Shannon KeoughNothing makes a music lover happier than when their favorite band releases a brand new album, no matter if the band has been together for years or if the members are coming back after a split.
The big question that comes to every fan’s mind at the album’s time of release has to do with whether the new music will be as good as the old.
Since 2007, many old school bands, as well as bands from the 1970s and 1980s, have released new albums and toured once again.
Southern California rock band, Sugar Ray, known for their feel-good tropical melodies, released a brand new album on July 21, 2009 entitled “Music for Cougars.”
“I’ve heard some Sugar Ray, but I’m not a big fan, they’re a little ‘soft’ for me,” Stephanie Iaccarino, junior English and secondary education major, said.
“Music for Cougars” is the band’s sixth album since the release of “In the Pursuit of Leisure” six years ago.
Another feel-good band, the Dave Matthews Band, came out with their twelfth album, “Big Whiskey and the GrooGrux King” on June 2, 2009.
The band, originally formed in 1991, dedicated their new album to their late sax player, LeRoi “Grux” Moore, who passed away.
“I have found the Dave Matthews Band to be good for the feel-good atmosphere,” Brother Dominic Wetzel, sophomore English and secondary education major, said. “Their songs are mellow and some are great when you just need to chill out.”
In September 2008, New Kids on the Block got back together and released a fifth album. The new album entitled “The Block” is the group’s first album since their split in 1994.
“Although they were kind of the first boy band, they really missed the time for comebacks,” Wetzel said. “I didn’t really like their new song because it lacked the energy and style that their original music had.”
“Green Day is amazing, their music is alternative enough to enjoy without being so metallic and crazy that my car vibrates when I listen to them,” Iaccarino said.
Popular punk band Green Day recently released their ninth album entitled ’21st Century Breakdown’ on May 15, 2009.
“I looked up their new song, ’21 Guns’ and frankly I like their older stuff better,” Eion O’Neil, sophomore communication major, said. “To be fair, I have to say that music needs to grow on me so I can’t say it’s not as good just yet.”
“I am a fan of Green Day’s new stuff, but I prefer their older music,” Courtney Alio, freshman psychology major, said.
“’21st Century Breakdown’ attempts to continue the rock opera trend, but is incredibly over-dramatized with titles like ‘East Jesus Nowhere’ and ‘Saints and Charlatans,'” Joe Cahill, junior communication major, said. “Billy Joe Armstrong and the gang need to return to their roots, something many thought would happen when the band released a far superior garage rock album under the name ‘Foxboro Hot Tubs.'”
“I like The Black Eyed Peas,” Wetzel said. “They have a dance, hip-hop and soulful style that gets your feet tapping, heart pounding and ‘I’ve Gotta Feeling’ stuck in your head for weeks.”
Famous hip-hop band, the Black Eyed Peas, released their fifth album on Jan. 1, 2009 entitled “The E.N.D. [Energy Never Dies].” The album is their first release since their short break following their 2005 release.
“Black Eyed Peas are on and off for me,” Iaccarino said. “For example, ‘Boom Boom Pow’ is senseless and overly sexual, but ‘I’ve Gotta Feeling’ is a little more subdued and enjoyable.”
“I have always been a fan of the Black Eyed Peas so I think that their new music is just as good as their old music,” Alio said.
“I can safely say that the new and old music of the Black Eyed Peas is very good,” O’Neil said
Along with the newer bands releasing albums, older bands from the 1970s and 1980s are still together and releasing new music.
Journey came out with their 14th album, “Revelation,” on June 3, 2008. Bon Jovi came out with their 12th album, “Lost Highway,” on June 19, 2007.
“As for Bon Jovi, I liked a lot of his ’80s stuff and a little bit of what he came out with a couple years ago,” O’Neil said.
“Journey and Bon Jovi are classics – real music with people who can actually sing and play music and lyrics that have meaning behind them. Again, these songs have meaning behind them which makes them a little more wholesome,” Iaccarino said.
