giants,” a super enticing and captivating song that could easily get stuck in your head for hours. Jordan spits lyrics left and right (am I allowed to say that?) in a way that will blow your mind. He obviously has more talent as a vocalist than most musicians in this genre, and proves it, especially at about 1:50 in this track. The keyboard strokes are too staccato for this song, but he somehow makes the cohesvie instruments flow harmoniously.

Play this EP for roughly ten and a half minutes of enjoyable tunes that are sure to make you move in one way or another. Although this seems like one of those “love it or hate it” situations, I recommend giving it a chance.

Also, look for The Ready Set on tour with Boys Like Girls and Never Shout Never this summer.

http://www.myspace.com/thereadyset

Band: The Friday Night Boys
Album: Off The Deep End
Label: Fueled By Ramen
Release Date: June 9, 2009
Producer: Emanuel Kiriakou

Not many bands can pull off pop rock to the extreme like The Friday Night Boys. After listening to their first full-length album, Off The Deep End, more times than necessary, I am convinced of one thing: fans are going to eat this up. And even if you roll your eyes at this genre of music, FNB masters their craft so well that non-listeners could easily become closet fans. I am instantly deeming this album as my new guilty pleasure.

Pop rock can be difficult to master nowadays with all of the different blends of talent and labels that are stapled to musicians’ foreheads. Though closely related in sound, you have to admit that acts like The Jonas Brothers and Miley Cyrus have completely different fan bases than groups like Fall Out Boy and Hey Monday. Somehow music becomes less about sound and more about appearance and your record label/management team. FNB teeters on this boundary of kid-pop and more mature pop/punk with relatable lyrics, strong guitar riffs, and more rock-based drum beats. I will admit that it was genius of them to have their new album produced by Emanuel Kiriakou, who has worked with such musicians as Jesse McCartney, Jordin Sparks, and Ashley Tisdale. The Friday Night Boys have the necessary talent at their fingertips, the appropriate following, and the look that sells. All they needed was a push in toward the successful direction, and I’d say they achieved that quite well.

The opening track, “Permanent Heartbreak” has been playing in my head since the band released it on their myspace. Tongue-in-cheek lyrics don’t usually flow well for me, but frontman Andrew Goldstein proudly wears his heart on his sleeve. The song contains the perfect combination of slightly distorted guitars, drum beats that you can’t help but tap your foot to, strategically placed synth effects, and melodies that will resonate in your skull for months. Oh, and I can’t forget that guitar solo that makes me thankful for bands who still care to showcase their talents instead of tossing in a repetitive breakdown to take up 30 seconds of the track.

The next three songs are catchy and definitely fit in with the overall sound of the album, but none of them stand out in a notable fashion. “Stupid Love Letter” sounds like a last minute filler track that was thrown together in the studio. I could be wrong about that, but it is repetitive and doesn’t contain any noteworthy or unique elements. “Suicide Sunday” has harmonious lyrics that will make you sing along while wondering how this song got into your head in the first place. Like all of the ballads on this album, I am not crazy about “Finding Me Out.” They are a bit boring and drawn-out. The piano melodies are enjoyable, though.

I love to hate and hate to love the track “Stuttering.” I can’t put my finger on why this song is so damn catchy. It could be the clever lyrics or memorable melodies and broken words that Goldstein incorporates with such a natural ease. As for my other favorite track, “Hollow” …can you say radio worthy? This chorus has a punch to it that separates it from the rest of the album.  The following three songs are decent, but I’m not in love. “Molly Makeout,” while having catchy background vocals, is a little too pop for my taste. Not to mention the lyrics are borderline cheesy. “Sorry I Stole Your Gurl” is an incredible way to round out this 12-track album, though. The electronic elements and effects add a nice touch to this already addictive tune. I could do without the whispering in the second verse, though. With that being said, the guitar solo shortly afterward makes up for any lyrical nonsense.

