Top 10 Countdown: July 31, 2021

10. Anti-Flag - Born To Run
Last week: NEW!

9. Real Friends - Nervous Wreck
Last week: NEW!

8. Meet Me @ The Altar - Feel A Thing
Last week: NEW!

7. jxdn - Think About Me
Last week: 7.

6. Sunrise Skater Kids - Still Posi
Last week: 6.

5. The Maine - Lips
Last week: 5.

4. Machine Gun Kelly Ft. Kellin Quinn (Sleeping With Sirens) - Love Race
Last week: 4.

3. KennyHoopla - Hollywood Sucks//
Last week: 3.

2. Waterparks - Violet!
Last week: 2.

1. Point North - Nice Now
Last week: 1.

Special: First Listen Thoughts: The Maine "XOXO: From Love & Anxiety In Real Time", The Mighty Mighty Bosstones "When God Was Great", KennyHoopla "Survivor's Guilt: The Mixtape"

The Maine - XOXO: From Love & Anxiety In Real Time

Label: 8123 Records

Press release: American rock band The Maine  announced their eighth studio album “XOXO: From Love & Anxiety In Real Time” will be released on July 9, 2021. The album comprises of 10-track and is their first LP in three years. “This album is quite literally a real-time dive into the duality of love and anxiety in my life. They are such opposing feelings, but they coexist all the time in my head. Life is a funny thing, but I believe everything is exactly as it should be.” says frontman John O'Callaghan. He continued, “For my two cents, XOXO is all of the best parts of The Maine. Just the right amount of ambition and nostalgia. It can be an easy listen or a hard look into the mirror. I hope it's whatever you need it to be.”

My thoughts: The thing with The Maine everyone says is that they get better with every release. I don't really agree with that. Sure the first album is cringy in hindsight (it still slaps though) and then they tried to mature too fast on their follow up (which I also enjoy) the next two albums saw them attempt to mold the sound they're now known for and people point out it's where the evolution to where they are started and I agree but I find it to be their weakest output. Albums 5 and 6 were masterpieces. Top of their game stuff then came album 7 and it was fine, but disappointing given their previous 2 releases. So here we are at album 8 and... They're back baby! This comfortably slots into that great tier of albums 5 and 6. The crazy part is I see this album aging even better than what I'm saying here. Long live The Maine.

The Mighty Mighty Bosstones - When God Was Great

Label: Hellcat Records

Press release: ka-punk pioneers The Mighty Mighty BossToneS will release their 11th studio record When God Was Great on May 7 via Hellcat Records. Co-produced by longtime collaborator Ted Hutt and Rancid frontman Tim Armstrong, When God Was Great is the culmination of their extensive and all-embracing career and sees the band bringing back friends, tourmates, and bandmates from the past for a sonic celebration that stresses the power of perseverance and human connection during tumultuous times. The album features 15-tracks that initially arose out of a collective sense of loss. “We were lightly writing songs before the insanity without any sort of timeline in mind. All of a sudden, the world changed and benchmark events in a very long career that we were looking forward to, such as playing with the Madness at the Greek Theatre, were taken away from us,” explains frontman Dicky Barrett. “With all of this time on our hands, we started writing at a quickened pace and we were really inspired. As grim as everything around us was in the outside world, this was the most fun we ever had making a record.

My thoughts: The Final Parade is quite a great way to end the album but apart from that and a few other moments (Decide, Bruised, Move, the two singles) When God Was Great gets lost in the shuffle. Nothing too memorable here as the bosstones sound disenfranchised with the state of the world (which we can't blame them for) but are still trying to play party music which just fails to blend itself so there is more somber moments than I'd care for. Trimming 5 songs of fat could've done this album some good.

KennyHoopla - Survivor's Guilt: The Mixtape

Label: Arista Records

Press release: KennyHoopla is the latest US artist rising in the alternative/pop punk wave that’s towering over our heads this year. His breakthrough song, ‘Estella’ has been making the rounds on every nostalgic pop punk playlist since its release with its flowing abundance of youthful energy and guitar-driven pop/rock.

