popwreckoning

Yellowcard has made a blazing return to music with the release of “For You, And Your Denial” off the upcoming When You’re Through Thinking, Say Yes. If this is a taste of what to come, fans will not disappointed.

With an opening violin riff that trumps some of Sean Mackin‘s fast finger work on Ocean Avenue, the intro alone could rival the best of Mozart. But those wary of classical music can relax. Shortly after Mackin kicks off the song, guitars and drums come blazing in and Ryan Key‘s signature vocals take the song to a whole new level for Yellowcard.

In this one tune, the catchiness and the instrumentals that made Ocean Avenue so great are mixed with the maturity and emotional depth that made Paper Walls and Lights and Sounds what they were.

You can check out “For You, And Your Denial” below.

When You’re Through Thinking, Say Yes will be released March 22. “For You, And Your Denial” is available now on iTunes and Amazon. You can also catch the band on tour this Spring with Hey Monday, All Time Low and The Summer Set. Tour dates are here.

*Oh, and if any of you want to hook me up with a tab to that killer violin riff, my roommate will be eternally grateful because otherwise he’s going to have to deal with me spending all my free time roaming the apartment with my violin trying to figure those notes out myself.

Get excited! After two-and-a-half years, everyone’s favorite Florida alternative pop punk band featuring a rocking violinist is back. Perhaps you remember “Ocean Avenue” as part of your summer soundtrack a few years back?

Yellowcard has announced a new label, a new tour and a new album.

The band will release their seventh studio album with Hopeless Records.

Yellowcard is Ryan Key (vocals/guitar), Sean Mackin (violin), Longineu Parsons (drums), Ryan Mendez (guitar) and their newest addition of Sean O’Donnell (bass).

They’re entering the studio with Neal Avron and expecting to have a new album ready by Spring 2011, followed by a tour.

Welcome back, readers!  Looks like the toxicology and autopsy reports on Michael Jackson are taking forever and I, for one, need to take a break from the lovefest that was my month-long MJ tribute (read: here, here, here and here!).  With MJ on the mind, it’s been hard to think of other musicians, so hopefully this Pop Punk Miscellany piece will serve as an adequate segue back to the mixed-bag madness that usually is Under Cover.

To mix things up, this week I’m featuring a genre I haven’t always focused on.  Pop Punk is always a good time and usually infuses a vivacious energy that’s perfect after a hard day at work or for the drive home following a kickass evening.  Here are some classic covers by some very pop-friendly bands.  Enjoy!
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. Alien Ant Farm – “Smooth Criminal” (original: Michael Jackson)
What?  I told you.  Getting Michael Jackson off the mind has been difficult, so Alien Ant Farm‘s infamous cover of “Smooth Criminal” may help this week’s switch to pop punk.  I’m not even the biggest AAF fan or anything, but I do recall giving them points for creativity with this rousing rendition when it came out nearly a decade earlier.  This cover is a sped-up rock version, yet manages to share more than a few similarities to the original.  There’s the anti-gravity leaning, studded gloves, homage paid to Bubbles the Chimpanzee, and let’s not forget an equally strange lead singer Dryden Mitchell on the verge of an epileptic seizure in the music video.  Be sure to check out the video to see if you can count all the MJ references!  I myself counted at least 10…

.Paramore – “My Hero” (original: Foo Fighters)
My Foo Fighters/Dave Grohl-obsessed ass is aware of the sacrilege of posting an acoustic Paramore cover that doesn’t even have the same killer bass line or energetic drumming that jumpstarts the original, but I’m such a sucker for cute little pop punk outfits featuring impressive female vocalists like Hayley Williams.  In a word full of the Katy Perrys, Rihannas, Britney Spears-es, and assorted pop wrecks out there, I’d choose Paramore over them any day by mere fact that this 20-year-old can actually sing.  Her voice is so clear, resonant and melodic, and it flows so nicely with the gentle strumming on the acoustic that I bet even Mr. Grohl himself would dig this one.  And hey, if Mr. Grohl is reading this… call me.  You can be my hero for a day, if I can watch you as you go.  Oh snap!

. Yellowcard – “Everywhere” (original: Michelle Branch)
Personally, I’ve always felt Yellowcard knows how to perfectly put out precious pop punk gems each and every time.  And hey look, they’re off from their hiatus? Lead singer Ryan Key has such a sweet, genuine vocal delivery, the guitars are punchy and power-poppy, and mad props to any group aside from Dave Matthews Band who can incorporate a lead violinist so effortlessly into their songs.  These boys from Florida take a pop classic like Michelle Branch‘s “Everywhere” that was already awesome in its own right and add a refreshing little upbeat twist with the help of some very pretty electric guitar riffs and surprisingly gorgeous slicks of violin that lace the song and add a dash of dramatic intensity to the breakdown.  This song makes me regret quitting the violin in high school because it irritated my chin, much to the dismay of my high school music teacher.  Sorry, Mr. Santin!