May is under a week away, and there are a slew of great records coming out in the coming month that PropertyOfZack team members couldn’t be more stoked to hear. In today’s new Discussion, we’re highlighting our personal Most Anticipated May Releases. Check out our list below and feel free to reblog with what you’re looking forward to as well!
The Wonder Years - The Greatest Generation
The Wonder Years are top-tier competitors when it comes to generating excitement for just about every move that they make, and their upcoming record, The Greatest Generation, is already seeing some of the wildest things this band has ever done for a record release. From the elaborate pre-order packages to the whirlwind Nick and Norah city-hopping release show cycle or the exclusive pop-up shop with limited merch and special performances, there’s plenty to talk about in celebrating the release of the beloved Philadelphia group’s fourth full-length record.
However, amidst all the hubbub just marking the occasion, let’s all take a deep breath, step back, and remember to get excited about the music too, not just the hype. The Wonder Years are no longer the brash pop-punk band that had everyone at “I’m not sad anymore.” Sonically, the new tunes that have made their way to the Internet are brimming with perspective and boast a maturity through pop-punk, as much of an oxymoron as that has been in the past. The expectations set for this record are already high - deemed the final chapter in a trilogy that includes The Upsides and Suburbia, The Greatest Generation has a lot to cover in the sense of providing closure for said trilogy as well as upholding the tight songwriting standards TWY have adhered to in the past. To put it simply, a lot of Wonder Years fans hold this band very close to their hearts, and to think of the ways this record will fit into the context of their legacy. Let’s just say we’re pretty confident the music will live up to the album title. - Adrienne Fisher
The Front Bottoms - Talon of The Hawk
This New Jersey two-piece has been one of the most successful bands of late to avoid getting pigeonholed, appealing widely to a vast cross-section of people. Anyone from young teenage kids who can’t wait to relate to the lyrics to an older crowd with great appreciation for the Front Bottoms’ masterful genre blend could be part of the fan base crescendo that only seems to be getting more rabid with time. With the announcement of their sophomore record, Talon of the Hawk, the Front Bottoms has already set up that hungry cavalcade of fans with an extensive slew of tour dates, a new video, and of course, a song from the upcoming release.
The new track features quite a bit from the musical cauldron that made us fall in love with the Front Bottoms in the first place - the self-deprecating, uncomfortable imagery, the twangy quirk in Brian Sella’s voice as he coughs out lyrics in stunted meter, the overall weird cosmic blend of dirty DIY indie-punk that palpably feels like it crawled out of a basement in New Jersey. What’s different is that it’s got more of a rock n’ roll kick to it to pull together all the stylistic musings they’ve used in the past, and while delivering a more cohesive sound runs the risk of diluting the charming weirdness they’ve established, new music from these guys will undeniably fall well into the hands of anxiously waiting, excited fans. - Adrienne Fisher
Man Overboard - Heart Attack
Things feel different for Man Overboard this go-around. The band is coming off of a sold-out tour with a new album, solidified lineup, evolved sound, and Warped Tour is just around the corner this summer. Timing is everything, and the timing may just be right this time for the band. Heart Attack features the most aggressive, fun, and serious songs the band has ever written. But the closer on Heart Attack will end up being the key for the band. It’s where “Love Your Friends, Die Laughing,” “Soco Amaretto Lime,” and “Your Own Disaster” intersect, and it’s going to be a fan favorite like the band has never experienced. - Zack Zarrillo
Misser - Distancing
Fans who were anxious that Tim Landers would quietly stick to Transit and Brad Wiseman would float back into the musical ether to leave Misser’s fantastic freshman album Every Day I Tell Myself I’m Going to Be a Better Person as a one-album wonder can breathe easy again. Misser — Wiseman and Landers’ gutsy pop-punkish project — is releasing Distancing on May 28.
Misser faithful are batting 2/5 on songs we’ve heard from the EP thus far, and both are barnstorming crowd-rousers. “Goddamn, Salad Days” is a fiery anthem, riled-up dual vocals and scorching guitar licks. “Burn Out” is of the same sort of breed, slowing down for a mid-tempo bridge before rollicking into its chorus. If these two no-holds-barred burners are any indication, Misser is just getting started. - Erik van Rheenen
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