 Coe Hill wasted no time smacking you in the mouth with “Warning.” There’s an interesting juxtaposition of crunchy friction in the vocals of the verses & a smooth, almost waviness, on the choruses. It keeps the listener engaged trying to solve the mystery of the project’s identity. To say there’s a bit of a late 90s alt-rock flare seems fitting, yet insufficient. The second track,”Ghost,” instantly became my favorite. It takes me back to “Golden Age” of emo & post-hardcore. The Saosin vibes are strong in this song. The way the vocals explore the expansive soundscape is enthralling. The cherry on top is the bridge featuring a vocal tone reminiscent of, pop - punk royalty, Bayside. The EP softens into the very emotive, “One Year Later.” The inspiration for the record’s title. The vulnerability of Coe Hill is laid bare with the hope that we’ll conquer our fears in the next year. The relatability of this song is what makes it so attractive. We are all familiar with the longing for better days in dark times. Not too long ago, I reviewed the debut single “Edge Of Collapse” In case you missed it. I referred to the song as a “high energy banger with relentless driving guitars.” It’s a frontal assault on the demons in his head with an epic adventure into clarity nipping at its heals. “DEADWEIGHT” is the perfect track to tie this all together. Coe hill rises to the mantle of carrying on the legacy of legendary Screamo bands like, Boys Night Out, Silverstein, & Alexis On Fire. The smoothness & willingness in which I listened to a 2nd play through speaks volumes for me. FFO: Secret & Whisper, Saosin, Scary Kids Scaring Kids *CLICK HERE* MORE INFO ON COE HILL The fact that I can make the Dean's List in a Masters level ADHD course makes distraction an unmitigated certainty in my world. Consequently, a lot of emails I receive find themselves in the "I'll that later...eventually...is it too late to respond" file. Every now & then I decide, "fuck it, better late than never." Luckily, it's early September and I can pass this off as a "summer music wrap-up.
The following are 3 singles that made their way into my inbox. Then, subsequently, through the cracks...ravines of my focus. These are my "In Case You Missed It, I DEFINITELY Did," Summer Singles. Scenes & Scenarios have crafted the most anthemic song I've heard in quite a while. "When the Fame Goes to Die" jumps out the speakers with a nostalgic blast reminiscent of an 80s power ballad. The song ask a very simple question with no simple answers. At its core, it's a song about faith & Trust. If you can imagine Blondie going blues, you can conceptualize "Honey, I believe" by Trickshooter Social Club. There's a sultry & classic sound that highlights the desperation of hope in the lyrics. An interesting mid-song change of pace & an incredibly catchy chorus make this track worth the listen. I stumbled on "101" by a Telford, PA band called The Galaxy Has Eyes as well. This is a quick hitting sugar rush of a song. Unapologetically punk from start to finish. 1 minute & 13 seconds of impact. These are 3 songs that definitely need to find a home on your playlist. Scenes & Scenarios - "When The Fame Goes To Die" - https://youtu.be/TguzH_e7Yqw Trickshooter Social Club - "Honey, i Believe" - https://youtu.be/TgpM-xcQV40 The Galaxy Eyes - "101" - https://thegalaxyhaseyes.bandcamp.com/track/101 *SINGLE REVIEWS* "The Phoenix Within, Coe Hill, & Halfway Atlantic dropped some banger singles..."7/15/2021 By now, we’re all familiar with the phrase, “Life gets lifey.” Sometimes it throws a little extra sauce on top for flavor. Between exciting career advancement, major life milestones, and apartment hunting, a few noteworthy releases can get lost in the shuffle. Three releases, in particular, gave me that late to the party feeling. The Phoenix Within, Coe Hill, & Halfway Atlantic dropped some banger singles in the month of June.
The message of perseverance permeates the soul of this song. As Mark laments a time where he would “Fall off stage & jump back laughing” any listener can relate to the fun had & mistakes made in this obstacle course called life. A course that was charted for a band that was dormant for over a decade back to an upward trajectory in the pop punk world.
Any fans of stalwart bands like New Found Glory, The Starting Line, or MxPx will be in for such a treat when you pop on any Surviving December song. Website: https://linkkle.com/SurvivingDecember Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/surviving_december/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/survivingdecember Twitter: https://twitter.com/survivingdecemb I wasn't sure exactly what to expect upon first listening to Small World. At the time of review was privy to two singles, & . Both of which I found very different. The album begins with the title track, and first single. Gamblers seem to channel their inner Bee Gees with a disco-esque vibe. It's almost immediately clear that they do the funky indie-pop thing very well. The first song that really caught my ear was "Heavenly Mouse Routine". As an emo kid of yesteryear, I really dug the style of this track. As if Sunny Day Real Estate were an 80s band. The 80s influences were present throughout Small World. "There Was A Window" puts it on full display with a super sexy Sade sound. Tug Of War felt like it went a bit out on the limb creatively. However, I feel like the branch held the weight. At times Small World gets a little beach rock-y. Not a knock, just an observation. I definitely enjoyed this album. Well produced and written. Even the songs that weren't standouts were toe-tappers. Gamblers leaves you wanting a bit more with the last song, Give Yourself Into Love. As the title suggest, it drops you off on the corner of sexy & soothing. For all of my fellow emo kids from 2001, if you've ever been curious what a lo-fi Saves The Day sounds like, pickup this album.  Gambler - Small World Release Date: September 25, 2020 Missing Piece Group / Symphonic RIYL: Passion Pit, Silversun Pickups, Two Door Cinema Club |
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