Brian Shultz

The Menzingers After The Party FILE UNDER: Nostalgic, romantic and melodic punk After The Party THE MENZINGERS 2/3 // Epitaph **** ROCKS LIKE: The Gaslight Anthem, the Lawrence Arms, Against Me! WHAT'S DIFFERENT: Not much, honestly—besides the Menzingers further cementing themselves as modern kings of heartfelt and nostalgic melodic punk, with that signature splash of alternative rock accessibility. […]

Dave Hause Bury Me In Philly FILE UNDER: Biting and bright singer-songwriter fare ROCKS LIKE: Frank Turner, Brian Fallon, Ryan Adams WHAT'S DIFFERENT: Bury Me In Philly doesn’t really overhaul the former Loved Ones frontman’s M.O., but it showcases a wise and occasionally raw Hause sharpening his veteran punk chops into rousing and often smoothly melodic fare. It’s a […]

From Indian Lakes Everything Feels Better Now Indie Pop Exploration ROCKS LIKE: Polyenso, Radiohead, Mutemath WHAT’S DIFFERENT: From Indian Lakes have softly shapeshifted from their emo-indebted beginnings to an electronic-tinged, subdued powerhouse that’s occasionally otherworldly and harder to classify. Their fourth LP is patient and reflective while retaining some of their livelier leanings. WHY YOU […]

Silver Snakes Saboteur Silver Snakes have progressed along an increasingly heavy trajectory since their debut album, and Saboteur completes the evolution with refreshing creativity. The quartet pull from turn-of-the-century alt-rock, industrial (“Charmer”), stoner (“Dresden”), electronic (“Devotion”), post-metal and sludge styles to ambitious and surprisingly cohesive effect. The end result is something reminiscent of Thrice's fertile […]

(MOSTLY SELECTED) BY: Brian Shultz Each year, multiple groups of musicians who banded together and managed to find creative fulfillment with one another decide to go their separate ways. It’s inevitable, but it often leaves their fans feeling like they’ve been punched in the gut. There are always the bodies of work they leave behind, […]

Dustin Kensrue Carry The Fire Dustin Kensrue’s solo material has progressed similarly to that of another sensitive bearded man originally from a heavy band: City & Colour’s Dallas Green. Kensrue’s debut, 2007’s Please Come Home was acoustic-based, while his 2013 worship album, The Water And The Blood, probably had committed atheists singing along as it […]

Success Radio Recovery Success are sort of refreshing simply for playing a strain of jubilant, up-tempo pop-punk that’s heavily in the vein of Less Than Jake circa Hello Rockview and Borders & Boundaries, minus the horns (especially on cuts like “Believe In” and “Mr. Know It All”). That’s because it’s a sound not many bands […]

THE MOVIELIFE have traveled a long road to come back, fully formed and motivated for a flurry of activity. After their 2003 breakup, frontman VINNIE CARUANA played the 2008 Bamboozle in New Jersey with members of Set Your Goals backing him. There was also a pair of shows the actual band reunited to play in […]

Roughly a dozen releases into its lifespan, Philadelphia's Lame-O Records have officially launched a charitable project in the long-storied spirit of punk giving back. Their new compilation, Strength In Weakness, continues in the tradition of Sub City Records' Take Action! tours and compilations for teen suicide awareness and Vagrant Records' excellent In Honor: A Compilation […]