Driven Far Off

The latest on the indie, alternative, and rock music scene including news, music, contest, interviews, and more. Best described as your favorite place to find new bands.

  • Home
  • Reviews
  • Interviews
  • Videos
  • Articles
  • About
  • Contact

Tegan and Sara – Sainthood

January 15, 2010 By Valida 2 Comments

Tegan and Sara - Sainthood

Artist: Tegan and Sara
Album: Sainthood
Label: Sire Records
Purchase: iTunes
Release Date: October 23rd, 2009

Overall: 8.0
Music: 8.0
Lyrics: 8.0
Production: 7.5

Tegan and Sara are not a band with a signature sound. Ok, their somewhat monotone dueling female vocals shouting out lyrics dripping with emotion about past loves are pretty signature. But, musically, the two have developed a wide-range of songs, particularly if you look at musical styles album to album. Early releases at the turn of the century had a definite folk-pop flair. In the early 2000s, we saw a progression towards emo overtones on If It Was You and So Jealous. Then, bam!, The Con hit us with a more tender take on the 2000 style, while maintaining characteristic emotion-charged introspection and reflection.

Love songs full of dark emotion remain emblematic on Tegan & Sara’s latest, Sainthood. But the duo’s sound has definitely matured and taken another step down the not-so-seldom-trodden path from emo towards synthy pop rock. As a big fan of Tegan and Sara’s discography from 2002’s If It Was You to 2008’s iTunes Live Session, my first impression of Sainthood was that it was less accessible than their last few releases.

While arguably more pop-laden than the Con, T&S’s venture into synth-land on Sainthood brought about some strange layering of unconventional riffs and melodies. “Paperback Head” is my best argument for this statement, and almost made me dismiss this album completely. But after tens of listens, I realize now that it is primarily the vocals that get me squirming uncomfortably in my seat. This is the only track on the album, the only T&S song, in fact, co-written by Tegan and Sara. I’ll make the bold statement of blaming the collaboration for this debut’s vocal fiasco. “Red Belt”, on the other hand, is a good example of execution on the synthier sound and signature sappiness. It seems T&S need that very personal story and emotion behind their lyrics to bring their A-game. This is actually a clear strength in my book that should be underscored.

Sainthood’s sound is something new from Tegan and Sara, while still recognizably a creation of the famous twin Canadian pop act. If you’re a T&S virgin, I suggest starting with So Jealous or the Con, depending on whether you’re more into the upbeat rock sound or the deliberate emotion-filled tunes backed with acoustic guitar and piano. For fans of T&S’s earlier work who are having a hard time getting into Sainthood, I suggest giving it a few more listens, dedicating a careful ear to the lyrics and honing in on the last three tracks.

Filed Under: Album, Reviews Tagged With: Tegan & Sara

Giveaway Update; Ding, The Spill Canvas

January 15, 2010 By Bryce Jacobson Leave a Comment

Today is the last day to enter our DiNG giveaway, so be sure to enter that here. We are also giving three lucky winners a copy of The Spill Canvas‘ new EP and t-shirt, enter here for your chance to win!

Filed Under: News Tagged With: Giveaway, The Spill Canvas

Fireworks Post “Detroit” Video

January 14, 2010 By Bryce Jacobson Leave a Comment

Fireworks‘ new video for “Detroit” can be seen below. The song is from the bands album, All I Have To Offer Is My Own Confusion, in stores now.

Filed Under: News, Videos Tagged With: Fireworks

More Bands Added To 2010 Warped Tour

January 14, 2010 By Bryce Jacobson Leave a Comment

More bands have been added to this years Warped Tour. The list of previous bands as well as the ones below will be rocking this summers tour.