From their appearance on TRL’s On Your Radar over a year ago to their swift signing to Fueled By Ramen, The Friday Night Boys have been blowing fans away with their upbeat tunes and melodious lyrics since 2006. The impending success of this four-piece band from Fairfax ,Va. is almost inevitable. Pop music can be annoying and overdone, but this album side-steps those aspects with ease. Besides a few ballads that aren’t up to par, I would gladly recommend this album to a friend. Kudos to you, FNB, for creating a pop rock album that, for the most part, doesn’t make me hate your band.

So, it’s summer time again, which means there are a ton of upcoming tours to look forward to. Now, I don’t know about you, but I always get a little flustered when trying to coordinate dates and times, and figuring out who is playing where and when and how I plan to get there, blah blah blah. Sorry, I cannot personally secure your ride to and from the venue, nor can I organize your iCal with the dates and times for shows in your vicinity. However, I’d be more than happy to list for you a few of the tours that I am anxiously anticipating. Not only that, but I will give you little tidbits of details, and why you won’t want to miss these performances!

P.S. I am going to try to make it out to all of the New York City dates of these shows (and possibly some NJ ones), so if you are reading this and thinking, “oh, hmm I may be there as well!” then let me know and we can meet up!

Blink-182 with special guests: Weezer, Fall Out Boy, Taking Back Sunday, Panic at the Disco, The All-American Rejects, Chester French and Asher Roth

Whew. What a list. If you are a human being between the ages of 13-40 (and possibly beyond that) you know Blink-182 has gotten back together, and are planning a ridiculous summer tour of epic proportions. Technically this is more than just a summer event, considering the fact that it spans from mid-July to early October. As if fans could not be more excited about seeing their favorite pop-punk trio play live for the first time since December 2004, they will also get a taste of some of the most amazing acts to grace most venue’s stages. This tour begins in the western region of the country and loops around a time or two. Since the dates and locations are a bit scattered and the “special guests” vary from show to show, it would be best for you to check out their web site for all the details.

http://www.blink182.com

Oh! and presale tickets can be bought online now:

http://modlife.com/blink182presale/tourdates

Four Year Strong/Set Your Goals with The Swellers, Polar Bear Club, Fireworks, A Loss For Words, Grave Maker and Drive A

If you think listening to Four Year Strong’s album Rise or Die Trying is an enjoyable experience, just wait until you catch their live performance this summer with Set Your Goals. There are a few adjectives that come to mind here: lively, energetic, catchy… but basically the one word I use to describe FYS: amazing. There’s a quality to their unique blending of sounds that can’t be touched by any other band. In addition to that madness, I am definitely looking forward to the mix of incredible talent that will be on this tour package. I have mentioned The Swellers in previous posts, and have seen them live recently. Definitely look out for this show and mark your calendars for the dates nearest you! :)

http://www.myspace.com/fouryearstrong

Lets Make A Mess Tour, featuring: Hey Monday, This Providence, The Friday Night Boys, Stereo Skyline, The Bigger Lights

Holy incredible lineup! I was so excited to hear that Hey Monday was touring with The Friday Night Boys, because I have previously imagined what an awesome combination this would be for a live performance. Add a few catchy pop-ish ensembles like Stereo Skyline and The Bigger Lights, and you’ve got an entire night of being asked to “get off your feet” while pushing through crowds of tweens and scene kids. This tour kicks off in Arizona on June 10, and makes a big circle around the country until its final date on July 24. With presale tickets going for no more than $13, there is literally no reason to miss this tour.

http://www.myspace.com/heymonday

Obviously I could continue on to talk about Warped Tour and other festivals, but that would be a bit redundant. Just go to http://www.warpedtour.com for dates, bands, and ticket information.

While you’re there, be sure to check out the right side of the screen to see the new Cash Cash music video for their single, “Party In Your Bedroom.” Catchy song, talented band, cheesy music video, but hey- you love them and you know it.

