July has been a month of milestone birthdays for some of our favorite records. We thought it would be the perfect time to reflect on what makes these albums such a staple in our lives.
1. A Lesson In Romantics — Mayday Parade
Back in 2007, A Lesson In Romantics by pop-punk band Mayday Parade blew through our speakers making it 13 years old this month. The record delivers heart-wrenching lyrics that lay against smooth verses. Co-vocalists, Derek Sanders and Jason Lancaster, lit up the music scene with their continuous call-backs throughout the record, complimenting each other the entire way. Tracks such as “Jaime All Over” became a signature track among the band’s fan-base and listeners among the genre.
A Lesson In Romantics is also home of the re-recorded “When I Get Home Your So Dead”, a track that adds a spice of attitude making for a slight contrast in the record. Staple song “Miserable At Best” zones in on the band’s ability to swiftly change the dynamic of the record into something so sad that it distorts the record in the best way. Ending on “You Be The Anchor That Keeps My Feet On The Ground, I’ll Be The Wings That Keep Your Heart In The Clouds” makes the record feel whole. The album manifests pop-punk in a raw and honest way that is enough to be talked about over a decade later.
2. Can’t Stop Won’t Stop — The Maine
Fast-forward a year later and out comes Can’t Stop Won’t Stop by a band called The Maine. Turning 12 this year it’s only right to look at what made this album momentous in the band’s career. “Everything I Asked For” is a track you can see when you hear it. The black and white zigzagging lines paired with the spacious gold/white showcased in full-band shots. The visual for the song illustrates what the album feels like.
Can’t Stop Won’t Stop bleeds the feeling of fresh summer air with a couple of bad decisions thrown in-between. Highlighting stand-out tracks like “Girls Do What They Want” and “Into Your Arms” while also sprinkling some under the radar songs such as “Time To Go”. The Maine started their 8123 fan-base with this record, making it unforgettable and is commendable from the infectious music to the early-2000’s fashion. This will be the record that creates a family among all fans of The Maine for years to come.
3. Nothing Personal — All Time Low
Turning 11 years old comes All Time Low’s sophomore album, Nothing Personal. Making it’s way onto our radar in 2009 after following behind the band’s debut release of So Wrong, It’s Right it was safe to say that this record had some big shoes to fill. The band gravitated new listeners’ attention towards them while heavily promoting the album’s forthcoming release on MTV, creating a “hostage” situation. The coverage on MTV applied anticipation to their already established fan-base making for an explosive debut.
The band rode the wave of the hype surrounding their new record by releasing their video for single, “Weightless” showcasing bassist idols, Pete Wentz of Fall Out Boy and Mark Hoppus of Blink-182. “Weightless” steams anthemic melodies met with a pop-punk frenzy, making for the perfect introduction into Nothing Personal. Tracks such as “Damned If I Do Ya (Damned If I Don’t)” exudes a catchy hook and freedom that oozes nostalgia to this day. All in all the second LP embodies fearless music and relatable lyrics making for an album to be celebrated.
These records are not just turning points in these bands’ careers but also a way to track their growth throughout the years. Each band has managed to expand their writing and music, while broadening their fan-bases while keeping the fans they’ve made from back when these albums came out swinging, making it something to be praised.
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