“Whichever, Whatever” Is The Best EP To Come Out This Summer

Clocking in around 15 minutes, Whichever, Whatever, the second EP by Floridian bubblegrunge power pop trio (their words not mine) Expert Timing is both a cute and fun time.

The five-track EP is filled with enough groovy jams to keep you smiling all day. The main vocalists — Jeff and Katrina Snyder — work off each other incredibly well, and drummer Gibran Colbert is the glue to the band. And on their first outing with Count Your Lucky Stars (Overo, Singing Lungs, Thank You, I’m Sorry), the trio show us why they’re damn good.

“Gravity” kicks off the EP on a high note, and the highs never slow down. Usually it’d be easy to pick out which song on a release is the best, but for Whichever, Whatever, that was overall difficult. Each track shines bright, and just like a cute litter of puppies, it’s hard to pick one. Each song puts a smile on my face. But if I had to pick, listen to the Lemuria-esque “Good Things” and the 96 second long 90’s throwback track “Luckin’ Out”.

Overall, if you really like fun times, songs tackling subjects like consent, and the stylings of Weezer, early No Doubt, or The Beths, then check out Whichever, Whatever.

Prenatt’s Picks: 100 Artists To Check Out In 2020 (Part 1)

It’s TIME!

That’s right, it’s the moment you’ve been waiting for. The main reason you guys even read my blog.

For 2020, I’m spicing things up. Instead of the usual 50, I’m doubling it. Yeah, 100 acts. Sure you might think I’m batshit insane for doubling my amount, but it’s a new year, and I wanted to see if I could even do 100 acts. And guess what, I was able to find enough.

Here at Punk Goes Prenatt, for the next 10 weeks, I’ll give you 100 artists that you need to tune your attention to throughout 2020. This list will feature numerous acts from numerous genres.

Now that we got all of that out of the way, let the madness begin!

Glitterer

Hometown: New York, NY

Out Now: Looking Through The Shades (Anti-)

For Fans Of: Fiddlehead, Gleemer, Turnover

Glitterer was made out of boredom. No joke. Former Title Fight bassist Ned Russin created Glitterer, a shoegaze meets grunge project, to cure his boredom. With two albums under the moniker, the latest being 2019’s Looking Through The Shades, Russin is creating music the way he’s never done in the past. His music feels like a lucid dream. “I started writing songs with this little MIDI keyboard that I bought probably like four years ago now,” Russin told Discovered Magazine in an interview. While Title Fight fans might find Glitterer to be a weird departure, it will quickly grow onto you. So far he’s toured with Wicca Phase Springs Eternal, Ceremony, Angel Du$t, Stages In Faith, and Fiddlehead. If you like Title Fight, you’ll like Glitterer. He’ll be on the road later this year with Mannequin Pussy.

Song to Listen to: “1001”

The Wild & Free

Hometown: St. Louis, MO

Out Now: Weight Of The World – EP (Self-Released)

For Fans Of: Paramore, Tonight Alive, We Are The In Crowd

Alt-pop quartet The Wild & Free are a band that should be on your radar. These St. Louisans have the talent and skills to compete with acts like Against The Current and PVRIS. Just listen to songs like “Smoke & Mirrors” and “Paper Cut,” a track I wrote about months ago, and you’ll be hooked like I was. They went to the studio back in December with Matt Squire (3OH!3, Panic! At The Disco, Stacked Like Pancakes) and dropped “Out Of Time.” Let’s see if The Wild & Free are ready for the big leagues whenever that happens.

