Sara Scoggs' Blog

News broke today that Paramore will be streaming their new self-titled album Monday -- a week before the album’s official release. Cue all the happiest of happy dances I could ever do. 

As a fan who pre-ordered the album the day it was announced, I have been anxiously awaiting this new record. From what I have read and the two singles they have already given us – I’m thrilled to have a new Paramore album to sing along with. I know there is an iTunes preview available, but I want to wait to hear the entire album from top to bottom the way Taylor York, Hayley Williams and Jeremy Davis intended. 

To be more specific, here are 5 reasons why I am anxious to hear this new body of work.

1. Justin Meldal-Johnsen’s involvement. 

JMJ produced this record and I am very eager to hear his influence on Paramore’s sound. In an interview with NYLON Hayley told the magazine JMJ was brought on board because, “We wanted to be out of our comfort zone. Justin was like, ‘this is your fourth album? You don’t really need to do anything. You just need to make sure you’re doing what’s right for you.’ ” 

He is kind of a music genius. 

2. The album is self-titled.

I know some people have been criticizing the band for having their 4th LP be self-titled but as a fan I am very intrigued by the decision. In an interview with our pals AbsolutePunk Hayley said, “We called the record what it is. It’s really us. I hope that says something important to our fans.”

Well it sure did! I am very interested to hear what Paramore sounds like in 2013.

3. Album track-listing.

The 17 track-listing is filled with names that make me want to get inside Hayley’s brain! I know she has always had a way with words and the new tracks are very intriguing. Titles like “Ain’t It Fun” and the interlude called “I’m Not Angry Anymore” are very interesting. I want to hear these songs!

4. Taylor York’s elevated involvement in writing process. 

In the same interview with AbsolutePunk, Hayley shared that Taylor York has risen to the occasion of collaborating on this new album. She told the site, “Musically, I think the biggest growth has come from Taylor now being a primary songwriter for the band. You’ll hear his mad-scientist personality come out a lot on this album, where before he didn’t have quite the same opportunity.”

I. AM. PSYCHED to see what that handsome man has come up with. 

5. It’s been three years and I miss them. 

I guess my last reason is I just missed Paramore; it’s been three years since I had new record. I loved the Singles Club songs and always look forward to hearing what Hayley has to say about life, love, relationships – and even faith. I have been patient and I am ready. They have been through a lot over the past few years and their love for their music seems to have been reinvigorated in response to the “soap opera” -- as Hayley so lovingly puts it. 

Paramore’s showcase at SXSW was the happiest I had ever seen them on stage, and if this record is what brought them this close, I can’t wait to hear it.

I guess you could say, if there is a new Parmaore record, “I want it now!” #musicrules. 

Let's talk music, let me know your thoughts in the comments below. 

Music notes, because let's face it; music rules.

Today on Music Notes we're counting down all of our favorite music videos from March! There have been tons of amazing music videos and lyric videos, so let's see which 5 made the top of our list.

Be sure to comment and let us know what YOU think should have made our Music Notes Press Play Top 5 Video Countdown!

*Also to note Fall Out Boy's "The Phoenix" was released AFTER we made this episode -- they would have absolutely made our top 5. LOVE YOU FOB! 

Who had your favorite video in March?

Let's talk music, let me know your thoughts in the comments below!

Alkaline Trio has been kind enough to give us their entire new album My Shame Is True a week early via YouTube. I have been listening to the stream all day because; A. Alkaline Trio is one of my very favorite bands -- and B. because it's so good I can't stop. I know Alkaline Trio isn't a band we cover often here on Buzznet, but their records had a big influence on me as a teenager when I started to really love music. They have been at this punk rock thing forever and have created many memorable moments for me. 

Alkaline Trio have the ability to write really dark sad music, but give it a really catchy hook that you end up singing out loud when you're alone hours later. Matt Skiba told SPIN the new album was inspired by a recent "good" breakup. He told our sister site, "Like any good breakup there's never a clean break. You go back and forth and try and fix it and you're still hooking up or whatever. So this record represents that sort of confusion and pain and at times relief and happiness that sometimes blows up in your face". I think I will find a few things to relate to on this record. The song "Death Do Us Part" really hit close to home.

