8/9/04 - Jared Kaufman

[Jared Kaufman]

Yes, I know I'm horrible at remembering to do these let alone getting them in on Sunday, but it has been forever since I've done them so I thought I'd finally check in and give you some sort of idea what I'm listening to lately. Here it goes:

Rise Against - Siren Song of the Counter Culture
This style of music was never my forte', but I must say I am in love with this record. I needed a good ol' kick in the butt to get me moving and slamming my head again and this record does just that. The vocals and guitar playing are the most noteable thing about the album while the lyrics add quite the spice as well. For fans already familiar with the band and for newcomes, everyone can, will, and should love this record. The band was just nice enough to let you listen to the whole thing on their pureVOLUME page (http://www.purevolume.com/riseagainst). Check it out.

Say Anything - ...Is A Real Boy
I can't remember how long I've had this album now, but I do know that it still is getting regular rotation on my playlist. Every time I listen to this record I remember why it'll more than likely end up as my favorite album of the year. The lyrics, gang vocals, harmonies, melodies, etc. The whole receipe is just one giant musical experience. It's different and unqiue yet incredibly catchy at the same time. If Max's voice turned you off at first, at least give it another chance. This is just one of those bands where I want everyone to fall in love with them.

Motion City Soundtrack - I Am The Movie
Hey! It's summer time! I have to listen to something to get me bouncing and dancing while I drive with the windows down. It doesn't hurt that this is one of my favorite bands as well. Add their upcoming album to one of my most anticipated releases. If you don't have this record yet after it being out over a year, then you're just shooting yourself in the foot. Get on the ball.

Letter Kills - The Bridge
Yep, this band has it. An amazing album and an amazing live show. If you thought Adam Lazarra was godly with a microphone, wait 'til you see Matt in action. I haven't really heard too much feedback on this album from people yet and I was hoping a lot of you would appreciate it as much as Jason and I do. So if you haven't given them a honest chance yet, then please do. This album has everything from the bouncing rock, to a little poppy punk to an incredible "ballad" of sorts. If diversity is your game, then come and play.

Taking Back Sunday - Where You Want To Be
Anyone that knows me knows I'm the biggest TBS fan at AP. Tell All Your Friends was an album that changed my life and the way I looked at music. Granted, this album isn't Tell All Your Friends, but it still is a great and enjoyable record, especially for this time of year. It took me awhile to get really into it, but lately I've been addicted to the majority of it. Not to take anything away from this record as seeing as it's different from their first album, but I enjoyed it a lot more if I listend to it and shuffled back and forth on random between it and the first one. It just gives you two different flavors and vibes that makes for a great sing-a-long session.

Well, that's probably one of my most diverse list of recommendations in quite some time. Let me know what you think and what you've been listening to as well as what I should check out. I'm ready for some new music to consume my ears.

[DashboardFSF]

I listened to the letter kills album and really didn't tihnk it was anything special...but I'll give it a second listen..

I'm still waiting for say anything to be in stores..had to special order it from Borders..

New Taking back Sunday CD, for me, I hate little devotional and Number 5 with a bullet..everything else is really good / okay...

I reccomend Copeland - Know Nothing Stays
go along with jamison's pick of Rushmore Academy
and I'm gonna listen to Punchline's Action again

[sinbad]

Good list.

Have you (or anyone) heard the new Exit cd, or know anything about it?

[CROMagnon]

letter kills is badass, just good fun rock, i love "brand new man"

solid picks overall

[nizzlefoshizzle]

MCS blew me away once again at warped last friday. BTW, Thanks for posting my MCS news and pics.

[Jared Kaufman]

letter kills is badass, just good fun rock, i love "brand new man"
That and "Hold My Heart" (both songs) are my faves.

[InaGreendase]

The Letter Kills album is decent but a bit disappointing. Some of the lyrics (see: "I'd like to run away / I'd like to say a few things to you / about the way I feel inside") are horribly sophomoric and are obviously begging for a demographic to come crawling...but the CD is otherwise pretty good major label rock.

And after hardly two listens of the Say Anything album, I have to say...

Max Bemis is one pretentious albeit genius character. The record is really, really good.

[oxfordqueef]

i just heard 2 awesome covers i'd like to recommend

coheed and cambria - sister christian
the format - movin' out

[CROMagnon]

That and "Hold My Heart" (both songs) are my faves.
i don't think anyone who likes this album can dislike "hold my heart"

[d1rtejerz]

I heard Letter Kills a little later than everyone else, and before I listened to them I had no idea they were so damn generic. Anyway, it's not bad for what it is.

The new TBS has yet to grow on me.I like a few songs but as a whole, I'm disappointed.

MCS, Rise Against, and Say Anything kick major ass though.

