New Alternative Music

[Phil1127]

I see this on the CHR board a lot and figure we should get it going so, let's get some thoughts running...

PAPA ROACH - To Be Loved

This song is so sporadic it's odd they picked it as a single. I love how this band seems to keep that anthemic feel to everything they release. Naysayers will claim that this band belongs soley on Active Rock but if you've seen the band live, see how they interact with bands and the music they are influenced by I hope that alternative keeps them, otherwise we'd be swept up by shoegazers and 80's retro-wannabees. Still, the hook is a little odd and their time probably already past ("Scars" was probably the last huge hit they'll ever had).

EVANESCENCE - Call Me When You're Sober

I'm sure everyone would love to see this fail but, let's face it, it's a hit. I already heard it on Z100 here in New York (yep, no alt-rock station in the biggest market we know this). I'm not sure if alt. programmers will embrace this since they might worry that this band is a Top 40-only artist. I say, let's try to keep them for ourselves since their sound is still edgy and the alternative audience will still be into them. Amy sounds great on this song and I hope that the band continues to be sucessful.

AUDIOSLAVE - Original Fire

Maybe it's just me but I'm not completely feeling this track. Overall, just seems kind of weak. I'm sure both alt and active rock will play the hell out of this given the band's track record. I think it's a better lead single than "Be Yourself" but it just hasn't hit me at all. To be fair, the first time I've heard many Audioslave singles (Cochise, Be Yourself) I was always a little underwhelmed so maybe it will take some time to grow. The song's already up to #3 according to MediaBase so it looks like another sure hit for them. Wonder if the record will do as well as the self-titled or Out Of Exile.

THE KILLERS - When You Were Young

Definetly a different direction for these guys. I think it's a really strong track but I don't hear the same sort of urgency as Somebody Told Me or Mr. Brightside. On an artistic side, I respect it a lot. On the commercial side, I wonder if it will fair as well as the other two singles. While it's got a strong start on the format, the lack of alternative stations in big nations as well as the fact that this band isn't as hot of a myspace act as bands like Panic! or Fall Out Boy might make it a big harder for these guys second time around. Hopefully the people who snatched up Hot Fuss will also be interested.

COBRA STARSHIP - Snakes On a Plane (Bring It)

It's a shame that Gabe Saporta's day job never got the recognition it deserved (that's Midtown for those of you unaware) but this song is a slice of pure dance-pop heaven. Add that to the fact that it's backed by Pete Wentz and co... (the myspace all-stars you might call this ensemble) this should crossover to Top 40 and have no trouble being a hit.

BREAKING BENJAMIN - The Diary Of Jane / THREE DAYS GRACE - Animal I Have Become

Both strong lead-off singles but this goes back to the problem I talked about with the killers. With many of the stations gone that once supported these bands (K-Rock in NYC, Y100 in Philly, HFS in DC) will people even get to hear these songs that aren't hard-core fans of the band. Both bands went platinum on their last release but probably couldn't sell out more than 1,000 or 1,500-person venues. It's odd how that works when bands like Snow Patrol and Keane (great bands by the way) only go so much as gold but can sell out places like Roseland and Hammerstein (3,500 and 5,000 respectively) here in New York. Anyways, both strong rock tracks, probably will fare better on Active than alternative, but I'm still surprised they're up as far as they are.

PLAIN WHITE T'S - Hate (I Really Don't Like You)

I've known about this band for almost 4 years and it's surprising to see them breaking onto KROQ. It's a solid track but I don't see why they should get the push over all these other pop/rock bands. What do you guys think.

LOSTPROPHETS - Rooftops

This song has a huge hook but I think sounds too close to "Last Train Home". It's still strolling along into the top 15 but I don't think it will be as big of a hit as LTH.

NEW FOUND GLORY - Not Your Fault

This song seems too soft and cheesy for alternative to give it a chance and the hook isn't strong enough for CHR. Sounds like a dud.

