Let's Get Reckless - Your source for everything Hey Monday. As the band is currently on a break, we'll keep you updated on all the members of Hey Monday, including past members.
Quick Links: Cassadee Pope/Mike Gentile/Elliot James (Break Blossom)/Alex Lipshaw/Michael "Jersey" Moriarty/Pat McKenzie/Chris Gentile
If you would like to contact us, send an e-mail to: letsgetreckless@gmail.com
Send any questions you have for Cassadee to @ClevverTV - she’ll be in their studio tomorrow talking about her EP!
Reblogged from propertyofzack
For years it was rumored that Fueled By Ramen power-pop band Hey Monday were created as a launching pad for vocalist Cassadee Pope’s eventual solo career. True or not, that’s how things have played out, and it is hard to argue with the results. Cassadee Pope, her first release as a solo artist, heads in a more mainstream direction than her Hey Monday work without losing sight of what gave HM their undeniable appeal — easy melodies, big punchy hooks and straightforward, relatable lyrics.
Boisterous lead track “Original Love” is the obvious single; it also hews closest to the Hey Monday format. The drums in the verses are digital, and keys give color where a guitar lead might otherwise go. Yet, the explosive refrain (bolstered by a thumping backbeat courtesy of All Time Low drummer / Pope paramour Rian Dawson) rocks as hard as anything in the Hey Monday catalog. There is even a squealing (if brief) guitar solo thrown in for good measure. It is not clear what is so “original” about Pope’s love — it sure sounds a lot like the love everyone else on pop radio is singing about — but the heart-on-sleeve naiveté matches the giddy chorus’ tone perfectly.
If “Original Love” is the most single-worthy track here, “I Guess We’re Cool” is possibly the greatest song Pope has ever written, with a lurching gear-shift into a positively huge chorus that finds her reciting a litany of perceived shortcomings in her protagonist — “I can get moody when my hair’s a mess”; “I’m gonna ask all about your ex” — before concluding that “if you’re ok with that […] I guess we’re cool.” Except that it is clear from the ache in Pope’s voice that, deep down, things are not “cool,” Pope insinuates that it is not nearly enough to merely accept such superficial flaws, or at least that it shouldn’t be. The line, as Pope sings it, is a window into a heady confrontation between the needy cravings of damaged self-esteem and a nagging sense of deserving more, powerful forces at internal loggerheads. It is an alchemical bit of pop writing, a transformative morsel of phrasing and delivery that lards a seemingly-straightforward sentiment with massive hidden depth, and it is quite beyond anywhere Pope’s gone to date.
Cassadee Pope
Elliot James (Break Blossom)
Fan Cover
If you like good music then you need to listen to Cassadee Pope’s new EP. If you don’t like good music, then keep listening to your “dope” Mac Miller album. Pope’s EP came out this past week and it is her first album as a solo artist, branching out from her popular band, Hey Monday. We have always been big supporters of Hey Monday here at Substream, but this solo EP took us all by surprise. The songs are extremely well written showcasing the music, lyrics, and vocals in a superb light. We hit her up this past weekend for an interview to find out the details on making this album and what the future has in store. Enjoy.
Substream Music Press: First off, congrats on the release of your first solo EP. I seriously have listened to it about 20 times so far. I think everyone seems to love it. All four of the songs could be radio hits.
Cassadee Pope: Thank you so much! I’m really stoked people are enjoying it. I love every song myself and it’s always scary to see if you’re alone in thinking that way (laughs).
Our contest for our third birthday, which includes a signed Hey Monday poster, Let’s Get Reckless wristband, Hey Monday ‘Beneath It All’ sticker, and a ‘Cassadee is my Natural High’ sticker ends on Saturday, May 26th at 8:00PM EST. That means there’s only 2 days left to enter - enter here.
Also, our contest for a copy of Cassadee’s EP has been delayed. We decided (and you guys voted) that we should hold it back until the EP is available on iTunes for the lyric booklet. Another reason someone gave was so more of the money could go to Cass. We liked this suggestion and, since there’s no set date for her EP release on iTunes, get your entries in now so you don’t miss out - click here.
After performing most of her original songs live on her solo acoustic tour earlier this year, Cassadee Pope left thousands of fans eagerly anticipating her debut solo release – and the wait was worth it. The self-titled EP, produced by Andrew Dixon and Jason Gavi, is sure to be a hit among her supporters both old and new. Pope shows off her killer vocal range, and the record as a whole reflects her bubbly personality with more of a mainstream pop twist than her previous work with Hey Monday.
