<![CDATA[TeenView Music - Song Reviews]]>

<![CDATA[TeenView Music - Song Reviews]]>Thu, 21 Mar 2024 15:50:03 -0700Weebly<![CDATA[“Collar” by Night Rider: A Second Chance for Affiance Fans?]]>Sat, 01 Oct 2022 22:40:09 GMThttp://www.teenviewmusic.com/song-reviews/collar-by-night-rider-a-second-chance-for-affiance-fansAnyone who knows me, and anyone who’s ever read articles from TeenView Music, knows Affiance is my all-time favorite band. Discovered through Rise Against’s Pandora station (there’s a throwback for you), Affiance was a melodic metalcore band from Cleveland, Ohio, that never seemed able to break into the scene, despite promising tours with Killswitch Engage, Protest the Hero and Architects, Phinehas, Miss May I, and Ice Nine Kills. Affiance’s lack of success remained a mystery to me and to all their fans, and in 2017, they threw in the towel. The band amicably split, deciding they’d given their all to Affiance for 10 years, and it was time to move on. (It broke my heart.)

Towards the end of 2020, Affiance released two new songs and a haunting recording of the U.S. National Anthem. Those new songs gave me hope that my favorite band might be back on the scene, but a year and a half of silence followed those releases.

Then in July of 2022, on the heels of the world’s Stranger Things 4 frenzy, they released a cover of “Running Up That Hill” by Kate Bush under the new name Night Rider. Later came an explanation that the old members of Affiance had taken on a new project, and more was to come. I waited in anxious anticipation, worried Night Rider would be nothing more than a mediocre cover band. I was, thankfully, very wrong.

Night Rider’s first original track, released on September 23rd, turned out to be more than I could ever have hoped for. Everything that makes Affiance so great – the soaring melodies of Dennis Tvrdik’s distinct and beautiful tenor; the heavy, syncopated rhythms in the drums and bass; the intricate guitar work – can still be found in “Collar.” Night Rider takes that killer concoction, and infuses it with a persistent synth track that compliments, rather than dominates the sound. Think the new-age metalcore of Dayseeker, Until I Wake, or even Bad Omens, and place it in the context of Affiance’s already-perfected melodic metalcore sound. What you get is a new generation of Affiance, stamped with a new name and wearing disco-era clothing.

I am, of course, left with many questions. For example, What’s with the name change? Can we look forward to an EP or full-length album? Will Night Rider ever tour? If they do, will they ever play Affiance music? Or even reworked Affiance songs? As of yet, Night Rider has yet to answer these questions, but as a die-hard Affiance fan, I look forward to this next project from some of the most talented metalcore musicians on the scene.

]]><![CDATA[Killer Single "Mad World" by Young Guns out in mid-July]]>Sat, 06 Aug 2016 21:20:45 GMThttp://www.teenviewmusic.com/song-reviews/killer-single-mad-world-by-young-guns-out-in-mid-july

]]><![CDATA[My Current Song Obsessions- from Sons of Texas and Nothing More]]>Fri, 23 Oct 2015 04:55:29 GMThttp://www.teenviewmusic.com/song-reviews/my-current-song-obsessions-from-sons-of-texas-and-nothing-moreOn my ride to and from school each day, I dj from my dad’s phone partly to avoid conversation and partly to decompress after an extended period of listening to school lectures. Sometimes, I find myself listening to a few select songs on repeat, to the point where I fear my dad will kill me the next time they are played.

Currently, I am obsessing over two songs, both with addicting melodies and heart-throbbing lyrics.