Artery Foundation Across The Nation Tour 2009: Emarosa, Our Last Night, In Fear And Faith, I See Stars, Burden Of A Day, Broadway

Let me tell you why this tour is worth missing your best friends’ birthday for-

First of all: Emarosa puts on a flawless live performance. I have seen them about four times in the past year and not once did I have anything less than goosebumps. Jonny Craig is a master of his domain, and quite possibly one of the greatest vocalists of this genre at this point in time. If you can’t help but be blown away by his raspy high notes and unfathomable melodies, then you will be very much impressed when you attend a show between June 19 - August 1. In addition, Burden Of A Day recently released a new album, which should be more than entertaining to experience live. Their classic rock-like melodies, while mere genius on their new record “One One Thousand,” should be absolutely stunning to witness on stage as well. As if I needed to persuade you even more, arrive to the show early to catch Broadway. They have a new album coming out, and the industry has very high expectations for these guys.

Purchase presale tickets and get all kinds of goodies as a bonus!

http://www.thearteryfoundation.com

Let’s see if I can post a blog from my iPhone.. I am at La Guardia airport, waiting for my flight to Orlando to board, and that is precisely what I am- bored. (same pronunciation, different spelling and meaning). Ok aaaaanyway, I have some thoughts swirling around in my fantastical brain and figured sharing them on my blog would be quite appropriate. Unfortunately I don’t have any fancy photos to attach, nor am I able to or willing to figure out how to post links. However, I am fully capable of captivating you with my words alone.

Not too long after fighting with the zippers on my boots while going through security in this freezing airport in Queens, I dragged my economical carry-on luggage to the magazine stands to make a purchase. Okay, I am lying…I bee-lined to Starbucks. But after that, I thought, “why not do some industry-based research on the flight?” So while wandering over to the many racks and shelves, I realized that there are about 20 namely fashion magazines, 10-15 home/garden/Martha Stewart/Oprah baloney whatevers, and countless business, technology, and travel publications. What about music? Okay so we’ve got Spin, Rolling Stone, and Vibe; none of which spark my interest. Especially when they feel about 40 pages thick. I stood there staring at Eminem’s mug on about 5 separate magazine covers before casually sipping on my latte and walking away.

Music media is obviously making a transformational shift from print to online content. I am curious as to why, though. Why music and not fashion or travel? With all of the many outlets for information nowadays, it is apparent that people are purchasing fewer hand-held informational publications, no matter how thick or glossy. But what will this mean for the industry as a whole? (note: this is where I would normally insert a quote or statistic pertaining to the information I am discussing…I really did learn something in college! But sadly enough, I don’t have those tools at my disposal. Please forgive me)

Sure, music may be noticing this rift more than other magazine topics, most obviously due to sites like myspace, purevolume, and all of the blogs surfacing nowadays (woop woop!) So, does this mean music magazines will become obsolete? While part of me wants to wish this would never happen, another part of me is curious of the outcome. When observing people on the subways, I have honestly seen more Kindles than paperbacks, and more iPhones and Blackberries than Wall Street Journals. This isn’t news, though. Print media has been steadily declining for years (thus the reason for my extended unemployment and gritting my teeth each day working in retail). I am appaled at the lack of music magazines for “our scene.” Is this generation incapable of purchasing reading material? Or do we just not want to? I know we have money..We shop at AA and Urban, and suck down more frappucinos and RedBulls than any other group of human beings. We buy band merch, eat at Panera Bread, and stay out late chugging PBRs. Although most of us are broke, some of us have wealthy parents and/or trust funds. We can afford the magazines and subscriptions, we just don’t care enough.

