Archive for the ‘My Favorite Highway’ Category
Top 5 Powerpop Albums of 2008
It’s that time of year again, nearing the end of 2008 and the lists have already begun appearing. I always love the opportunity to share with you music that I enjoy, which has been the whole reason I began writing in the first place. This year powerpop has taken another step in the right direction, quickly growing out of its harsh “tweenie” labels. Of course, even if it never does I’ll still be feeling young, rocking out to music that is exciting, catchy and down right fun. While there are no specific requirements to get on this list, all these albums have had significant playtime on my iphone.
5) My Favorite Highway – How To Call a Bluff (July 22, 2008)
How To Call A Bluff is one of the most polished powerpop releases this year. It is evident that a tremendous amount of effort was put forth because everything was solid, from the vocals to the melodies. Dave Cook’s voice was inspiring and the instruments were extravagantly pop, putting a soulful twist to the genre. While it is this soul and passionate sound that drove me to put them on the list, it also prevented me from putting them in the top spot. This album is definitely the total package when it comes to sound, but their soul often translated into less of the carefree fun which is a staple for any powerpop band.
My Favorite Highway – Getaway Car
4) Jack’s Mannequin – The Glass Passenger (September 20, 2008)
Inspiring, enduring and beautiful, that is what Jack’s Mannequin has turned The Glass Passenger into. This album lacks pop in the traditional sense, there’s little fun and little non-chalant business to be found in this album. Instead listeners are treated to something real and passionate, a glimpse into the world of Andrew McMahon. While it is true that I hold a soft spot for Jack’s Mannequin, there are no pity points awarded in this list. The music speaks for itself, with words that motivate and sounds that allow you to visualize more than just music. From aggressive tracks to mellow ones, the music is powerful and tells a unique story. Definitely the most influential album on this list, it is however just delving on the borders of powerpop, and as such cannot be named the best powerpop album of the year.
Jack’s Mannequin – Bloodshot
3) Forever The Sickest Kids – Underdog Alma Mater (April 1, 2008)
A perfect example of what powerpop means to me is Underdog Alma Mater. One of the most anticipated albums of the year, it definitely lived up to the standards put forth by FTSK’s previous EP. Energetic, fun, clever, and catchy — these are all adjectives that best describe Underdog Alma Mater and are often used in conjuncture with the pop genre itself. While many bands possess similar styles, FTSK has honed their own with uniquely timed duel vocals and an edgy sound that keeps things fresh and never boring. Simple, honest, and fun is what they do best, and anything beyond that can be left to a different genre, not powerpop. By the end of the album there’s a smile on my face and a tune in my head, which is all I can ask for. The only issue preventing this album from moving up in rankings is it’s similarities with FTSK’s old stuff, which has not been the case for many of the sophomore releases this year.
Forever The Sickest Kids – Hey Brittany
2) Cute Is What We Aim For – Rotation (June 24, 2008)
A complete shocker for me, I never thought Rotation would cut this list, let alone be the number one contender as powerpop album of the year. After my first listen I was utterly disgusted with CIWWAF’s complete change and revamping of their music. But over time this album has grown on me so much that I have listened to it consistently since it was released in June. The change in style took some getting used to, and while I still feel the quality of lyrics has devolved, just about everything else has evolved into something great. It could be that Cute matured, and therefore the lyrics became less about witty sexual innuendos and more about real social problems, leaving little room for insanely clever lyrics. That said, Rotation is much more polished than their debut album, competing with a full fledged sound that is aggressive, powerful and catchy. It provided that kind of spark that got me completely pumped over nothing, and was still pop enough to be catchy and moving. Most importantly it did not lose its stay-power even after hundreds of listens. A definite surprise album for me, Rotation earned it’s spot as the second best album of 2008.
Cute Is What We Aim For – Practice Makes Perfect
1) The Maine – Can’t Stop, Won’t Stop (July 8, 2008)
It may be of no shock that Can’t Stop Won’t Stop tops this year’s list and has easily become my favourite powerpop album of the year. Since the day it was released it has been vying for the title, and after every listen I feel it deserves it more and more. Can’t Stop, Won’t Stop perfectly combines emphatic and addictive pop with the meaningful and moving variety. Prior to this album The Maine was mainly known for just the fun stuff, so the debut album was a refreshing surprise in change. The Maine’s style is something that seems common, but has yet to be emulated to the kind of perfection that they deliver it with. Fans of powerpop can enjoy the fun and energetic songs but at the same time feel moved by the warm and inviting music. It is an album I enjoy each and every time I listen, not only because it is classically a fun album, but also because it’s a very thoughtful album. Perhaps I’m a softie for the quaint pop that has been produced this year, but at the end of the day, The Maine takes the cake with Can’t Stop Won’t Stop. Hopefully the title of this LP is an insight into their future endeavours.
The Maine – We’ll All Be
Honour Roll: The Academy Is… – Fast Times at Barrington High, A Rocket To The Moon – Greetings From…, Mercy Mercedes – 1.21 Gigawatts, The Morning Light – Self-titled
And that’s the list, have a happy holiday!
