Articles
December 17, 2022
Emotional, ambient, heavy, screamo act out of Detroit, MI. Featuring members of Kept on Hold.
December 16, 2022
American Arson and Kept on Hold free show tonight!
Free show tonight 12/16/2022 in Canton, MI at The Barn! American Arson, Kept on Hold, Camino Kid, Ryley Kilby, and Rosemont!
Song of the Day: Walk on Water - Time
This brilliant synth-pop band hailed from Sweden. They released one fantastic album in 1989, that hit the States the next year, then disappeared until 1994 when they re-surfaced–though just barely–with a Swedish-language album, that didn’t make much of an impact outside of their homeland.
Their debut, the nearly-eponymous W.O.W., was beautiful, but sadly never got the attention it deserved. Recorded primarily in the synth-pop style, it also had hints of Europop and new wave. In short, it was too alternative to be mainstream pop or CCM, and too poppy to appeal to fans of alternative rock.… Continued →
December 15, 2022
Project 86 releases Metatropolis
So this has gotta be the heaviest song Andrew & co. has ever released. It is the first single for their last project (no pun intended!) entitled Omni that will be released in early 2023. I’ve seen them almost as many times as Norma Jean live & they are great in ever way with their musical finesse. I helped crowdfund their live album & have a unreleased pressing from it. Their eponymous album was the first cd I purchased when I joined the military at an army PX!… Continued →
December 14, 2022
Song of the Day: Kingsdown - In Elegance and Rescue
This Arkansas band was a fave of mine when their The Scenario We Know So Well EP released. Prior songs from their Moments to Monuments were on my radar but this EP blew me away. They reeased a S/T LP that tbh I didn’t really care for which is I am guessing they went from the emoish modern rock sound to a rock n roll band. Anyways hope y’all like it & here are some lyrics.
I was lost at sea
And your gentle touch rescued me
You said you would stay but I was walking away
I heard your voice say come to me
It’s Our Time
I feel so free tonight
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December 12, 2022
Song of the Day: Robert Randolph and the Family Band - Going in the Right Direction
This blues band has been one of my musical faves for years. I finally got to see them live & took my mom! Check out their whole discography as they have released a lot over the years. This review will also run on a day when I will be travelling to my new job in another state so seems like a fitting title!
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December 10, 2022
Song of the Day: SHeeSH - Lip Service
This 3 piece grunge band made one album & fell into obscurity from what I can tell. Their label is none other than Grrr which houses a lot of the Jesus People U.S.A artists. Check em out if you like the garage grunge that seemed to rule the early 90s.
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December 9, 2022
Song of the Day: Embraced - Hold My Hand
Embraced was a short-lived hardcore band from Florida, active in the early 2000s. I was able to catch the band live a couple of times at local gigs and mini-festivals, and enjoyed their shows. I always liked their semi-melodic take on hardcore (I mean, they were from Florida, after all!) They were clearly playing HC, but with hints of emo and indie rock at times. Perhaps in a similar vein to Bloodshed, Beloved, and Underoath, but with their own take on it.
The band only released one mini-album, the 7-song An Orchestrated Failure, in 2002 for Theory 8 Records (who also an album by The Goodbye Letter and an early split with Copeland and Pacifico, among others).… Continued →
December 7, 2022
Song of the Day: Under Midnight - Babylon USA vs Welcome to Dystopia
Mark Robertson has done a lot musically. This project is industrial w/ the 2 albums having a concept story, but he was also a part of the Ragamuffins w/ Rich Mullins & fronted This Train. He also played bass for the Legendary Shack Shakers. These 2 UM albums were faves of mine in high school. Check out the rest of his discography-you won’t be disappointed.
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December 5, 2022
Song of the Day: Hammertown - Reborn
This SOTD is unfortunately a memorial to the vocalist from this band. He was sadly killed by a drunk driver. This song Reborn was featured on some Christian radio stations back in the day. The band’s name came from a lake in their hometown. If you want to know more about them, follow the following link.
https://archive.org/details/HAMMERTOWN
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December 3, 2022
Song of the Day: EveReady - Live Completely
I apologize in advance, but here is a very obscure band that I found through an old Christian online radio station playlist. Wish I had more, but from what I gather their only other song was called For What’s It’s Worth. This song is pretty catchy imho. Maybe someone someday reading this will know more about them than I do. I don’t even know if their name is spelled right.