"September" by Sons of Texas

Mark Morales, vocalist of Sons of Texas at Rocklahoma 2015

Sons of Texas, an up-and-coming band from McAllen, Texas, released their first album Baptized in the Rio Grande in March of this year. The work of genius features the title track anthem along with hard-hitting “Never Bury the Hatchet” and the heart-rending “Breathing Through My Wounds.” However, my favorite song on the album is “September,” a moving song about a single mother raising her children.
Lead singer Mark Morales’ vocals roll down the strings of a guitar like tears; the guitar riff is delicate with a lamenting, somber tone. “September” is the soundtrack to my daydreams. Listen:

"Fell In Love With A Ghost" by Nothing More

Johnny Hawkins, lead vocalist of Nothing More at Rocklahoma 2014

From Nothing More’s debut album The Few Not Fleeting, “He Fell In Love With A Ghost” mixes different moods and styles to convey the frustration of living with an alcoholic partner. Just read the lyrics to the chorus:

Sober in my dreams, you're dead in real life.
What goes through my mind
Is how you used to be so alive
And now you’re fighting just to put the bottle down,
PUT THAT BOTTLE DOWN!

The mood changes from sad to angry to frustrated to reminiscent, and touches on every emotion in between. Listening to the song, I feel the exasperations and disappointments of the singer. Enjoy:

Zoe Adler is a music journalist from Long Beach, California. Besides her website, which is her pride and joy, she works with the GRAMMY Foundation and the Long Beach Independent. Additionally, Ms. Adler is a musician, spending half of her time playing the flute, piccolo, trombone, and marching baritone. She has been with TeenView Music since the very start and hopes to make something of it in the future.

]]><![CDATA[A Perfect 10: 10 Years of 10 Years]]>Mon, 31 Aug 2015 04:59:56 GMThttp://www.teenviewmusic.com/song-reviews/a-perfect-10-10-years-of-10-yearsA Perfect 10:
10 Years of 10 Years

Post-grunge, alternative rock band 10 Years from Knoxville, Tennessee, recently reached the ten-year anniversary of The Autumn Effect, their third studio album, and the second with their current lead vocalist Jesse Hasek. This coincides with the release of their seventh studio album From Birth to Burial, released April 21st of this year.

In that ten-year period were three other albums, Division (2008), Feeding the Wolves (2010), and Minus the Machine (2012). In total, these five albums make-up what I consider to be one of the best bands in rock ‘n’ roll today. I’ve chosen ten of their best songs—two from each album—to show the best these past ten years of 10 Years have had to offer.

The Autumn Effect

"Wasteland"

Reaching the number one spot on the US Billboard Hot Modern Rock Tracks list and the number two spot on the US Billboard Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks list, “Wasteland” had a profound impact on the rock music world. The song features the ‘classic’ 10 Years sound: Hasek’s hypnotic vocals floating over the drum’s and guitars’ increasing energy till the chorus hits and the song takes on a harder rock mood.

“Wasteland” does not demonstrate the heaviest of 10 Years, but it’s not one of their ballads either. Catchy and beautiful, it’s worthy of a top-ten spot in 10 Years’ best songs.

"The Autumn Effect"

Starting with a simplistic guitar sequence, the albums’ title track soothes the ears into a dream-like trance. Hasek’s voice is at its best in this song, with the guitar perfectly complimenting his singing as he moves up and down his vast range. At about 1:20, the song reaches the chorus, where the drums, bass, and guitar line up in a mood-shifting rhythm. I find this part particularly addicting, and would gladly listen to “The Autumn Effect” day in and day out. It’s number one on my 10 Years list.

Division

"Russian Roulette"

Just as the soothing soup of guitar chords leads you into comfortable relaxation, the entrance of the bass’ syncopated rhythm quickly joined by a forward-moving guitar riff makes you want to bounce your leg, bang your head, or move in general.

The song’s lyrics are equally brilliant, the addiction talking to the addicted. In the first verse, you view the beginning of an addiction:

At first glance your instinct says
This stranger is a little dangerous.
The cat was killed from curious thrills.

In the chorus, the addiction is speaking to the addict as the addiction is taking hold, saying:

Welcome to your vice,
Good luck with life,
‘Cause you can’t, you can’t, you can’t
Kill me that easily.

