RIP Philip Seymour Hoffman (Actor, 46)

Philip Seymour Hoffman, best known his roles, Capote, and Almost Famous, has passed away today from a drug overdose (he was found with the needle still in his arm). Early last year, he checked himself into rehab again for 10 days after relapsing in 2012. He was filming “The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 2; no word if production has stopped.

Review: All For Nothing - When Never Becomes Now

All For Nothing are a Pop-Punk/Easycore band that play in the same style as popular acts such as A Day To Remember, Blink-182, Four Year Strong and just about any other Pop-Punk band you could name. Yes, they are generic Pop-Punk mixed with some Metal elements however they know how to pull off some catchy tunes. Before I press on, I'm not a Pop-Punk fan myself but I love small/underground bands. I love to listen to upcoming bands and I love talking about them. With that in mind, I'm actually very impressed with this band. They aren't my usual cup of tea but they seem to have captured the fine art of mixing some heavier riffing with catchy, up-tempo Rock. They sometimes even do this at the same time, providing catchy vocal lines whilst there's a breakdown going on in the background. It isn't going to be to everyone's cup of tea, granted, but they're certainly worth a listen.

The album starts off with 'Girls Like You'. First impressions count and I had no idea what to think. The instruments were good and it had the right feel but something wasn't cutting it for me. However, after another listen or two, it grew on me. This is a band that will certainly need to grow on you but when they do, they end up being stuck in your head for a good few hours. 'Girls Like You' starts off very A Day To Remember-ish. You get some great Easycore riffs and a nice blend with the standard Rock chords that provides easy yet memorable guitar tracks. The drumming isn't over done and helps to accompany the song, making it simple to groove along to. The bass grooves are excellent, providing the tasty filling between the guitars and the drums. The vocals are good although they will definitely need to grow on you. It's weird to you at first but the more you get into it, the more you enjoy the song. The vocal melodies are perfect and the hooks are downright catchy. 

The album moves a long at a steady and fun pace with tracks like 'Brick, Where'd You Get A Hand Grenade?', 'Homecoming', 'The Best Is Yet To Come', and 'One In A Million'. These are all superb tracks that are fun, well-paced and have unique little things that make each one enjoyable to listen to. The album is consistent and is something that you can really appreciate when listening to it. The album closes with 'Five Minutes Before The Miracle Happens'. Well, the fact that I enjoyed an entire Pop-Punk album is a miracle so maybe they predicted this review. On a serious note, this has to be one of the strongest tracks on here and has one of the catchiest hooks I've ever heard. 

It's an addictive, fun and excellently well composed track that help sums up one of the finest Pop-Punk albums I've ever heard. Everything on the track, and the album as a whole, works and is not over-done. Everything is placed in the right segment of each track and is never over-used. It's placed down and has an effect on you instead of feeling like it's just filler. The album doesn't have anything that can be considered filler segments, although some tracks are stronger than others. But even then, the 'weaker' tracks are still great and still stick in your mind.

You can see the many influences on this album, ranging from parts that will remind you of A Day To Remember, Blink-182, Boxcar Racer, Four Year Strong and You Me At Six but yet they still make this album original and their own. They don't rip anything off from their influences, they just seem to know how to blend their favourite bands together and add a crap load of spice and uniqueness to make something that is, in it's own right, original and special. The album is addictive, spreading the Pop-Punk and Easycore influences out evenly, with fun hooks, simple yet brilliant Rock guitar tracks, addictive bass grooves, fun and upbeat drum beats and slightly heavy yet brilliantly executed breakdown segments. The album is excellent and I seriously hope these guys aren't at their peak because I'd love to see them progress into being one of the damn finest Rock bands out there. I have a strong feeling that these guys are going somewhere. Let's hope they do.

9.5/10

- Asa

Review: Chords For Cures Vol. 4

Chords for Cures is a long running charity concert series centered in Pennsylvania. Starting almost ten years ago, it has successfully helped raise money for such organizations like THON, Invisible Children and St. Jude's. After taking a hiatus in 2008, they hosted their latest show just a few days ago, raising $108 for 30 Hour Famine.

Earlier this month, they released their latest compilation Chords For Cures Vol. 4. Serving as a means to not only promote these unsigned bands, but to also raise awareness for their charity, I can vouch by saying they're highly successful. The wide diversity of tracks presented here means there is something here for everyone, and maybe you'll even find a new favorite in the process.

Due to the nature of it being a compilation, it is a little difficult to assign a traditional rating structure to the album. However, I will tell you about some of my picks.

The volume kicks off with one of my personal favorite tracks to have come from a compilation in a long while, “I'm Not Locked In Here With You, You're Locked In Here With Me” by the band Nobody Yet. With an early Drive-Thru Records kind of vibe, this is one I find myself returning to often.

Chad Neit offers up a a humorous perspective on how musicians often use the same compositions regardless of genre. “People who have used this probably called up their bandmates and said 'Check out this fuckin' song I just wrote, it's gonna make us big'. And then the listener said 'holy shit dude that was like so fucking awesome'”. Featuring small sections from songs such as “Face Down” by Red Jumpsuit Apparatus, “Apologize” by OneRepublic, “Don't Trust Me” by 3OH!3, (and a handful more) this is definitely one I got a good chuckle from.

Team Goldie's “Going Out Living” is a fantastic addition to the album's Pop Punk style tracks. And the track “On/Off” from No Such Noise is one of the finest new Ska songs I have personally heard in quite awhile. I expect to hear great things coming from this band, and for them to certainly find their place in the scene. (Seriously, go check out their album “For Closure” on Bandcamp, it is that good)

Chords for Cures says their mission is “...to make a difference in the lives of those suffering/battling cancer and life threatening illness; even in the smallest scale possible. Every single dollar, every bit of passion, every soul-bearing song can change the way things are. We firmly believe in the power of people and how that can change the outcome of so many situations. We're all in this together!” (Taken from their Facebook)

And that I feel, regardless of what genres of music we like, is something that can all tie us together.

Chords For Cures Vol. 4 is available on Bandcamp now for a Name-Your-Own-Price