Special: First Listen Thoughts: DE'WAYNE "Stains", AFI "Bodies", We Were Sharks "New Low"

DE'WAYNE - Stains

Label: Hopeless Records

Press release: A lifetime in the making, alt-pop superstar DE'WAYNE has officially announced his debut album STAINS, due out June 18th via Hopeless Records. The eleven-track album blends the incendiary nature of his live show with a story that needs to be told and a genreless freedom. Instead of trying to fit into a ready-made scene, STAINS is driven by energy, emotion, excitement. "Every song on this record is urgent because it has to be. I want to put out music that feels like you have to listen to it right now."

My thoughts: At 11 tracks, 5 of which were released before the album announcement, and another 2 post album announcement left us with only 4 wholly new songs. Like the singles they were a mixed bag but one can't deny DE'WAYNE's infectious energy and genre bending attitude going from lo-fi hip hop to high energy guitar backed rock music and everything in between.

AFI - Bodies

Label: Rise records

Press release: The California hardcore punk kings will be releasing their new record Bodies on June 11 via Rise, with the LP produced by the band’s own Jade Puget. “Anyone who knows our catalog knows that no two records really sit together,” says Jade. ​“Some sit a little closer, maybe. We do certain things, just by virtue of who we are, that are consistent, but those things come about organically. Every time we do something, I have to judge it on its own merits. Some fans are going to judge a new album, or a new song, based on what’s come before. But as artists, we can’t do that, because it would only hinder our creativity.”

My thoughts: I've said many times that I don't hold it against artists when they opt to try something new on a record and AFI might as well change their name to chameleon the amount of times they changed their sound but that doesn't mean I need to enjoy it which I do not. Apart from a few tracks this LP is full of misses with the standout track likely being the single Feeling Tragic with No Eyes being the best of the deep cuts.

We Were Sharks - New Low

Label: Revival Records

Press release: Ottawa, ON-based quintet, We Were Sharks have announced their upcoming album, New Low, which is set for release in May 2021. On New Low, lead vocalist Randy Frobel shares, “New Low is a collection of songs that we created that focuses on being down but not out. Since the release of Lost Touch, we’ve experienced many of life’s ups and downs. We’ve lost relationships, friends and family, and have gone through a lot of unexpected challenges that life has a tendency to throw at you when you least expect it. However, no matter what may have tried to keep us down or hold us back, we always take the hit and keep pushing forward.”

My thoughts: This is probably the best pop punk album I've heard this year so far. We Were Sharks have tightened up their songwriting while still having hooks for days. If I had to point out one misstep it's "Burning Houses" which is a mid-tempo song which I usually love but there was no hook to draw me in. The singles are all solid (the first 5 tracks) which you'd know if you follow my countdown have all entered the top 10 at one point or another. Ashley pt. 2 and album closer Ready To Go are the best of the back half.

Top 10 Countdown: June 26, 2021

10. Chunk! No, Captain Chunk! - Bitter
Last week: NEW!

9. Calling All Captains - Tailspin
Last week: NEW!

8. Waterparks - Numb
Last week: 4.

7. KennyHoopla - Hollywood Sucks//
Last week: 8.

6. Waterparks - Violet!
Last week: 7.

5. Point North - Nice Now
Last week: 6.

4. We Were Sharks - Over This
Last week: 5.

3. With Confidence - Big Cat Judgment Day
Last week: 1.

2. Stand Atlantic Ft. Nothing, Nowhere - Deathwish
Last week: 3.

1. Silverstein - Bankrupt
Last week: 2.

Special: Raya And The Last Dragon, Godzilla Vs. Kong, Bad Trip Mini-Reviews

Raya And The Last Dragon:

Synopsis: Long ago, in the fantasy world of Kumandra, humans and dragons lived together in harmony. But when sinister monsters known as the Druun threatened the land, the dragons sacrificed themselves to save humanity. Now, 500 years later, those same monsters have returned and it's up to a lone warrior, Raya, to track down the last dragon in order to finally stop the Druun for good. However, along her journey, she'll learn that it'll take more than dragon magic to save the world--it's going to take trust as well.

My thoughts: Sometimes Raya takes the message it's pushing too far and it disrupts the storytelling that we're getting but that's about where the negatives end. This might be Disney's best output since 2016 but we'll see if Raya can stand the test of time over the next few years but the animation is certainly the best the studio has managed since that time if not longer.

Final verdict: 4 ancient dragon spirits out of 5.