In the last verse, the addiction is saying it’s not its fault, it’s the addict’s fault:

The battle you picked was so one-sided
Now to pin it on me
The one you invited.

Then, these lines, which say that the addict can try to ask for forgiveness from the people surrounding them, but the addiction won’t automatically go away, because it doesn’t care what you want.

Beg, plead, scream
For redemption, for forgiveness.
Beg, plead, scream,
Sorry I’m not listening.

"11:00am (Daydreamer)

From the best album by 10 Years comes a song that can resonate with a lot of listeners. It speaks to the people submitting to a boring, easy life, letting the comfort of routine suck their dreams of a different future away. It addresses all the people who work “nine to five in a suit and tie,” who always wanted more with their life, the people who daydream at work at 11:00am.

Hasek tells his listeners:

Take a step back and find a way out of here.
Can’t you see that the answer is loud and clear?

Feeding the Wolves

"Don't Fight It"

“Don’t Fight It” is a beautiful example of the ballad side of 10 Years, featuring Hasek’s soothing vocals gliding over the calming guitar chords swimming underneath.

The lyrics capture the emotions behind a desperate loving plea for someone’s lover to come back, to not fight the feelings if they won’t go away, or return.

"Now Is The Time (Ravenous)"

Feeding the Wolves contains a greater number of 10 Years’ harder songs including “Shoot It Out,” “Chasing the Rapture,” and “Fade Into (The Ocean),” but “Now Is The Time (Ravenous)” is by far the best, showing off the exemplary musical skills of all the members of the band.

The music industry can be a place of great frustration for many dedicated musicians, including 10 Years, who in this song (and “Shoot It Out”) angrily fights their label and the industry through lyrics. 10 Years reassures fellow musicians to stay who they are, not to mold into what the industry wants.

These ravenous bastards always get what they’re after.

Minus the Machine

"Battle Lust"

Another addicting ballad I’ve probably listened to over fifty times, “Battle Lust” spends a lot of time in Hasek’s upper vocal range, where it takes on an indescribably quality. The sound is unique, like honey dripping down the blade of a knife.

I also love the first line of the song:

The fact is your opinion’s wrong.

It’s very funny. :,)

"Knives"

Probably the heaviest song on Minus the Machine, an album that features the ultimate mix of 10 Years ballads (“Forever Fields (Sowing Season),” “…And All The Other Colors,” and “Writing On The Walls,” to name a few), “Knives” already stands out in the anthology of 10 Years. Add that to the polished sound and fun music video, and you have a new favorite to your list that you’ll never be able to delete.

From Birth To Burial

"From Birth To Burial"

A fascinating music mix that owes its existence to Fort Minor and Linkin Park, the title track from 10 Years’ recent release marks a new growth in their sound. Whether it’s a small twig sticking out from the tree, or the direction 10 Years is headed, I don’t know. All I know is that “From Birth To Burial” is brilliant.

Everywhere from synthesizer to rap to melodious piano can be found in this song, leading many critics to ask, Where is 10 Years going with this? Other songs, including “Crimson Kiss,” include screaming in a vein that hasn’t before been tapped by them, and my ears haven’t adjusted to that change yet. People minds move with inertia, they fight change, and this transitional phase that 10 Years is in pushes the opposite direction of many of their fans. They are straying from their trademark sound, and people don’t want that.

"Selling Skeletons"

Sorry, I couldn’t find a video with audio for this song! A more traditional 10 Years song, “Selling Skeletons” tied with “Vertigo” and “Survivors?” for best song on From Birth To Burial. Hasek’s voice slices ice with a sugary razor blade, Brian Vodinh’s base drum pounds roundly like a wine barrel, and Ryan “Tater” Johnson’s guitar cries and screams chords, spinning stories through its vibrating wires.

