Summer Music: The College Years

Last time I covered the early days of my pop-punk experience. This time around I’ll take a look at the bands I got into toward the end of my college career. During college I was introduced to tons of bands. The ones that follow have released a full length since and survived my constantly changing rotation this long. Once again I included a pick that is a solid example of why each of the bands is great for summer.

Cartel
Almost two years after hearing Fall Out Boy and instatntly knowing they were going to be huge, I heard Cartel and felt the same way. That was just after hearing their EP. When I got their full length, I knew I was right, it was nearly perfect. They got some play but didn’t really get popular. Besides of course in my CD players where it was at the top of the rotation for a few months. Now they are in the bubble on MTV recording their new record. I watched the premiere on MTV and it was unwatchable. Its MTV’s fault that its terrible. They barely covered anything about the actual band. They just asked them dumb questions about going into the bubble and for some reason thought talking to the crowd would be interesting. I’m glad they are getting the exposure and I hope the new album is great.
Pick: Burn This City

Hit the Lights
Hit the Lights was my third pick after Fall Out Boy and Cartel, these things seem to come every two years. I put their sound near Simple Plan but their lyrics have just enough evil in them to make me like them so much.
Pick: Loose Lips Sink Ships

Punchline
I could have gone to see them for free during my sophomore year. I wound up not going and thus did not realize what I was missing out on until my senior year. Action was the album that hooked me. 37 Everywhere came out last year. Another fun, incredibly catchy album. I have no idea why these guys aren’t huge. They have what it takes.
Pick: Not Afraid

All Time Low
This band doesn’t date back to college. However they fit better in with this group than my final installment. So far I just have an EP from them. I’ll give them time apparently they haven’t been out of high school for a year yet. They are just as good as the other bands on this list they just haven’t proven it over time yet. I need a least a full length.
Pick: Break Out! Break Out!

Next time, a look at my pile of recent purchases. They all fall under a genre I like to call Popemo.