Hawthorne Heights - The Rain Just Follows Me
Label: Pure Noise Records
Press release: Hawthorne Heights have announced that their eighth album, the cheerily-titled The Rain Just Follows Me, will be released in September. The follow-up to 2018’s Bad Frequencies sees frontman TJ Woodruff going to lonely places, not because of the pandemic, but the distance between himself and his family while on tour. “The most unbelievable part of this story is that this entire album was written and recorded before the pandemic,” he says. “All of this darkness and turmoil is basically a summation of the coldest and loneliest nights I’ve tried to reconcile for the past 17 years.”
My thoughts: Hawthorne Heights previous offering was one of my favourites and I still listen to it regularly. I'm happy to report that The Rain Just Follows Me has the same vibes. Sad to say most people only listen to Hawthorne Heights first 2 records but they've been remarkably consistent (except maybe that EP era) at writing good songs with strong instrumentation and excellent melodies.
Andrew W.K. - God Is Partying
Label: Napalm Records
Press release: Hark, disciples of partying – the long wait is finally over! Napalm Records and ANDREW W.K. are thrilled to announce the impending release of the iconic Party God’s fifth full-length studio rock album, God Is Partying. The long-awaited nine-track opus of maximalist rock grandeur is set for release on September 10, 2021. Hovering in the fluorescent spotlight of his legendary party power, God Is Partying sees ANDREW W.K. ransack the corners of the human psyche, reaching a triumphant apex in his catalogue, 20 years after the release of his chart-topping 2001 full-length debut, I Get Wet. Emotive yet steadfast, ominous yet invigorating, God Is Partying embraces both the break-ups and break-downs of life, and ANDREW W.K. once again provides his audience with the perfect soundtrack to celebrate life in all its perplexing and euphoric intensity.
My thoughts: Andrew W.K. continues to be Mr. Positivity 20 years into his career and one might imagine they'll be even more positivity coming his way given his new relationship with MCU star and 2 Broke Girls alum Kat Dennings. His talent is undeniable as he does everything for each record from playing the instruments, to writing the lyrics, to producing. His co-creator simply handles the engineering and some of the mixing. That being said a lot of these songs didn't have me partying as much as I would have liked as the artist seems to of found an appreciation for goth ballads which drives most of the record.
Homesafe - Nervous Reaction
Label: Self-released
Press release: Chicago punks Homesafe will be self-releasing a new album, Nervous Reaction, this Friday (9/3). The band's earlier material channelled high-strung pop punk, but this new album takes their sound in a few new directions, embracing grungy alt-rock riffs, power pop hooks, and sunshiney Britpop harmonies.
My thoughts: If you like generic pop-punk, Homesafe is probably not the band for you. But the Chicago 3 piece, now unsigned, get to make the music they want without label pressure especially when your members other band (Knuckle Puck) is at the top of the modern pop-punk game. Homesafe has always been more of a "I love a few songs" types of bands for me rather than "I like this whole album" but Nervous Reaction may switch that for me. We'll need to see after a few more listens but the end of summer vibes this album gives me is undeniable.