It was extremely difficult to choose these ten songs because 10 Years is too awesome to narrow into just a few tunes. If you want to broaden your knowledge of 10 Years, here are a few more of my favorites to listen to:

“The Recipe” from The Autumn Effect
“Beautiful” from Division
“Drug of Choice” from Division
“So Long, Good-bye” from Division
“…And All The Other Colors” from Minus the Machine
“Forever Fields (Sowing Season)” from Minus the Machine
“Fade Into (The Ocean)” from Feeding the Wolves
“Waking Up the Ghost” from Feeding the Wolves
“Chasing the Rapture” from Feeding the Wolves
“Vertigo” from From Birth To Burial
“Survivors?” from From Birth To Burial

]]><![CDATA[Sunflower Dead's New Single "Dance With Death"]]>Thu, 27 Aug 2015 03:27:37 GMThttp://www.teenviewmusic.com/song-reviews/sunflower-deads-new-single-dance-with-deathIt's Time to Get Weird with Sunflower Dead's New Single "Dance With Death"

Long Beach, CA, -based Sunflower Dead is creepy. Simple as that sentence may seem, it is undeniably true. From lead vocalist Michael Del Pizzo’s black-veined head to lead guitarist Jaboo’s bloodied eyes, Sunflower Dead is terrifying.

Their second album, It’s Time To Get Weird, is scheduled for release October 30th, and I’m sure they’ll be touring a lot to lead up to and later support the album. Their single “Dance With Death” hit the radios just this week, and is a perfect mesh between danceable rock and zombie-slaying metal.

The very first interview I ever did was with Del Pizzo, before a headlining show at the Gaslamp. I was terrified just to be interviewing a musician, and the band’s off-putting appearance only worsened my fear.

At the show that night, Del Pizzo brought out his accordion, and—standing absolutely still—stared straight into my eyes unwaveringly while playing eerie chords on the accordion. It was quite the experience.

As we await their new release, I advise taking a look at their self-titled album that includes the catchy songs “Wasted” and “Ghosts” and a cover of “Every Breath You Take” by the Police.

]]><![CDATA[Live From Claresholm, Canada; A Hat Trick of New Videos]]>Fri, 17 Jul 2015 06:51:39 GMThttp://www.teenviewmusic.com/song-reviews/live-from-claresholm-canada-a-hat-trick-of-new-videosThree New Videos Give Hope to This Metal Head

As a serious hockey fan I love a great hat trick. While hockey season is still months away, I happen to be in Canada, and this past week this puckhead was treated to a trifecta of great news on the music front. Three bands I truly enjoy, all of whom I worried could be done for good, rose from the ashes and released videos that got me seriously excited for the future.

K'noup Tomopoulos has released the single "Tsunami" with LA-based Blackmore

David Draiman and Disturbed are back in a big way.

Brandon Saller of Atreyu has a new single out for his band Hell Or Highwater

First and foremost, LA based metal band Blackmore, which has gone through some challenging personnel changes, roared back to life behind the lungs of none other than K’noup Tomopoulos, lead singer of gypsy metal band VI*ZA. K’noup has an incredible voice, which is absolutely perfect with the eclectic music which is VI*ZA, to the point that I wondered how this would work. The verdict is in; this combination not only works, but is absolutely perfect. K’noup and Blackmore sound fantastic. Not only can K’noup do metal but he gets to do it with the best combination of young guitar players I know, Vahan Aslanyan and Shaunt Sulahian. Backing them is outstanding drummer Vinny Mezian and introducing new bassist Andy Terzyan Sulahian’s girlfriend, Anna Gevorkian, who fronts the band Satellite Citi, put together the following lyric video. Watch it now…that is an order.

The second bit of fantastic news I got on YouTube last week was the triumphant return of David Draiman and Disturbed. Unbeknownst to anyone with normal connections, Draiman and Disturbed have spent the last year secretly recording a new LP, Immortalized. The release of their first single, “The Vengeful One” is classic Draiman.; hardcore metal with that uniquely powerful voice which wastes no time failing to express his opinions about the world. And the video is classic Disturbed; bloody, violent and thrilling, but with absolute purpose a la “Natural Born Killers,” one of my favorite movies ever.

