Dive Bombs – Mystery Meat
Genre: Pop Punk, Emo, Alternative Rock
Similar artists: Arctic Monkeys, Panic at The Disco, The Strokes, The All American Rejects
People are only really free as long as they are allowed to dream freely. This is why rock music continues to be important. It’s a vehicle for fantasy. And, it’s something in which many people are able to share collectively.
There may come a day when songs of dissent at forbidden everywhere in the world. However, for the moment, these songs remain the backbone of rock music’s body of work. Not being able to drive 55, quitting your job, or simply dancing in front of misfortune are small acts of dissent that wouldn’t work with this kind of musical backdrop.
Dive Bombs’ Mystery Meat fosters the power of protest in a funny, quirky, pop-punk fantasy. It’s a reverie about being able to tell the man to “Shove it!” and to dedicate one’s life and energy to work on their passion. There’s plenty of hopeful energy in this. And, even though it’s not reinventing the wheel, it’s a message that is particularly powerful in the times in which we are living.
Bits in Pockets – Collette
Genre: Alternative Rock
The world has never been as interconnected as, some of us, are about to find out through a great deal of pain. We’ve never been as dependent on one another. And, consequently, never have we had a greater ability to hurt one another. The world’s made us prisoners in each other’s realities.
Of course, this is not only expressed through tragic things but too beautiful ones as well. The world shares many more creative languages than in did in the past. One mention of Nirvana or The Red Hot Chili Peppers practically anywhere in the world would be greeted with nodding confirmation of whomever it is that you ask.
Bits in Pockets’ Collette proves that point but does more. The Turkish group not only sounds like an Anglo-American alternative-rock group. They also sound ready to challenge the great bands with which they share part of their sonic identity. Bits in Pockets make rock music cleverly cut down to its bare essentials.
