op-ed

Op-Ed: Here’s what shows could really look like when they finally return

The music industry is dying. Then again, critics have been saying the same thing for the past 50 years. From the onset of FM radio, MTV, MP3s and streaming services such as Spotify and Apple Music, all new innovations have always been met as the harbinger of the end of the music industry as we […]

Op-Ed: twenty one pilots built a world unlike any other on 'Trench'

At first listen, twenty one pilots may seem like just another band in rotation on Top 40 stations that you scan through on your car radio. Unlike most artists whose relationship with their audience is relegated to releasing music, touring and selling you merchandise, TOP and their associates took the initiative to construct a breadcrumb trail […]

Op-Ed: It’s time to start a music revolution, now

Fearless Records, the record label that’s been a staple in contemporary pop-punk, metalcore and a few more genres of note, recently appointed Jenny Reader to the position of president/chief creative officer. Born in the United Kingdom, Reader headed up the British office of Victory Records before emigrating to the U.S. in 2008 to work at […]

Op-Ed: We need boygenius now more than ever

I never seem to remember the worst days of my life. There’s always been a tendency to suppress anything that hurts, leaving little blackouts in my memory; the gaps, however, are usually filled in with songs. When I endured my first real heartbreak, the Earth-shattering, shrapnel-scattering kind, Julien Baker’s “Sour Breath” was the soundtrack to […]

Op-Ed: 'M A N I A' is Fall Out Boy’s best album in a decade

Fall Out Boy are fully prepared for you to hate Mania (stylized M A N   I    A), their seventh studio album. Their pre-release press tour has felt apologetic: At shows and in interviews, the band have reiterated that this album will require a few listens to get into. It isn’t that they have no faith […]

Op-Ed: Hayley Williams is an inspiration for all women, musicians and fans alike

[Photo by: Hayley Williams/Instagram] On this year’s International Women’s Day, Against The Current’s Chrissy Costanza shared a heartfelt note thanking Hayley Williams for being an inspiration in her life. “She showed me that it’s OK for girls to get mad. It’s OK for girls to be powerful, to lead, to command, to conquer,” the singer […]

Op-Ed: DIY bands and fans alike should care about net neutrality

Most bands come from nothing. “Making it” is a prize won by a select few of the thousands that try their hand at it. This scene is very aware of that, and because of that takes extreme pride in the DIY lifestyle, often putting those sentiments into song. In A Day To Remember’s “Sometimes You’re […]

Op-Ed: Portugal. The Man's AMA's performance highlights need for alt music at award shows

[Photo by: ABC] “No computers up here, just live instruments.” Portland indie-rockers Portugal. The Man’s trolling of the AMAs caused a bit of a stir on social media last night, and not just because people realized it isn’t a woman who sings “Feel It Still,” nor is the band made up of one man…from Portugal. […]

Op-Ed: Amidst a multitude of sexual assault allegations, is it OK to still be a fan?

[Photo by: Corey Blaz on Unsplash] It seems every day now, there is a new headline concerning sexual assault in the entertainment industry. These disgusting and traumatizing acts permeate film, television and music alike, exposing our idols as morally defective criminals. In the past several weeks alone, actor Kevin Spacey, actor/comedian Louis C.K. and film director Harvey Weinstein […]

OP-ED: +44 gave us one of the best Blink-182 albums

Back in 2005, the unthinkable happened: The members of Blink-182 went their separate ways and left us with as many questions as there were cloudy expectations. Their self-titled album was their most mature and experimental work, and the evolution from teen angst-ridden pop punk and dick jokes was a shock, but it was welcomed with […]

Op-Ed: My Enemies & I's Jeff Hill on the importance of thinking for yourself

[Photo by: Karl Pfeiffer] Today, My Enemies & I release their debut LP, The Beast Inside, a record that deals with the band's frustration with not only religion and personal relationships, but also society as a whole. Vocalist Jeff Hill writes for AP about the band's hometown (Richmond, Virginia)—a place that heavily influenced the album—and encourages everyone […]

How Jimmy Eat World acted as a gateway band for all their fans

[Photo by: Jimmy Eat World/Instagram] Whether you’re into rock music or not, Jimmy Eat World are one of those bands that are universally known. The band have been thriving since the ’90s and still are going strong with the recent release of their record Integrity Blues and actively touring in support of it. But instead […]

How Green Day's 'Nimrod' set the course for the rest of their career

Twenty years ago, Green Day released Nimrod, the sprawling, genre-hopping masterwork best remembered for the acoustic campfire ballad “Good Riddance (Time of Your Life),” which became one of their biggest hits and a lifelong concert staple. But Nimrod’s legacy extends far beyond this track—if not for this album, Green Day might not exist today. Read […]

Post-tour blues: On going home, anxiety and taking care of yourself

[Photo by: Anam Merchant] Being on tour and returning home afterward  both present varying levels of distress, but for very different reasons. Everyone is at least somewhat aware of the mental and physical stress causations that accompany being on the road for long periods of time. The psychic ramifications of returning home from tour are often […]

How Good Charlotte went from ‘uncool' to icons of the pop-punk

Every band has that one album that makes or breaks them; the one that's their chance to hit the big time and prove they're deserving of your attention. From Blink-182’s Enema Of The State to Jimmy Eat World’s Bleed American, every band has that album that draws them to the mainstream. More often than not, […]

Op-Ed: Netflix's Death Note is a disaster — let me explain

[Photo by: Netflix] I think it’s safe to say Netflix goofed on this one. Their film adaptation of the beloved manga and anime Death Note translated onscreen like an early-2000s Disney Channel Original Movie crossed over with a straight-to-DVD Final Destination sequel. For anyone who has never seen or read the original source materials, this […]

Op-Ed: In defense of the Used’s “Over And Over Again” and their ‘new’ sound

[Photo by: THEUSEDCHANNEL/YouTube] The revolution is over. The Used are back, but not with a vengeance: “Over And Over Again” is the sound of a band reborn, and that rebirth is happening in the most fun way possible. Read more: The Used debut new song, “Over And Over Again,” taken from forthcoming album, The Canyon When we […]

Why Brand New's rise to No. 1 matters: The reality behind ‘Science Fiction’

Brand New are an anomaly. The band defy all “standard” business savvy, yet continue to succeed and grow far beyond most contemporaries. Their fifth studio album Science Fiction skyrocketed to No. 1 on the Billboard charts without any press release, marketing campaign, interviews, radio play, music videos or really anything that would resemble a “traditional […]

Op-Ed: Why the world needs Marilyn Manson right now

[Photo by: PEROU] When the world is in such a chaotic place, sometimes it's nice to look toward someone who's always been a freight train plowing straight through the mess that can be society. That's exactly why we need Marilyn Manson more than ever. Granted, the majority may not see Manson as someone to look toward, […]

Op-Ed: Taylor Swift’s “us vs. them” mentality isn’t a great fit for 2017

[Photo by: TaylorSwiftVEVO/YouTube] Contrary to what her song “Look What You Made Me Do” will have you believe, the old Taylor Swift is not dead, nor is she keen on learning from her previous catty or petty behavior. In fact, she’s back with a vengeance and she’s resumed her role as the ever-suffering princess, forced to […]
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