Anyone who follows this website, and reads any of my guest posts, knows I love political music. This song is perfect; angray, melodic and deeply meaningful. Another must watch.

And last, but certainly not least, is the release of “I’ll Be Waiting” by Hell or Highwater. While I was excited by the reunification of Atreyu last fall, and even got to see them at Aftershock in Sacramento, that seemed to have come at the cost of Brandon Saller’s side project, Hell or Highwater. Well not so fast, as they are back with a new release, “I’ll be Waiting” which has a video as different from Disturbed’s newest release as grown possums are from Samoyed puppies, but the truth is that Saller is just one hell of a great singer, and the music world is a better place when he is writing and performing new songs.
No, this is not hard metal like Atreyu, but it is great music that is a real pleasure to listen to. Saller and his crew have crafted a fantastic love song. Watching the video and listening to the song you really can internalize the emotions that have led the band to put together such a tune. Their first album was a staple in our family car rides, and the first song from the new effort clearly suggests that the band has a lot more to say.

So there you have it; three reasons for a music fan to be happy today. Disturbed is back; Hell or Highwater has returned, and Blackmore has put together an amazing single with one of the most versatile singers in metal. It is another great day in the life of a metal fan. And, another cold and relatively rainy summer day in Alberta, Canada.

Dan Adler was raised in Southern California to a mom and dad, one of whom appreciated Creedence and left wing anti-war politics. By the teenage years, Dan became obsessed with Black Sabbath, listening to the same seven albums repeatedly for 5 years. During this time, his favorite concert experience was seeing Metallica open for a bunch of bands that no longer exist and winning the 1st ever Santa Cruz Air Guitar contest. After several years in Africa listening and dancing to Chimurenga music, Dan returned to have the two best children in the world, one of whom spends a lot of time at concerts with him. What a lucky dad!

]]><![CDATA[Video of the Day: "Let the Truce Be Known" by Orphaned Land]]>Tue, 30 Jun 2015 06:53:34 GMThttp://www.teenviewmusic.com/song-reviews/video-of-the-day-let-the-truce-be-known-by-orphaned-land"Let the Truce Be Known"
by Orphaned Land

Today’s band is another band I learned about indirectly from the Aftershock festival 2014. This website interviewed K’noup Tomopoulos and Orbel Babayan of VI*ZA, who both named Orphaned Land as one of the bands that had found its way onto their iPod playlists this year. A little research into this band has given me a deep respect for all that they stand for and the bravery the band displays just by existing. And their music is as outstanding as their message.

Formed as far back as the early 90’s, Israeli-based Orphaned Land has released a great deal of music, however it is their moving video to “Let the Truce Be Known” that is the subject of today’s short piece. I encourage you to watch this video through to the end, and give some real thought to its outstanding message to us all.

Like the famous Christmas Truce of World War I, this video chronicles the ability of two young children to form a short respite from their battle. In that brief interlude the video shows the promise of peace and all that is possible. As the children play freely, and romp through the ocean, and enjoy their time together, they get to experience that wonderful carefree sense of childhood that must be sorely lacking in such a difficult situation as The Middle East. Unfortunately, much like the Christmas Truce, the kids return to the battle, and the separation and hatred returns.

Beyond the message that is included in a lot of their songs, the music itself is a wonderful mix of Middle Eastern music and metal, with fantastic guitar work and versatile vocals. There is a lot of music here to like, and two decades of music to explore. The new CD, All is One has its share of fantastic music; “Brother” a beautiful ballad, and the title track, “All is One” are worth taking some time checking out.

Orphaned Land won the title as Global Metal Band of the Year at the Metal Hammer Golden God Awards 2014. In the tradition of brotherhood, the band decided to share this honor with the Palestinian band Khalas. Furthermore, an online petition was started to nominate Orphaned Land for the Nobel Peace Prize for their dedication to peace in the Middle East. While it may seem unusual to nominate a metal band for such an award, it is important to take a minute out just to think about how brave these guys are to sing and perform passionately about peace in a land that is bereft of trust. I am not sure if I would be up for it.