My thoughts: I do find it odd when artists label things mixtapes when I call it an EP but maybe that's just my oldness coming out. KennyHoopla may simply be the latest artist to revive the pop-punk sound but you'll have a hard time finding someone doing it better as he pulls from a mirad of influences. The first two singles were so strong I expected them to be the best this mixtape had to offer but the title track is full of energy and Silence Is also An Answer is a midtempo banger I could listen to over and over. Off the top of my head, I doubt an EP will be as strong as this one this year.

Top 10 Countdown: July 24, 2021

10. Hot Milk - I Just Wanna Know What Happens When I'm Dead

Last week: NEW!

9. Mayday Parade - Kids Of Summer
Last week: NEW!

8. We Were Sharks - Over This
Last week: 1.

7. jxdn - Think About Me
Last week: 8.

6. Sunrise Skater Kids - Still Posi
Last week: 7.

5. The Maine - Lips
Last week: 6.

4. Machine Gun Kelly Ft. Kellin Quinn (Sleeping With Sirens) - Love Race
Last week: 5.

3. KennyHoopla - Hollywood Sucks//

Last week: 4.

2. Waterparks - Violet!
Last week: 3.

1. Point North - Nice Now

Last week: 2.

Special: Black Widow, The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It, The Mitchells Vs. The Machines Mini-Reviews

Black Widow:

Synopsis: Natasha Romanoff, aka Black Widow, confronts the darker parts of her ledger when a dangerous conspiracy with ties to her past arises. Pursued by a force that will stop at nothing to bring her down, Natasha must deal with her history as a spy, and the broken relationships left in her wake long before she became an Avenger.

My thoughts: Give me all the Yelena (Florence Pugh) content going forward. I never really felt connected to Scarlett Johansson's Black Widow as she was always kinda stuck in the background and now that she's no longer in the MCU in real time. Marvel decided to give her a movie that takes place after Civil War, only to be outshined by the younger, more interesting and more personable character of Yelena. It's clear the Marvel brass has big plans for this character now and I'm pumped. The movie also had enough comedic bits to keep my wife entertained so that's always a plus for me personally. 

Final verdict: 4.5 tightfitting superhero suits out of 5.

The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It:

Synopsis: "The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It" reveals a chilling story of terror, murder and unknown evil that shocked even experienced real-life paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren. One of the most sensational cases from their files, it starts with a fight for the soul of a young boy, then takes them beyond anything they'd ever seen before, to mark the first time in U.S. history that a murder suspect would claim demonic possession as a defense.

My thoughts: They slapped the Conjuring name on this flick but it feels like a spin-off more than the main line series. This could be because Wan stepped away from the Director's chair and he was sorely missed. This third installment, although oddly not named Conjuring 3, is a step above the recent spin-off's from the Conjuring franchise but a far cry from the original two movies that made this a behemoth of a movie franchise.

Final verdict: 3.5 Warren files out of 5.

The Mitchells Vs. The Machines:

Synopsis: Young Katie Mitchell embarks on a road trip with her proud parents, younger brother and beloved dog to start her first year at film school. But their plans to bond as a family soon get interrupted when the world's electronic devices come to life to stage an uprising. With help from two friendly robots, the Mitchells must now come together to save one another -- and the planet -- from the new technological revolution.

My thoughts: The newest flick from Pixar delivers! Wait what? This was a Sony movie... Are you sure? The Mitchells Vs. The Machines offers eye-popping animation, a ton of laughs, a ton of emotional moments, a great heartwarming story with an incredible message attached (sound familiar?) This Sony flick they released for free on Netflix is basically an instant animation classic that I would watch over The Incredibles any day.

Final verdict: 5 family road trips out of 5.

