Lazlo, founder of BlowUpRadio.com (an online radio station based around New Jersey artists), shines a light on some of the many new releases from NJ based musicians each week with this column. This week Lazlo takes a look at releases by Play Head, Jason Didner, THIEV, Hubbell Benson, erase:rewind, Quiz Show, and Joe Billy.
Play Head - "Around an Autumn Moon". Play Head's, "Around an Autumn Moon", is some lyrically heavy, amazing modern rock. 'Nuff said.
Jason Didner - "Side Effects". Jason Didner has always been an amazing artist, but in the last couple of years he's been talking his songwriting (often co-writing with his wife, Amy) and recording to new levels. His latest album, "Side Effects" has a little something for everyone, as he traverses multiple styles of rock music, and has lyrics about life's joys and challenges.
To paraphrase a lyric from the chorus of "This Man's Eyes", "Jason Didner's music brings so much joy to my life." Hopefully it will for you too!
Also check out an interview Sean Manuel did with Jason Didner on BlowUpRadio.com here.
THIEV - "fade". THIEV describe their music as, "melodic hardcore with heavy west coast influence while sticking to their NJ pop-punk/hardcore roots."
I describe their new EP, "fade", as three alt-punk/melodic hardcore tunes that rock!
Hubbell Benson - "'Cept For Him" [single]. The new single from Hubbell Benson, "'Cept For Him" is quite the catchy earworm. Their name may be an obscure reference to the Monkees, but this song sounds like a song that would be at home on Joe Jackson's "Look Sharp!" album. Love it!
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erase:rewind - "Watching Life Through Dirty Glasses" [single]. erase:rewind's "Watching Life Through Dirty Glasses" is a peppy, catchy tune that they describe as being about, "going to Atlantic City and talking with a fake accent." I'm sure none of us can relate to that (don't call my bluff).
Quiz Show - "What If?" [single]. Look, if your one of those people that like name dropping, then let me explain that Quiz Show contains Chris Matthews, a founding member of Shudder To Think, and Kevin March, the drummer for Guided By Voices, but that's not why you should listen to Quiz Show.
You should check out Quiz Show because their songs are incredible punk/post punk alt-rock, and "What If?", one of two singles just released from their forthcoming self-titled  album (out on March 17th), is a prime example.
Joe Billy - "Fissure". Joe Billy has come a long way from is first folk-punk album six years ago. He has always been a great songwriter, but "Fissure" has a full band on most of the songs, which adds so much to this collection of songs. He also deftly knows which songs benefit most from the full band, and which should be more stripped down. This album is a masterpiece!
That's all for this week.
Remember BlowUpRadio.com, plays these and many other New Jersey based artists on our internet radio station, so please check us out. #SupportGoodMusic - If you like any of the above artists, please purchase their music from their site. And if you would like to part of BlowUpRadio.com's New & Notable, please send downloads or contact Lazlo at Lazlo-at-BlowUpRadio-dot-com. We're also on Mastodon at https://mstdn.social/@BlowUpRadio
