Category: Music

I don’t have much to say except this band except that they rock.

The Dangerous Summer are one of my favorite bands of all time. I was surprised to learn today that they had released a new album this year. I thought the band was done when they lost one of their members a while ago. Turns out they’re still alive and kicking and making kick-ass music. Having listened to their latest release, the self-titled ‘The Dangerous Summer’, it’s safe to say that they still have it in them. All the trappings of a standard TDS song are present: layered guitars, emotional lyrics and raw vocals – everything a TDS fan would be looking for in an album from the band.

I can’t recall how I got into the band – it was probably a recommendation from a list or article I read. However, I remember when I first heard – Permanent Rain. It made me a fan of the band instantly. I immediately proceeded to consume all their music, and even learned how to play the acoustic version of the song. With each new release, which were remarkable by the way, I found myself always returning to their debut album ‘Reach for the Sun’. Something about the music on that album which made them so magical to me. It’s not like they changed their sound or anything after the album – I guess it’s just hard to recreate the feeling of discovering something for the first time again.

I was immensely pleased when they released an acoustic version of the album. I guess they really liked it as well if they thought it should be rearranged and re-recorded! They should totally release an EDM version of the album, I don’t think they can do any wrong with the material.

Over the years I’ve been impressed with the consistency of their releases. I don’t think they’ve ever released a single bad song. Hopefully AJ and the boys can make it over to this side of the world before they breakup (again). As usual, here are a list of some of my favorite tracks from these guys.

The Dangerous Summer – Ghosts

The Dangerous Summer – Fire

The Dangerous Summer – Permanent Rain

The Dangerous Summer – Catholic Girls

The Dangerous Summer – Knives

Section cut short: for some reason, Hopeless has blocked a lot of their YouTube videos in Malaysia, which is a shame, but they’re on Spotify, so head there to check them out.

So while going through bands I wanted to share about, I realized that I had yet to write a post about one of my favorite bands of all time. Taking Back Sunday – one of the first few bands that molded my music tastes to what it is right now. Without any hesitation, I can name my favorite song off each album and probably recite the lyrics to half of their discography. These guys have been monumental in influencing my music. Sure, I’m not as creative as Fred/John/Matt/Eddie when it comes to guitar but I try (haha). Their heart on sleeve lyrics were what sold me to this band, as well as their signature dual-vocals. Think Les Miserables with electric guitars. They’ve also inspired countless handles and blog titles worldwide. Teenage poetry for sure.

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Spitalfield is another one of my favorite pop punk bands I have on rotation. I discovered these guys when I heard the song ‘I Loved The Way She Said “L.A.”’ on a Victory Records sampler that I got with my Taking Back Sunday – Where You Want To Be CD. Yeah there was a time when I still purchased CDs. The sampler was full of gems that I had never heard before and grew to love – Hawthorne Heights, Bayside and these guys.

Spitalfield – I Loved The Way She Said ‘L.A.’

The song had relatable title and lyrics, which drew me into them. You know the feeling you get when you listen to a song and you think that it was written just for you? Yeah, that was me listening to that song. Of course I had to check out the rest of their discography, and predictably I fell in love with the band. Positive lyrics, upbeat music, and just enough gruff that made them more punk than pop and one of the smoothest vocalists in the scene.

Mark Rose, the band’s vocalist, had a soft singing style that wasn’t aggressive in the slightest. But it somehow fit over the band’s pop punk guitars, creating a mellow, easy listening experience. It’s much more evident in his solo records that his voice was meant for pop/blues, but with the band the combination was a unique combination.

The band eventually split up after their last release and Rose went on to release music on his own, as well as creating a songwriting service. I’m still looking forward till the day the band reunites (if it ever happens) but for now, here are some of my favorite tracks from the band and Mark Rose:

Spitalfield – Five Days And Counting

Spitalfield – Make My Heart Attack

Spitalfield – What Were You Thinking?

Spitalfield – The Future is Now

Spitalfield – From The Desk Of B. Larsen

Spitalfield – The Only Thing That Matters

Spitalfield – Won’t Back Down

Spitalfield – Novocaine

Spitalfield – 16:49 Army Time

Spitalfield – Are We Still Here?

Mark Rose – I Can See You (With My Eyes Closed)
https://markrosemusic.bandcamp.com/track/i-can-see-you-with-my-eyes-closed

Mark Rose – Watch The Water Dry

Mark Rose – She Doesn’t