alternative

Picturing our favorite bands in their fledgling stages is no easy task. But imagining them devoid of any original music and instead performing cover songs? That’s straight-up impossible. Remarkably, it’s not all that rare for now-iconic artists to reveal that they’d formerly performed as a tribute act. After all, what better way to get a […]

If there’s one thing we miss about Myspace, it’s extensively coding our profiles and soundtracking them with our favorite songs. If you had a 2000s scene phase, then you probably remember how vital MP3 embeds were to alternative culture. After all, they were ultimately a projection of our misunderstood identities. But do you remember which […]

All hail the genre-benders! Seriously, it’s one thing to be successful in a single genre, but to change things up and continue to excel? That’s the mark of a legend. Admittedly, most artists go through some form of sonic progression over the course of their careers. But how many can you name that distinctly embody […]

There are plenty of adjectives that Ashnikko admittedly avoids when describing her music. It’s not quiet. It’s not soft. And it’s never really been sweet, but she’s working on the vulnerability stuff.  On a personal level, too, it’s almost easier to understand 24-year-old Ashton Nicole Casey by examining how she doesn’t describe herself. She’s not […]

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, […]

If the sonic leanings of new alternative bands are any indication, pop punk isn’t dead and neither is punk rock. Be it through the continued influence of traditional groups or experimental infusions by genre-bending outfits, the punk sound is still ever-prevalent in the modern scene. While not all of the emerging bands harness the sound from […]

Nothing grabs listeners’ attention like a good diss track. After all, it’s pretty much human nature to tap into any source of drama one can find. Eminem‘s been on a roll with the tactic. The rapper made headlines after taking a jab at Machine Gun Kelly on his 2018 album, Kamikaze. Now, on his latest record, he’s […]

It’s pretty mind-blowing when you find out that you’ve been singing the wrong lyrics. Especially when you sing them to a song you’ve loved since you first listened to it.  We’ve all been there with wrong lyrics. Sometimes you just find out that you really don’t know the words like you thought you did. That […]

The ’80s feel like a lifetime away, and for many in the scene, they actually are (yikes). The good news is the decade has left a longstanding musical legacy. The incorporation of 1980s sound elements into modern music is hardly new, but its frequency seems to be rising. It seems impossible to turn on the […]

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 […]

This year’s biggest lesson for most of us has been to expect the unexpected. While that mainly went for life itself, it certainly also applied to music. But still, there’s a lot to look forward to in the most anticipated albums of 2021.  2020 saw plenty of surprise drops and album release-date pushbacks. So, really, […]

Is there anything better than hearing one of your favorite bands cover an old-school hit? Or put an alternative spin on that “guilty pleasure” song you’ve secretly been jamming to for weeks? New renditions often improve on originals by expanding and elevating their sound. And while debating which version is best is often a subjective […]

The incorporation of electronic sounds into alternative music is hardly a new phenomenon. In the mid-2000s, bands such as Cobra Starship and 3OH!3 made names for themselves in the scene with their synth-heavy infusions. And while the resulting “neon” era seemed to be short-lived, these artists were largely ahead of their time. With the mainstream […]

The alternative music scene can be home to some serious differences of opinion. Case in point: Just look at the reactions to Machine Gun Kelly‘s chart-topping album, Tickets To My Downfall. These divisions aren’t unique to the modern era, though. Fall Out Boy’s 2008 record Folie à Deux, which is celebrating its 12th anniversary this […]

From low-rise jeans to flashy Myspace themes, the 2000s was an era defined by flamboyancy. While the majority of those embarrassing trends naturally faded with time, one product of the ’00s has overstayed its welcome. The infamous brand Kidz Bop has been churning out family-friendly compilation albums since 2001 sung by kids, for kids.  But […]

Is there anything better than a good concept album? How about a concept series? These multi-album narratives are few and far between. After all, they require an immense amount of thought and dedication. But we’d argue that the outcome has to be worth it. Read more: See how Black Veil Brides’ concept album came to life […]

Hometown pride runs deep, especially when it comes to pop punk. Whether our favorite artists sing with fond remembrance or a deep-rooted desire to get the hell out, it’s clear that their origins have shaped them pretty profoundly. While it’s easy to assume that every outfit have roots in Chicago, Los Angeles or New York […]

If we could identify one incandescent moment to come out of the coronavirus pandemic, it would have to be having large stretches of time to listen to albums. Yes, in 2020, most of us binged on Netflix and chilled the best we could. But streaming services made access to music downright infinite. We could finally […]

Are there any arguments more divisive than the appropriateness of Christmas music during any given time or place? Sure, there’s the whole “pineapple on pizza” debate, but does that really get your blood boiling like being assaulted with holiday merriment? There are a number of reasons why anyone might be ill-disposed toward seasonal jingles. Maybe […]

Remember the days of rushing home and turning on MTV to catch the latest alternative hits? How about debating which music video you should buy with the remaining balance on your iTunes gift card? Anyone engaged in the 2000s scene knew how important music videos were to it. From artist discovery to the aesthetic, those […]