After the successful releases of pop hits such as Taylor Swift’s Shake It Off and Ariana Grande’s album My Everything, alternative rock responded with the album releases of Gerard Way’s Hesitant Alien on September 30, Yellowcard’s Lift a Sail on October 7, and New Found Glory’s Resurrection also on October 7. These new albums are important milestones in each of the three artists’ careers. Hesitant Alien is the first album as a solo artist for former My Chemical Romance lead vocalist Gerard Way whereas Lift a Sail and Resurrection are the ninth and eighth records of veteran bands Yellowcard and New Found Glory respectively. Way’s new LP is a major change in style without the influence of My Chemical Romance. Yellowcard’s Lift a Sail and New Found Glory’s Resurrection show the potential of a pop-punk revival in the music industry after its decline in popularity during the first several years of the 2000s. With that being said, alternative rock delivers new content that no doubts get listeners head banging throughout the fall season.
Hesitant Alien: Gerard Way
Following My Chemical Romance’s breakup in 2013 and the release of their greatest hits album in spring 2014, Gerard Way moved on as a solo artist and debuted his first record Hesitant Alien. Gerard Way’s sound is drastically different than his sound whilst frontman in MCR. During Way’s MCR days, the band was the epitome of anthemic choruses and soaring guitar solos, but in Hesitant Alien, Way takes a step back from MCR’s theatrical and urgent style by experimenting with synthesizers and pop elements. Hesitant Alien also is influenced by a musical style called ‘Britpop’, the chosen genre of British artists during the nineties. The major factor that greatly contributes to this sound change is obviously Way’s departure from MCR but his growing maturity plays a great role as well. In his late thirties, Way focuses more on producing music for his own enjoyment and leisure rather than for the demands and expectations that fans and critics had while Way was lead singer in MCR. Nonetheless, Way proves to MCR fans and critics that he can still produce quality music without the help of a band.
Notable Tracks:
Action Cat
Juarez
Lift a Sail: Yellowcard
After being in the music industry for almost two decades, Yellowcard has had a long and dynamic past. From the departures of various band members, the additions of new ones, and not to mention their split from record label Hopeless Records earlier this year, the band managed to create another album despite the turmoil. In Lift a Sail, Yellowcard showcases their maturity with the deep and emotional lyrics showcased in every tracks. What has always made Yellowcard unique from other alternative bands is band member Sean Mackin’s violin contributions. The juxtaposition of this classical sound and guitar riffs in turn produces an original sound that fans cherish. Although the band could have easily succumbed to the pressures to be mainstream and radio friendly, Yellowcard continues to maintain their pop-punk sound but with subtle hints of synths and electronic drum beats. Synthesizers, along with piano ballads and violin melodies in turn make the album sound more ethereal and mystic. Despite the additions of pop elements, Yellowcard pushes the boundaries of pop-punk without forgetting their original roots. With Lift a Sail, Yellowcard enters a new era in their career that displays them as a reinvented version of the band fans have loved for many years
Notable Tracks:
Make Me So
One Bedroom
Resurrection: New Found Glory
New Found Glory is no stranger to the music scene. Since the band’s founding in 1997, there have been changes in band members and record labels. Similar to Yellowcard, New Found Glory rose above the hectic times to produce the appropriately titled album Resurrection. With the loss of guitarist Steve Klein and the Chad Gilbert’s switch from being the band’s bassist to taking Klein’s place, the fate of the band seemed unsure and unclear. Nonetheless, with the release of Resurrection, Gilbert proves his worth as New Found Glory’s new guitarist. Gilbert’s heavy guitar additions are prevalent throughout the whole album. Lyrically, Resurrection can be viewed as New Found Glory’s diary of the tumultuous events leading up to the release. Lead singer Jordan Pundik describes the departure of Klein in track ‘Resurrection’: “So long, so long and thanks for nothing. I’m gone, I’m moving on, watch my resurrection”. More rock-based than the pop splashed albums of Gerard Way and Yellowcard, New Found Glory adheres to its 17-year long pure pop-punk style better than most bands releasing new content during the recent pop dominated music industry. Resurrection is an excellent effort in New Found Glory’s crusade to breathe life into the pop-punk genre once again.
Notable Tracks:
Resurrection
Selfless
