2010s

Four hundred issues after the very first book to carry our name ran off the printers back in 1985, we look back on 36 years of our favorite-ever AP covers, the stories they told and the secrets behind their creation. You can pick up an issue here, starring twenty one pilots. Read more: In issue […]

Across the 2000s and 2010s, there was a whole lot of angsty entertainment to watch on TV or in movies. Often, the lines between those different types of entertainment became blurred, much to superfans’ delight. Cameos from big-name musicians or even entire bands were a constant in the biggest TV shows and movies of the […]

In her relatively short but nonetheless impressive career thus far, Moriah Rose Pereira—better known by her artist mononym, Poppy—has spent the last few years releasing music that not only appeals to her ever-expanding fanbase but which also does the distinctly more difficult work of establishing her name in the canon of contemporary alternative music.  This, […]

When the ball dropped in New York City’s Times Square at the stroke of midnight Dec. 31, 2009, punk rock had been around 35 years. (Or 33, depending on if you date the subculture from when the Ramones began playing gigs or from the mythic Punk Year Zero of 1977.) It was well into its […]

You don’t have to look back at the Hot Topic crowd’s fixation with Hello Kitty to see the influence of Japanese culture on the alternative scene. The music speaks for itself. We’ve already taken you around the Western world—from Canada to the U.K. and even out to Australia—in our examination of new, prominent forces in pop-punk music. Now, it’s time to set our […]

Fueled By Ramen has signed some of the most talented alternative bands and musicians to date. With 25 years of greatness under its belt, now is the opportune moment to look back at its incredible discography. In 1996, John Janick joined forces with Vinnie Fiorello of Less Than Jake and brought the label to life. […]

If there’s one universal truth to alternative music, it’s that there’s no one path to success. Many talented artists grind for years, putting out record after record until one day they accumulate a global following. Others may find commercial success following the release of their debut album. Of course, that’s not to say that any […]

We already established that not all women sound like Hayley Williams with our look into unique-sounding frontwomen within 2000s alternative music. So, given the generalized diversification of the genre throughout the 2010s, we shouldn’t need to drive that point home again, right? That said, last time the dynamic range present in women’s vocal styles proved to […]

The punk community has notably provided refuge for society’s outcasts since its early foundations in the 1970s. Unfortunately, representation has been historically lacking across the scene, especially when it comes to LGBTQIA+ participation. While queer musicians as a whole seem to exist as a minority in punk rock, transgender artists are a glaring rarity. But don’t think that […]

The further we get into our scene “phases,” the more we understand the concept of “love and loss” as it pertains to music. Over the years, we’ve lost a number of our favorite bands to breakups and significant genre changes. Fortunately, though, there are still a number who have stayed active and alternative. While it’s easy to […]

While some bands have miraculously played for decades without a lineup change, most have had to replace a member or two throughout their tenure. We see it all the time, though it’s not always as staggering as, say, Matt Skiba stepping into a Tom DeLonge-shaped void. Often, it marks a natural progression for people who had […]

Ever heard a new pop-punk song on Spotify and thought, “Wow, this is great. How could it get any better?” Only to have your mind blown by the addition of familiar guest vocals 10 seconds later? Yeah, that’s happened to us about a thousand times over the course of the last decade. If there’s anything […]

We are all a little emo in high school. Really, how could you not be? Being a teenager is a turbulent time at best, marked by a slew of new experiences and emotional challenges. And if you hit that point during the 2000s, the alternative music trends of the time likely didn’t help. Of course, […]

Pop punk‘s not dead! Do we have to scream it or should we just let the bands of the last decade speak for themselves? Despite the genre losing the mainstream popularity it had in the 2000s, the 2010s gave us some serious hits. Between the persistence of favorites such as All Time Low and new […]

If Fearless Records’ Punk Goes Acoustic series is indicative of anything, it’s that alternative artists can’t resist the opportunity to pick up an acoustic guitar. While a number of our favorites have opted for the occasional soft track, none are more jarring than those by heavy artists. As it turns out, the intricate melodies of […]

Alternative rock—pop punk in particular—is going through some new waves at present. Especially now with downtime in the wake of canceled tours, many artists are turning to creative experimentalism. The result? A stacked collection of new alternative bands with totally unique sounds. Granted, it can be hard to find some of these gems. With music […]

The 2010s brought us a new wave of alternative music. From the rise of pop-punk revivalists, including State Champs and Neck Deep, to modern hardcore outfits such as FEVER 333, the scene is alive as ever. Much like during the pop-punk heyday of the 2000s, our favorite bands feel like an extension of who we […]

You probably abused the play button on your iPod, uh, we mean smartphone jamming to pop-punk gems in the 2010s. But maybe you missed a few or discarded an album that deserved more time.  Either way, we have you covered. Here are 20 pop-punk albums that warrant more respect from the 2010s. Read more: There’s […]