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Staff Writer Many “new” bands to hit the music scene may not be as new as you think. Bands that recently seemed to hit it big on the mainstream music scene are really bands that have been around for years. A few examples include Buckcherry, Thousand Foot Krutch, and Skillet. Buckcherry recently burst out onto the modern rock scene with their hit single “Crazy Bitch.” Their newest CD, “FIFTEEN,” hit stores April 11. Most people assumed that they were just a new band coming onto the scene. Most people would be wrong. Buckcherry debuted their first self-titled album April 6, 1999, followed shortly by a second album titled “Time Bomb” on March 27, 2001. The newest album strayed away from their older album’s take on classic rock, but it’s pretty good none the less. The change could be due to the addition of new members or maybe they just wanted to get recognized. Either way, it worked. With singles like “Lit Up” and “Check Your Head” from their first CD, it’s not clear why they didn’t make it big back then. I remember driving my mom crazy putting “Lit Up” on repeat on long road trips. Surprisingly, the second CD was not a let down for me. It produced the same elements and reminded me of just plain good rock music. The absence of new material for quite some time can be contributed to losing fellow members and re-evaluating where they were headed. “We had to take a break and assess what was important, and that’s creating music that fills what we see as a current void for classic rock with a modern edge,” guitarist Keith Nelson said. In short, I’d strongly recommend checking into Buckcherry’s older music if you enjoy their new CD. Also, Thousand Foot Krutch and Skillet just recently got the recognition they deserve. Both bands have been around for years in the Christian music world but only recently became known in the mainstream world.
"Look, we always loved the Chili Peppers, Rage, Anthrax, Faith No More. And when we started in 1997, they were the only ones that had touched on it, then it became ridiculous and a way to make cash.You even had John Mellencamp and Metallica doing scratches in songs. So we've put it to bed," said lead singer Trevor McNevan. People started to notice TFK when “Phenomenon” was produced in 2003. Their single “Rawkfist” even made it onto the rock radio charts. But it just wasn’t enough to keep them on the scene. Their newest album, “The Art of Breaking,” took us all by surprise with the new sound that can be heard in “Absolute” and their hit single “Move.” Shedding the slight hip-hop influences that colored the band's early releases, The Art of Breaking finds TFK perfectly melding heavy guitar riffs with catchy hooks and positive aggression. If you like anything ranging from Seether to the Foo Fighters to Papa Roach to Mudvayne, you’ll love this album.
Their newest album, “Comatose,” can be a good investment for some of their long-time fans. The singles, “Rebirthing” and the title track will take you right back to the old Skillet sound but also brings a new edge to the music. I’d suggest taking time to look into some of their older albums. You just might find something you like. My point is, if you’re content with just following the crowd and listening to what’s popular and new at the moment then by all means don’t let me stop you. But if you’re interested in digging up and dusting off some older music, you could be pleasantly surprised by what you find. 
So basically, just because a band comes out with a
new song doesn’t mean it’s a new band. Take the time
and check out a little background information. Dig
into the underground bands because I guarantee
you’ll find something you like. Have a comment? Please e-mail us. ©The Voice 2006 Revised 09/13/2006 11:05:03 PM— http://www.uamont.edu/Organizations/TheVoice/4_8/newband.htm |