Agent Orange(8/11, 8/12, 8/14, 8/15)
Angry Samoans(6/25 – 6/27)
Automatic Loveletter(whole tour)
Cobra Skulls(8/7 – 8/15)
Deas Vail(8/1 – 8/15)
Dickies(6/24 – 6/27)
Die Mannequin(6/27 – 7/8)
Face To Face(whole tour)
Fear(6/24 – 6/27)
Four Year Strong(whole tour)
Green Jello(8/11, 8/12, 8/14, 8/15)
Hope For AM(6/27 – 7/3)
Hot Chelle Rae(7/17 – 8/2)
Ice Nine Kills(7/21 – 8/1)
Left Alone(whole tour)
Longway(8/5 – 8/15)
Mike Posner(whole tour)
Neo Geo(8/7 – 8/15)
Our Last Night(8/7 – 8/15)
The B Foundation(8/11 – 8/15)
The Bouncing Souls(6/26, 6/29 – 7/11)
The Downtown Fiction(7/7 – 7/16)
The Fabulous Rudies(8/7 – 8/15)
The Mighty Regis(6/24 – 7/22)
The Sparring(whole tour)
The Untouchables(8/11, 8/12, 8/14, 8/15)
This Time Next Year(8/2 – 8/15)
Victory In Numbers(7/1 – 7/8)

Filed Under: News Tagged With: Deas-Vail, Four Year Strong, The-Bouncing-Souls, This Time Next Year, Warped Tour

The Fold Vs. Miley Cyrus

January 13, 2010 By Bryce Jacobson 1 Comment

The Fold has posted a video response to being sued by Miley Cyrus for their cover of “Party In The U.S.A.” The video features cameos from Pete Wentz, Plain White T’s and All Time Low. Check out the video below.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mslIh-mHdvk

Filed Under: News, Videos Tagged With: The Fold

These Arms Are Snakes Call It Quits

January 12, 2010 By A. Renteria Leave a Comment

These Arms Are Snakes, a post-hardcore band from Seattle, have called it quits.

Excerpt from their myspace TAAS RIP note:

“It’s with a heavy heart we tell you that These Arms Are Snakes is no more. It’s been a great run and we’d like to send out a very hearty “Thank You” to everyone that we’ve worked with or anyone that we’ve toured with…

This band could not have been possible without all of you. We sincerely thank you.

Much love,

TAAS”

Filed Under: News Tagged With: These-Arms-Are-Snakes

Motion City Soundtrack Post “Her Words Destroyed My Planet” Video

January 11, 2010 By Bryce Jacobson Leave a Comment

Motion City Soundtrack‘s new video for “Her Words Destroyed My Planet” can be seen below. The song comes from the bands new album, My Dinosaur Life, due out next Tuesday, January 19.

Filed Under: News, Videos Tagged With: Motion City Soundtrack

Mayday Parade Interview-January 11, 2010

January 11, 2010 By Ben Minsky Leave a Comment

thumbnail_8-1

Can you please introduce yourself and your role in Mayday Parade?

My name is Jake Bundrick and I play drums and sing.

Your latest album, Anywhere But Here, was released in October. How is this album different or the same from previous albums? Are the fans into it?

I feel it’s different in a sense that it’s a newer record. We’re a better band, better friends and we have different lives now than we did when we wrote “Romantics.” We’re also minus a member but we’ve been a band longer without that member than we have with him. This record is relatively the same lyrically. We talk about heartache, relationships and hope. Another big thing I think kids notice about this record is there isn’t as many dual vocals. With this record, we were hoping to enter into a new world of fans while keeping our hardcore fans happy. With all that being said, I think kids still enjoy the new sound.

What are some of your favorite songs from Anywhere But Here and why?

Still Breathing is one of my favorite songs because it’s something everyone can relate to in a sense that it talks about being a man and doing everything you can to be your own person and be strong. The second verse of the song was written with this scenario in the back of our mind. You’re an American soldier in Iraq and you don’t want to be there. Is it justified?

You guys are getting ready to hit the road for the Take Action Tour 2010. What can we expect from this tour and what other bands will you guys be playing with?

We’re expecting a really good time. We The Kings, “the headliner,” are really good friends of ours. Every band has a ton of energy and brings great music to this tour. Other bands on the tour include A Rocket To The Moon, There For Tomorrow, Stereo Skyline! and Call The Cops.

What else can we expect from Mayday Parade in 2010?

Tour Tour Tour!! We hope to going overseas after the Take Action Tour and soon after that we have Warped Tour this summer where we’re doing the entire tour. We’re also involved with a compilation that Fearless Records is putting out soon called Punk Goes Classic Rock. So look for that this year!