[bossman calling]

hell yeah...rise against is definitely overdue for some exposure around here. the new album rules.

i need to find say anything. i'm going cd shopping tomorrow, i'll be looking for it.

i can't believe it's been exactly a year since i bought "i am the movie" at warped tour for $5. that cd still gets regular play.

[anyone new york]

how are you gonna recommend taking back sunday like no one knows that album is good, letter kills should probably kill themselves, say anything yeah it a sweet cd but its all everyones been talking about for the past 3 months we already know if you wanna listen to good bands try

monroe - nice little band from flordia check them out they got purevolume
undermineded - another nice little band also on purevolume
remembering never - cd came out a bit ago but its still decent

throw it back old school

joy divison
the church

[Jared Kaufman]

how are you gonna recommend taking back sunday like no one knows that album is good, letter kills should probably kill themselves, say anything yeah it a sweet cd but its all everyones been talking about for the past 3 months we already know if you wanna listen to good bands try
I wasn't recommending NEW bands to listen to. I was stating what I have been spinning lately. Geez, I continue to be marveled by the lack of actual reading that goes on around here. Second, who are you (as bolded) to say what a "good band" is? We all have different taste and opinions. We're just stating and recommending what we think people will like, not what is GOOD. That's all a matter of opinion. Also, I'm not being a grammar nazi, but please use some punctuation. It's just easier on the eyes as well as easier to read.

[sealed]

The Mae Shi.

[Sloaner]

I wasn't recommending NEW bands to listen to. I was stating what I have been spinning lately. Geez, I continue to be marveled by the lack of actual reading that goes on around here. Second, who are you (as bolded) to say what a "good band" is? We all have different taste and opinions. We're just stating and recommending what we think people will like, not what is GOOD. That's all a matter of opinion. Also, I'm not being a grammar nazi, but please use some punctuation. It's just easier on the eyes as well as easier to read.
I agree that if you are turned off by Max's voice, you need to listen a few more times and accept it for what it is. When I first heard the e-card, I couldn't believe there were so many people hyping this album, I was on the "The only reason they're hyping this is cause of the AP.Net Tour" bandwagon. I couldn't have been more wrong, this album is quickly turning into one of my fav's.

Is there any sort of timeline yet for new MCS?

Btw, I just realized that I hit quote instead of post a reply, so forgive the fact that this has nothing to do with what Jared just said.

[robdobi]

i love motion city soundtrack and the format, but if i see them recommended one more time my head is going to explode.

[bossman calling]

mcs has a split coming out with matchbook romance soon

[Jared Kaufman]

mcs has a split coming out with matchbook romance soon
They have that split with MBR and then the one with Limbeck where they do an insanely good cover of "The Sun Woke Up The State." They're looking to start recording (if memory serves me right) around October - with Mark Hoppus of Blink 182 producing if you missed that nugget.

Dobi - Sorry bro! It's just the fact that it is summer time and they're what keeps me dancing! I had to! Please forgive me.

[SomePerson22]

say anything's great, one of the few very hyped bands where i actually agree with the hype.

letter kills...i listened to the bridge once, and it reminded me too much of story of the year. i'm going to give it another try, though.

i'm definitely buying the new rise against tomorrow. i haven't listened to anything from it yet. i wanted to wait until i had the actual copy.

[robdobi]

its ok, i watched them at warped yesterday and i always enjoy them.

warped was a NIGHTMARE for me, heres what went down...

2 hour drive turned into a 3.5 hour drive, then traffic was so congested in NJ i parked in suburbia and walked for 45 minutes.

missed underminded.

watched thursday's final set for awhile while some kid behind me sang every word and sounded like william hung.

met mark beemer of syrentha.org (http://www.syrentha.org) who was totally a stand up dude. everyone should stop by his "t shirts for a cure" booth and buy a shirt or two as they are for a great cause. i designed the midtown and rise against ones, you can see them on my site.

watched 2 songs by literally every band that played, i was constantly walking around. it seemed like nfg played for 3 hours.

watched the bled and underoath totally destroy the place. underoath's keyboardist is basically jack black, totally made my day and he was really nice as well.

at 6:15 decided to call it a day and wanted to beat traffic back home, so i took me 45 minute walk back to my car, and once again the two hour drive turned into a FIVE hour drive. fuck you george washington bridge!

[Jared Kaufman]

Dobi - What do you think of the new Rise Against record? Just curious.

[davedesloover18]

Is there any sort of timeline yet for new MCS?
I talked to them on the 23rd, they said they were going into the studio after the warped tour and the few dates they had. but now they're going to japan, so I'd say they are starting pre-production right after that.

