Tag: Alternative Rock
December 25, 2020
First things first–merry Christmas everyone! It’s been a challenging year, and many of us are ready to see the back of it. I always post my Song of the Day picks on Friday, so I was pleased to the lucky draw for Christmas Day! Of course, it had to be a Christmas song, and there are lots of good ones to choose from, even from our niche scene.… Continued →
November 29, 2020
REVIEW : Daniel Markham - Burnout
From the opening riffs of opener “Armadillo”, you know this is going to be something interesting—dual harmonic guitar riffs in fuzzy tones. Vocals reflect Markham’s alt country background, but this is clearly a rock record. His bio claims he was trying to return to the hard rock and heavy metal that made him happy as a child, and while that is certainly a tangible presence, it’s filtered through his alternative consciousness.… Continued →
November 7, 2020
REVIEW : Starflyer 59 - Miami (EP)
There used to be a fairly well-known release formula for SF59. Step one: release full-length album. Step two: release EP of similar material within the following year (or even later that same year). While the formula has been tweaked over the years, it still more or less holds. Whereas She’s the Queen was the counterpart to Silver, Miami functions that way for Young in My Head.… Continued →
October 16, 2020
Song of the Day: The Holidays - Sunshine
Power pop was (is?) a strange phenomenon. Despite the big hooks, melodic overtones and just enough of a punk edge to keep things interesting, it never really caught on in a huge way. Although it’s made inroads into new wave and, more recently, indie pop, the leaders of the subgenre still remain fairly underground, with a few notable exceptions (Cheap Trick and The Romantics are among the few artists with major radio hits).… Continued →
October 9, 2020
Song of the Day: Mad at the World - All These Questions
Mad at the World went through at least three distinct phases throughout their history, which impressively spans across 4 decades: synth-pop/new wave, hard alternative rock/metal, and retro rock/alternative. We’ve already featured a song from their synth-pop era, and here’s one from their hard alternative phase, but one that interestingly enough hints at their retro phase that would be unleashed in 2 more albums’ time.… Continued →
September 11, 2020
Song of the Day: The Prayer Chain - Fifty-Eight
I had this song on my mind the other day as I was thinking about what song I was going to choose for this week. The modus operandi: Ruminate on a song and make a choice. Find it on YouTube. Listen while I’m writing. Dang. I’ve loved this song for years, but was still surprised at how good it sounded more than 2 decades after it was recorded.… Continued →
August 21, 2020
Song of the Day: The Altered - Low
Not much is known about this band, who released one album for major label Curb Records in 1997, called Yours Truly. They played a fairly straight-forward brand of alternative rock that hinted at grunge without ever fully going to Seattle. The lead single was “Low,” with its provocative chorus:
I’m wasted!… Continued →
July 31, 2020
Song of the Day: the violet burning - Song of the Harlot
Many people nowadays have a love-hate relationship with worship music. It can sometimes be too simplistic, or based on shallow theology, yet believers have a real desire to connect with the Lord through music. The so-called Modern Worship movement has both helped and hindered this process. While it’s outside of our purposes here to give an overview of the practical, musical, and theological ramifications of modern worship music, let’s take a look at an early innovator.… Continued →
July 24, 2020
Song of the Day: Black Carnation - One Fine Night in a Daydream
Jangle Pop. While the term might not mean much to most listeners today, it was the dominant form of alternative rock (on both sides of the Atlantic) in the late 80s to early 90s. As 70s punk gave way to 80s new wave and synth pop, underground bands were looking for more earthy sounds, moving away from sythesizers and often including acoustic guitars and instruments borrowed from folk rock.… Continued →
July 2, 2020
Grandpa Loves Rhinos Release "Gimme, Gimme" Tomorrow
Grandpa Loves Rhinos are back with a brand new single titled “Gimme, Gimme”. The song will release at Midnight tonight through all digital networks and streaming sites. The track is an energetic pop-punk inspired jam full of those unforgettable hooks and melodies the band has become known for. The message is geared towards those that are obsessed with the material treasures in this lifetime and being consumed by them.… Continued →
June 26, 2020
Exclusive Song Premiere: Collington - Against The Wall
We are proud to bring you a brand new song stream from independent artist, Collington. Check out the song “Against The Wall”, below. This excellent single is now available wherever you find fine digital music. Recommended for Fans of: Switchfoot, Needtobreathe, Walk The Moon, Foster The People, and The Fray.… Continued →
June 16, 2020
Song of the Day: Anberlin - Pray Tell
Another album celebrating it’s 10 year anniversary is “Dark Is the Way, Light Is a Place” by the world renown alternative rock band, Anberlin. This Brendan O’Brien produced full length effort (their 5th album by 2010) was a slight departure from the sunny, bright, more upbeat sounds of their commercial break through record, “New Surrender”.… Continued →
June 14, 2020
Winona Ave Release New Song "Masterpiece" and Music Video
Indiana based Pop-Rock band – Winona Ave, just dropped a brand new song and music video for “Masterpiece”. This anthem for those seeking hope and finding meaning in their own self-worth will be delighted by this new song. Hopeful music for times that call out for it. Check out “Masterpiece” below.… Continued →
Pspazz Album Now on Digital Networks
Hawaii based pop-punk/alternative Rock band, PSPAZZ, has finally posted their 1996 Brainstorm International debut album “Missile Toe” on all digital networks. This fun, sun inspired, little goofy pop-punk album of the 90’s is sure to delight old fans and fans that have never ever heard of these guys. For fans of old Blink 182, NOFX, Sponge, Jane’s Addiction, Weezer, Home Grown, Weird Al, and MXPX.… Continued →
June 5, 2020
Song of the Day: Mad at the World - It Can't Rain Forever
