A Day to Remember Release Standard Album

A Day to Remember self released their fifth album in October. Common Courtesy received a full physical release last month and it's more of the same for the band. The band, led by frontman Jeremy McKinnon, mix in elements of metalcore, pop-punk,, emo and post-hardcore to form a catchy and aggressive sound that is all their own.
While this record isn't the band's best, it is a step up from their last release What Separates Me from You, which had tons of filler and only a handful of great songs. While this record isn't as great as their best album, their sophomore release For Those Who Have Heart, it still reminds fans why this band is so great. The band mix in hardcore bangers, pop-punk anthems and emotional ballads.
The band have gotten heavier on this release and with songs like "Sometimes You're the Hammer, Sometimes You're the Nail," "Violence (Enough Is Enough)"  and "Life Lessons Learned the Hard Way" are all sure to open up mosh pits in the future and are signature A Day to Remember. "Best of Me" is for sure the album's best heavy song. The song mixes in pop-punk melodies and is what the band do best.
The pop-punk inspired songs also shine. "Life @ 11" is a great example of this. The album's two best pop-punk songs are the first two on the album "City of Ocala" and "Right Back at It Again." These songs have the aggression of pop-punk and truly make the listener move.
Some of the album's best tracks are the ballads. "I'm Already Gone," "End of Me" and the album's best song "I Surrender" are all emotional and soft while still maintaining rock elements.
While most of the songs on the album are good some just don't hold their own next to such great songs. "I Remember" and "Dead & Buried" aren't as memorable as the other songs and could be done without.
The rereleased version of this album has three bonus tracks. The acoustic opener of "Leave All the Lights On" soon starts out a bounce that recalls older Kelly Clarkson songs. This song is a pop-punk rocker that is a good addition to the album. "Good Things" is a kind of Blink 182 throwback that also adds to this record. "Same Book But Never the Same Page"  is a good song but it isn't as good as some of the album's other great tracks and comes off as having been done before.
All in all Common Courtesy is a great record and while it isn't the band's best album, isn't the worst thing they've done. It shows that even in adversity a band can stick together and make great music.

Krewella Release Exquisite Debut Album

Dance trio Krewella released their debut album Get Wet last month and it is a fun ride from beginning to end. Their music combines house, drum and bass and dubstep to make a perfect union of dance music perfection. From the opening track "Live for the Night" to the ending song "This is Not the End" which features Pegboard Nerds, the group always bring the party.
"Live for the Night" is an epic party jam that starts the record off right. Next up is one of the best songs, "We Go Down." This song is all about partying and the bonds of friendship. "Come & Get It" is a fun song that is decidedly dubstep leaning. The next song "Enjoy the Ride" is a song about the group enjoying the ride that is life.
One of the best songs on the album comes up next. "We Are One" is possibly the most house song on the album is all about unity. This song should definitely be a single, it would do great at radio. The next song is sure to be a hit as well. "Dancing with the Devil" features Blink 182 drummer Travis Barker and Fall Out Boy vocalist Patrick Stump. This song is a dubstep anthem for misfits everywhere.
"We are louder than your bullshit/ You're just dancing with the devil," vocalists Jahan Yousaf and Yasmine Yousaf sing with Stump.
The next song is the group's signature song and biggest hit "Alive." The song is a gorgeous dance song that starts out with just a piano and soon adds a raved out instrumentation. The song is song is about the music making them feel alive. It's emotional and perfect. This song is so catchy, no wonder it's such a huge hit.
The theme of getting lost in the music continues on "Pass the Love Around." The song is about dancing at a club and getting lost in the music and feeling free. The next song "Ring of Fire" has the group getting into a darker dubstep kind of sound. "Fuck the rules," the girls sing in the first line of the song. The song is tailored to clubs.
The next song "Human" finds Krewella changing up the pace. The song starts off with pianos and acoustic guitars. The lyrics of the song show such fragility. "I am only human," they sing.
Next the album goes to "Killin' It." This song has a hip hop swagger to it and then dubstep breakdowns. The lyrics are classic hip hop bragging lyrics.
The album closes on a high note with their current single "This is Not the End." The song features Pegboard Nerds is a very dubstep song that closes the album off right.
Krewella are a great group and they've already shown that they mean business. They are sure to have more hits like "Alive."