[robdobi]

the first time i saw rise against when they were on tour w/ movielife / thursday / boy sets fire like 3 years ago i wasn't too impressed.

once i heard "revolutions per minute" i thought they really stepped it up, that album was awesome.

the new one is just as good. tracks 4, 8, 11, and 12 are definite keepers.

track 2 starts off a lot like "better off" by bad religion.

if they don't make "paper wings" a single they are insane.

the acoustic song "swing life away" is the best "punk rock band does acoustic song" i have heard in years.

good shit, more punk rock needs to be featured, less christian pop that 4 years ago would have been dismissed as boy bands.

[Jared Kaufman]

the first time i saw rise against when they were on tour w/ movielife / thursday / boy sets fire like 3 years ago i wasn't too impressed.

once i heard "revolutions per minute" i thought they really stepped it up, that album was awesome.

the new one is just as good. tracks 4, 8, 11, and 12 are definite keepers.

track 2 starts off a lot like "better off" by bad religion.

if they don't make "paper wings" a single they are insane.

the acoustic song "swing life away" is the best "punk rock band does acoustic song" i have heard in years.

good shit, more punk rock needs to be featured, less christian pop that 4 years ago would have been dismissed as boy bands.
I definitely agree. "Paper Wings" is insanely good. I also agree that "more punk rock needs to be featured" hence why I'm getting more into it. As I mentioned to Bossman earlier, I'm trying to diversify my taste a little more to include such bands as well as trying to keep in mind to post more news about such bands.

[BNO4LIFE]

i think blood for blood is probably one of the best hardcore punk bands around and wonder why they are never mentioned on the site?

[bdye910]

i love the new letterkills album. its definitely one of the best releases of the year. i cant get into say anything though. i downloaded a couple of their songs and just dont get what all the fuss is about with them

[Sycro]

The Rise Against album is definitely a good one, but nothing compared to Revolutions or The Unraveling. Also, they totally messed up Swing Life Away from the Punk Goes Acoustic CD... yeah.

Letter Kills is good stuff.

I can't get into the new TBS stuff. I love the old stuff, but the new stuff just doesn't have the kick or the edge that TAYF had.


A band that everybody here should check out is The Ghost. Their CD "This Pen Is A Weapon" is amazing. Even their cd "This Is A Hospital" is great compared to what you would hear through the mainstream.

[bossman calling]

The Rise Against album is definitely a good one, but nothing compared to Revolutions or The Unraveling. Also, they totally messed up Swing Life Away from the Punk Goes Acoustic CD... yeah.
I've heard ALOT of people say that...but I've never heard the Punk Goes Acoustic version. I love the album version, and I'm now interested to hear this other one.

[CROMagnon]

I just wanted to say I am now buying Rise Against b/c Jared's comments got me interested, and now I'm listening to it. This is why I come here. That is all.

[robdobi]

the punk goes acoustic cd was a shit and piss factory so i never bothered either. i'll have to look into it.

i wasn't as impressed with the new ghost cd as i was their old one.

[bnrocks]

i can see why you guys dont recommend every sunday anymore. you listen to the same fucking cds that we hear about all the time on the site anyway. everyone go listen to snow patrol, gatsby's american dream, mates of state, and the new unearth cd.

[Shark90576]

its ok, i watched them at warped yesterday and i always enjoy them.

warped was a NIGHTMARE for me, heres what went down...

2 hour drive turned into a 3.5 hour drive, then traffic was so congested in NJ i parked in suburbia and walked for 45 minutes.

missed underminded.

watched thursday's final set for awhile while some kid behind me sang every word and sounded like william hung.

met mark beemer of syrentha.org (http://www.syrentha.org) who was totally a stand up dude. everyone should stop by his "t shirts for a cure" booth and buy a shirt or two as they are for a great cause. i designed the midtown and rise against ones, you can see them on my site.

watched 2 songs by literally every band that played, i was constantly walking around. it seemed like nfg played for 3 hours.

watched the bled and underoath totally destroy the place. underoath's keyboardist is basically jack black, totally made my day and he was really nice as well.

at 6:15 decided to call it a day and wanted to beat traffic back home, so i took me 45 minute walk back to my car, and once again the two hour drive turned into a FIVE hour drive. fuck you george washington bridge!

same thing my friend, I went with 4 people, we tried to get out and walk after an hour of traffic and moving .01 miles, decided the 4 mile hike wasn't worth it at 9:00 at night after 8 hours of standing, so we sold the tickets and went home....man I miss Asbury, never again will I try and go to Raceway Park for anything.

[Jared Kaufman]

i can see why you guys dont recommend every sunday anymore. you listen to the same fucking cds that we hear about all the time on the site anyway. everyone go listen to snow patrol, gatsby's american dream, mates of state, and the new unearth cd.
Yeah .. we never talk about Gatsby's American Dream on here.

[nizzlefoshizzle]

Yeah .. we never talk about Gatsby's American Dream on here.