I also love that Dan Andriano (co-vocalist and bassist) has a few moments on the mic. He sings lead on one of my favorite Alkaline Trio songs, "Enjoy Your Day." If you're new to Alkaline Trio check out the song "Supid Kid" off of Here to Infimary. Trust me. #musicrules. 

Enjoy the album here and let me know what you think! You can pick up a your own copy next week via Epitaph Records. 

Are you a fan of Alkaline Trio?

Let's talk music, let me know your thoughts in the comments below.

Cartel is back! Not only are they back, but also they have a fantastic 11-track album to get fans singing along to their signature pop punk sound. Will Pugh, Joseph Pepper, Nic Hudson and Kevin Sanders seem to have pulled together the best of Cartel for this new release, Collider.

I spent a weekend driving in my car sing-along with Collider -- and I must say it’s a solid pop punk album -- but also much more. Sure All Time Low has kept the genre alive recently, but Collider is the perfect balance of heartfelt lyrics, catchy melodies and anthemic choruses. If you were a fan of Cartel’s 2005 release, Chroma then this new record will hit you in all the right places. #musicrules. 

Let’s break it down; here are 5 Reasons To Love Cartel’s Collider.

1. “Uninspired” & “A Thousand Suns”

I love when an album feels thought out and there’s nothing like a callback from track to track, to make it feel like a complete work. The lyrics “put all emotion aside/ no matter how hard you try/take what is buried inside/you want it, you got it you goodbye” from “Uninspired” are again featured in the closing track “A Thousand Suns.” Interesting to hear the message used again in a different way; how emo – love it! 

2. “First Things First” 

This track is incredibly empowering. The song delivers the message of prescience and not caring what anyone else thinks. Give it a listen, I hit repeat at least four times before I moved on to the rest of the album. 

3. Will Pugh’s vocals. AMAZING! 

Will has a very distinct voice and Collider highlights how powerful his range is. We might not normally dissect the vocals of a pop punk record, but his voice is what makes Cartel stand out. It’s pure and effortless. He holds notes, harmonizes and pushes out tales of learning and growing beautifully. I especially love the vocal work on the 8th track, “Mosaic” and the albums' title track "Collider". I was singing along as loud as possible in my car with Will during the chorus. 

4. Pure pop punk y’all. AKA, just what YOU want. 

Pop punk is the bread and butter for anyone who grew up counting to down the days to Warped Tour. Pop punk is where Buzznet finds common ground among all the other music we love. Collider is a complete pop punk record; catchy, anthemic and lyrically will empower you. This will 100% be an album to blast all year long. 

5. Well worth the 4-year wait for a full-length. 

In a live chat with our sister site AbsolutePunk.net Will revealed to fans this new record was “captured as pure as they can get.” He went on to explain, “think that's the biggest contributing factor to this record - that it's pure, free of outside influences. I don't think any of that will make sense until you hear the record but that's the explanation.”

The honesty in the song "Unispired" is refreshing. As a music fan, it’s easy to hear where an album is genuine and where it's been manipulated. Simply put, Collider is a genuine and fun record. The gap between records and time away has given Cartel the opporutniity to zoom in on what makes them special and find something worth singing about. 

Collider is all I could hope for from Cartel in 2013. 

Excited to see them live at Skate and Surf in May -- and tonight you can tune into their StageIt record release party. Fans can purchase Collider on iTunes now and please come back to let me know what you think!

Let’s talk music, let me know your thoughts in the comments below. 

I’m sure you’re all sick of hearing about my time in Austin for SXSW, but I promise – this is my last post. I had to share this last anecdote about my trip for all my fellow music nerds. 

Dave Grohl was on my flight to Austin, TX.

I repeat, Dave Grohl (Nirvana, Foo Fighters and all around modern music badass) was on my flight to SXSW. Dave’s SXSW plans included playing with super group Sound City Players and was invited to be the festival’s Keynote speaker -- and we were on the same commercial flight. 