Song to Listen to: “Out Of Time”

Mundy’s Bay

Hometown: Montréal, Québec, Canada

Out Now: Control Room (Pure Noise)

For Fans Of: The Jesus And Mary Chain, My Bloody Valentine, Title Fight

Mundy’s Bay are no strangers to this blog. The Montréal quartet first appeared back when I announced their signing to Pure Noise Records (Can’t Swim, Microwave, The Story So Far,) as well as reviewing their EP Control Room, a modern shoegaze classic. In my review, I said, “Control Room feels like a long lost 80’s album that was finally found. The three song EP takes elements found in artists of the time like Blondie, My Bloody Valentine, and The Cure while also inspired by modern acts like The Pains Of Being Pure At Heart, Cigarettes After Sex, and Title Fight.” They’ve hit the road with acts like Defeater and Supercrush, and they’re currently touring with HUNNY. If you enjoyed Control Room, you’ll really like their debut record Lonesome Valley which drops March 13.

Song to Listen to: “Goodbye”

♥ GOJII ♥

Hometown: Orlando, FL

Out Now: WISHING STAR – EP (Self-Released)

For Fans Of: deadmau5, Om Unit, Shawn Wasabi

Meet ♥ GOJII ♥ (pronounced Go-gee,) an agender star mouse hailing from the wonderful city of Orlando. Influenced by deadmau5 and Aphex Twin, they create mesmerizing music known as dreampop, and once you hear their music, you’ll be wanting more. Their latest EP WISHING STAR is one of the best electronic albums I’ve heard in 2019. They’ve also done remixes for Britney Spears, Childish Gambino, and deadmau5. Totally don’t sleep on them. Follow their Patreon to hear new music early.

Song to Listen to: “POP!”

The Callous Daoboys

Hometown: Atlanta, GA

Out Now: Die On Mars (Self-Released)

For Fans Of: The Chariot, The Dillinger Escape Plan, The Number Twelve Looks Like You

Mathcore has never been this funny before. The Callous Daoboys, whose name sounds similar to the Dallas Cowboys, are a mathcore septet hailing from Atlanta and are quickly becoming a big deal in the scene. With their hilarious sense of humor and early 2000s mathcore sound that would make Botch proud, this collective are showing the world that they’re a force to be reckoned with. They’ve done shows with False Accusations, Gouge Away, The Last Ten Seconds Of Life, Michael Cera Palin, and Evergreen Terrace. Oh, and their new album Die On Mars fucking slaps. You’d be an idiot to sleep on the Daoboys.

Song to Listen to: “Fake Dinosaur Bones”

State Police

Hometown: Connecticut

Out Now: The Whole World (Self-Released)

For Fans Of: Edgard Varese, John Cage, Stockhausen

“There’s four large sources of inspiration I draw from: drugs, dreams, shoegaze, and avant-garde electroacoustic.” That’s what experimental electronic artist State Police, aka YungKnight, told me on Discord when talking about his influences. The Connecticut-based musician’s songs feel like a bizarre drug trip, and that comparison isn’t wrong. Hell, he made his EP Concepts while on DXM. “Drugs are a tool to access alternate states of consciousness, and always presents the user with a different and unique view of the world, one that is different from waking everyday consciousness,” he said. “I like for my music to capture these alternate states of mind, one that is not as stable as you’d find in sobriety. Things become more fluid, or jagged, slowed.” His sophomore album The Whole World is as mesmerizing as it is trippy, like on tracks “Space Bird (750 Hours)” and “DMT Fever Dreams.” No word yet if he’ll ever do shows. 

Song to Listen to: “Space Bird (750 Hours)“

Cleveland Avenue

Hometown: Chicago, IL

Out Now: True Love Is Not Just A Pizza Tattoo (Self-Released)

For Fans Of: Four Year Strong, Knuckle Puck, ROAM

Originally a Blink-182 cover band, Chicago’s Cleveland Avenue are one of the many fresh faces to come out of the Windy City’s marvelous pop punk scene. Yeah, the same one that’s graced us with Fall Out Boy, The Academy Is…, and Knuckle Puck. They got some attention when actor Matthew Lillard listened to their song “Stu Macher Is Shaggy Rogers” after guitarist/vocalist Thomas Bulvan tweeted to the actor to check it out. And Lillard loved it. “We were in total shock!” the band told Discovered Magazine. “[Tommy’s] favorite actor is Matthew Lillard so realizing that a childhood idol was taking the time to listen to our new single was incredible.” They’ve done shows with Keep Flying and Young Culture. If you want proof that pop-punk’s not dead, check out Cleveland Avenue.

