East Coast Showdown

Hello again everyone!

This post is going to be a little different than the usual routine.  Instead of just covering the news, you guys are going to participate in a vote.  I will present two bands on the East Coast, and you get to decide who you like better. Votes can be in the comments on the blog, or on the Pop Deflators Facebook page.

A Criminal Risk

First up is a newer band called A Criminal Risk.  Hailing from New Jersey, these guys are bringing back an old-school punk sound.  Their debut disc, The Art of Dropping Names, features a sound that is very similar to Less Than Jake.  For those who may not know what that is, they have a very late 90's indie-punk sound to them.  It reminds me a lot of my own days playing pop-punk (thanks for the memories, guys!).

Since this is their debut album, some allowance for vocal improvement is needed, and their track "Stand Alone" is appropriately named as the only real slow song on the record. Be sure to give them a listen by  checking out their website, http://acriminalrisk.bigcartel.com/.  You can also find them on Facebook and Twitter.

Be sure to keep an ear out for A Criminal Risk's new single due out on 3-31, appropriately titled "331"!

Prospect Hill

Three cheers for Boston!!!  The next group, Prospect Hill, calls Boston home, and has created quite a unique blend of sonic goodness.  Their third album, entitled Impact,  debuted in August of 2012. It features fantastic musical journey in the way the disc flows from song to song.  They also have a great blend of sounds and textures laced through the entirety of the album. The only real hit-or-miss feature was the track "Say Uncle" felt more like filler than an actual track.  On the other hand, it did serve as a nice intro into "Come Alive".

The group sounds a lot like 12 Stones, with the lower guitars, and baritone vocals. However, I find them to be slightly more "mathy" in their approach to music.  "Mathy" is good, it means that they know how to count and keep interesting rhythms, much like Thrice (I still miss them).

I thoroughly enjoy listening to this, and I hope you do to. You can find Prospect Hill on their website, http://www.prospecthillmusic.com or on Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube.


















So here it is - the moment of truth.  You, the reader/listener, gets to decide who wins the East Coast battle.  Will it be A Criminal Risk or Prospect Hill?

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Just so you all know that I haven't completely forgot about the world of music news... here's a small tidbit of information...

Travis Barker, drummer for Blink 182 and a personal influence of mine, has recently announced that he will not be touring with the band on their Australian tour.  When asked why, he replied that he is not quite over the plane crash that almost claimed his life almost 5 years ago.  A replacement has been hired to fill in for Barker and assume the drum duties.  Why can't I get on that list for tryouts?  Oh well....

Still to come....

Some haunting details of comebacks and reunions.  Until then....