I first noticed Dave as a large group approached the gate about 10 minuets before boarding. Dave had a huge smile on his face waving to a few people who had notice him. My reaction was so just smile and laugh with myself -- staring at him like a small child who has just spotted Mickey Mouse for the first time at Disneyland. It was embarrassing how outwardly excited I was. Then as we all boarded the plane I had to walk past him (naturally he was in first class) and caught eyes with his wife and just smiled – she kindly smiled back. 

As I sat down in my seat, much further back on the plane, I had a few thoughts about Dave’s presence on the flight to one of the US’s biggest music festivals.

First and foremost, would he would reenact a few scenes from the “Learn To Fly” video? Was Tenacious D going to make an appearance? Was Dave going to lead the safety instructions?

Didn’t happen.

Then I had a few sentimental thoughts. Obviously everyone on the plane knew who he was. We were on a flight filled with people heading to Austin to enjoy several days of live music. Whether they were music fans, musicians themselves or just people in the industry, Dave was a palpable presence. And not because he made a scene, he was just DAVE GROHL. It’s not as if he was on a plane of passangers heading to a high school cheerleading convention. He must have realized that EVERYONE on that flight knew exactly who he was and have been impacted by what he has contributed to music for the past 25 plus years. 

I was on the plane as a journalist (and music fan), but imagine boarding the flight as an aspiring musician -- seeing Mr. Grohl as you trek to play as many shows as you can, hoping to catch some attention. To see Dave just as happy and excited as you are to visit the festival. Must be a sign you're doing something right. It was a very inspiring way to start my trip to say the least. And don’t worry; he didn’t have to land the plane. #musicrules. 

And for anyone unfamilar with the "Learn To Fly" video, check it out here. It's a classic. 

Let's talk music, let me know your thoughts in the comments below.

Music notes, because let's face it, #musicrules.

This year’s SXSW ended up being more amazing than we could have ever imagined. We saw tons of live music; including two of our favorite bands (Paramore & Fall Out Boy) and stumbled upon some new acts that made the trip very memorable. Take a look at our Music Notes Noteworthy SXSW Recap to hear about it and see our exclusive photos! 

Who would you want to see live at SXSW?

Let’s talk music, let me know your thoughts in the comments below. 

Well I left SXSW one day too early. On Saturday What's Eating Gilbert (Chad Gilbert's side project) performed at Alternative Press' showcase -- and Hayley Williams of Paramore joined her man on stage! Hayley posed about the duet on her tumblr page saying,

Last week I got to sing with my bf’s new band, What’s Eating Gilbert! First off, the show was amazing! I couldn’t be prouder of Chad and the rest of the band :) 

The song that Chad and I decided to cover is a Shirelle’s cover of one of my favorite songs, Carole King’s “Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow”. We only practiced it once at home on acoustic guitar, then a week later we met up at SXSW and he and the band had practiced a full band version that I heard for the first time when I walked up on stage to sing with them. Haha! This was so fun for me. Hope you enjoy the video!

I mean what's more adorable than this! You can catch What's Eating Gilbert (sans Hayley) on tour now with Candy Hearts, Allison Weiss and Pentimento!  #musicrules. 

What do you think of the duet?

Let's talk music, let me know your thoughts in the comments below.

We sat down with The Ready Set at The Roxy in Los Angeles a few weeks back, and took a few minutes to ask him all of YOUR questions. Really, we took them right from Twitter and Facebook! Thankfully Jordan loves his Giants, so he was happy to answer all of your burning q's.

Take a look and see if he answered yours. And don't miss our game of Would You Rather & Explain Yourself with Jordan. #musicrules. 

What do you love most about Jordan? 

Let's talk music, let me know your thoughts in the comments below.    

SXSW has come to an unfortunate end, but thankfully there were three new acts that left me completely impressed. All three of these bands are relatively new to my music queue and their live sets were my first real exposure to their music. Here are the three bands from SXSW that left me wanting more -- AKA CRAZY emerging talent!

