The Graduate
Hometown: Springfield, IL
Tags: punk, alternative, indie rock, alternative rock, pop punk
Since signing on the dotted line with ICON MES in September of 2006, THE GRADUATE have gone from virtual unknowns to gracing the cover of CMJ magazine in a matter of just a few short months. After several years of heavy touring with previous bands, these Springfield, IL natives have created quite a buzz and amassed a following that feels more like a family than a fan base.
Formed in November 2005, THE GRADUATE, collaboration between long-time friends Tim Moore, Corey Warning, Matt Kennedy, Max Sauer and Jared Wuestenberg, gained momentum in the Midwest ‘indie-circuit’ due to the memorable songs, interactive live show and friendly disposition of its members.
THE GRADUATE are currently gearing up for the release of ANHEDONIA, their debut full-length album, hitting stores on 4.10.07. The quintet aims to surpass the success of their previous independently released “The Horror Show” EP which garnered the title of ‘number one most added in college radio’ at the end of 2006.
Holed up for weeks on end in Salad Days Studios in Baltimore, MD, guitarist Max Sauer Describes the experience of creating ANHEDONIA and working with acclaimed producer Brian McTernan (Circa Survive, Senses Fail, and Thrice).
"It was fun and hard at the same time. He pushed us, like a coach would, and made us do our absolute best, so at times it was nerve-racking, like 'Ah, I can't do this anymore, I need a break for a little bit,' but he pushed us and I'm really happy that he did because I love how it turned out."
THE GRADUATE eagerly awaits hitting the road and sharing the new material with fans. Best described as solid, mature pop-rock showered with sincerity and honesty, ANHEDONIA, a name chosen for its reference to ‘lack of emotion’, reflects the idea of just existing. Singer Corey Warning notes that the guys came into their own during the recording process and the finished product encompasses everything they were striving to achieve.
"I think that the people who liked the EP are going to like the full-length [album], I'm pretty confident about that. I think it's progressive for us. I feel like we're really starting to define our sound and what we're trying to do as a band with our music."
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TheOwlMag on The Graduate
4 months agoArtist: The Graduate Album: Anhedonia Label: Icon Records Genre: Emo, Rock/Pop Rating: Buy it >>
The Graduate come as a complete surprise for those of us who like to judge things by their cover. Everything about the CD jacket makes it seem like an independent solo electronic project but that couldn’t be further from the truth. The band list a lot of influences including Coldplay and U2 but I think they missed one-Jimmy Eat World. The opening track, “Sit and Sink” and “Justifed” could have easily found their way into an early J.E.W. record. Like Jimmy Eat World, The Graduate’s debut album, Anhedonia, is a lot of fun and “emotional” but you will find that the younger you are the more will be true. For several more experienced ears, who have explored far more music than our 14-year old compatriots, will look at sections of songs like the breakdown in “I Survived’ and wonder to themselves if the band decided to play 10 seconds of music that didn’t fit in with the rest of the track. But for the most part, despite a couple of slip ups, the band itself can clearly play and is certainly up to the musical level of their genre – “emo”. The band’s weakest point is clearly their singer.
Anhedonia is a Greek psychological concept that means you are unable to draw pleasure from normally pleasurable things such as sex, eating, etc. Which is fine material for a emo band and a vocalist as whiny and “dark” as Corey Warning (which is totally his real name). Warning’s lyrics are extremely typical for the genre as they portray girls, drinking, boring suburbia and being absolutely alone. This on top of Warning’s whiny voice can make him really polarizing especially for older listeners.
It will be no surprise to me if The Graduate aren’t signed to a major label in the near future. They create fun pop-rock songs with enough depth for radio and your younger brother, which is not saying a lot, but, hey tons of bands have had long careers on less. Anhedonia, is not the record that are going to make The Graduate stars, but it is going to get them on the right tours, getting the right buzz where their next album will. If you’re still in high school than The Graduate should be right on the money but if you are a little older or jaded musically I wouldn’t be so eager to pull the trigger.
- Review submitted by Dan Berkman.
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