Posts Tagged ‘The Sidekicks’


31.12.2009

Jeff (from Rocket Fuel): 2009 Top 25

posted by Jeff

in Year End Lists

Jeff – SAL contributor and Rocket Fuel Podcast moderator

25-Arliss Nancy Dance to Forget
24-Reigning Sound Love & Curses
23-The Riverdales Invasion USA
22-Lucero 1372 Overton Park
21-Above Them Blueprint for a Better Time
20-The Sidekicks Weight of Air
19-The Mighty Mighty Bosstones Pin Points & Gin Joints
18-Dear Landlord Dream Homes
17-Rehasher High Speed Access to My Brain
16-Banner Pilot Collapser
15-Noise By Numbers Yeah, Whatever
14-Teenage Bottlerocket They Came From the Shadows
13-Heartsounds Until We Surrender
12-Polar Bear Club Chasing Hamburg
11-Big D & The Kids Table Fluent in Stroll
10-Used Kids Yeah No
9-Left Lane Crusier All You Can Eat
8-The New Lows Atlantic/Pacific
7-The Thermals Now We Can See
6-The Evening Rig Is Doin’ Stuff
5-The Marked Men Ghosts
4-Failure’s Union In What Way
3-Cheap Girls My Roaring 20’s
2-Red Collar Pilgrim
1-Nothington Roads, Bridges and Ruins

19.11.2009

The Sidekicks: Weight Of Air

posted by Ben

in Music Reviews

sidekicks

The Sidekicks have made a statement with their latest full-length, Weight of Air. After a solid debut and last year’s excellent Sam 7″, The Cleveland, OH quartet have put out an album that shows an enormous growth and displays melodic brilliance in nearly all its verses, choruses and bridges. The songs are still rooted in their signature pop/punk exuberance, but the band has found a way to ascend past their designated punk rock niche.

Lead-singer/songwriter Steve Ciolek teams up with fellow crooner Matt Scheurmann for throat searing hooks that reach for the sky. The album begins softly with folk strums to go along with the piercing harmonies. The “campfire” sensibility is short lived, however, as attacking drums quickly introduce the first pop/punk anthem of the disc. Oh and anthems there are galore all over Weight of Air. “Almost the Same” combines all the bands signature elements in boisterous romp, while “Looking” provides one the catchiest tunes you’ll hear all year. Even the album’s slower songs, such as the soul-tinged “Small”, come off as clamorous sing-alongs. But perhaps the album’s defining moment comes in the form of “Learn to Live Without”, a ballad-esque tune that somehow manages to maintain every ounce of energy available. The song blends their strong folk-influences with their rock and roll urgency and brings the band to a new level. The song even ends with a retro dance riff!

The Sidekicks are one of the many bands today trying to break the mold of what a “punk” band is supposed be, however, I don’t think any of them have managed to be this catchy. The album was released through Red Scare Records and be on the lookout for them to come to your town soon.

Label: Red Scare

The Sidekicks “Small”