H&F Week One

The week of Thursday, July 2nd, 2009.

Each week I will be bringing you three things that failed or continue to fail, followed by three things that should be hailed for their current or continuing awesomeness.

Enjoy.

Fails:

3. One band that is seriously holding back the bursting potential of "new" Brit rockers such as Gallows and Enter Shikari, and is single-handedly tainting any sort of new British Invasion, is Bring Me the Horizon, who have been on the scene for more years than the former two, and yet, they seem to still suck. Not to mention, the kids love 'em. Kids these days. Their latest break out track "Chelsea Smile" has me wondering why any band would want to sound any more like Bury Your Dead. Oh, and their screamer barks. Woof.

2. After a break out first album, and making fans and friends all across the musical world, pop-punk aficionados Four Year Strong are, soon enough, going to be releasing... sigh... a cover album. The term "slump" doesn't even begin to cover this sophomoric meltdown. Even worse, the band, in an attempt to be funny or clever, are titling this 90s soft/alt rock cover album Explains It All. Get it, Melissa Joan Hart? It's set to release soon, but really, I've stopped caring.

1. People still like 30H!3.

Hails:

3. British punk/hardcore band Gallows are finally getting the attention they deserve. After they released Orchestra of Wolves (Epitaph 2007), they received moderate attention with their first strike in the states via the Warped Tour. However, after this year's release of Grey Britain, also on Epitaph, lead grunter Frank Carter co-appearing on the cover of Alternative Press, and another stint at the Warped Tour, it appears Gallows are finally getting credit where credit is due. Can you smell another British Invasion? Get off their heels, BMTH.

2. All the hubbub about Michael Jackson's death/last will and testament/baby mama drama/etc. have many people in an emotional bind. How is this positive? Not sure, but we still have Prince.

1. Set Your Goals are on the verge of taking back the music scene from every band that I despise (and therefore, every band that you should despise). Their latest album, yet to be release, This Will Be the Death of Us (Epitaph 2009), the follow up to the astonishingly impressive and catchy Mutiny! (Eulogy 2006), is already being highly applauded by fans and critics alike. The few tracks they have up on their MySpace are certainly a sign that the best is yet to come for these young bucks. Set your sights on Set Your Goals.