Website Information

The past few weeks of blog posts have been dedicated to researching the background information to pop punk music step by step. Recently, however, I have also created a website that places all of this information together chronologically in a way that will truly present the evolution of the genre as well as some other important information besides what is on here that I consider useful. The site can be found at https://sites.google.com/site/americanpoppunk/ and also includes pictures and videos that relate to the genre and give people unfamiliar with it a better idea of just what I have been talking about recently. So far, this research has been an interesting journey, and this site is what will take it to the next level in an attempt to truly understand how this genre of music has evolved.

Summary of Initial Findings

I had already known that pop punk had been a genre that has changed greatly since its upbringing in the late 1980's, but the research into the specific influences of the genre as well as influential bands and their adaptions to popularity have begun to show a more detailed view of pop punk as a whole. What this has done thus far is dive into internal topics and what changes the genre has undergone. However, one cannot simply understand these topics unless they know WHY they have occurred. While the initial research has been enlightening and has taught a large amount of information about this genre of music, more work must be done to make connections to the outside world and how they have fed off of each other and influenced one another. Another topic that must be studied is the local bands that maintain the same energy that the bands of the first wave had before gaining mainstream success. The last six weeks of research have been entertaining in getting to know much more about one of my favorite genres of music and the people that make it happen, but the research into the "why" and "how" of the essential question is about to be underway. Hold on tight, because the "RIOT!" is just getting started.

Wave 3: The Emo Age and the Great Orange Hope (2004-present)

    The year 2004 saw a rush of changes in the pop punk world. Green Day's comeback "American Idiot" (as well as Billie Joe Armstrong's switch to black hair and eyeliner on stage) turned them into alternative rock superstars once again. However, the sound became different, and it was shortly followed by a new wave of bands known as the "emo" bands. These bands, such as My Chemical Romance, Fall Out Boy, and Panic! At The Disco, exploded into popularity around 2004 and showcased elements of a pop punk sound while creating a different image for themselves, as well as creating more mainstream, and in some cases, more female appealing, music. These bands now define the pop punk genre, and are led by alternative rock's favorite red-haired singer, Hayley Williams (referred to as the Great Orange Hope by singer-songwriter John Mayer), and her band, Paramore.
    Paramore formed in Franklin, Tennessee in 2004 with guitarist Josh Farro, drummer Zac Farro, Williams on vocals, and bassist Jeremy Davis. After writing their first song, "Conspiracy" they quickly went to the studio to record their debut album (Williams was already signed to a major label as a pop singer and decided to continue with the band instead). Davis left the band for personal reasons, which inspired the album's title, All We Know Is Falling, as well as the opening track "All We Know". While the album failed to chart, the band began to build some national popularity. Davis rejoined the band in 2006 and the band began work on their second album, RIOT! (for those following my previous posts, this explains the last line from my introductory post), shortly afterwards. The album was released to a 20th chart position and an explosion of popularity for the band, carried by songs such as "Misery Business", "crushcrushcrush", and "For a Pessimist, I'm Pretty Optimistic". The band, with new rhythm guitarist Taylor York, began touring in the summer of 2007, but had to cancel dates due to personal issues, mainly stemming from media focus on Williams and the failed relationship between Josh Farro and Williams. In October 2008, they were featured on the soundtrack for the movie, "Twilight", with songs "I Caught Myself" and one of their most popular songs, "Decode". 
    2009 saw the recording of the band's third album begin. While the first two albums featured a very youthful edge to them (considering drummer Zac Farro was 13 years old when the band formed, this isn't very surprising), the new album, Brand New Eyes, featured a much more mature sound and more serious lyrics from Williams. The album peaked at number two on the Billboard 200 and drove them to being a legitimate arena act. After headlining 2010's Honda Civic Tour alongside Tegan and Sara, the foundation crumbled as it was announced that Josh and Zac Farro were leaving the band. Josh would go on to confirm this by posting on his Blogger account his side of the story as to why they left, calling Hayley "a manufactured product of a major label". Although their drummer and lead guitarist had left, Hayley, Jeremy, and Taylor forged on and in December 2011, released the Singles Club Extended Play. This featured four new songs, including "Monster", which was featured on the "Transformers: Dark of the Moon" soundtrack. The band is currently seeking a producer for their fourth studio album, where Taylor will contribute to lead and rhythm guitar tracks and possibly drum tracks as well. While the core of the band has been greatly altered, Paramore is still one of the most popular artists in American rock music today, and will continue to be an important force in American pop punk music going forward.


