blink-182 - The Rock Show

The word 'icon' is thrown around a lot (and I'm pretty guilty of this), but blink-182 taught a generation how to not give a damn and just have fun. The Rock Show is an riotous teenage anthem, with an instantly recognisable chorus and a rebellious message (Seventeen without a purpose or direction/We don't owe anyone a fucking explanation.) Blink made a career out of accessible, catchy, and long lasting punk pop - leaving fans all over waiting - somewhat impatiently - for the new album. Viva la blink!

-faithfulradiowhore

Forgive Durden - The End and The Beginning

Something a little different is the order of the day - from concept album 'Razia's Shadow: The Musical' comes The End and The Beginning. This song forms the climax of the story, with brothers Pallis (voiced by Brendon Urie) and Adakias arguing, while Anhura (voiced by Greta Salpeter) discovers Adakias' secret. The End and The Beginning is theatrical, dramatic, and more than a little conceptually brilliant. The whole album projects a stage show into your mind, taking you through each scene in vivid detail. Dark, relentless art - if this hooks you as it did me, give the album a listen start to finish and feel like you've been to the theatre from your seat.

-faithfulradiowhore

The Gaslight Anthem - Diamond Street Church Choir

Since this week is turning out to be guitar driven classic rock themed, this is yet another new(ish) band who are turning out to be saviors of modern rock'n'roll. From second album 'American Slang' - possibly not quite a patch on the first, but still ridiculously good - this is one song that will have you singing along. With Springsteen-esque melodies, and vocals that make you wish you were out driving on a stretch of abandoned American highway, Diamond Street Church Choir is a classic in the making. Catchy as hell and with a stadium sized chorus to boot, this is the perfect slice of Americana.

-faithfulradiowhore

The Vaccines - What Did You Expect From The Vaccines?'

Mixing things up a little bit today is the album which has been on repeat since it arrived this morning. What Did You Expect From The Vaccines is one of those albums that can stay permanently in a CD player because you know that it has a song for any mood.

As regular readers (or people looking through the archives) may know, this blog has been a fan of The Vaccines (see SOTD post here), and this album signals the start of a long love affair. A return to the rock'n'roll era that's been sorely missed, The Vaccines fill a gaping hole in the music scene at the moment.

The album was just released today, but it's definitely a divider of opinions - give it a shot, it's worth it.

Highlights inclue Wreckin' Bar, If You Wanna, Norgaard, Family Friend, and my personal favourite, Post Break Up Sex.

-faithfulradiowhore

Taylor Swift - Better Than Revenge

Another Sunday, another guilty pleasure - and this one's a little guiltier than most. I like Taylor Swift, okay. Her lyrics go from sweet and lovely to biting and angry, leaving you unsure sometimes if you're listening to the same artist from song to song. Better Than Revenge, from latest album 'Speak Now' is a classic example of the latter type of song. With a tune so catchy it should come with a health warning, it combines pop sensibilities with some sharp lyrical barbs. Any teenage girl in the world can find something in this song to identify with - be that a good thing or bad.

-faithfulradiowhore

Bright Eyes - Four Winds

A little piece of escapism today, with Four Winds, the first single from the great Cassadaga album. Brilliantly surreal, but with that undertone of meaning which Bright Eyes do so subtly, this song is like a one way ticket to the ends of your imagination. Channeling an almost country music vibe (but don't let that deter you), Conor Oberst's vocals contrast beautifully with the melody swirling around it. The cheery, upbeat melody renders the lyrical bleakness perfectly - there are not many occasions in life you find yourself cheerily singing along to the words She's standing in the ashes at the end of the world/Four winds blowing through her hair. Bizarre, unique, and wonderful - like every great Bright Eyes song is.

-faithfulradiowhore

Paramore - Whoa

I've hoped for change/And it gets better every day - seeing as I managed to miss the boat with International Woman's Day yesterday, today is a veritable festival of favourite female artists. While Paramore might not be the all-female breakout band who might be a little more fitting, they are a long time favourite and Hayley Williams is a teenage icon. Whoa, from debut album 'All We Know Is Falling' is like coming home to an old friend. With deceptively simple ingredients - the guitars, the drums, the strong vocals - Paramore have made a 3 minute slice of brilliance. I could wax lyrical all day about this band, their progression from AWKIF to latest album 'Brand New Eyes,' about the energy and force of their lives shows, and about everything in between - but believe me, it's better if you discover all this for yourself.

-faithfulradiowhore