Have you ever listened to a song or an album once and you like it, but then you listen to it again, and you really like it, and then you listen to it a third time, and you're bordering on obsessed, and then you keep listening to it, and you just can't stop? Yes, of course you have. That's exactly what happened to me with this album.
After my first couple times through the album, I was raving to a couple of friends on Facebook. "Listen to this band! Go do it! Go now!" Of course, the new album hasn't been released yet, but that doesn't mean I won't force everyone I know to listen to the existing songs until they're so excited, they'll hopefully preorder the album. And I rarely do that. I'll tell people about music that I like, but I usually won't yell at them to go buy it.
The first song (Dirtnap) is an absolute favorite, which may mean that it's the best song, or just that it was the moment I fell in love, so I became attached to it. Down and dirty, straight-up beautiful, gritty music right there. Storm Bandage is a close second, and all of the other songs follow right behind. You'll often hear people talking about how they only like one song or a few songs off an album, or even from one specific artist, and how hard it is to find an entire album that they can listen to straight through without skipping or disliking something. Well, guess what? This album is one of the few that fits in the category of the latter. I haven't once found myself skipping a song while listening, unless it was to start back at the beginning again, just because I could!
As a whole, it's so well-rounded, and so much darker and deeper than all the previous music The Body Rampant has made, which makes for stellar listening time. Well-written, meaningful lyrics that hit a deep chord within me. Resistance is futile. This music will open up some doors in your head you didn't even realize were closed. You will become obsessed. The lyrics and melodies will overtake your life and your mind. These songs will become the best earworms you've ever had stuck in your head.
If you like Thrice, The Movielife, or Brand New, you will have an idea of what this album will sound like and how great it really is. But The Body Rampant truly makes a sound for themselves, even if they remind you of the other bands mentioned. Prepare yourselves for 10 tracks of magic.
I found SECRETS struggling to explain their name to a writer nearby, to which I politely interjected, "Their name is SECRETS - it's one word and all capital letters." to which Michael and Richard (bass & vocals/guitar) both gave me a smile and Michael exclaims, "Yeah, you know!"
The guys were really friendly and excited to talk about their music and upcoming news, which fans who listen to post-hardcore and that genre of "harder" style music should take note of.
Of course, some of the news they gave me on the "DL" is now public knowledge, but hopefully all you SECRETS fans will enjoy reading nevertheless.
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What are you influenced by in your music career? What got you started and fuels your fire to continue? We all grew up in the music industry. This is our dream job. Pretty incredible to make a career of doing what we love.
What has been difficult to overcome along the road?
Picture from Facebook. With new vocalist Aaron Melzer!
When you get together as a band and start playing music, it seems like a lot of fun, but you don't know what to expect before tour. There can be things about your fellow band members you don't know about and once you're on tour you might not like those things or be able to relate to them. It's rough being away from home and being on the road for so long.
We recently lost our bassist and vocalist (who we've replaced now with Aaron Melzer) which is really hard - we've all been super close.
What have been some of your favorite moments? Europe, definitely. New York City. It's so unreal and like the movies - so cool to have that chance to see the world and doing what you love. Meeting people and kids with problems that you can relate to.
What are your guys' musical influences? Death Cab for Cutie, Brand New, Bayside, Underoath, As Cities Burn, and A Day to Remember (post-hardcore scene).
If you could choose someone to collaborate with, who would it be? Michael: Justin Bieber or Kanye West. Richard: Ben Gibbard. Aaron: Tom Denney
What can we expect from you in 2013? A new album, a new look, and a lot of good sh*t.
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Check the band out on Facebook, Twitter, and their website, where you can preorder their new album, Fragile Figures, out July 23rd! Also be sure to check them out on select Warped Tour Dates!
Please support me by liking my page on Facebook for regular updates!
The Neighbourhood has been on my "watch list" since I first heard them, and the fact that none of my friends seemed to know their music was frustrating to me! How were so many good bands like this one so unknown, while others with more "marketable" sound were filthy rich and ridiculously famous? (Just another reason why I am passionate about this website - to help those great bands get more recognition - free press is good press!) I fell in love with their music, the lyrics, their energy, and I told myself I knew that they were gonna hit it big. I didn't know when, but I knew it was going to happen for them.