REFLECTION:
Why do you think bands like Paramore (with a lighter, more mainstream sound) define the pop punk genre today?


CITATION:
AceShowbiz.com. "Paramore Biography - Page 3." AceShowbiz.com - Celebrity gossip, celebrity photo, movie reviews, dvd, interviews, new release album and other entertainment news. AceShowbiz.com, n.d. Web. 16 Mar. 2012. <http://www.aceshowbiz.com/celebrity/paramore/biography.html

Don't Blink: A New Band Takes Over

    Green Day's influence started to wear thin after Nimrod came out. In a society where more attention was transferred to hip hop and R&B, some mystical force needed to descend from the heavens to save the pop punk genre. As the 90's wore on, that force became a reality in the form of three men: Mark Hoppus, Tom DeLonge, and Scott Raynor. They became known as blink-182, and took their enjoyable and to the point music straight to the top, changing the pop punk genre forever.
    The band formed in Poway, California in 1992 and quickly began writing songs and recording demos. Soon enough, they were in the studio to write their first full-length album by 1994. The album, entitled "Cheshire Cat" received local popularity and built the band a solid fanbase around the Poway area. The 1997 album "Dude Ranch" is what took them to new heights, garnering major label attention and producing the hit "Dammit", which would be featured as a playable track on Guitar Hero: World Tour (featuring Travis Barker as the drummer). They would eventually sign to MCA records to release their legendary third album "Enema of the State" in 1999. The album, featuring new drummer Travis Barker and classics such as "All The Small Things", "Adam's Song", and "What's My Age Again?" blasted into the ninth spot on the Billboard 200 and turned them into pop punk icons. They took the reigns from the struggling Green Day, coming off of a string of albums that were not as popular as Dookie. The band's fourth album "Take Off Your Pants and Jacket" was released in 2001 to a number one spot on the charts and the solidification of their status as icons.
    2003's self titled album was a major departure from their previous style, featuring slower songs with much more serious and mature lyrics. However, the album was extremely well received by music critics and peaked at number one on the charts again. DeLonge became very unhappy with the rest of the band, particularly involving touring schedule and his lack of time spent with his family, and they entered an indefinite hiatus in 2005, only to reunite after a Travis Barker plane crash in 2009 while he was doing hip hop side projects. Reunion tours and a lengthy recording process soon followed, and 2011's "Neighborhoods" became yet another success, peaking at two on the Billboard 200 and building off the success and themes portrayed in the 2003 self titled album. blink-182 continues to be a dominant force in pop punk music, and along with other bands of their era such as New Found Glory, the Ataris, and Sum 41, heavily influenced today's bands that continue to keep the genre alive and well (which will be featured in the next post).




REFLECTION:
1. Why was the genre's influence shrinking prior to blink-182's explosion?
2. Which album was the first to peak at number one on the charts?
3. Considering DeLonge's 2005 departure reasons, would you be able to sacrifice time and family for an arduous touring schedule? Why or why not?


CITATION:
Much Music (2005). blink-182: Born To Be [Documentary]. United States: Much Music.