Song to Listen to: “Stu Macher Is Shaggy Rogers”

THICK

Hometown: Brooklyn, NY

Out Now: THICK – EP (Epitaph)

For Fans Of: Diet Cig, The Julie Ruin, Lemuria

Born from NYC’s DIY scene, THICK are three ladies playing punk music their way. As they say it clearly, “THICK make music with the raw defiance of punk and addictive melodies of pop, punchy and catchy and wildly tongue-in-cheek.” Their music titled “girlwave” packs quite the punch and their shows are nothing but good times. THICK signed with Epitaph Records (Converge, The Ghost Inside, Nacsar Aloe) in 2019 and dropped a three-song self-titled EP, and will be releasing their debut 5 Years Behind on March 6. The future is female, and it’s being led by THICK. 

Song to Listen to: “Bumming Me Out”

Locket

Hometown: Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Out Now: All Out (Fearless)

For Fans Of: Bearings, Head North, The Wonder Years

Remember Safe To Say? Well, they’re now called Locket. Don’t let the new name scare you off, it’s still the same STS you loved a few years back. “Two years ago, we decided to walk away from touring or playing shows altogether,” frontman Brad Garcia said in a press release. “As a band, and in my personal life, we weren’t in the healthiest of places. We put things on hold in order to figure out what it was we wanted from this band if it were to continue. Looking back to those first couple months, there was always a chance we’d just put things to bed entirely — especially if the time to ourselves didn’t give us that sense of clarity we were looking for. Thankfully, that wasn’t the case. This break gave us a chance to make adjustments to our personal lives, to rediscover our love for writing and playing together, and, most importantly, to resolidify those relationships as people rather than just bandmates.” Since reuniting, they’ve toured with The Dangerous Summer and Belmont. Back together, the alt-emo quartet are ready to pick back up right where they left off. Rise and shine, fellas.

Song to Listen to: “Out Of Sight”

Surfaces

Hometown: College Station, TX

Out Now: Where The Light Is (Self-Released)

For Fans Of: boy pablo, Rex Orange County, Still Woozy

While their music sounds like a tropical breeze on a sunny beach written by West Coast folks, Surfaces are from Texas. The duo made up of writer/arranger Colin Padalecki and vocalist/producer Forrest Frank are creating seductive, happy-go-lucky music that bounces around from genre to genre. Combining hip-hop, calypso, jazz, pop, and whatever they can get their hands on, Surfaces are making music that no one can touch. With the success they’ve been having, it’s shocking that a major label hasn’t picked them up yet. Last year, their “Endless Summer Tour” sold-out all of the dates. All of them. They’re quickly moving up, and you better be ready. Their third album Horizons drops February 28.

Song to Listen to: “Sunday Best”

Come back next week for more artists!

Prenatt’s Picks: 50 Artists To Check Out In 2018 (Part 2)

It’s a brand new year and you know what that means right? New music! Much like I did last year on my weekly list for The Record, I’ll be looking at 50 bands that I think you should add to your playlists. You might know some of these guys, or some of them might be fresh faces. Here’s some artists to check for in 2018.

Mt. Joy

Hometown: Philadelphia, PA and Los Angeles, CA

Out Now: Mt. Joy (Dualtone Music Group)

For Fans Of: Bob Dylan, The Lumineers, The New Basement Tapes

Influenced by folk heroes Paul Simon and Bob Dylan, vocalist and guitarist Matt Quinn and guitarist Sam Cooper, along with their merry band of men called Mt. Joy write songs that sound like their idols. On their debut self-titled record, the band write infectious songs that will get your toes tapping and your head bobbing to drummer Sotiris Eliopoulos’ beat, such as “Sheep,” “Dirty Love,” and their hit song “Silver Lining,” which Alternative Buffalo has been playing for a while now. Seems like these guys will make folk-rock great again.

