Album Review: Memphis May Fire’s Challenger

Title: Challenger

Artist: Memphis May Fire

Release Date: June 26th, 2012

Album #: 3

Rating: 8 out of 10

Album Art for “Challenger”

Even after nearly a year, this album proceeds to be one of the top albums on my listening list, for many reasons. I feel that the blend between screams and clean vocals is phenomenal, along with the emotional pull that I get from the lyrics themselves and the great instrumentals really make the album one of the best from 2012 and it’s a great marker of Memphis May Fire’s overall talent and potential. Not that they couldn’t do better, but they definitely raised the bar in my opinion.

Here are a few songs that demonstrate the album’s high points.

Prove Me Right: In what may or may not be a direct attack toward record companies, quite frankly corporations in general or even false individuals, MMF takes a stand for themselves and inspires people to do the same. I think that this song exudes a lot of anger in a very feisty yet serious manner that many people can pull emotion from.

Generation: Hate: With a new generation of technology comes a new generation of hatred and bullying which is found in every facet of the internet. At the same time as degrading these people, MMF attacks their anti-fans and the people that define the term “cyberbullying”.

Alive In The Lights: Everyone who has a dream knows someone else that feels like their only job is to lower the self-esteem of the dreamer until they have nothing left inside of them. MMF takes the understanding of hate and pain into proof that no matter what anyone else says, you are allowed to live your life the way you want and achieve what you want to do.

Miles Away: Many musicians write love songs, but how many can take real emotion and experience and transform it into a non-conforming love song? This song presents a real, unique perspective of a musician torn between music and love, with just barely less fluff. Kellin Quinn’s vocals do not harm this song in my opinion.

All in all I think this album reaches out to this generation of fans in a way that most disconnected bands are failing to do. I would like to see MMF keep moving forward in their music yet stay completely true to themselves and of course their dedicated fans.

All of the tracks on this album are on Rise Records’ Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/user/riserecords/videos?flow=grid&view

Let me know your opinion!

Xoxo,

Radium Rollercoaster

Rocketown: Causing a Scene in the Music Scene

It has come to my attention that everyone and their favorite band has given their two-cents on this whole Rocketown ordeal. While I agree with the facts stated (see links below for PropertyOfZack and Alternative Press’ statements on the situation), I’d like to give my purely opinionated standpoint from a nondenominational, music-loving teenager.

Like Alternative Press put emphasis on, no one really knows the entire story. But if you take these points- it’s a Christian-based establishment in Tennessee- you realize that no matter the reason of his dismissal, the venue has all the power in their corner.

What was people’s response to this incident? Fans and bands alike have made the decision to boycott Rocketown in personal and public protest to this “unfair action”. For some bands, it means playing an 18+ venue. For others, it means skipping Nashville altogether.

Now, I have been to Rocketown several times. It has provided closeness with one of my favorite bands in a safe, all-ages environment. Music of all kinds has been played there, and fans may see local and touring groups year long. I have never been offended by staff; in fact, they are always very kind.

Also pointed out by Alternative Press, leadership does not reflect employees. I believe that despite these actions taken by the head of Rocketown, people should continue to attend shows there because it is the safest, and in my opinion, the best venue in Nashville overall. There is entirely too much false drama going on because of one band’s statement.

Alternative Press:

http://www.altpress.com/features/entry/the_lead_watching_rocketown_exaggeration_religion_state_laws_and_how_the_ve

PropertyOfZack:

http://propertyofzack.com/post/41137793964/employee-fired-for-wearing-hc-i-support-same-sex

Xoxo,

Radium

Fall Out Boy Back With A Mission: Save Rock And Roll

The early morning of February 4^th, 2013 saw an uproar of fans all over the world with this news: Fall Out Boy is back. The group had been denying all rumors (including a tweet from blessthefall’s Beau Bokan) about their reunion until their producer Butch Walker finally revealed the truth: the band had been recording for a while and the record (Save Rock And Roll) was scheduled to be out on May 5^th, 2013. This announcement came with a song, “My Songs Know What You Did In The Dark (Light Em Up)”, and tour dates!

After five albums and then a four year hiatus, many critics are probably wondering, “When is Fall Out Boy going to fall?” And the answer is simple: never. Unlike many “sell-out” bands or bands that have had one too many lineup changes, Fall Out Boy stays true to themselves in their first song released. Is there a change in sound? Of course, there’s a difference, but if they were to play the same music on every record, they would not be respected and adored by so many people around the world.

There’s a reason, however, that I as a music aficionado believe that the new Fall Out Boy record will be nothing but classic. Start with the title of this first track. “My Songs Know What You Did In The Dark (Light Em Up)”. This sounds exactly like a title from any other record they had ever produced. While this song itself may be a little slower than your favorite Fall Out Boy song, the style is the same. Patrick’s range and stuttering vocal pattern takes you away from his “Soul Punk” and back to the Fall Out Boy of 2009 with “Folie à Deux”.

There’s nothing about this reunion that promises anything but an amazing comeback of a band that started off a line of records that still echo in the IPods everywhere. I don’t doubt the quality of this record at all.

Let’s Save Rock And Roll, Fall Out Boy.

Xoxo,

Radium Rollercoaster