Hannah Hines

With pens and words as weapons, armored in skeleton bodies and faces, with uniforms of ski masks and Banned jackets; they bleed black and red. The MCRmy and clique fight not against each other but against conformity, for their rightful places in the world.

If you've ever seen Almost Famous...

I am a young adult with anxiety, but I am also a full-time college student, a writer, a dreamer, a nonprofit owner, a hard worker, and many other things....

From start to finish Marianas Trench’s latest masterpiece Astoria transports you into a story of both love and loss, of wanting to stay young despite being forced to grow up

I like it when you sleep, for you are so beautiful yet so unaware of it is a masterpiece; a true reminder that music is art, especially when it is accompanied by strong aesthetic visuals and a bold but consistently poetic spoken frontman. Every song is tremendous and immediately fills up the space it is played in, whether that be your mind, your bedroom, a city or an arena. Each of the 17 songs is completely vulnerable; The 1975 have taken quite a risk and the result shows that it was one worth taking.

Welcome to a playlist with a plot! Hannah Hines spoke with Take This To Heart Records owner Joe Urban to outline his journey and get some great insider advice, but she took some stops along the way to make song recommendations; so you’re not just going to meet Joe and the label, you’re going to hear them too.

There’s music you want and there’s music you need. Music you can always come back to. Music you grown into rather than grow out of. For me, and for many others I’m sure, The Devil And God Are Raging Inside Me is that music.

Ten years ago I didn’t truly understand the pain, guilt, loss or any of the darker themes this album explores and exposes. But at some point I came back to this record and never left it again because it became a piece of solace and safety.

It’s been a long time coming, but somehow the timing is perfect. It’s the beginning of March and much of the country is unseasonably warm while many of its people are unusually cynical. We need soundtracks, we need escapes that are also places to find ourselves.

This playlist is for the days and moments you need to feel invincible. Music often has power and impact to change our attitude. This is music that I hope will allow you to feel as strong as you truly are. These are songs I hope give you the confidence you deserve. I hope this playlist says, “you’re not alone, you’re doing great, move on, keep going”. They are anthems and fight songs, declarations and mantras.

You may often think of “culture” in reference to a country or group of people, maybe even a genre, but what about a specific band? The Maine may only be five members but they’ve created a whole little world—and not just for themselves. 8123 is a large part of that world, as it isn’t just a record label, but a family: including Beach Weather, The Technicolors, and more. It’s not a family you’re born into, but a family you choose. Fans of The Maine and 8123 are a part of something bigger, whether they know it or not.

Transitioning periods in life are hard and uncomfortable, usually because they are shaping us and hopefully making us stronger. This doesn’t change the fact that it can feel hopeless and dark to not know what’s next. After spending years in routines, studying all night, stressing over exams, and juggling group projects you would think graduating would be a relief. Don’t get me wrong, it is a relief, but not having a job right away can really crush you with a different kind of constant stress.

In 2006, an album was released with artwork that put a child next to devil-like characters, almost as a warning that the music you were about to experience was as bone-chilling and provocative as the visual. The Devil and God Are Raging Inside Me by Brand New has stood alone, unparalleled by any album in depth and sound, but today it is joined by Down In The Dark by Safe To Say. I am apprehensive to ever compare art to other art, as each is from different people, but these albums both seem to be inspired by the same place of darkness that manifests into unforgettable music. With an album this remarkable, we had to ask the band some questions on what it took to make it from start to finish.

Blink-182 couldn’t wait for summer and the Warped Tour, but would they have seen “her” there if she stayed home because she didn’t want to attend a festival that supported the idea that she shouldn’t control her own her body, hosted violent and abusive performers, and ultimately did not prioritize attendee’s safety? I’m not too cool for Warped Tour and this isn’t an edgy article complaining about a commercialized festival; it’s an open conversation about the issues with Warped Tour and why we need to address them.

Dikembe - 'Hail Something' Review — The Alternative...

A 7 hour drive through the night to play a festival for 30 minutes only to immediately leave to play another gig might seem crazy, but for Brooklyn-based indie rock band Bear Hands it’s the necessary dedication needed to give a new album everything it deserves. You’ll Pay For This has been out since April, peaking at number 5 on Billboard’s Top Heatseekers Albums chart. Tracks such as “2am” and “Boss” prove this band is much more than their top single “Gaints” from their last record; hard work and risk taking is Bear Hand’s ethos.