Evan Lucy

The Summer Set Legendary The last time we heard from the Summer Set, the Arizona quintet had effectively tendered their resignation from the Warped Tour universe, trading pogo-ready pop for a sound more fit for soccer moms. That’s not to say 2011’s Everything’s Fine was a bad album; in fact, it was quite the opposite—this […]

Bayside Covers – Volume 1 When it comes to cover albums, half the battle is picking the right songs. While many artists prefer to tackle Top 40 hits (note to all bands: The world does not need more “Call Me Maybe” covers), Bayside have never really been the type to ride the coattails of what’s […]

Sunday Driver Across The Sunshine State EP Even though they're more usually found in the hip-hop world than this scene, posthumous albums make a ton of sense. Think about it: At some point, a label commissioned (and paid for) a band to write and record a set of songs. Even if the band break up, […]

Hawthorne Heights Hope EP The independent life seems to suit Hawthorne Heights well. After nearly a decade of time spent on labels, the group have exercised their liberties as free agents, undertaking a three-EP series completely funded and released on their own dime. While last year’s Hate found the band exploring their angst-fueled hardcore roots, […]

Neon Trees Picture Show “I’m sick of people saying rock ’n’ roll is dead,” howls Neon Trees vocalist Tyler Glenn on “Teenage Sounds,” the second song on his band’s sophomore album, Picture Show. On its face, it’s a puzzling declaration, given that the band’s ubiquitous 2010 hit “Animal” sent them to the head of Top […]

Tallhart Bloodlines EP As the first act signed to Rory Records, Max Bemis’ Equal Vision imprint, Talhart (née Marksmen) have a lot to live up to. Bemis is famously known for his much-revered contributions to the current scene, meaning there’s a serious weight to his name when he chooses to attach it to a new […]

The Audition Chapter II EP Chapter II is a fitting title for the Audition’s new EP, as it represents the second stage of the band’s newly independent career after splitting from Victory Records. But it’s also a bit of a misnomer: On these six songs, the Chicago quintet continue to explore the sultry pop sound […]

Plug In Stereo The Patience EP The opening strains of “Oh Darling,” the first track on Trevor Dahl’s major-label debut, immediately call to mind the work of Never Shout Never’s Christofer Drew, who almost singlehandedly launched the nü-singer/songwriter genre years ago with a similar formula. Couple Dahl’s spry, bouncy vocals with a saccharine puppy-dog love […]

States Room To Run Given their impressive pedigrees, it would have been easy for States—boasting former members of Copeland and Lydia—to coast on the successes of their former projects. But instead of replicating anything in their collective back catalogs, Room To Run marks the quartet’s coming-out party. The band’s debut full-length is undoubtedly the most […]