The First Wave: 1984-1997

    After the postpunk era and the influence of the Ramones began to dwindle, something was bound to explode into relevance and start a new revolution. In the late 1980's, that revolution became reality when a wave of bands such as Green Day, Rancid, and the Offspring began a melodic punk rock assault on their localities. This began the first wave of American pop punk music, and set the stage for a phenomenon that still thrives today.
    In 1987, guitarist Billie Joe Armstrong and bassist Mike Pritchard (AKA Mike Dirnt) formed a band called "Sweet Children" in a small town near Berkeley, California. After acquiring drummer John Kiffmeyer, the band began a conquest to play at a local club that was inspirational to them: 924 Gilman Street. The hardcore punk audience found the band's melodic, lighter songs as odd, but eventually grew on to the music and led the band to start touring around the country. The band then changed their name to "Green Day" and drummer Frank Edwin Wright III (better known as Tre Cool) replaced Kiffmeyer as he went on with his education. After the release of their debut album, "39/Smooth", and the follow-up "Kerplunk" on independent label Lookout! Records, the band garnered attention from major labels and eventually signed with Reprise Records. Though many fans saw this as selling out, the band's third album "Dookie" became a 10X platinum hit and catapulted Green Day and the genre into mainstream stardom in 1994. Fed up with old fan anger, their fourth album "Insomniac" was a much darker album that went on to go double platinum and feature the hit "Brain Stew". The release of "Nimrod" in 1997 saw a variation of styles ranging from pop punk to metal to an acoustic ballad in "Good Riddance (Time of Your Life)" but kept their success going as it too went double platinum.
    In 1991 in the same area as Green Day, the band Rancid was formed with members of influential 1980's ska band "Operation Ivy". The band, formed by Tim Armstrong on guitar, Matt Freeman on bass, and Brett Reed on drums, took the reigns as a dominant local pop punk band after Kerplunk had taken Green Day to a national scale. They were signed to indie label Epitaph Records, and eventually released their debut self-titled album in 1993. The 1994 follow-up "Let's Go" triggered some mainstream success for the band, peaking at number 97 on the Billboard 200 charts. The album eventually went gold, and the band received pressures to sign with major labels like Green Day had just done. They, however, never signed, and released their breakthrough "...And Out Come The Wolves" in 1995 to a 45th chart position and rave reviews from rock critics. While the other bands decided to take their talents to a global scale, Rancid remained stuck to its roots and maintains a strong fanbase wherever they may go as a result, most notably opening for blink-182 on 2011's Honda Civic Tour, which has featured bands such as My Chemical Romance, New Found Glory, and Paramore to name a few.
    1984 saw the formation of the final important first wave band, the Offspring. Known as Manic Subsidal for their first three years, the band became an indie label phenomenon. After recording multiple demos, they were signed to Nemesis Records and released their self-titled debut album in 1989. After signing with Epitaph Records, the band's third album "Smash" in 1994 catapulted the Offspring into mainstream success, selling over twelve million copies worldwide (an all time record for independent label albums). As the band began touring nationally and then globally, major label attention was gained, and the band eventually left Epitaph to join major label Columbia Records. In 1996, the band saw a slight stylistic change, but still sold over four million units with their fourth album "Ixnay on the Hombre". Since then, the Offspring have remained an influential pop punk band and still have mainstream success, earning them a spot among the greatest pop punk bands to ever exist.


REFLECTION:
1. Which of the featured bands never signed to a major label?
2. Taking into account the evolution of each band, how do you think the second wave of pop punk will be different and similar to the first?
3. If you had the choice to sign with a major label or stay with your current devoted fanbase at an indie label, which would you choose? Why?
    


CITATIONS:
"Green Day." U*X*L Biographies. Detroit: U*X*L, 2011. Student Resources in Context. Web. 2 Mar. 2012.


    The Offspring Biography - ARTISTdirect Music. (n.d.). Free Music Download, New Bands, Music Videos & Pictures, International Online Music & CD's: ARTISTdirect Network. Retrieved March 2, 2012, from http://www.artistdirect.com/artist/bio/the-offspring/474954