Song to Listen to: “Sheep”

lil aaron

Hometown: Los Angeles, CA

Out Now: AARON JUDGE: ROOKIE OF THE YEAR (Self-released)

For Fans Of: Lil Uzi Vert, Pouya, RiFF RAFF

This guy has worked with artists like Justin Bieber, blackbear, Travis Barker of Blink-182, and D.R.A.M., but now, it’s time for this Indiana born rapper to shine in the spotlight. Fusing rap with emo, the young rapper shows his scene cred by sampling emo legends Panic! at the Disco (“Hot Topic”) and Paramore (“Warped Tour”) and take a quick listen to “Drugs,” a rap song that glorifies drugs while he raps over a punk beat that’s just fucking killer. He might be one of the most oddest rappers I’ve ever heard in my life. He just wrapped up a quick tour with Warped Tour rapper Mod Sun back in January.

Song to Listen to: “SLEEPFLEX”

The Frights

Hometown: San Diego, CA

Out Now: Valentine’s Sux – Single (Epitaph)

For Fans Of: FIDLAR, Joyce Manor, SWMRS

What originally started off as a prank ended up turning into a real band for these friends. Hailing from San Diego is this trio turned quartet formed up of vocalist and guitarist Mikey Carnevale, bassist Richard Dotson, drummer Marc Finn, and guitarist Jordan Clark. Their one-time half hour gig back in the summer of 2012 turned into an incredible journey ending so far with the band signing with popular independent label Epitaph Records (Color Film, Falling In Reverse, The World Is A Beautiful Place & I Am No Longer Afraid To Die) in early 2018. Their untitled third album will come out later this year produced by FIDLAR’s Zac Carper. The Frights are currently touring the US right now as part of their road to SXSW in which they’ll be playing on the StubHub Next Stage along with WAVVES, Action Bronson, and Mt. Joy.

Song to Listen to: “Valentine’s Sux”

Eat Your Heart Out

Hometown: Newcastle, NSW, Australia

Out Now: Mind Games – EP (Fearless)

For Fans Of: Paramore, Tonight Alive, We Are The In Crowd

Coming from the land down under is this fascinating female fronted pop-punk quintet. Freshly signed to American label Fearless Records (I Prevail, Movements, Pierce The Veil), the group are here to make their name well known throughout the scene. The group have toured with several well known acts in their country, touring with the likes of Four Year Strong and Knocked Loose. If you like catchy lyrics with a rhythm that matches, check out Eat Your Heart Out. EYHO will tour their home country as the opening act on Simple Plan’s Australian part of their “No Pads, No Helmets…Just Balls” 15th anniversary tour.

Song to Listen to: “Conscience”

Sharptooth

Hometown: Baltimore, MD

Out Now: Clever Girl (Pure Noise)

For Fans Of: Every Time I Die, Trapped Under Ice, War On Women

Named after the antagonist from The Land Before Time comes this aggressive hardcore act from Muderland. On their Pure Noise Records debut “Clever Girl” the band fronted by Lauren Kashan shreds throughout all 11 tracks with pure fierceness. With songs like “Fuck You Donald Trump” and the title track, it’s clear to see that these folks aren’t here to fuck around. Touring with heavy hitters like Stray From the Path and Anti-Flag, the group is here to shred until you’re dead. To quote Shockwave Magazine, “Sharptooth does all this unapologetically, taking hardcore into brave and dangerous new territory while never letting up on the ragged from-the-heart maliciousness fans demand from the genre.”  Sharptooth will appear this whole summer on this year’s Vans Warped Tour.

