If It's Too Loud...

Photo via Facebook This is a weird, weird day. I can't imagine anyone out there doesn't have some level of anxiety, and posting about something like music seems really trivial. But I think we could all use some distraction and happiness today, so I'll be bringing you some cover songs today, since they're something that brings me joy. Earlier this year we became smitten with Answering Machine, a Brooklyn band featuring two school teachers that play a grown up version of pop punk. They've released a cover of Bruce Springsteen's 1978 song "The Promised Land." I've been a late convert to the music of Springsteen, and I haven't made it to Darkness on the Edge of Town yet, but the first surprising thing about Answering Machine's cover is how faithful it is to the original. For a band that doesn't typically use harmonica, theirs is spot on to Bruce's original. The main difference between the two is Answering Machine's is filled with jo...

Earlier this year, in the before times, we were thrilled to bring you Brooklyn's Answering Machine, a pop punk band that includes two public school teachers and their grown up pop punk sound. Considering how much we love covers, we're even more thrilled to bring you their cover of The Clash's "Clampdown." It's a surprisingly stripped down acoustic cover, but Answering Machine make it work. I typically get very judgmental over Clash covers that change the original, but these folks do it right! You can listen to Answering Machine's version of "Clampdown" below. The song is available on ATTENTION: A Black Lives Matter Compilation from Wiretap Records. It's an all covers compilation raising money for Black Lives Matter, and also includes American Television covering Operation Ivy. You can get your copy via Bandcamp . For more on Answering Machine, check them out on Facebook . ATTENTION: A Black Lives Matter Compilation by Answering Machine

Last month we brought you "Bad Luck," the wonderfully grown up slice of pop punk from Brooklyn's Answering Machine. Their latest single, "Cherry Coke," is one of my favorite punk tropes: The homage to sugary sweet 60's teen pop. "Cherry Coke" is a the kind of song that bands like the Ramones or The Queers did. It's a gorgeous power pop song that would sound like something The Archies would have done if the guitars weren't just a little too biting and fuzzy for. Samantha and JD's vocals intertwine in some of the best harmonies we've ever heard in a punk song.  According to vocalist and guitarist J.D. Fetcho (and I promise I wrote the above paragraph before reading this...):  “‘Cherry Coke’ is a love song about fever dreams, bloody noses, and candy canes. “It’s for all the old folks who want to settle down but still have some fun. This one’s inspired by a love of Buddy Holly, 60s pop music, and The Ramones.” You can listen to ...

You know you're old when you read about a band started by two public school teachers and think that sounds cool. That's the origin story of Brooklyn's Answering Machine, and the two teachers are singer Samantha and guitarist JD. Their new single "Bad Luck" is this brilliant blend of pop punk mixed with American roots music. According to their press release, " Their influences range everywhere from  The Replacements, The Ramones, Blondie, The Ronettes, Tom Petty, Stevie Nicks , and  Bruce Springsteen  to  Jenny Lewis, Against Me , and plenty in between." I wouldn't normally include a list of influences in a review, especially since the lists in a press release don't normally sound anything like the band, but you can truly hear every single one of those bands in "Bad Luck." This is the rare type of pop punk that you can listen to as a grown up without being embarrassed or feeling creepy. You can watch the video for "Bad Luck...