Godzilla Vs. Kong:

Synopsis: Legends collide in "Godzilla vs. Kong" as these mythic adversaries meet in a spectacular battle for the ages, with the fate of the world hanging in the balance. Kong and his protectors undertake a perilous journey to find his true home, and with them is Jia, a young orphaned girl with whom he has formed a unique and powerful bond. But they unexpectedly find themselves in the path of an enraged Godzilla, cutting a swath of destruction across the globe. The epic clash between the two titans--instigated by unseen forces--is only the beginning of the mystery that lies deep within the core of the Earth.

My thoughts: Godzilla Vs. Kong gives us what is promised, two big monsters fighting each other. They give us this at the expense of human character development, which honestly I wouldn't hate if executed properly but it still makes us spend a large amount of time with these human characters we don't know enough about to care, with the exception of Millie Bobby Brown who was fleshed out in the previous film.

Final verdict: 3.5 fighting titans out of 5.

Bad Trip:

Synopsis: Hidden cameras capture two best friends pulling hilarious and inventive pranks on an unsuspecting public.

My thoughts: I'm notoriously hard on hidden camera movies as it's only half acting. That being said Bad Trip is one of the better ones, though as noted, that's not saying much. Eric Andre, Tiffany Haddish and Lil Rel Howery run through the states causing chaos along the way. Unfortunately there's equally as much cringe as there was laughs.

Final verdict: 3 prank shows turned into movies out of 5.

Top 10 Countdown: June 19, 2021

10. We Were Sharks - New Low
Last week: NEW!

9. Waterparks - You'd Be Paranoid Too (If Everyone Was Out To Get You)
Last week: 5.

8. KennyHoopla - Hollywood Sucks//
Last week: 9.

7. Waterparks - Violet!
Last week: NEW!

6. Point North - Nice Now
Last week: 8.

5. We Were Sharks - Over This
Last week: 7.

4. Waterparks - Numb
Last week: 1.

3. Stand Atlantic Ft. Nothing Nowhere - Deathwish
Last week: 4.

2. Silverstein - Bankrupt
Last week: 3.

1. With Confidence - Big Cat Judgment Day
Last week: 2.

Special: First Listen Thoughts: The Offspring "Let The Bad Times Roll", Atreyu "Baptize", The First Rock Band On Mars "The First Rock Band On Mars" EP

The Offspring - Let The Bad Times Roll

Label: Concord Records

Press release: SoCal punk icons The Offspring have announced the release of Let The Bad Times Roll – their tenth studio album and first LP in nearly a decade, following 2012’s Days Go By. Let The Bad Times Roll won’t find the band shying away from topical material – and it certainly won’t find the band abandoning their cheeky, punk-rock roots.

My thoughts: I expected more given the wait between albums and it's not like they had scrapped other albums since Coming For You made it into the tracklist and that song was unveiled in 2015 as being a part of the upcoming album which finally seen light in 2021. Oh and they decided to give us a cover (The Hall Of The Mountain King) and a rework an old song (Gone Away) as part of the 12 tracks. In case you were curious the originals are better. The cheeky cut "We Never Have Sex Anymore" was not fun or funny but the classic punk rock hits like Breaking These Bones and This Is Utopia are worthwhile listens. Overall probably more misses than hits given the filler but we'll see how it ages.

Atreyu - Baptize

Label: Spinefarm Records

Press release: California metalcore crew Atreyu have announced details of their new album Baptize, due out June 4th on Spinefarm Records. Following the departure of frontman Alex Varkatzas last October, the band – vocalist Brandon Saller, guitarists Dan Jacobs and Travis Miguel, bassist/vocalist Portner McKnight and drummer Kyle Rosa – are forging ahead with new material.

My thoughts: Atreyu was able to write some catchy hooks on Baptize but it definitely is not nearly as strong as their earlier records. A lot of the songs feel repetitive in nature. The singles were a mixed bag with Warrior being the best example of the repetitive nature but No Matter What and Untouchable are other examples of this. Oblivion may be the best song on the album with a special nod to Sabotage Me which at least sees the band try something new. Like The Offspring above this album is a mixed bag with some cuts I'll go back to but a lot of generic filler that was not needed.

The First Rock Band On Mars - The First Rock Band On Mars EP

Label: Self-Released

Press release: The kid-friendly, parent pop punk project, The First Rock Band on Mars, comprised of Kellin Quinn, Ryan Key, Howi Spangler and James DiNanno, are releasing their Self-Titled album just in time for Father’s Day. Inspired by the project’s founder DiNanno’s first children’s book, The First Rock Star On Mars. The 5-track EP is set for release on Friday, June 11. The aforementioned book was actually what initially brought the group together. What began as just a narration for the book soon became an original 5-track EP and thus, a new project was born.