Twenty One Pilots

On paper I should not like Twenty One Pilots. A band with reggae/hip hop influences is not normally what I’m attracted to and their album was an okay for me. I gave it a few listens and appreciate their fresh approach to music and could see their obvious talent. At the Warner Sound showcase with headliner Paramore I became a Twenty One Pilots fan. The duo from Ohio was charismatic, confidant and put on a fantastically entertaining live set. Front man Tyler Joseph delivered his vocals and rap verses’ effortlessly, played the piano and the ukulele, and climbed the stage’s scaffolding in the same fashion Adam Lazzara of Taking Back Sunday has become known for. Drummer Josh Dun gave an impressive showing keeping the energy up with his furious drumming.  

If you want to take a look at what why offer live, check out this collaboartive durm solo.

The 1975

The 1975 was vaguely familiar to me before I saw them play. A friend recommend I check them out during the festival – and afterward I realized I had read about them here on the site. Go figure! Well the UK foursome were fantastic. Initially I was unsure by the look of the band about the kind of sound that was going to come from their Marshall speakers. I would have guessed a much grungier/punk sound, but their rock/pop/electronic/indie sound was a dancing delight. After the show I approached Matthew Healy, the singer/guitarist to tell him how impressed I was and he shyly thanked me for checking them out. Word on the 6th street is tons of labels have had their eyes on these guys.They are currently signed to Vagrant Records in the US and hopefully will make it to LA soon.

Take a look at their music video for the single, “Sex”.

Gold Fields

This band had great timing. They played an adjacent stage to Ghost Beach at Maggie Mae’s, they were right under my nose. I was with a friend who recently became a fan, so we stuck around to see their set. The Australian natives had an interesting indie/rock energy that at times tribal/rhythmic influence. The front man gave off a Jesse Lacey esq mystic that made them even more interesting.  Instrumentally they had bursts of energy that left you with a rush. Gold Fields is the perfect kind of band to see live as your first exposure, they didn’t disappoint. They had attracted a huge crowd by the end of their set, and it was well deserved

Here is their music video for the single, “Dark Again.”

So please give these bands some attention and let me know what you think. #musicrules

Who do you think is going to break out this year?

Let’s talk music, let me know your thoughts in the comments below. 

Although we all knew it, last night Fall Out Boy was the surprise guest for Crush Management’s showcase at SXSW. The line-up was pretty diverse if you look at how it began compared to how it ended. The showcase featured some charming country acts and then ended with one of the most recognizable “emo” bands of the last decade.

Aside from seeing FOB, a loved Butch Walker’s live show. Some of you may recognize Butch has he has worked with tons of artist and most recently lent his talented hands to Fall Out Boys’ forthcoming album Save Rock & Roll. I had never seen Butch live and he was incredible. He performed with tangible enthusiasm and sold the entire crowd with his charismatic presence and witty banter. He is a very talented musician; the kind of live performer that makes you believe he was born to be on the stage sharing his stories. I suggest seeing him live if you have the chance.

As the evening drew closer to 1 am (yep I had another late night) the 1K-ish capacity club was brimming with anxious fans. Thankfully New Politics went on right before FOB and kept the crowd psyched and warm as the night crept past midnight. Just like I experienced a month ago, FOB hit the tiny stage with tons of energy. Enough that I imagine would have been able to power all of 6th street.

While I felt the band’s energy was on par with the LA show, there were a few things that were noticeably different.  The set list was (understandably) much shorter; but  I would have exchanged the “Beat It” cover for “Grand Theft Autumn” any day. The crowd was older; SXSW attracts a much older audience, creating a noticeably different level of crowd participation.  There was plenty of singing along, but not nearly as much dancing, jumping and crowd surfing. Maybe we’re all just getting older, but the floor was not going off the way it was in LA. Interesting to see how a crowd’s involvement can be drastically different from city to city. I however, danced and sang my little heart out – don’t worry guys. Fall Out Boy makes it impossible for me to stand still. As I mentioned in my post about the LA show, as musicians they have evolved and bring a new level of excitement to their live show than didn’t see in them a few years back. They seem thrilled to be back at it.

I am psyched for FOB to play more shows so all of you can catch them live and then come back and tell ME about it. I can’t believe I saw FOB twice in two months in small clubs.

All photos courtesy of Matt Vogel.

So long live the car-crash hearts. #musicrules.

Let’s talk music, let me know your thoughts in the comments below.