I feel like we might need this thread soon. These guys were recently signed to Fueled by Ramen.

The Front Bottoms are an indie rock/folk punk band originating from Woodscliffe, New Jersey. The band currently consists of founding members Brian Sella (vocals/guitar) and Matthew Uychich (percussion/horns) along with relative newcomers Tom Warren (bass) and Ciaran O'Donnell (keyboards).

Originally formed with Matthew Uychich's brother Brian on keyboards, which completed the lineup with which they played on their first two self-released albums, I Hate my Friends and My Grandma vs. Pneumonia. After a few more EPs and the departure of Brian Uychich, the band released a music video for the track Maps, which gained attention online and probably played a big role to the bands being signed to Bar/None Records a year later, on which they released their self-titled album, and their latest - at the time of writing, anyway - album Talon of the Hawk. Their next album is scheduled to be released on September 18th through popular pop punk label Fueled By Ramen.

While it wouldn't be totally accurate to call the band pop punk, it's probably the label I'd give someone if I couldn't be fucked explaining. Really, it's probably something more like indie folk, but there's a real emo feel to a lot of it, and the tracks currently released from their next album hint at them going in a more pop punk direction. But overall, think generally acoustic-oriented, catchy and short, with a singer who's somewhere between Tom Delonge and Jeff Mangum.

Lyrics are a highlight for these guys. Vocalist Brian Sella knows how to be both quirky and relatable with his lyrics. They are frequently conversational and somewhat stream-of-consciousness, fraught with odd metaphors and similes. They'll make you smile often, and a though I'm not much of a lyrics person myself, it's actually pretty fun to take apart these guys'.

And that's it.
If you're interested, I'd recommend checking out their self-titled first.

Oh, and I should probably mention that this thread is a remake. Here's the original.

A few of my friends are into these guys, so I've heard a song here and there. I found the music to be pretty basic and the lyrics hit or miss, either forcing me to crack a smirk or making me cringe a bit. Don't remember which songs I heard, but I never gave any of their releases a full listen, something I should probably change before commenting any further and digging myself into a hole here. lol

But I mean, they're alright.

Nice OP, Neigebro.

>>2 cheers, bro.

Your impression of them sounds pretty accurate, this band basically treads the line between cute and cringe, but - for me, at least -that's a pretty big part of the appeal.

If you ever feel like checking them out, like I said in the OP, go for their self-titled. For new listeners their early stuff is too amateur and unless you're really into pop punk you'll probably find their new stuff is too streamlined, but their self-titled's got the perfect balance.

>>1 What do you think about their most recent stuff, like "HELP" and "Cough it Out"?
I didn't really like those, they sound really different, but not in a good way, it's like they lost their rawness. The music is much softer and Brian's voice is really refined and monotonous.
This changes aren't really bad, it just isn't what i like in a band like The Front Bottoms.

I spent like half an hour writing this and it probably looks like it was written by a six-year-old, it doesn't even express exactly what I wanted to say. I just want to read what you think about that.

>>4 I kinda got the feeling that they were gonna go more in a regular folk punk direction when I heard Talon of the Hawk, so when I first listened to their newer stuff I took it with a grain of salt. When they released West Virginia I was a little confused and underwhelmed at first, but it's starting to grow on me. I've always had a bit of a weakness for pop punk, so to be honest I actually dig their new sound.

I don't think they've sold out or anything, just improved as musicians and having access to better equipment. Actually reminds me quite a bit of The Smith Street Band/Wil Wagner, which makes sense and isn't something I see as a bad thing.

So yeah, I like it, but I totally understand how you feel. Its lost some of the amateur charm they had on their older stuff, but it also feels more mature.
Maybe it'll grow on you?

>>5 Maybe, it's not like I hate it, but what I really loved of the band was their casual style. I don't know if that's how it's said.
I'm referring to the conversational style of the lyrics, and the constant use of -i think they are called fillers?-. "Au Revoir" from Talon of the Hawk is a very good example of what I try to say. That, along with the unpolished voice and rushed, or improvised style (like in "You Wouldn't Be Laughing", from I Hate My Friends) maked it feel more genuine, like there was a closer relation between the band and the audience.

Anyway, I think it will grow on me over time.

Also, >>2 I would recommend the EP Rose, it's a remake of 6 songs from their early releases and it represents the band really well.

My girlfriend listens to this band a lot, but I'm not a huge fan of them.
They have an alright sound, I just find them to be intolerably Lame.

>>7 your girlfriend > you

These guys somehow managed to release an album on Thursday without anyone noticing.

Just started listening to it. Looks like they've finally got a decent budget to get some cool instrumentation to go along with those quirky lyrics. It's actually a little surprising how well put together these songs are put together musically.

>>9
Just got around to listening to this.
"Cough It Out" is nice.
Not really gripped, but it's pleasant stuff.

"These guys were recently signed to Fueled by Ramen."

and there goes any quality they had

>>11 nahhhh. Give Back on Top a listen. S'not bad. They're not really any worse now. They're not really any better either.

Besides, Fueled by Ramen's not really that bad.
I mean, it's all crappy pop punk, but some of that crappy pop punk's pretty good.

Bump.
Recently started to listen to these guys. I like.
Or at least I think I do, I'm not familiar with this genre now that I think about it. I'll try listening to one of their older albums. Anything mellow works for me.They have a great sound. And the lyrics certainly are interesting, lightly cringey at some points but not bad. Not sure if I'm totally gripped though.

And come on is Feuled By Ramen really that bad? Is it Really?

bump