SOUND BITES

Usually, as spring gives way to summer album releases dry up. In 2015, however, it didn't really feel like the case. Sure, there were less albums released than in the spring but pretty much every week in June and July saw something worthwhile hit the shelves. Plus, there are a couple from July 10th, which is the date all new releases shifted from Tuesdays to Fridays. This batch of nominees also represents a nice cross section of new and emerging bands, established acts and long dormant bands breaking long silences. Our third set of Song of the Year Nominees are:

If you were looking for the harbinger of punk rock's future in 1998, chances are you scoffed at Swedish noisemakers Refused and their cheekily titled third album The Shape of Punk to Come ; who dares make such a ridiculous claim? Of course, if you followed up your scoffing by actually listening to the record, chances are your laughing diminished to tiny, nervous coughs. As word of mouth slowly spread about the record's stunning quality and adventurousness, more and more grew to appreciate Refused; eventually, as the legend continued to grow, new bands picked up what Refused were putting down, incorporating the style and sound into new sonic directions and rendering The Shape of Punk to Come a self-fulfilling prophecy. Of course, the band wasn't around to support or dispute any of this, as they'd disbanded just months after the album's release; in fact, nearly all of Refused's stature as punk/rock vanguards was forged after they packed it in. As years roll...