My thoughts: Honestly this record rocks. It's really only 4 tracks without the intro or the instrumental outro. But we get a punk rock cut (I Know What I Want), a pop punk banger (Rockstars Of The Universe) a little bit of screaming (The First Rock Band On Mars) and a mid tempo slice of goodness (Comet). If you grew up going to Warped Tour in the 00's but now have young kids this is what you need to spin for them.

Top 10 Countdown: June 12, 2021

10. Atreyu - Catastrophe

Last week: NEW!

9. KennyHoopla - Hollywood Sucks//

Last week: NEW!

8. Point North - Nice Now
Last week: 9.

7. We Were Sharks - Over This
Last week: 8.

6. All Time Low - Once In A Lifetime
Last week: 3.

5. Waterparks - You'd Be Paranoid Too (If Everyone Was Out To Get You)
Last week: 5.

4. Stand Atlantic Ft. Nothing, Nowhere - Deathwish

Last week: 7.

3. Silverstein - Bankrupt
Last week: 4.

2. With Confidence - Big Cat Judgment Day
Last week: 2.

1. Waterparks - Numb
Last week: 1.

Special: Justice Society: World War II, The Woman In The Window, Coming 2 America Mini-Reviews

Justice Society: World War II:

Synopsis: The Justice Society of America, a group of heroes aiding the allies in World War 2, makes an ally from the future who sends them on a history-changing adventure.

My thoughts: As was my issue with Man Of Tomorrow I find this art style very distracting but since this is 2 movies in a row in this universe (and more to come seemingly teased) I'll just have to get used to it. Other than that this was a fun romp through World War II which they surprisingly haven't tackled yet in an animated movie. DC has kept most upcoming titles under wraps which leads me to believe they'll have a big roll out at the upcoming Fandome of this new universe and what we can expect to come out of it since we thus far only have confirmation of Superman and now The Flash in Earth One anyways. The Earth 2 heroes were fun as I really liked their take on Black Canary but it was disappointing to see so many heroes die in the end so we can't have more adventures with them. And hey, Hourman got a hot second in the spotlight. Good for him.

Final verdict: 3.5 Nazi's out of 5.

The Woman In The Window:

Synopsis: Anna Fox (Amy Adams) is an agoraphobic child psychologist who finds herself keeping tabs on the picture perfect family across the street through the windows of her New York City brownstone. Her life is turned upside down when she inadvertently witnesses a brutal crime. Based on the gripping, best-selling novel and adapted by Tracy Letts, shocking secrets are revealed and nothing and no one are what they seem in this suspenseful psychological thriller.

My thoughts: For how they could of mailed in this simple premise I must commend them for trying at the very least. That being said they could've done way better with the cast they assembled. Some twists were predictable, some not so much and some characters they give very little reason for them to exist in this world. You won't feel like you wasted time watching this flick, but you also shouldn't feel the need to go out of your way to give it a watch either.

Final verdict: 3 twists out of 5.

Coming 2 America:

Synopsis: Set in the lush and royal country of Zamunda, newly-crowned King Akeem (Eddie Murphy) and his trusted confidante Semmi(Arsenio Hall) embark on an all-new hilarious adventure that has them traversing the globe from their great African nation to the borough of Queens, New York – where it all began.

My thoughts: I'm not sure if we necessarily needed a sequel to Coming To America but I was excited to give it a chance. Unfortunately I felt it to be a little redundant. I liked that they gave us a glimpse at characters from the original we knew and loved but they just kinda retreaded certain elements from the first and gave us a family sitcome type set up we're seeing more and more now a days with old family sitcoms being rebooted and updated and honestly Coming 2 America shouldn't feel like this even though it does.  

Final verdict: 3.5 Foreign Royalty out of 5.

Top 10 Countdown: June 5, 2021

10. Trash Boat - Silence Is Golden
Last week: 10.

9. Point North - Nice Now
Last week: NEW!

8. We Were Sharks - Over This
Last week: 9.

7. Stand Atlantic Ft. Nothing, Nowhere - Deathwish
Last week: 8.

6. The Maine - Sticky
Last week: 2.

5. Waterparks - You'd Be Paranoid Too (If Everyone Was Out To Get You)
Last week: 7.

4. Silverstein - Bankrupt
Last week: 5.

3. All Time Low - Once In A Lifetime
Last week: 3.

2. With Confidence - Big Cat Judgment Day
Last week: 4.

1. Waterparks - Numb
Last week: 1.