Band: Real Friends Album: Three Songs About the Past Year of My Life Genre: Pop-Punk Label: Unsigned Chicago pop-punk group Real Friends recently released a three song EP with Glamour Kills called Three Songs About the Past Year of My Life. Real Friends have jumped into the spotlight pretty fast, and while they aren’t selling […]
ep review
REVIEW: State Champs – Overslept
Artist: State Champs Album: Overslept Genre: Pop punk Label: Pure Noise Records Over the course of 2012 the pop-punk scene has churned out a ton of music, most of which has fallen by the wayside, each release burying the next. However through all of the recycled, already-heard guitar licks and generic posi sing-alongs comes one […]
REVIEW: Sleeping With Sirens – If You Were a Movie, This Would Be Your Soundtrack
Artist: Sleeping With Sirens Album: If You Were a Movie, This Would be Your Soundtrack Genre: Acoustic, Post-Hardcore Label: Rise Records Do I really have to introduce Sleeping With Sirens? To make a long story short, this Orlando, FL based band has been making waves in the post-hardcore realm for the last 3 short (but very […]
REVIEW: The Audition – Chapter II
Artist: The Audition Album: Chapter II Genre: Pop Rock After parting ways with Victory Records in July 2010, the future for Chicago pop-rockers The Audition was unknown; so much so that some fans were led to believe the band had called it a day. However now in February 2012, the band have returned albeit a […]
ALBUM STREAM: Real Friends – Everyone That Dragged You Here
We talk about it all the time, but it truly is a rare moment when you discover a band that makes you stop what you are doing and, for at least a moment, really listen to the music they have created. These are the bands that you cannot help sharing with everyone you know, the […]
REVIEW: Plug In Stereo – The Patience
Artist: Plug In Stereo Album: The Patience EP Genre: Pop Label: Atlantic Records/Triple Crown Records Trevor Dahl, the wunderkind behind Plug In Stereo, is only 18. Discoveries like this always leave me feeling somewhat inadequate, even if I was too busy studying like the sad teacher’s pet I am to be doing anything else myself […]
REVIEW: My Girl Friday – American Kids EP
Artist: My Girl Friday Album: American Kids EP Genre: Rock/Americana/country American Kids is a pleasing and breezy EP, with six smooth tracks that make for light and enjoyable listening. The band describe themselves as Americana/rock/country and ably borrow from each genre, pitching slower, rolling numbers with slightly more exotic and upbeat pieces. The songs are, […]
REVIEW: Young Empires – Wake All My Youth EP
Artist: Young Empires Album: Wake All My Youth EP Genre: ‘World Beat/Haute Rock’ Label: Pirates Blend Records/World Hoye Records Young Empires are extremely fond of their hipster triangles. Dare I say, it even makes their Facebook page look horribly unprofessional. However, we can overlook all that nonsense cos their music is genuinely gorgeous. Wake All […]
REVIEW: William Control – Nouvus Ordo Selcorum
Artist: William Control Album: Nouvus Ordo Selcorum Genre: Wil Francis Label: self-released Now over a decade into his career, Wil Francis has traversed a vast musical landscape. From his early punk days of scene glory with Aiden on Nightmare Anatomy, to his sonic journey of self discover that flooded Conviction, and the later releases which […]
BATTLE REVIEW: Diamond – Don’t Lose Your Cool
What exactly is a BATTLE REVIEW? Good question. Sometimes the UTG staff cannot decide who will review a record and our solution is to let all interested parties voice their opinion. Below you will find two reviews, one by Grace Duffy and the other by Sean Reid, each covering the new release from Diamond. We […]