Song to Listen to: “Clever Girl”

I Don’t Know How But They Found Me

Hometown: Los Angeles, CA

Out Now: Choke – Single (None You Jerk)

For Fans Of: Atlas Genius, DREAMCAR, Night Riots

Dallon Weekes (ex-Panic! at the Disco) and Ryan Seaman (ex-Falling in Reverse) are no strangers to the scene, but who would’ve guessed that the two could make such beautiful music together? Known as the unnecessarily long named duo I Don’t Know How But They Found Me, Seaman and Weekes combine elements of new wave acts like Duran Duran and the Buggles with elements of Night Riots and Panic! at the Disco. These two make songs that’ll make you wanna bust out your best moves on the dance floor. Hopefully these two make it big in the scene.

Song to Listen to: “Modern Day Cain”

The Wrecks

Hometown: Los Angeles, CA

Out Now: Panic Vertigo (Another Century)

For Fans Of: Jet, New Politics, The 1975

I’ve talked about these guys before. Forgive me for repeating myself. “Formed in 2015, the band composed of vocalist Nick Anderson, guitarists Western Weiss and Nick Schmidt, bassist Aaron Kelley, and drummer Billy Nally, have been treated kindly by the gods of rock n’ roll,” I wrote in an article about their show in Buffalo months prior. Since that show, the band has released a new EP titled “Panic Vertigo” and just wrapped up a tour with New Politics. You probably know them from their song “Favorite Liar” which got tons of radio play on alternative rock stations across the states. The band will appear on tour with The Maine later this spring. If you like good old rock ‘n’ roll, jam The Wrecks.

Song to Listen to: “James Dean”

We Were Sharks

Hometown: Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

Out Now: Lost Touch (Victory)

For Fans Of: Carousel Kings, New Found Glory, State Champs

I hope you all read my review of “Lost Touch” on this blog. Let me repeat myself: “With their deep lyrics and bouncy riffs that sound like New Found Glory and Carousel Kings, We Were Sharks might be the scene’s next big thing.” You should all stop oversleeping on these fine Canucks. Straight outta Ottawa comes this sextet with songs that will resonate with you. We Were Sharks are made up of vocalist Randy Frobel, bassist Steve Creaturo, guitarists Jason Mooney, Josh King and Colin Jacques, and drummer Will Plummer. If you like pop-punk in general, then listen to We Were Sharks. Trust me, these sharks are friendly.

Song to Listen to: “Stay”

Diet Cig

Hometown: New Paltz, NY

Out Now: Swear I’m Good At This (Frenchkiss)

For Fans Of: Bleached, Lemuria, Tacocat

Do you like Best Coast but wish they were punk? Well congrats, I found that band. Insert Diet Cig: a punk duo formed up of best friends Alex Luciano and Noah Bowman. The group have gained some success, touring with The Front Bottoms and doing a show with Passion Pit. They released their debut album “Swear I’m Good At This” last year on Frenchkiss Records (The Hold Steady, ISLAND, Strange Names). It’s just simple millennial pop-punk music that’ll make you feel giddy.

Song to Listen to: “Maid of the Mist”

Rumahoy

Hometown: Ocracoke, North Carolina

Out Now: The Triumph of Piracy (Napalm)

For Fans Of: Alestorm, Korpiklaani, Sabaton

Pirate metal. Need I say more? These scalawags sail across the globe blasting to land lovers their piracy tales with the help of metal. Created in 2011, these four pirates were brought together by their ringleader Captain Yarrface who, according to their Facebook, “was experimenting with the musical heritage of his ancestors. He quickly assembled a full lineup for the band drawn from diverse parts of the country, with hand-picked members chosen for their seafaring abilities and their thirst for rum and treasure.” Joining Yarrface is his merry crew, guitarist Bootsman Walktheplank, bassist Cabinboy Treasurequest, and Swashbuckling Pete, the nastiest pirate drummer who dared to sail the seven seas. They sail the seas, playing songs off of their new album “The Triumph of Piracy” on Napalm Records (Alestorm, Hoobastank, Valient Thorr). Watch out for when these pirates come to your town, cause they’ll steal your gold and booze. But if you’re fortunate enough, they’ll just turn you into one of their many fans.

Song to Listen to: “Forest Party”

Check out next week for more artists!