Top 10 Countdown: July 17, 2021

10. New Found Glory - The Last Red-Eye
Last week: NEW!

9. Stand Atlantic Ft. Nothing, Nowhere - Deathwish
Last week: 1.

8. jxdn - Think About Me
Last week: NEW!

7. Sunrise Skater Kids - Still Posi
Last week: 8.

6. The Maine - Lips

Last week: 7.

5. Machine Gun Kelly Ft. Kellin Quinn (Sleeping With Sirens) - Love Race
Last week: 6.

4. KennyHoopla - Hollywood Sucks//
Last week: 5.

3. Waterparks - Violet!
Last week: 4.

2. Point North - Nice Now
Last week: 3.

1. We Were Sharks - Over It
Last week: 2.

Special: First Listen Thoughts: Beartooth "Below", Eve 6 "Grim Value", jxdn "Tell Me About Tomorrow"

Beartooth - Below

Label: Red Bull Records

Press release: Coming three years after its predecessor, 2018’s ‘Disease’, ‘Below’ is set to land on June 25 via Red Bull Records. In a press release, Beartooth frontman Caleb Shomo said ‘Below’ is his favourite album the Ohio hardcore outfit have made to date. “It covers the dark side of dealing with mental strain during the last year,” Shomo said. “I gave it all I had – musically and lyrically. Is it too dark? Possibly, but it was as honest as I could be about how I felt. I hope everyone is ready to strap in for a wild ride of head banging and rocking.”

My thoughts: The title-track hits you in the face right off the bat. The singles follow which are solid. Before Fed Up hits which I consider the only real misstep on the record. The middle portion is dark and heavy but never sounds the same. The end track is a very sinister sounding instrumental but just prior to that is probably the best back to back songs that will get forgotten being buried in the tracklist with the pop-melody injected punk sound of I Won't Give Up followed by a pop infused metalcore track in The Answer which the juxtaposition of both those tracks summarize this album as a whole.

Eve 6 - Grim Value EP

Label: Velocity Records

Press release: Just as the Reddit-inflated GameStop stock price was eventually going to fall, there was always going to come a time when Eve 6’s suddenly vigorous social media presence would result in us actually listening to new Eve 6 music. That time has come. After weeks of juicy anecdotes, pithy quips, and sick burns that have turned @Eve6 into one of the most entertaining accounts on Twitter, the self-described “very relevant band” has announced its new EP.

My thoughts: A 5 track sampler from Twitter's newest celebrity past their prime band ahead of a full length they've promised is coming. Angel Of The Supermarket is the highlight where first single Black Nova and closer Good For You are solid but time will tell if it'll be memorable over a long period of time but as long as lead singer Max Collins stays on Twitter, my guess is that they won't be quickly forgotten. Side note: The Heart In A Blender song came on after the album finished.

jxdn - Tell Me About Tomorrow

Label: DTA Records

Press release: jxdn has announced the release of his debut album, ‘Tell Me About Tomorrow’ -  Produced by Travis Barker, the 18-track LP comprises 14 new songs, including a feature from Machine Gun Kelly on the track ‘Wanna Be’. It will be released on July 2 via DTA Records.

My thoughts: jxdn AKA: Jaden Hossler of Tik Tok fame is a name you should be familiar with by now and odds are if you're reading this then you should know at the least by my countdown. jxdn started focusing on music last year and was quickly discovered by Travis Barker who signed him to his newly created label and the duo have been riding high ever since. The debut album is straight heat with the bombastic combination of pop punk and emo rap. 18 tracks seems like a lot but only 4 tracks top the 3 minute mark and none eclipse 3:25. There's also a 10 second intro and 11 second interlude. There are no bad tracks here as my least liked song full song is probably debut single Angels & Demons which just goes to show the strength front to back. There's nowhere to tell where jxdn will go from here but Tell Me About Tomorrow has the makings to go down as an instant classic.