Mad at the World has had a very interesting and diverse career as a band. They started out doing somewhat dark synth-pop on their self-titled debut (in the vein of Depeche Mode, New Order, Clan of Xymox), then added guitars to their new wave sound for Flowers in the Rain.… Continued →
May 15, 2020
Song of the Day: Starflyer 59 - This Recliner
After releasing last year’s opus Young in My Head, Starflyer 59 are already back. The veteran indie rock band have just released a new single, “This Recliner” and boy oh boy is it good! Fueled by inspiration from the best of his 80s new wave AND shoegaze influences (The Church, Psychedelic Furs, Jesus and Mary Chain, et.… Continued →
May 12, 2020
Exclusive Song Premiere: Audiophile - The Coast
We are proud to bring you a brand new song premiere from the Birmingham, AL. based alternative-pop-punk band known as Audiophile. They are a newer band with an incredibly catchy sound that would appeal to fans of The All American Rejects, Relient K, Weezer, All Time Low, Mayday Parade, Neck Deep, TwentyOnePilots, and Capital Lights.… Continued →
March 27, 2020
Song for the Day: Chagall Guevara - If It All Comes True
You’re probably tired of hearing it, but these are strange times we’re living in. How could any of us have been prepared for the reality in which we find ourselves? I don’t know about you but I’ve read a lot of dystopian fiction and watched a ton of post-apocalyptic films. Neither of them are all that helpful in our current scenario.… Continued →
March 6, 2020
Song of the Day: Breakfast with Amy - Social Studies
Along with L.S.U. and the Altar Boys, another band that was really influential in getting me into alternative music (as opposed to straight metal and thrash of my teenage years) was Breakfast with Amy. Their debut album had enough punk rock influence to appeal to that side of me that wanted noise and aggression, but there was more to their sound than just loud, fast, and angry.… Continued →
February 14, 2020
Song of the Day: Undercover - The Eyes of Love
I suppose that the first time you hear a band forever affects the way you think or feel about them. Although Undercover already had a long history behind them when I first heard them in 1990, I was completely unaware of it. I didn’t know the huge impact they’d made in the Christian alternative and punk scene in SoCal through Calvary Chapel, Ministry Resource Center, etc.… Continued →
February 12, 2020
L.S. Underground masterpiece "The Grape Prophet" to be re-issued!
L.S. Underground (AKA LSU, L.S.U. LifeSavers Underground, Lifesavers, Lifesavors) have been doing alternative music in various forms since the early 80s. “The Grape Prophet,” originally released on Blonde Vinyl in 1992 was a concept album full of nuance and metaphor representing a young man’s journey looking into what was deemed a potentially dangerous Christian cult.… Continued →
February 7, 2020
Song of the Day: Lifesavers - Surf with God
In the late 80s/early 90s I was a straight-up metalhead. Thrash was my favorite variety, but I dipped into other stuff as well. But I had started developing a taste for punk too. The pace and beat of hardcore punk was actually very similar to thrash, but with different guitar tones.… Continued →
October 11, 2019
New RED Ep and Fuel Cover
RED are back with a brand new Ep which includes a cover of the classic Fuel song “Hemorrhage (In My Hands)”. “The Evening Hate” Ep is out November 1st and first single “From the Ashes” heads to radio October 25th. Listen to the cover track, Read the full press release about the EP and upcoming tour dates with In Flames, below.… Continued →
Song of the Day: Jupiter James - Overload
Lo-fi indie rock never made a huge impact in the Christian scene. To be fair, it was a niche market even in mainstream circles. Beck and R.E.M. were the only 2 artists to break out of the underground, and both of those bands more or less ditched their lo-fi roots to do so (Beck only temporarily).… Continued →
October 8, 2019
Starflyer retro-design shirts released to coincide with Gold vinyl re-issue!
From Velvet Blue Music . . .
“To celebrate the upcoming re-issue of STARFLYER 59 ‘gold’ on vinyl . . . we’ve made a run of Gold era shirts and a cool sticker pack. Links below. Or you can email me if you’d like a link to pay via PayPal jeff@velvetbluemusic.com”.… Continued →
September 27, 2019
Song of the Day: Huntingtons - The Only One
Huntingtons were a prolific punk and/or pop-punk band, as most of you will know. For me, you just can’t beat their sophomore album, “Fun and Games.” The title says it all. This song has that punk rock meets 50s style doo-wop that many bands tried but not many could pull off.… Continued →
August 20, 2019
Song of the Day: Kosmos Express - Just Say It
The year was 1997. The heyday of Christian alternative rock was starting to wane, as mainstream sounds were drifting into new territory. Dance pop (in the form of boy bands and girl bands) was starting to make another attempt at dominating the airwaves. Electronica and house were exploding in creativity and splintering into new subgenres every day.… Continued →
July 26, 2019
Song of the Day: Altar Boys - You Are Loved
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: this is one of the greatest songs our scene has ever produced! It gets straight to the heart of what it’s all about: “Hey I’m talkin’ to you/Yeah, I’m trying to get through/God cares about you more than think . . .… Continued →
January 29, 2019
We Are Messengers to Release New "Honest Ep"
Indie worship/rock artist known as We Are Messengers has just put up a pre-order for their new 6 song ep titled “Honest” right here. Check out “The Devil Is a Liar” below and make sure to pre-order here where you’ll get 2 songs instantly.
… Continued →
October 25, 2018
Mellowdramatic Wallflowers make all releases available
90s quirky alternative band Mellowdramatic Wallflowers have recently made all their releases available for free download here. The Oklahoma-based band remained independent throughout their existence, but released four full-length albums during their time. The band reluctantly changed their name to Admiral Twin (inspired by a historic Tulsa movie theater) to avoid confusion when the similarly-named mainstream rock band The Wallflowers gained in popularity.… Continued →