AYO /  by E

    Projekt Rehab's (a duo made up of Kason [singer/songwriter, bassist, keyboardist] and Porter [guitarist, keyboardist]) single, "AYO", has a constantly fun and upbeat rhythm with serious undertones that come through in the lyrics (lines like "little girls and boys, searching to destroy, they won't have much luck, it seems their time is up, everyone is moving forward, they went on with the show, and everything you thought you knew was better than you know" and "you keep pushing your luck to get to nowhere...leave it alone" are awesome) and I can't get enough of their music. Each track has a melody that's going to be running around your head all day (in a good way), that rhythm is assertive enough to grab your attention and not let go, and the vocals are fantastic and only made better by this band's penchant for great lyrics. 
       Head to the band's SoundCloud to check out other tracks like "Two Is A Crowd" and "Running With Scissors" for songs that are just so damn catchy and addictive that you'll be stuck playing them on repeat; listen to "AYO" below for something great.
"AYO" Projekt Rehab
http://www.projektrehab.com/
https://soundcloud.com/projektrehab
https://www.facebook.com/projektrehab
https://twitter.com/ProjektRehab
- E

Seventeener (17th and 37th) /  by E

    The Lawrence Arms released their video for "Seventeener (17th and 37th)" (a track off their forthcoming Metropole) and it's just as simply perfect as the song itself. The video, directed by Ben Pier, features the Chicago band trying out different genre variations in search of their band's identity, beginning with metal and morphing into clown make-up as the video progresses*.
      The song is amazing with prominent riffs, a heavy rhythm, and lyrics that can't be ignored; the opening verse which states "I never wanted to die old, but it's too late now, my heart has grown so cold, and the corpse I leave behind, laying on a bed, no pretty boy, it's a sick sack of disease" is awesome. 
       The goal of the band has always been to have fun and make good music and Kelly has stated "if we didn't have that, then we'd just rather not make a record, 'cause fuck it".
       The band will be heading out on their US headlining tour in February so check those dates out here then head over to this site and preorder your copy of the band's sixth studio album, Metropole (due for release January 28).
"Seventeener (17th and 37th)" The Lawrence Arms
https://www.facebook.com/thelawrencearms
http://www.lawrencearms.org/index/
*If you had a bad experience with a circus clown when you were younger, do not watch after the video's two minute mark. This new trend of using clowns/clown masks in music videos is not okay.
- E

Seasoned Noise /  by E

       Manolo Panic, a foursome from Zurich, released the music video for their single "Seasoned Noise". The video, directed by Mitch Bekk, features a sole storm trooper searching for lost power sources while the songs heavy riffs and constant rhythm serve as a pulsing soundtrack. 
       The song itself is great with those ever present riffs and the lulling vocals which compete with the fast tempo rhythm, and lyrics "there aren't any rules, but you won't win and you will lose, and it's all, I wish, I hope, a road to nowhere, and no way back" personify the band's post-indie genre perfectly.
"Seasoned Noise" Manolo Panic
- E

Bright Lights /  by E

       Pretty sure this is one of the top ten best songs of all time. Nearly positive (if it's as perfect now as it was ten years ago, it's never going to stop being perfect). 
       It's got a gorgeous piano melody, Thomas' utterly perfect vocals (did he get special training for his enunciation; because he overdoes it [as he should] and it's spot on and I love it), awesome guitar riffs, and not a single one of these lyrics could be re-written to be better.
"Bright Lights" Matchbox Twenty
- E