Top 10 Countdown: July 10, 2021

10. Silverstein - Bankrupt
Last week: 2.

9. Chunk! No, Captain Chunk! - Gone Are The Good Days
Last week: NEW!

8. Sunrise Skater Kids - Still Posi
Last week: NEW!

7. The Maine - Lips
Last week: 9.

6. Machine Gun Kelly Ft. Kellin Quinn (Sleeping With Sirens) - Love Race
Last week: 8.

5. KennyHoopla - Hollywood Sucks//
Last week: 6.

4. Waterparks - Violet!
Last week: 5.

3. Point North - Nice Now
Last week: 4.

2. We Were Sharks - Over This
Last week: 3.

1. Stand Atlantic Ft. Nothing, Nowhere - Deathwish
Last week: 1.

Special: A Quiet Place Part II, Tom & Jerry, I Care A Lot Mini-Reviews

A Quiet Place Part II:

Synopsis: Following the deadly events at home, the Abbott family must now face the terrors of the outside world as they continue their fight for survival in silence. Forced to venture into the unknown, they quickly realize that the creatures that hunt by sound are not the only threats that lurk beyond the sand path.

My thoughts: Krasinski did a master class in world building during the first film as we nervously inched towards seeing the monsters. Part II continues his knack for storytelling in this world as without the monsters to dangle in front of us like a carrot, he finds other meaningful ways to keep us on the edge of our seats. We also get a new level of grief our characters (both old and new) have to deal with as in the first it had been a while since their child was killed, this flick picks up shortly after the fathers (played by Krasinski) death in the first film so we get to navigate how each remaining family member deal with it and it shows how individuals deal with grief in their own way.

Final verdict: 4 worthwhile sequels out of 5.

Tom & Jerry:

Synopsis: A legendary rivalry reemerges when Jerry moves into New York City's finest hotel on the eve of the wedding of the century, forcing the desperate event planner to hire Tom to get rid of him. As mayhem ensues, the escalating cat-and-mouse battle soon threatens to destroy her career, the wedding, and possibly the hotel itself.

My thoughts: It's pretty harmless fare. I grew up loving the Tom & Jerry Kids Cartoon as a child in the 90's however call me crazy but a movie called "Tom & Jerry" should probably take the lead. Instead, they act as auxiliary characters to Chloe Grace Moretz who lied her way into a lead promotion at a hotel setting up a big celeb wedding with no experience. What could PAWssibly go wrong? 

Final verdict: 3 fake hotel staff out of 5.

I Care A Lot:

Synopsis: Poised with sharklike self-assurance, Marla Grayson (Rosamund Pike) is a professional, court-appointed guardian for dozens of elderly wards whose assets she seizes and cunningly bilks through dubious but legal means. It's a well-oiled racket that Marla and her business-partner and lover Fran (Eiza González) use with brutal efficiency on their latest "cherry," Jennifer Peterson (Dianne Wiest) -- a wealthy retiree with no living heirs or family. But when their mark turns out to have an equally shady secret of her own and connections to a volatile gangster (Peter Dinklage), Marla is forced to level up in a game only predators can play -- one that's neither fair, nor square.

My thoughts: I was shocked when I went to RT to get the above synopsis and seen such a low audience score. I was shocked watching this wondering if guardians could really do these things. Pike is a tour de force in this one as she actively makes you hate her to the point you root for the power hungry, drug kingpin to win and although things do go sideways multiple times the movie is able to keep pulling you in for more.

Final verdict: 4 sleezy retirement homes out of 5.

Top 10 Countdown: July 3, 2021

10. As It Is - IDGAF
Last week: NEW!

9. The Maine - Lips
Last week: NEW!

8. Machine Gun Kelly Ft. Kellin Quinn (Sleeping With Sirens) - Love Race
Last week: NEW!

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

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

5. Waterparks - Violet!
Last week: 6.

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

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

2. Silverstein - Bankrupt
Last week: 1.

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