Taking Back Sunday: Happiness Is

For The Fan Presents:

Taking Back Sunday “Happiness Is” (2014) Review

I was in high school (I know that dates me), when I first was introduced to Taking Back Sunday. I hated them. I was really into hardcore, and they didn’t offer the hardcore leanings that I was into at the time, and despite my protest, their first album grew on me. I was hooked with the choruses that would just not stop, and soon I was singing along in their emo drenched rock fusion of alternative guitars and whining….I mean singing. When they hit the ground running, they had a string of hits and a ton of tours opening up for much heavier bands. The scene was hot in Southern California, and when they came through with Thursday, I was there rocking out.

Reeve Oliver: Touchtone Inferno

Reeve Oliver: Touchtone Inferno

For The Fan Presents:

Reeve Oliver “Touchstone Inferno” (2007) Review

Dogwood was a Christian punk rock band that seemed to be hitting their stride in the 2000’s, and that may not make a lot of sense to most music fans out there, especially if you weren’t keen on Tooth and Nail’s mad dash to sign any act that had a regional following in this scene. Well, Dogwood had a guitar player named Sean O’Donnell and he went on to create a band called Reeve Oliver. This band is one of the best pop punk rock acts that you probably didn’t hear about, and it’s sad.

For The Fan’s Guide To Alternative Christmas Records

For The Fan Presents: 

A Guide To Alternative Christmas Records

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The holidays are upon us and there is a ton of annoying music being played right now. Go anywhere in public and you will hear the choice songs that make everyone cringe. Not only that, they are usually bad renditions of them. How many times are we going to hear that Mariah Carrey song? Or worse than that, when will they stop playing Kenny G’s Christmas records? 

The short answer is, never.

So for those of you with smartphones, unlike myself, you may want to grab a handful of the following recordings. After a lot of listening, and yes, a LOT of listening, we narrowed down the top 5 alternative Christmas records worth a listen. These are all straying away from the traditional, even though “A Charlie Brown Christmas” on vinyl doesn’t get old. Heck, Sir Jorge even plays it in July. Granted, he’s usually alone and sad, but hey, wasn’t Charlie Brown always sad? We digress.

So here you go, 5 alternative Christmas records you’re going to absolutely want to put on instead of that lousy compilation your mom got you 2 Christmases ago from a Target end cap.