New Jersey's FRND CRCL Return with Promstarr EP Recorded at Ace Enders & Nik Bruzzese's The LumberYard (FCMEDIA Productions)

FRND CRCL are a Vineland, New Jersey-based Pop-Punk/Rap-Rock band consisting of vocalist/guitarist/piano player Zac Johnson, vocalist and bassist Adam Skirvin, guitarist Dom Giacalone, and drummer Aaron Smith. Full disclosure: I actually, used to work with Aaron at Shop Rite until about three years ago and I went to high school with a couple of his band mates' older siblings, as well. It's great to see FRND CRCL getting some well-deserved attention and success on a local level and it appears as though the South Jersey Punk/Hardcore scene I used to be a part of is back on the rise! Oddly enough, FRND CRCL are influenced by a lot of the same bands—both local and mainstream—my friends and I used to listen to while we were skateboarding or attending local shows all around South/Central Jersey back in the early 2000's, including: Blink-182, All Time Low, and Green Day, as well as Eminem, Mac Miller, Beastie Boys, and The Dirty Heads.

FRND CRCL initially formed in 2015 as a 2-piece consisting of Zac & Aaron, who met in college, but over time, has morphed into a full-fledged 4-piece band. "The sound of FRND CRCL is in the band's song-writing capabilities, as well as the fusion of two genres that are derivative of street culture: Pop-Punk & Rap. While the root of the music is mainly Rock & Punk, the quartet has been able top make music that appeals to a wide audience of people," reads the band's Spotify Biography. Now, following their 2017 debut full-length, IMMUNITIVERSITY, FRND CRCL have returned with their Promstarr EP. Just in time, before The Year of The EP, Prommstarr is a perfect 4-song collection displaying what FRND CRCL have to offer; it's a nearly perfect summation of their Pop-Punk X Rap-Rock sound! FRND CRCL recorded Promstarr at The LumberYard in Hammonton, NJ, which is owned and operated by Nik Bruzzese of Man Overboard and Ace Enders of The Early November/Ace Enders & A Million Different People.

"Chasing Phantoms" reminds me, in addition to their previously listed influences, of Sum 41 and A Day to Remember and its companion music video boasts a zany early 2000's Pop-Punk scenario reminiscent of Blink-182's "What's My Age Again?" A second single was also, pulled from Promstarr, "UnXpTbL" (read: "Unacceptable") which is reminiscent of bands such as The Early November, Jack's Mannequin, and Fall Out Boy. "UnXpTbL"'s companion music video features FRND CRCL's members working in a restaurant with a new employee, who quickly learns about their time-transporting walk-in freezer. FRND CRCL's Promstarr EP definitely packs a festive punch and if you haven't yet already, you can stream or download it on Apple Music, Google Play, Spotify, and like-minded streaming services. FRND CRCL will be playing a Promstarr EP Release Show/Holiday Party at Bojo's Ale House in Millville, NJ this Saturday, December 22nd with LRS. Festivities will be starting at 7:00pm and LRS will go on from 7:30-9:30 with FRND CRCL playing from 10-10:45, LRS closing out the night.

"Let Me Shine for You:" Lindsay Lohan for Playboy (Winter 2011-12 Leak)

Lindsay Lohan essentially embodies exactly "What NOT to Do In Hollywood :" Fame, fortune, success... sex, drugs & Rock "N" Roll . Within a fairly short period of time, Lohan somehow managed to obtain a plentiful helping of POWER @ a very young age. This gradual rise-downfall was captured on film; Between 1998-2010, she portrayed a wide array of roles across the silver screen in movies including: Mean Girls, Bobby , Herbie Fully Loaded , Georgia Rule, Machete , and Freaky Friday . Between rapid-paced film shoots, Lindsay Lohan also found time to record 2 Pop Rock albums for Casablanca , Speak (2004) and A Litter More Personal-Raw (2005). Needless to say, Lindsay Lohan has gotten roped up in a lot of troubles and woes with the law over the last 3-5 years... a vicious cycle of drugs, arrest, court, rehab, "daddy issues," jail time [Repeat]. That's the pure basics of it - But Google that shit for additional info, if necessary. Towards the end of...

[W]reckless, Topless American Youth: Lana del Rey - "Born 2 Die" (Britney Spears Birthday 30)

Lana del Rey [Lizzy Grant] effectively became 2011's "It Girl" with the release of her phenomenal debut single, "Video Games" (Stranger) . Like many struggling singer-songwriters, Grant has been signed, dropped, and significantly changed her public image since bursting onto the scene (2009). With that said, it can be assumed that Lana del Rey has collected just as many "haters" as she has avid supporters. To be perfectly honest, the only other artist I can think of that made this much commotion... garnered so much wide-spread buzz/hate and critical acclaim -- right out of the gates -- with just one track is Britney Spears . And maybe in this post- Mike musical era, that's the true synthesis of Pop Culture: Britney Lynn Spears . After months of repeated teasing and speculation, Lana del Rey 's major label debut, Born 2 Die will [finally] be released this coming Jan. 30-31, 2012. Pitchfork reports that it will feature "Off to The Ra...

Liberty Bell Cracked In 1/2: Ween - "Freedom of '76" (Gene Ween's Final Send-Off)

Chocolate & Cheese (1994) was one of the first albums I bought with my own money. I was in some sort of BMG Music Club , where you'd buy 5 CD's and then get 10 for "FREE." It was all sent through mail order and you picked the titles from some special booklet. I'm almost positive that Chocolate & Cheese's side boob-baring album cover was what initially drew me in... mind you, I was 12-15 and the zany Ween logo/middle finger CD graphic really didn't hurt either. Honestly, I forget how I really felt about it @ the time, but a few years later, my older cousin Josh told me that Ween were this BIG college "jam band." CKY did some sort pf 93.3 radio takeover to promote their new album and played "Freedom of '76" late that night on air. Needless to say, I re-visited Chocolate & Cheese @ about 20-something this go 'round and I fucking loved it! Ween were really weird, yet talented... almost too talented. I can vaguel...

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