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10 Best Pop EPs of 2022 Ranked
Last week I shared my top 20 rock EPs of 2022 with you. This week I’m back with my top 10 pop EPs of 2022.
10. Margot Osborne – Motion
This EP is short and maybe not the most original sounding but it’s very well done. “Motions” and “Technicolor (Open Up Your Eyes) are both earworms that have been stuck in my head for months now.
9. Olivia Grasso – Risk
Risk delivers on it’s name with a somewhat quirky pop EP. It’s got a great lead single in “Sidelines”, a strong closer in “Disjunct”, and even some thoughtful commentary on “Late Night TV”.… Continued →
December 2, 2022
Song of the Day: Olivia the Band - Stars and Stripes
I’ve never been a huge fan of pop-punk–just dabbled here and there–but darn it all if this isn’t a catchy tune! I popped this into the car CD player earlier this week, having not listened to it in years, and that opening tune was so ridiculously familiar! I think I must have heard it on a compilation somewhere too for me to remember it so well.
Anyway, Olivia the Band was originally from Hawaii, but eventually relocated to San Diego. They released their self-titled debut in 2005 on Essential Records.… Continued →
November 30, 2022
Black Cherry Soda - Your Alibi
Who likes Black Chery Soda? 2 choices-Pop punk band or the drink. Band is from PA & lasted almost the whole 90s time period. They had a few songs that hit “Christian” radio & I’ve always liked this one the best.
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November 28, 2022
Song of the Day: Tenderfoot - Paid in Full
This band formed from the ashes of early emo band Dear Ephesus. The musical aspects dive into more modern rock. Appears they reformed under Tenderfoot to fulfill their contract with their record label & to reach a more versatile market outside the “Christian” industry. Anyways, also check out #1 & Low Road to Heaven also.
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November 27, 2022
20 Best Rock EPs of 2022 Ranked
A few weeks ago I appeared on the JFH Podcast to talk about my favorite EPs of 2022. In the process of preparing for the episode I listened to a lot of EPs and figured I might as well make the most of it and make it into a list. Rather than a single massive list though I decided to break it down by genre. So here’s part one of my favorite EPs of 2022: 20 rock EPs ranked.
20. November Sky – Out of the Black
I am really glad to see the members of Scarlett White moving forward with a new project.… Continued →
November 26, 2022
Song of the Day: Rock N Worship Circus - Gift of Cool
This band formed from a church worship band. They were one of the first modern rock worship bands I think. They had a tight modern rock sound & had songs on Christian edgier radio stations including Ride, Undiscovered. They have since changed their name to The Listening. Gabe Wilson has worked with many musical endeavors over the years also.
These lyrics are awesome!
I remember the day
When the love of God landed in our town
He took all the silent and broken hearts
And fixed them up and gave them a sound
He had almost every different kind of kid
From every different kind of social background
Taking all the cool they had and praising God
As He spun them around, it’s when God came to town
And the people in our churches, they were constantly amazed
At the kids kneeling at the altar with their different fashion flavors
You had squares and preps and skater punks, Goths and techno-ravers
And the tattooed kids with the colored hair
And they were all getting saved
You think the sixties had good vibrations?… Continued →
November 25, 2022
Song of the Day: Disciples of Christ (D.O.C.) - Deeper
Rap music in the early 90s was making huge breakthroughs into both mainstream pop music and Gospel music, all the while splintering into dozens of subgenres: gangsta rap, new jack swing, Miami bass, among the most prominent. Tulsa locals D.O.C., AKA Disciples of Christ were fluent in the Philadelphia-based new jack swing sound, a combination of hip-hop, urban contemporary pop, and R&B/soul sounds.
Alton Hood and Kevin Harvey met in college before they knew the Lord. Having dabbled in the party lifestyle, and even in the occult, they turned their lives over to Christ through a miraculous intervention of God.… Continued →
November 23, 2022
Have you heard of xNo Kingx?
xNo Kingx are a new Christ centered, scripture based, beatdown, straight edge, hardcore band out of Nashville, Tennessee. FFO: Cultist, Prayer, and heavy beatdown hardcore. No king but Christ!
Have you heard of Ripped Up?