This discourages me, though. Myspace is not the greatest outlet for scene-news. Unless you know the specific band you are seeking information about, it is not simple to view updated info on the industry or who has signed to a new label/who is breaking up/who had a tour coming up. Sure, AP exists, along with a few other magazines that easily do what I just mentioned, but those publications are not always accessible from most reading material retail outlets. Also, their websites are horrific; impossible to navigate, and just plain ugly. I feel like we are crying out for a music magazine with substance and not seeing results. As much as I believe that blogs are the future of print/online media, I do believe that some of these news outlets should converge their online content with written word, and bank off the profits. One can only hope…

(p.s. It smells like bacon in this airport and it’s making me a little nosh)

So to wrap this up, I’d like to announce to all of you that my good friend and phenomenal photographer, Siobhan O’Brien and I are starting an online music magazine. We plan to launch the first issue in June of this year. I will keep you posted with updates and other pertitent information as she and I progress closer to our goal that is our first issue. Just know that this is going to be huge. Huge. Yeah I said it twice.

About a dozen bros just crowded my cozy area at my gate, so I’m going to call it a day here on tumblr. I apologize again for posting dull-looking content from my phone, and don’t judge me for any spelling errors.

Peace out <3

I will admit that at first I was a bit hesitant on discussing this band in my blog. I have always considered myself a closet fan of The Friday Night Boys. My reasoning for this is not entirely clear, but it may have something to do with the fact that their album “That’s What She Said” is much too “boy-band-pop” for my personal taste. And as good as the title of that album may be, I cannot be seen listening to “Chasing a Rock Star.” The vocals of these tracks are a little overdone, the guitars are boring, and the lyrics are not easily relatable to anyone over 14. Wow I just realized how harsh that sounded. But there is something about this four-piece pop/punk band from Fairfax Virginia that catches my attention and keeps it.

I listen to “Give It Up” at least once a day (no joke) and the experience is nothing short of enjoyable. Andrew’s melodies are heavenly, and I cannot get over the genius incorporation of elements from different genres. I caught a few electronic beats in there, along with ambient guitar riffs and pop-punk chord progressions. This does not surprise me in the least, though. I would expect this display of talent from a band signed to Fueled By Ramen only two years after their formation. FNB was also featured on TRL’s On Your Radar in 2008- a show featuring unsigned bands with increasing online popularity. After being disappointed with their previous album release, I have not lost faith in these guys. Most of that can be attributed to a song of their new album (“Off The Deep End”, June 2009), titled “Permanent Heartbreak” that is currently up on the band’s myspace page. Although the lyrics sound a bit Mayday Parade-ish (ehh, not complaining), and the song is overall a strange mix of Fenix Tx and The Click Five, I would give it a 10/10 for being a catchy, classic, and pleasing pop song. I don’t want to say “radio-worthy” because that is almost an insult nowadays… but I would expect this single to see several iTunes purchases. The chorus is memorable and has a good hook. Synonymous with the pop-ish drum beats, the digital sounds and vocal effects are done tastefully and with simplicity. What impresses me most is the guitar solo, though. You don’t hear too many of those nowadays. I think someone decided it would be cool to replace them with breakdowns and dance segments. I didn’t get that memo. 

The track titled “Stuttering” (also from the new album) is not as impressive. As much as I love the tone of the bass drum throughout the song, and the fact that Andrew’s melodies are catchy as hell, I cannot get on board with his whiny, whispery vocals. And stuttering in a song with the same title?… It has been done. As much as I would probably sing along if this song began to play in a public area or from my iTunes playlist, I will be honest when I say that if the entire album sounded like this, I would not buy it. I never judge a band for having experimental moments, though (Saves The Day- “In Reverie”, ftw!). I just wonder who is responsible for the slight alterations in their “sound” for this track… band or label? It’s always tough to tell.

All things considered, I am very excited to purchase and review this album when it is released on 6/9/09. I highly recommend you check them out if you haven’t already. Also-  watch out for The Friday Night Boys on the ‘Let’s Make A Mess’ Tour with Hey Monday, This Providence, Stereo Skyline, and The Bigger Lights. Check their myspace for tour dates and venues, and purchase tickets online at http://heymondaymusic.com.

<3