The record opens with first single “Original Love” (streaming exclusively on idobi here) and starts things off with a bang. The song is obviously geared toward being a radio hit, but its infectious energy paired with adorable lyrics (“You leaned in to kiss me and gave me a black eye / But since then my vision’s been so clear”) make it instantly addicting. This track is bound to impress as it maintains the classic liveliness that Hey Monday fans know and love Cassadee for while adding an effervescent pop flair into the mix.
“Secondhand” and “I Guess We’re Cool” keep the energy level high but don’t quite compare to the EP’s opener. The live acoustic versions of these tracks enabled Cassadee’s voice to stand out, where the recorded instrumentals distract more than support in comparison, making these two tracks ultimately fall a little short of their potential.
The EP closes with a personal favorite, “Told You So.” A striking compilation of piano and vocals, the song delivers an inspiring message of perseverance and overcoming obstacles in order to achieve your dreams – only appropriate considering the risk she took in stepping back from Hey Monday to record a solo EP. While many singers have succeeded transitioning from a full band to a solo career, the list is much longer of those who haven’t made it. Slower composition and deeper lyrical content set “Told You So” apart, but it still captures the energy that resonates throughout the entire record.
Cassadee Pope obviously took a different approach in writing this record compared to her previous work with Hey Monday, but she certainly does not disappoint. Her energetic, optimistic personality shines through these songs, making the EP a must-have for old Hey Monday supporters as well as any fan of pop music. Despite a few moments where it doesn’t quite live up to its potential, this EP as a whole demonstrates Cassadee’s versatility as a musician and sets a solid foundation for her future success. Whether she reunites with her bandmates or continues to pursue her solo career, fans can expect big things from her.
Rating: 4/5
Reblogged from proudcassettes
Here’s the interview from The Gunz Show if anyone missed it.
Cassadee Pope, the former front woman of Hey Monday, has broken away on her own and released a self-titled EP yesterday. The four tracks EP features Cassadee’s voice singing some pretty pop-tastic melodies about love. Although the EP is a solo effort, all the songs were written with co-writers and Cassadee worked with producers to create these tracks. Rian Dawson of All Time Low also lent a hand tracking drums for the EP…what a guy!
At it’s core, the EP is cute and catchy, with four songs that you will play in your car on a hot summer day driving to the beach. It makes me anxious to see what an entire album would have in store for us. Keep it up gal!
[source]
One of our favorite parts about summer is new music. We are guilty of waiting up till midnight so we can purchase a new single, EP, or album. This week’s playist consists of three songs that were released May 22. Make sure you take a listen, and hopefully you’ll love them as much as we do.
4. I Guess We’re Cool - Cassadee Pope: There is no need to mourn the new solo career of Hey Monday’s frontwoman, Cassadee Pope because her new EP still has a taste of that fun, organic Hey Monday sound. The lyrics are raw, truthful, and are accompanied by a fabulous melodies. Make sure you pick up the entire EP to add to your summer soundtrack.
To see the rest of the playlist, click here.
After kick-starting her solo career with an acoustic tour,Cassadee Pope has finally released her debut EP.
The lead singer of Hey Monday, who’re currently on hiatus, debuted her self-titled EP today, much to the delight of her anticipating fans. Cassadee released the opening track, Original Love on idobi.com beforehand.
The 4-song EP was produced by Andrew Dixon and Jason Gavi while Pope’s beau, Rian Dawson of All Time Low helped out with the drum tracks. The EP flaunts Cassadee’s remarkable vocal range albeit with a mainstream pop twist as compared to the previous pop punk sound of Hey Monday.
Secondhand, I Guess We’re Cool and Told You So were all previously performed on Pope’s acoustic tour. Upon comparison, I find that the EP actually (slightly) muffles her very capable vocals, especially on Secondhand. Perhaps she could’ve toured after instead of before the EP release? Nevertheless, I feel that this bright sound has successfully managed to bring out Pope’s lively personality, highlighting her energy and optimism.
Here’s what she wanted to say about the record:
“This EP represents everything I am, everything I’ve worked for, and everything I’m working towards. I’m so proud of this work, and feel so close to it. I’ve always been a writer and put my heart into every lyric. But this for some reason really hits home. I’ve had some of these songs for a year, and some I’ve written just recently. I hope the passion and love that went into them shines through. Enjoy my first ever solo release!”
With or without her band members, Cassadee’s bound to have a bright future ahead.
[source]
From @TheGunzShow:
The man behind @VansWarpedTour @KevinLyman will be on@TheGunzShow tomorrow night at 9pm eastern at http://idobiradio.comwith @cassadeepope