Ripped Up are a new up and coming Christian punk band out of Fort Worth, Texas. FFO: Anti-World System, The MOPIC, and Luther's Hammer
Song of the Day: Morella's Forest - Voices Carry
Who besides me think covers can be awesome? Well MF did a great cover of ‘Til Tuesday’s classic song. Sydney has a unique voice & it does carry throughout this song. I listened to their Hang out EP for hours as a kid. I loved the shoegazing aspects of fuzz from MF & Starflyer. Tooth & Nail were putting out very different music sounds from the rest of the “Christian” market back then & I was fully on board. Before joining the military I had dreams of going to work for the label.… Continued →
November 21, 2022
Song of the Day: Forever Moon - Refined
Forever Moon was a modern rock band that released an EP & full length before disbanding from what I gather. I bought the EP, but now it runs for around $100 from what I’ve seen. They were reminiscent of the early 2000s era that “Christian” rock stations played on edgier stations with rock shows. Win You Over was their other main song.
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November 19, 2022
Song of the Day: Element 101 - Standing On the Edge of Night
Saw this band with Slick Shoes many years ago. Hung outside the place w/ the guitarist & drummer from what I remember. Hope you remember & like them as much as I have over the years.
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November 18, 2022
Song of the Day: The Awful Truth - Ghost of Heaven
The Awful Truth–the best band that (almost) never was! In the late 80s I was huge into King’s X and what would soon become known as the “Houston sound.” It was part progressive metal, part groove, part rock, and lots of harmonies thrown in. I’d started hearing about this new band (at the time) called The Awful Truth, who had recorded their debut album for mainstream Metal Blade Records, and sadly broke up before it even came out. In fact, by the time the album was released, two thirds of The Awful Truth had formed a new band with two other members, the now-legendary Galactic Cowboys, increasing that groovy-metallic Houston Sound to yet another band.… Continued →
November 16, 2022
Song of the Day: Dodavahu - Mountain
Dodavahu reminds many of the funk groovy alt-rock of DighayZoose, Jane’s Addiction, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Primus vein. I can see a little why as they remind me of Elder & a few others from the early 90s alt rock daze. Their stuff can be hard to find , but appears a band member added some to his SoundCloud page. Look for Larry Larraga. They are also on a hard to find compilation from Dwarf Records called Sam which I have been looking for years. Check em out.… Continued →
November 14, 2022
Song of the Day: Eden Regained - Patient
This band seems to hearken from Newark, Ohio & this song was from their last release Ascension. They seem to have a post hardcore sound along w/ maybe nu-metal as you can hear some scratching. This is the only song that I know of that found its way onto indie “Christian” radio as I saw on a online chart a few times. hope y’all dig it.
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November 12, 2022
Song of the Day: Prescription - Reason For This Rime
It was pretty hard to find this LP over the years. Finally tracked down a copy on Ebay If I remember quickly. They fall within the alt/nu metal/rapcore genre. They had another LP on CDBaby back in the day also. Anyways, check out Lately I’ve Noticed also. Appears they were from Cali. They remind me a lot of E-So whom I am still looking for their song The Game.
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November 11, 2022
Song of the Day: Body and Soul - The Graylands
I first discovered this band from Tim Henderson (Warlord/Mr Bishops Fist) one night as we were talking about obscure Christian bands from the past. Body and Soul was a one-off solo project from Daniel Amos keyboardist Rob Watson. Body and Soul released only one 7″ in 1983, and never did anything else.
Side A featured “Something’s Going On Here,” which is a good song, but is more typical of 80s new wave/pop. It sounds like a track you’d hear in an 80s action comedy film, something akin to Adventures in Babysitting.… Continued →
November 9, 2022
Song of the Day: Beth Hall - Send Down The Fire vs Fuel4Soul - Keep The Faith
Beth Hall has branched out from her band Fuel4Soul for this song. It has a modern rock vibe & the lyrics are chock full of worship energy . The song has hit Christian rock radio this past week so check it out. Also check out Fuel4Soul’s song Keep The Faith.
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November 7, 2022
Song of the Day: The Fall of Leviathan - Jesus Didn't Live the American Dream
Good luck on finding much on this rarity. I believe from what I remember they were featured on Radiou’s metal show many years ago. They seem to be of an early metalcore/deathcore variety & were from Reno, Nevada. Their Myspace page has them going to Joshuafest back in 2010 & ReverbNation has a demo of another of their songs. This song’s lyrics sounds to be close to a worship song as you can hear them screaming He died for us circa the 1:30 mark & some spoken circa the 3:15 mark.… Continued →