Finally, I just want to thank K’noup for the outstanding heads up about this talented and entertaining band. Much like VI*ZA itself, Orphaned Land has a lot to offer the musical world, and it is a real shame that more people don’t know these incredible bands.

Orphaned Land Website
Facebook
Reverbnation

]]><![CDATA[Video of the Day: "Love Song" by Destiny Potato]]>Sun, 28 Jun 2015 06:56:08 GMThttp://www.teenviewmusic.com/song-reviews/video-of-the-day-love-song-by-destiny-potato"Love Song"
by Destiny Potato

Last year Shaunt Sulahian, lead guitarist of LA-based progressive metal outfit Blackmore, wrote a guest article on the top 5 albums of the year. While pretty much everything I knew about metal led me to believe that Nothing More’s self-titled album was the best of the year, Sulahian chose it second to Lun by Destiny Potato.

Singer Alexsandra Djelmas and guitarist David Maxim Micic

Destiny Potato's debut album Lun

While I am still a die-hard believer that Nothing More is the best overall album since Rise Against’s Endgame, I am deeply impressed by Destiny Potato, which hails from Serbia in what was formerly Yugoslavia. DP, despite having the silliest name of the year, has put together a collection of amazing music, with incredibly talented David Maxim Milic, a graduate of the Berklee School of Music, on guitar, Milan Jejina Yeqy on drums and Alexsandra Djelmas on vocals. Djelmas has an incredibly sweet voice, matched with a range and growl that come out unexpectedly in live performance. She is a real talent, and has begun work on a solo project as well, which I hope does not derail Destiny Potato’s path to success and hopeful destiny to tour the US. (I hope they go to Idaho, it is their destiny….ugh!)

For more information about this amazing band:
Facebook
Bandcamp

]]><![CDATA[Official Video for Young Medicine's New Single "She Makes Me Do Dirty Things"]]>Mon, 12 Jan 2015 08:56:53 GMThttp://www.teenviewmusic.com/song-reviews/official-video-for-young-medicines-new-single-she-makes-me-do-dirty-things"She Makes Me Do Dirty Things"
by Young Medicine

Watch this newly released music video by Kansas City-based band Young Medicine. It is difficult to find a genre that this band fits into because it touches on every genre from pop punk to EDM to metalcore. To read more about them, go check out their Facebook page.

]]><![CDATA[Top 12 Songs Released in 2014]]>Tue, 06 Jan 2015 09:01:47 GMThttp://www.teenviewmusic.com/song-reviews/top-12-songs-released-in-2014A Dozen Fantastic Rock Songs

12. "El Diablo Rojo" by Texas Hippie Coalition

This rock anthem hits the spot by combining all the fantastic aspects of Texas Hippie Coalition's unique Red Dirt Metal sound into the perfect song to dance to, headbang to, or air-guitar to.

11. "Dog on a Leash" by Adelitas Way
Adelitas Way does it again with this catchy single off their recently released album Stuck. "Dog on a Leash" uses a Southern rock-reminiscent guitar sound that meshes perfectly with lead singer Rick DeJesus' smoky voice.

10. "Electric Halo" by KYNG
Not only does this song feature '70s throwback instrumentals, it also boasts phenomenal lyrics that tell the story of a religious figure who preaches lies to his congregation, only to face his downfall when he is outed for his sanctimonious words.

9. "Fire!" by AFFIANCE
A phenomenal opening scream of "FIIIIRRRRREEEEEEE!" leads the way into some of AFFIANCE's most admirable work as a band yet. More cohesive than ever before, the skills of each member have been put to use in raising each other up to a whole new level of musical performance. Enjoy Tvrdik's operatic vocals as they soar over envy-worthy metalcore drumming and interwoven guitar lines in this amazing new addition to AFFIANCE's repertoire.