My Favorite Highway – How to Call a Bluff
Put on the backburner for far too long, My Favorite Highway released How to Call a Bluff back in July. For some reason or another, I never went on to review the album though I was completely impressed by the full length effort. For those of you not in the know, this 4.5 month old album is still every bit as good as the first time I listened to it. My Favorite Highway was reviewed way back in December of 2007 and I recall asking the question “can they produce twelve hits?” With only eleven tracks, they only just miss the benchmark, but alas, the consistency of great songs in this album is almost overwhelming.
I found How to Call a Bluff a tad better in every aspect as compared to their EPs. The songs were just a bit more creative, catchier, more exciting, and more soulful. Without being too cliché, I must say the band emerged and matured over the course of this album, and the final product is impressive. I’m also glad that they stuck with their original style, and while the music has improved, I can recognize that it is them without a shadow of a doubt.
What exactly distinguishes a My Favorite Highway song from all of the other music on the market? First and foremost the vocals are very talented and very suave. Without saying much at all, the energy can be expressed perfectly and elegantly with the sound of vocalists, Dave Cook’s voice. The other great element is the upbeat nature of their music. With such brilliant instrumentals, they convey a happy yet soulful motive. Take Simple Life for example, the backup vocals and vibrant instruments make for such a simple, fun song. A really upbeat melody, it’s also memorable, starting with the chorus and finishing with the “nananana.” While almost a mainstream approach, I find the blend of fun and soul to be nothing short of excellent, and the music truly stands out as topnotch powerpop.
Getaway Car was another song I thoroughly enjoyed because of the great composition. The piano intro leading to a mellow verse and finishing with a fast paced/heavy chorus was well done. I couldn’t help but find myself enjoying the entire song from start to finish as it unfolded using a cinematic approach. I could go on about the vocals which I think naturally sounds fantastic, but listeners really should hear it for themselves.
Not only is Getaway Car epic in design, but almost all the songs have the same raw soul driving the tracks. From the carefree to the serious the same My Favorite Highway enthusiasm can be found throughout the album. I was equally impressed with the somber tracks as I was with the extremely upbeat ones. Bigger Than Love is very emotional yet in the end shares a very positive message. The slow moving melody combined with the slower and greater range of vocals is enough to win me over. I was also pleased to see Bittersweet Life reoccur on this album, originally titled How to Call a Bluff. One of the most emotionally driven tracks, it has great elements of powerpop produced in epic fashion; one of the nicest and touching tracks I really enjoyed it. Another notable song is Walking on a Wire which is similar in sound.
Overall My Favorite Highway has pleased me with this album, it’s unfortunate I had to review it so late, but better late than never. And if you’re one of the select few who enjoy a great powerpop band, and haven’t listened to this album, do so immediately. How to Call a Bluff is an LP which I feel contends for album of the year.
Check out their Myspace for official tour dates and album info.
My Favorite Highway Review
My Favorite Highway is a pop-punk/alternative band from Fairfax, Virginia. These guys currently have 2 EPs and are working on a full length album to be released in 2008. My Favorite Highway really impressed me for being a relatively new band that doesn’t have a whole lot of material. But judging from the songs that they have released, I’m really excited to hear the kind of music they’ll be releasing in 2008.
My Favorite Highway is pumping out very mainstream-lined songs, and it’s a wonder as to why they are not signed. However, unlike most mainstream sounds, MFH has retained the true soul and fulfilling aspects of a great pop-rock song. Every song is well composed, driven by great vocals, catchy riffs, and a generally upbeat backbone. I’m obsessed with bands that use pianos, and coincidentally MFH utilises pianos and keyboards in a lot of their songs.
What really impresses me about MFH is the diversity in their music. Although they can be classified in a single genre, their songs are never the same and are continuously commanding different emotions. You’re Making It Come Alive, one of their most popular songs, is a slower/softer melodic song that is as downbeat as it is up. It has good vocals, a catchy chorus, and appealing guitar & piano riffs. On the other side of the spectrum, They Tried To Kill Chivalry But We Brought It Back, is a much more aggressive song, with guitars in straight up overdrive. The vocals make a great transition to a much more rock oriented song, and when first heard, reminded me of the spunk you would find from Cobra Starship. Finally, Bad Habits is a song that has a little more funk, neither aggressive nor a soft ballad, it’s a well composed song that shows just how well MFH can compose and how deep their talent goes.
I’m sceptical as to whether MFH can produce an equally diverse album, and instead of having five really great songs, can they produce twelve hits? Besides that, I’m confident in the success of My Favorite Highway, and can guarantee these guys will be signed soon. The talent is there, the direction of the music is there, and the fan base is only growing. There is however one problem with MFH, they’ve yet to play a show in Toronto, and I cannot wait to see them live. Till then, I’ll be repeating the handful of songs I have of them on my ipod.
My Favorite Highway – Youre Making It Come Alive (Cello Remix)
My Favorite Highway – They Tried To Kill Chivalry But We Brought It Back