You beat me to it.

[Jared Kaufman]

i can see why you guys dont recommend every sunday anymore. you listen to the same fucking cds that we hear about all the time on the site anyway. everyone go listen to snow patrol, gatsby's american dream, mates of state, and the new unearth cd.
Might I add since you're not a fan of the actual reading concept either:

As I clearly stated, THESE WERE NOT RECOMMENDATIONS! I was just pointing out what I had been spinning as of late.

[Mr Nohbody]

I agree that if you are turned off by Max's voice, you need to listen a few more times and accept it for what it is. When I first heard the e-card, I couldn't believe there were so many people hyping this album, I was on the "The only reason they're hyping this is cause of the AP.Net Tour" bandwagon. I couldn't have been more wrong, this album is quickly turning into one of my fav's.

Is there any sort of timeline yet for new MCS?

Btw, I just realized that I hit quote instead of post a reply, so forgive the fact that this has nothing to do with what Jared just said.


edit post?

[Sycro]

Might I add since you're not a fan of the actual reading concept either:

As I clearly stated, THESE WERE NOT RECOMMENDATIONS! I was just pointing out what I had been spinning as of late.

The main site's link to this says, and I quote, "Yep, I finally did recommendations after like a five week abscence." Also, your post says at the end "Well, that's probably one of my most diverse list of recommendations in quite some time."

[Sycro]

For anybody that wants the Punk Goes Acoustic version of Swing Life Away, it'll be up here (http://www.pinkpenguins.com/swinglifeaway.mp3) until around midnight. The skipping for like the first second is just a bad rip on my part.

[Jared Kaufman]

The main site's link to this says, and I quote, "Yep, I finally did recommendations after like a five week abscence." Also, your post says at the end "Well, that's probably one of my most diverse list of recommendations in quite some time."
Yeah, true, but I just put that 'cause it's easier for people to refer to it as such. I clearly stated before giving the list, though, that it was what I've been spinning lately. However, valid point my good friend.

[davedesloover18]

The skipping for like the first second is just a bad rip on my part.
no, you're good. that's just how the song is

[SundaeBest]

monroe - nice little band from flordia check them out they got purevolume
undermineded - another nice little band also on purevolume
remembering never - cd came out a bit ago but its still decent

throw it back old school

joy divison
the church


Underminded IS a kickass band from San Diego...ppl should check it out if you havent already done so.

[bossman calling]

For anybody that wants the Punk Goes Acoustic version of Swing Life Away, it'll be up here (http://www.pinkpenguins.com/swinglifeaway.mp3) until around midnight. The skipping for like the first second is just a bad rip on my part.
thank you! and you guys are right, this version is a little better. i wonder what happened...

oh well, it's still a damn good song.

[Blacktieopt]

The new Taking Back Sunday CD freakin' rocks and I don't care what anyone says! I'm not really a big Say Anything fan...I guess I just don't like the vocals. Their songs have good structure, even if they do remind of Piebald at times. I don't really think it lives up to all the hype AP gives it. Letter Kills is awesome...especially the vocals. Oh yeah...and it's about damn time drivethru signs a decent band again. I couldn't really stand Hello Goodbye or Jenoah.

[Motiontown35]

This band is really good they are recording right now but there are some demos at purevolume.com/rookie

[SomePerson22]

"swing life away" is probably my favorite acoustic song ever. i could listen to it over and over again and not be sick of it. . it took me a while to get into them, but after that song i checked out their albums again and i'm so glad i did.

i can't wait to hear the new version, even if it can't beat the acoustic one.

[Sycro]

"swing life away" is probably my favorite acoustic song ever. i could listen to it over and over again and not be sick of it. . it took me a while to get into them, but after that song i checked out their albums again and i'm so glad i did.

i can't wait to hear the new version, even if it can't beat the acoustic one.
The new version is acoustic... just different.

[gonzo3333]

i love the new say anything cd. I can't stop playing it on my Ipod.

Arrggh. My ex-girlfriend still has my MCS CD and my fall-out boy hoodie. Grrr.

[FreshyFresh23]

Jared your recommendations are outstanding. I enjoy each and every one of the picks you selected. I agree, the new TBS cd is fantastic, half the people who don't like it just don't like how their sound has changed but it's still amazing music. Motion City Soundtrack is incredible, i cannot wait for their new cd produced by Mark Hoppus. Letter Kills is very solid...and Say Anything absolutely blows me away. It is seriously one of the best cd releases this year, topping the list with Name Taken and Northstar.

[SilverStar89]

The Say Anything cd was absolutely amazing in my opinion. Good job by recommending them. MCS, Letter Kills, and TBS were also very good pics too. I'm looking forward to the split with MBR and MCS too. It should be a pretty good release.