May 17, 2023
GateCrashers' Music May-hem special continues with this 3rd installment, where Dan, Jake, and Gabrielle get together to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the The Front Bottoms' fourth album, Talon of the Hawk, released May 21st, 2013.
CONTENT WARNING: This episode includes discussions of heavy topics such as drug use, alcoholism, mental illness, and more.
Their second studio album with Bar/None, Talon of the Hawk speaks of friendships lost, ex-girlfriends, unexpected twists in life, depression, addictions, and coming-of-age themes that also reverberate throughout the rest of their discography as common denominators, but achieving its own specific tone to set it apart from other projects from the band.
Dan, Jake, and Gabrielle go through the 12 tracks of the The Front Bottoms album in a more relaxed and less personal manner than previously seen in the The Wonder Years episode, reflecting Talon of the Hawk's own style as a more energetic approach to the heavy subject matters it deals with.
With straightforward lyrics and a stripped-down sound, the group discusses the nature of the genre and the band, which aims to feel under-produced and naturalistic with stylistic choices such as out-of-tune vocals.
The Front Bottoms are a folk punk, midwest emo band from Woodcliff Lake, New Jersey, consisting of lead vocalist and guitarist Brian Sella and drummer Mat Uychich, and counting with various touring guest artists throughout their career.
Beginning in 2007, after Sella finished his first year of college, the band has now seven studio albums under their belt and has become one of the most successful bands in the midwest emo genre.
Be sure to stay tuned for more music episodes! If you like the track-by-track breakdown of iconic albums, please be sure to give us feedback! If people enjoy this, we will continue to tackle more genres and artists to have conversations about the music and lyrics.