by Vasilis
It’s a fact we all hate to address but must inevitably face: summer has come to an end. Although the east coast remains unseasonably warm for early September, Labor Day is behind us and the season of pumpkin-spiced drinks and fall attire is fast-approaching. With that comes one of the busiest times of the year in the music world, as bands prepare for new albums and big tours. Musicians seem to especially love October and November, as these months seem to attract some of the best shows and new music of the season. With so much to look forward to, there are five particular albums that I’m very excited to hear over the last four months of 2014.
Hostage Calm – Die on Stage (September 16)
Unlike the other four bands who occupy this list, Hostage Calm are young and don’t sport the stature or name-recognition the others do. However, Hostage Calm earned the respect and attention of anyone who listened to their 2012 effort Please Remain Calm. The ambitious album read like a rallying cry for the disenfranchised and marginalized, pleading for patience and for self-preservation in a time of great crisis for so many. The band’s power-pop melodies infused with punk idealism inspired the imagination of a growing audience. Hostage Calm are returning in September with what promises to be an equally-ambitious follow-up for their fourth studio effort; lead single “Your Head/Your Heart” built on the progression they made on their last album with catchy hooks and toe-tapping melodies, while “A Thousand Miles Away From Here” drew more from their hardcore punk roots with fist-pumping urgency. Die on Stage should serve to further push the band forward and continue their steady growth.
New Found Glory – Resurrection (October 7)
If ever an album title spoke volumes about where the band was at this point in their careers, it would be this one. New Found Glory have toured relentlessly for the past few years in support of new albums and celebrating the anniversaries of their classic work. However, the group was faced with a sex scandal that forced them to kick out rhythm guitarist and primary lyricist Steve Klein last year. While many wondered if this would negatively affect the pop punk legends, the band chose to go forward without Steve and promised to stick together and rely on brotherhood and their fans to get through. Resurrection is the result, and the band has shown no signs of slowing down. Lead single “Selfless” is riff-heavy in the same vein as Catalyst and Not Without a Fight, as the opening lick draws heavily from their hardcore roots. It’s a welcome shift from the enjoyable but ultimately uninspired Radiosurgery, an album which felt like pandering to fans hoping for a pop punk sequel to Sticks and Stones. The new song is heavier than anything on the last album but latches on to the catchiness that has helped this band resonate with generations of fans, which should bode well for Resurrection.
Yellowcard – Lift a Sail (October 7)
It’s hard to believe 2014 marks Yellowcard’s fifth year back together after reforming from their “indefinite hiatus”; it’s even harder to believe that Lift a Sail marks the band’s ninth studio effort and third since returning (and their first with label Razor & Tie). The band has taken few breaks since 2010, choosing instead to tour non-stop and not keep their fans guessing as to what the future holds. Though both albums were well received (including the 2012 album Southern Air, which is one of the band’s best works to date), their newest effort will be the first that will not feature Longineu Parsons III (LP) on the drums. While the news hit fans hard, the band persevered on (with help from Anberlin drummer Nate Young). I’m intrigued as to what this album will sound like, as the band also promised it would have “less of a pop punk sound, more of a rock sound”. Lead single “One Bedroom” is bold and sincere and fits their description well, sounding like a sequel to their 2011 single “Hang You Up”. It’s hard to gauge exactly what the album will sound like from this song alone, but with the band promising a huge sound there’s a lot of potential for another solid addition to the Yellowcard discography.
Weezer – Everything Will Be Alright In The End (October 7)
Let me first say that October 7 is shaping up to an incredible day for new music. With that said, the final album from that day to make the list is Weezer’s ninth studio album Everything Will Be Alright in the End, an album that could have made it on here based on its name alone. Since Pinkerton, many (including myself) have found much fault with a lot of the band’s work, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t some good there. The band rebounded from what is undoubtedly their most embarrassing effort (Raditude, 2009) with a respectable and enjoyable album (Hurley, 2010). After releasing three records in three years, the band decided to hit the brakes and take their time releasing a follow, which brings with it the possibility of a more thought-out album. Lead single “Back to the Shack” is classic Weezer in all their nerd rock glory, and its riff-heavy opening is a welcome sound to what made Weezer so enjoyable. While it isn’t an instant Weezer classic, it does show that there’s plenty left in the well to draw from and has many excited about the prospects of their newest album.
Foo Fighters – Sonic Highways (November 7)
I am on board with anything that Dave Grohl is a part of. After proclaiming that Foo Fighters would be going on hiatus, a loud sigh of relief escaped the mouths of rock and roll fans everywhere when the band announced they would be releasing a new album in 2014. Sonic Highways will appeal heavily to anybody interested in the number “8”; the album marks the band’s eighth studio effort album, was recorded in eight different cities, includes eight tracks, and features eight different album covers with an infinity sign and a depiction of one of those eight cities. The album brings forth memories of the classic rock days when bands like Led Zeppelin used to release eight-song albums that lasted well over 40 minutes, which may hint at the possible sound and influence the band is going for with their latest effort. Following Wasting Light, one of the band’s most consistent records to date, expectations are high for Sonic Highways. The band will also be premiering an HBO series and lead single on October 17.
Lyrically Addicted 