8. "Casanova (C'est La Vie)" by The Funeral Portrait
The Funeral Portrait has been my newest small-band discovery, and I am 100% convinced that they will be famous someday. "Casanova (C'est La Vie)" is the opening song off their debut EP For the Dearly Departed, and a music-writing masterpiece. Style changes, unique vocals, and fantastic musicianship ranks this band as one of the best of its genre.

7. "Beautiful Hurricane" by Blackmore
This song opens up with a melodic and catchy guitar riff that--once I hear it--it stays in my head for days afterward. When it comes to musical ability and all-around talent, Blackmore stands at the top of the list. The band is indeed young, but their musicianship argues otherwise.

6. "Woman (In Mirror)" by La Dispute
Of La Dispute's songs, I wouldn't argue that this is the best. However, this love song captures the eye and ear with its romantic lyrics: a man is watching his lover at her everyday activities, and realizes how every little thing she does affects him, all the "tiny dots on an endless timeline." He says, "The smallest sounds leave the clearest echoes," talking about "all the motions of ordinary love." As my father puts it, this song is very accessible for people who generally can't handle Dreyer's voice.

5. "People Live Here" by Rise Against
*Written by Dan Adler*
In the same way that Jordan Dreyer can deliver a deeply felt song about human emotions and love, Tim McIlrath can describe the pains of our political world like no one since the '60s. "People Live Here" is The Black Market's ballad masterpiece. McIlrath describes so clearly how confusing and senseless the world's great battles over religion seem to be, pleading with God, if he is watching, hey, "people live here!" I also appreciate how he deals with the senselessness of gun violence by talking about the Newtown shootings and also addressing the hardening of our political and religious discourse in our own country: "are your hands so clean?" Every new Rise Against album is so much more than a collection of songs. This song, however, is the most powerful on the album.

4. "Dollhouse" by Melanie Martinez
I know this song is a little outside of what I normally write about, but the lyrics and musicality win it a place on any great songs list, no matter what the genre. Martinez discusses the struggles of a not-so-perfect family by comparing it to a dollhouse. She says, "Plastic. Go back to being plastic," saying that when other people return, the family goes back to its fake, picture-perfect facade, when in reality, the father is cheating, the mother is a heavy drinker, and the son is a stoner. Just like dolls in a dollhouse, who are rumored to get up and walk around when nobody is looking, the family falls apart when there's nobody around to see.

3. "Words as Weapons" by Seether
Isolate and Medicate, Seether's new release, is by far their best album ever, and the entire album is about drugs: falling off the wagon, rehab, etc. "Words as Weapons" is the most distinct and creative song Seether has ever written, and my favorite of the album. Starting out with a sort of spoken-word chant, "All I really want is something beautiful to say," the song slides into minor chords played on violins before everything stops and it is just the vocalist's clear voice singing. A gorgeous song, and one that gets stuck in your head, "Words as Weapons" is absolutely fantastic.

2. "This is the Time (Ballast)" by Nothing More
Nothing More released their self-titled album early this year, and turned the entire rock 'n' roll world on its head. By far the best album released this year, and arguably the best since Endgame by Rise Against, Nothing More by Nothing More is a musical masterpiece. "This is the Time (Ballast)" has been ranking number one on SiriusXM Octane Radio for weeks, and has stunned everyone with its lyrical, emotional, and instrumental genius. Energy fills every angsty note lead singer Johnny Hawkins sings, and the air is buzzing with electricity every time this song is played.

1. "Jenny" by Nothing More
Yes, yes, I know. Another Nothing More song. But seriously, this band is fricking genius! "Jenny" explores a very popular subject among bands: drugs. However, Hawkins takes a very personal approach by singing about his sister who struggled with addiction for years, never realizing that her whole family was waiting for her to just reach out and ask for help. Hawkins sings, "See your mother here? [It's] her last painful year. I wish you only knew she stuck around for you." The song shakes the listener emotionally, and every time I listen to it, I end up in tears.

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