QUICK NOTES:
- If you're a smart programmer you'll add The Format's "The Compromise", they are being courted by many major labels after the sucess of their self-released new album, Dog Problems
- Hoobastank really fell hard with this new release, both singles (If I Were You and Inside Of You) went nowhere
- Why do alt stations play bands like Shinedown and Hinder while not giving any time to acts like Dredg or Head Automatice? It's embarrasing...
- Does anyone know why Warner Bros. never released the BEST and most RADIO-FRIENDLY song off of Trapt's latest CD (that's "Use You To Use Me" for the slow)

Let me know what you guys think,
-Phil

 

[buzzrockradio]

I agree with almost everything you put up their. Also Head Automatica's Graduation Day did terrible here but we played Lauging At You and we get tons of request for it.

 

[SoulCrusher]

PAPA ROACH - To Be Loved

Haven't heard yet. My local Alternative G Rock Radio probably won't play it, as the only song they ever play from them was the big smash power ballad, "Scars".

EVANESCENCE - Call Me When You're Sober

I'm one of the people that wants to see this fail, even though I haven't heard it. I think of them as a pop group - a cross between Sarah McLachlan, Linkin Park and a corporate version of Lacuna Coil. I have a tough time picturing it being remotely edgy, but I'll take your word for it.

AUDIOSLAVE - Original Fire

Is it just me, or does it sound more like an R&B song than an Alternative Rock song? This song is big on name recognition, proving that Audioslave can do anything and it will be huge on Alternative. Now, maybe they should send this song over to the Urban stations to see how it goes over...

THE KILLERS - When You Were Young

The Killers go Springsteen? It's true - there's definitely a heartland sensibility amidst all the synths that have become their staple. I'm actually into this one, and I'm not even that big a fan of The Killers.

COBRA STARSHIP - Snakes On A Plane (Bring It)

Haven't heard it yet, but I'm imagining this being bigger on CHR

BREAKING BENJAMIN - The Diary Of Jane / THREE DAYS GRACE - Animal I Have Become

I like them both, esp. the BB song. Their new album will be a nice change up from all the emo/pop and synth-happy acts that dominate Alternative these days if stations decide to play tracks from it. As far as 3DG goes, the rest of the album is kind of different from what you would expect, so it will be interesting to see how it's received.

PLAIN WHITE T'S - Hate (I Really Don't Like You)

Haven't heard it, but I know it's more emo/pop which has a pretty good chance of going over big in a landscape that adores acts like Dashboard Confessional (but I'm not one of those people). Well, these guys are closer to sounding like Jimmy Eat World, but people are nuts about them, too

LOSTPROPHETS - Rooftops

Talk about sticking close to a successful formula. They should have just called this song "Last Train Home II". I have the new album because I like their older stuff, and it's not bad, if a little forgettable. Wish they would have kept the "Fake Sound Of Progress" sound instead.

NEW FOUND GLORY - It's Not Your Fault

Well, I respect them for trying something different, but it didn't work. I see them falling flat on their faces with this one - it's piano driven soft rock which just won't fly on Alternative Radio. Unless, of course, it's a gentle, Keane & Coldplay loving "Alternative" like G Rock Radio.

Other notes:

- Wasn't The Format signed to Warner Bros. for their last album? I've heard good things about them, though I wasn't floored by "The First Single" from their last album.

- Hoobastank is a Hot AC band now. The record label apparently doesn't know that. They cemented their status with "The Reason", which I'm shocked did as well as it did on Alternative Radio. That said, I'm surprised that obvious cash-in single "If I Were You" didn't blow up at AC/Hot AC stations.

- Probably even more shocking than those bands getting Alternative airplay is Buckcherry, who are nothing more than the new version of Sunset Strip sleaze rock. If an Alternative plays them, they might as well throw in Motley Crue or Poison while they're at it.

- Speaking of Trapt, it won't be the first time that a station missed the boat. Maybe the face of Alternative Radio has changed and they won't break through again, because "Stand Up" was as solid a track as I've heard from them, much better than "Headstrong" IMO.

- The only thing to add is that I really would like to see more Alternative stations break away from the pack and do something different. Too many stations follow the safe CBS or Clear Channel template for how to run an Alternative station, and the station turns out to be safe and faceless as a result. Everyone needs to be a lot more brave with their selections, and not pound the Hot AC crossover hits constantly. I only say that because that's how a certain Alternative that I receive in Monmouth/Ocean plays it, and I know other stations around the country do it as well. All I'm saying is that programmers should think about what the term "Alternative" means. It represents going against the grain, as opposed to simply being the grain.