Can you provide a little background history on how Mayday Parade got started?

Mayday Parade formed from two popular local bands called Defining Moment and Kid Named Chicago. We had a plan when we first started writing together. The plan was to press an EP and follow the entire Warped Tour asking kids to listen and purchase. By doing so, we sold close to 11,000 EP’s in two months by ourselves. Soon after, we signed to Fearless Records and have been nonstop touring ever since.

How did you get started playing music? What are some of your musical influences?

I started playing guitar when I was in 8th grade. My favorite bands were Green Day, Foo Fighters, The Offspring and Less Than Jake. My parents bought me that guitar with intensions of me just playing it alone but I had to start a band. The band I started, Sucker Punch, needed a drummer so I stopped playing guitar for the band and somehow convinced me parents to help me with a drumset. My dad always told me, “NO BAND,” but I never listened. I’m glad I didn’t. He’s proud of me now though. Our band was terrible then. Terrible!!! But without that band, I wouldn’t be where I am now.

What was your most memorable and/or insightful experience of 2009?

My most memorable moment of 2009 was writing and recording our record, “Anywhere But Here.”Watching that record come together in the studio was a dream come true.  I poured my heart and soul into that record and I’m very proud of it.

How did you celebrate New Years/Christmas this year?

I spent it in New York City, 10 blocks away from Times Square in an apartment that my friend rented out. A lot of my close friends were there including my girlfriend. The alcohol I consumed gave me super powers that night, but I learned no super hero can conquer a nasty hangover.

What are your goals for Mayday Parade?

My goals this year for Mayday Parade are to be more in touch with fans. The reason we’ve been giving the opportunity to do what we do and continue on is because of them. So I made it one of my New Year’s resolutions to be in touch more whether it be blogging, videos or twitter. They mean the world to me and I want to show them that.

Any last words?

Make sure to pick up or even just listen to our sophomore release, “Anywhere But Here.” You can check that out and so much more over at maydayparade.com. Also, make sure to follow us on twitter for info on the spot. @Mayday_Parade or @JakeMaydayP

Filed Under: Interviews, News Tagged With: Interview, Mayday Parade

Motion City Soundtrack Stream New Album My Dinosaur Life

January 11, 2010 By Bryce Jacobson Leave a Comment

Motion City Soundtrack are currently streaming their new album, My Dinosaur Life, on their MySpace page. My Dinosaur Life is due in stores January 19th.

Filed Under: News Tagged With: Motion City Soundtrack

The Big Damn West Coast Tour

January 10, 2010 By A. Renteria Leave a Comment

The Big Damn, a 3-piece band lead by Reverend Peyton, are currently on tour and are gearing up to tour the West coast. The country-blues band will also be playing some new jams on tour.

January 10, 2010     Aspen, Co                      Belly Up

January 12, 2010     Salt Lake City, UT       The State Room

January 12, 2010     Boise, ID                         Neurolux

January 15, 2010     Seattle, Wa                     El Coraxon

January 16, 2010     Portland, OR                 Dante’s

January 17, 2010     Eugene, OR                    W.O.W Hall

January 19, 2010     Ashland, OR                   Stillwater

January 20, 2010    Mckinleyville, Ca          Six Rivers Brewing, Co

January 21, 2010     San Francisco, Ca         Bottom of the Hill

January 22, 2010     San Jose, Ca                    The Blank Club

January 23, 2010     Fresno, Ca                        Audie’s Olympic Tavern

January 27, 2010     Los Angeles, Ca             The Echo

January 28, 2010      Phoenix, Az                     Rhythm Room

Filed Under: News Tagged With: The Big Damn

  • « Previous Page
  • 1
  • …
  • 106
  • 107
  • 108
  • 109
  • 110
  • …
  • 616
  • Next Page »

Recent Posts

Motion City Soundtrack To Release Video Documentary

Secrets Stream “Maybe Next May” Video

Emery to Launch Crowdfunding Campaign for New Album

I Am The Avalanche Stream New Album “Wolverines”

The Weeks @ The Ryman Auditorium

Copyright © 2025, Driven Far Off. All Rights Reserved.