If you don't know them, they're California based and comprised of vocalist Jesse Rutherford, bassist Mikey Margott, drummer Bryan Sammis, and guitarists Jeremy Freedman and Zach Abels. All hugely talented guys, with an obvious passion for music. It's been said that they popped up out of nowhere as a band, and I think that mysterious aura adds something to their music.
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How did you guys first get started as a band?
We all knew each other and decided we wanted to try and fulfill this shared vision we had with our best friends. What, if anything, have you run into as a band that was difficult to overcome?
We were thrust into this world so fast. It was the best thing that has ever happened to us, but going from living at home to being on tour for over a year is definitely something that you need to adjust to. Do you feel like those things brought you closer and made the band even stronger?
Definitely. We live together now, all day every day. We've gone through the trials and tribulations of a proper relationship. We've had arguments and disagreements and it's all brought us to a place of love. Tell me about your current process in songwriting and recording. Has this changed at all since the beginning?
It's always been an evolving process, especially on the road. Now a days people work on songs in the van on their computers and such. We have also been jamming some new stuff during sound-checks, which is definitely a new experience. Who writes most of the lyrics and music? Or is it a collaboration between all of you?
Jesse writes the lyrics. We all write the music.
Photo by Eric T. White (c)
Do you find writing songs therapeutic, if you use real life experiences to influence them? They seem to be pretty different than a lot of what's going on in the music scene these days, so I'd like to know about where they come from.
It's definitely therapeutic. The lyrics are all truthful and about real life things. The music is from a place where we get to express our feelings through our instruments. Did you experience any issues or problems while recording your new album?
Honestly, no. Our biggest problem was which songs to put on the album. Do you think that the Spotify EMERGE contest had a lot to do with building your fan base more recently?
Spotify is a great tool for people to find music. It has definitely helped people find us.
How has being on tour for you recently? Have you had a favorite moment that has stood out as being especially memorable?
Denver was a great show with our good buds in the band Lovelife.
What can fans expect from you in 2013/2014 after your current tour is over? I know you just released a new album, but hey, the fans always want more!
They will get more. It will be momentous for us. You'll see. Where do you see yourselves in 5 years? What are your long-term goals for the band?
I see us doing what we do on a larger scale. Being more respected. I'm curious as to how you feel about the way music sales have changed, such as online sales and illegal downloading. Do you feel like this improes the way that music is purchased and reaches your fans ears?
Definitely. It makes it more accessible.
Do you think that the future of CD and vinyl sales will eventually be completely replaced by online music sales?
No, because there will always be that niche market for vinyl. If each of you could colaborate with one artist or band, who would it be?
Mikey: Dustin Kensrue
Zach: Kendrick Lamar
Jeremy: Tony Iommi
Bryan: Hans Zimmer
Jesse: DJ Premier If each of you could pick one place to travel/tour to, where would it be?
Mikey: Hawaii
Zach: The Beach in the movie "The Beach" with Leonardo DiCaprio
Jeremy: New Zealand
Bryan: Japan
Jesse: Paris
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If you don't know this band and their music, please do yourself a big favor and get acquainted right now. You don't even have to thank me. Let the music speak to you like it did to me. It might be one of the best things you do for yourself! Buy the music if you like it. Support them! I can't stress how important that is.
After my first couple times through the album, I was raving to a couple of friends on Facebook. "Listen to this band! Go do it! Go now!" Of course, the new album hasn't been released yet, but that doesn't mean I won't force everyone I know to listen to the existing songs until they're so excited, they'll hopefully preorder the album. And I rarely do that. I'll tell people about music that I like, but I usually won't yell at them to go buy it.
As a whole, it's so well-rounded, and so much darker and deeper than all the previous music The Body Rampant has made, which makes for stellar listening time. Well-written, meaningful lyrics that hit a deep chord within me. Resistance is futile. This music will open up some doors in your head you didn't even realize were closed. You will become obsessed. The lyrics and melodies will overtake your life and your mind. These songs will become the best earworms you've ever had stuck in your head.
