12.16.2008

From Inbox to Ear

Here at YuppiePunk World HQ, we get a lot of inquiries from publicists, labels and bands themselves looking for a little coverage. And who can blame them? After all, we’re an obscure, self-righteous, poorly-designed, infrequently-posting pop culture site with terrible taste in music. In other words, every young band’s dream! And since we simply don’t have the (wo)manpower to write about every interesting thing we hear here, here’s a sampling of some of the goodies to have passed through our inbox of late.

Butch Walker | “Sycamore” (Original Signal)
Avril songwriter, “Rockstar: Supernova” judge and ex-Marvelous 3 leader Butch Walker traipses through a variety of rock radio styles, all with style, and all while making it sound downright easy to craft pop gem after pop gem. Why isn’t he more famous?
Butch Walker – “The Weight of Her”

Banner Pilot | “Resignation Day” (Go Kart)
Minneapolis quartet who are part Jawbreaker and part Ben Weasel. The recording is a little muddy, but so are the songs — in a good way though, as gruff vocals spill melodic hooks over driving punk rhythms. Poppy but not pop.
Banner Pilot – “Speed Trap”

The Bronx | “III” (Original Signal)
The third self-titled LP from this L.A. band is a departure perhaps, but the riffs still have balls the size of Texas. This is what Rocket From the Crypt might sound like if they worshiped at the feet of Buckcherry.
The Bronx – “Knifeman”

Cruiserweight | “Big Bold Letters” (Doghouse)
2005’s “Sweet Weaponry” was a grade-A slab of girl-fronted pop punk — slick and sticky-sweet. Which is why “Big Bold Letters” is so disappointing. It’s just as slick, and frontwoman Stella Maxwell’s voice still sounds great, but the melodies are wandering and the song cycle less cohesive. There are moments of pleasure, but mostly it just chugs along without batting an eye or raising any eyebrows.
Cruiserweight – “Slack”

Jack’s Mannequin | “The Glass Passenger” (Sire)
The second effort from Andrew McMahon, one-time singer for Something Corporate, a radio-ready, piano-driven band with pleasant enough songs and a big budget production (which could also describe this project) has moments of greatness, particularly “Crashing” and “Caves,” an 8-minute opus of McMahon’s battle with leukemia, but the album is ultimately uneven and a bit boring.
Jack’s Mannequin – “Crashing”

RELATED: Heavy Rotation Across the Nation (Or At Least This Website)

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