neon

Neon has released the first trailer for the David Bowie documentary, Moonage Daydream. The film will hit theaters this fall.

To properly dissect the best emo albums from 2011, one must not be afraid to use the term “emo” broadly, as this style of music can take shape across multiple genres. In 2011, emo was arguably at its lowest point commercially, as the mid-to-late 2000s boom had slowly faded away at the turn of the […]

Flashback to your 2000s scene phase. You’re a day out from a road trip and focused entirely on prepping. Does that mean double-checking your suitcase or gas tank, though? Of course not. You’re more concerned with loading up your iPod with alternative summer hits. Fortunately, even in the wake of widespread technological innovations, some basic […]

In the modern age of rapid releases, instant gratification and seemingly endless content, it’s easy to take singles for granted. After all, it’s hard to fully appreciate a new track—or even an album—for what it’s worth when you’ve got hundreds to choose from. Throwback to the 2000s alternative scene, though, and it’s a different story […]

“Not all bands fronted by women sound like Paramore” is beginning to become a pretty popular adage in the alternative music scene. It’s not that drawing a likeness to Hayley Williams isn’t a compliment—it may be one of the highest. But consistent comparisons to the most iconic woman-led group to emerge from the 2000s totally overlook […]

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 […]

It doesn’t matter what part of the 2000s alternative music spectrum you lean toward. Whether your iPod was dominated by neon, pop punk or screamo tracks, one thing is for sure: Everyone loves an acoustic song.  The trend persists quite actively today. Tune in to just about any band’s quarantine livestreams and you’ll catch stripped […]

Remember the good old days when the most prolific influencers sported striped hair and tiaras? Yeah, we’re talking about 2000s scene queens. Whether you want to admit it or not, everyone had a favorite. They were like our neon-laced, rawr-ing Patronuses. Some were bubbly, and others were edgy as all hell. Ultimately, the only thing they all […]

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 […]

Lately, Machine Gun Kelly has been making waves in the pop-punk scene. His massive transition from hip-hop has brought the genre back to the mainstream spotlight, granting opportunities for other pop culture icons such as Halsey to try on a mid-2000s sound. While MGK‘s Tickets To My Downfall has become a divisive subject in the […]

It’s impossible to picture the 2000s alternative music scene without the added flair of neon pop punk. Between its bright fashion, catchy lyrics and synth-ridden melodies, the era is the one that stands out most from the decade. Even 10 years out from the neon heyday, we’re still struggling to get a number of songs […]

The late 2000s through early 2010s were defined in our scene by catchy synths intertwined with pop-like melodies, garnering the name “neon pop” or “neon pop punk.” With merch that was just as bright as the dance anthems that were produced, we can’t help but look back on the short-lived genre with fondness and a […]

If you ever wore a leopard print bikini top under a band t-shirt with the sleeves cut off to Warped Tour, you probably remember the era of neon pop-punk—the era that original emos will claim killed the scene as they knew it. The late 2000s and early 2010s brought in glowing synths and poppy melodies […]

During the late ‘’00s, pop punk took on a new, synth-laden face. Sure, it wasn’t the first time a band decided to put fuzzy keys over their chord progressions, but it was a time when that formula was perfected. Here’s a look back at 12 songs you’ve probably already forgotten from pop punk’s neon era. […]

We took note of Toronto, Ontario's Aspire earlier this year, when their conglomerate of neon pop-punk and hip-hop lodged itself in our heads. Today, we're thrilled to take the next step as Jordan Barker releases his new single with the band, “No Filter,” a partyin' pop anthem set to summer. STEAM ASPIRE'S MAKE YOUR MOVE EP […]

Toronto newcomers Aspire have released a music video for “Break Down These Walls,” a 5-hour energy shot for the neon pop-punk game, with hip-hop/electro influences to boot. It's culled from the band's forthcoming Make Your Move EP, which will be available on April 7, 2015. Head to MerchNOW for pre-order options. The band dropped another EP […]