What Lies Beneath the Parkway North

So many great artists have gotten their start in the legendary Asbury Park, NJ such as Bruce Springsteen, Southside Johnny, and Bon Jovi.  The talent, however, doesn't end with them.  Asbury Park-based alternative rock band Flammable Animals is one to look for.

[Photo: AM Productions]

This quartet consists of Guy Battaglia (vocals, guitar), Kevin Houston (vocals, guitar), Pat Napurano (bass), and Joe Enright (drums).  I had the amazing opportunity of hearing them audition for Monmouth University's Blue Hawk Records' Spring compilation album back in February and they sound just as incredible live as they do in the studio.  In a nutshell, they are not what some would think a college band would sound like, I'll tell you that.

Their individual talents mesh together perfectly, making their presence sound similar to that of a band like Brand New and The Wonder Years.  It's pretty rare that I actually feel music, but I feel it with this group.  From every lyric, to the instrumentals of each track, their passion for music is very evident in the recordings, as they convey feelings in ways that no pop or R&B group ever would, and that's what makes them a true pop-punk band.

[Artwork: Michael Burke, Summerlyn Astrom, Alexis Morrison, & Erin Holmes]

Their debut EP, What Lies Beneath the Parkway North, isn't what you would expect from an alternative/pop-punk band . . . It's so much more.  There is an intro track called "Initium" that sets the extended-play of on a great start, and each song is perfectly placed on the album, making it flow very nicely through the ears of the listener.  As put by Guy himself, "This record is a culmination of New Jersey sounds, spirits, and smells that were recorded in Steve Kellner's (Van Atta High) basement as a result of a horrible Christmas."

Here's a video of them performing the second track of their album, "Frozen Grapes."

[Source:  YouTube]

Their album is available pretty much everywhere.  You can buy it from Bandcamp here.  Or if you're more into iTunes, you can buy it here.  And for those of you who like CD Baby, click here.

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Spaces

"Does it ever drive you crazy just how fast the night changes?  Everything that you've ever dreamed of, disappearing when you wake up.  But there's nothing to be afraid of.  Even when the night changes.  It will never change me and you."

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"Only half a blue sky.  Kinda there but not quite.  I'm walking around with just one shoe.  I'm half a heart without you."

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Today marks a very sad day for me and my fellow Directioners.  I found out this afternoon at 12:40 that Zayn Malik has left One Direction.  Being a fan for three years, this was a day I thought I would never have to see.  One Direction would not only break records, but they would stay a complete band forever.  I was naive.  No band ever sticks together.  No, One Direction has not broken up, but I can't help but think that this is the beginning of the end for them.

I had been awaiting Zayn's return to the tour.  After finding out today that he would not be returning for the remainder of the On the Road Again Tour or to the band in general, I was very heartbroken.

While most people reading this will think I am just a dramatic fangirl, something everyone should understand is that I have put so much into this band.  I was finally able to go see them last year during their Where We Are Tour and I was beyond excited.  This year, when I attend the OTRAT, I won't get the same feeling I got last year.  I will never stop being a One Direction fan and I still can't wait to see them this August, but it's not the same without Zayn.

But I am not mad at him.  I have noticed a big change in him this past year.  He has seemed upset, like he hasn't been enjoying himself as much as the other boys have been.  Not that he didn't like the amazing opportunity he was given, but the fame and spotlight made him unhappy.  Everything happened so quickly for One Direction.  They were formed on The X Factor, and only a few weeks into the live shows, they had hundreds of girls lining up outside the studio to see them.  Between releasing a new album every year and going on 9 month tours non-stop since 2010, it's been too much to handle, especially for Zayn, who is someone who likes to have some time to himself.

I love Zayn more than words can describe and I've never even met him.  If leaving the band is what it takes to make him happy, then that's what it takes.  I love you, Zayn, and you'll be a member of One Direction.

~~~~

"Ooh, spaces between us keep getting deeper.  It's harder to reach ya even though I try.  Spaces between us hold all our secrets, leaving us speechless and I don't know why.

Who's gonna be the first to say goodbye?"

Unzip Your Harrington

The first time I listened to the Drowners, I assumed, because of their sound, that they were English.  And don't get me wrong - the Union Jack (even though paired with an American flag) did nothing but add on to the deception from this post-punk NYC-based band.

[Source:  Amazon]

Now, my "false" predictions that the quartet is English weren't completely false.  Lead singer Matthew Hitt moved from Wales to NYC.  See?  I kind of know what I'm talking about!

Anyway, enough with my ongoing obsession with Englishmen.  Everything about this band is perfect.  To start, their songs are not long at all . . . we're talking Beatles lengths.  In fact, only one song from their debut album Drowners was over 3 minutes.  Even though the songs are short, they don't seem unfinished like some shorts songs do.

Their songs are also very lyrically well put together.  "Watch You Change" has the repetitive line "There's not a shoulder cold enough for me to give her," and "Unzip Your Harrington" starts the chorus with "I'm gonna hang around long enough to be part of your furniture."

It's crazy I have gone so long without knowing this band and their music.  Bands with such cool tunes deserve a lot more recognition.  Share them with a friend, they'll probably love them.

Cheap and Cheerful

Garage rock is a genre we have seen since the 1960s with groups like The Kinks and Andy Warhol's The Velvet Underground.  Of course one could say that garage rock has evolved, but to be honest, what doesn't age through generations?  Despite that being fairly true, I don't see much of an evolution with garage rock and here's why.

First, listen to "All Day and All of the Night" by The Kinks from 1964.

[Source:  YouTube]

Now, listen to "Cheap and Cheerful" by The Kills of their 2008 album Midnight Boom.

[Source:  YouTube]

Aside from the obvious difference in quality, what's the major change between the two tracks?

Well there isn't much.  I know this may be true for these songs only, but it does go to show that the genre clearly hasn't done much changing in the past 50 or so years.

I first heard "Cheap and Cheerful" when one of the people I follow on Tumblr posted it from Spotify.  The first listen I took didn't make me too pleased.  It wasn't until I continued playing it on Spotify that I fell in love with it and bought it on iTunes.  It's quite good.

Talking Body

I was on iTunes yesterday trying to find some new music to buy and stumbled across one of Tove Lo's songs from her debut album Queen of the Clouds called "Talking Body."

After the chart success of her single "Habits (Stay High)," I had to give the track a chance.  After only twenty seconds of the minute and a half preview I fell in love with the electropop tune with 50 Shades of Grey raunchiness.

"Now if we're talking body, you got a perfect one so put it on me.  Swear it won't take you long.  If you love me right, we f*** for life on and on and on."

[Source:  YouTube]

Speaking of 50 Shades of Grey, I am also in love with "Love Me Like You Do" by "Burn" singer Ellie Goulding.  I guess Valentine's Day has a big effect on me - I'm in love with songs about love at the moment.  At first, I wasn't a huge fan of this song, mainly because I thought the chorus was too repetitive, but I did like the strong use of percussion and lyrically is a great song.

"Fading in, fading out, on the edge of paradise.  Every inch of your skin is a holy grail I've got to find.  Only you can set my heart on fire, on fire."

"Yeah I'll let you set the pace 'cause I'm not thinking straight.  My head's spinning around, I can't see clear no more.  What are you waiting for?"

[Source:  YouTube]