Did Taylor Swift Rip Off All Time Low on “So Long, London”?

Taylor Swift just released her latest album The Tortured Poets Department, and her highly-anticipated “track 5” is a farewell to her love life in the United Kingdom, “So Long, London.”

The song is believed to be about her English ex Joe Alwyn, or exes if we include Matty Healy of The 1975. It’s a somber ballad detailing the collapse of their romance, underlined by a pulsating beat with writing help from Aaron Dessner of The National fame.

Taylor Swift is known for designating the fifth track on her LPs for the most emotional or personal songs. Fans have speculated for years about this so-called theory, and although the trend may have started as a coincidence, Swift has played into it with her more recent albums. The first record where she acknowledged the theory was her 2019 full-length Lover.

“So Long, London” has piqued our interest for a different reason, however. The melody presented in the chorus of this song is awfully similar to that of “So Long Soldier” by Baltimore pop punk band All Time Low, which was released twelve years prior in 2012 on their album Don’t Panic.

The similarities between the two melodies typically wouldn’t be enough to warrant raised eyebrows. But it’s not just the melody. Both choruses begin with the words “so long,” and that coupled with the melody is what seems so damning.

Are we claiming Taylor Swift ripped off All Time Low? No. But it sure does seem a little too close for comfort. Coincidentally, “So Long Soldier” also mentions London. The first verse details how frontman Alex Gaskarth emigrated from the UK to the United States: “Back in ’95 / A little boy from just outside of London / Took a fated trip across the ocean.”

It is worth mentioning that the two tunes in question are written in separate albeit both major keys, but even the tempo is close. A quick 160 beats-per-minute in “So Long, London” rivals an even brisker yet nearby 190 beats-per-minute in “So Long Soldier.”

What do you think? If I were on Swift’s legal team, I might go ahead and start penning a defense…

Credit: Ashley Osborn

Best Albums of 2018 – 5 Seconds of Summer, LANY, The Aces, & More

While 2018 offered up a multitude of mediocre and disappointing albums, a few gems shone through the rough. Here are our best albums of 2018!

Honorable Mentions

• twenty one pilots – Trench
• Snail Mail – Lush
• The Dangerous Summer – The Dangerous Summer
• Boston Manor – Welcome to the Neighbourhood
• With Confidence – Love & Loathing
• Now, Now – Saved
• The Story So Far – Proper Dose
• As It Is – The Great Depression
• Mayday Parade – Sunnyland
• Trophy Eyes – The American Dream

Let’s get into it…

8. Ryan Beatty – Boy in Jeans

Imagine if Lorde’s Pure Heroine was written instead by a gay boy who is slightly horny and possibly high. Yeah, that would be Ryan Beatty’s debut record Boy in Jeans. Mixing carefree pop with soulful R&B, Ryan Beatty crafts an album that speaks volumes of youth, heartbreak, love, and just having some fun. Standout tracks include “Powerslide,” “Haircut,” “Speed,” and “Flash.” Boy in Jeans will capture listeners of Lorde, Daniel Caesar, and Conan Gray. Click here to listen.

7. Waterparks – Entertainment

Waterparks’ unique blend of pop punk and electronic power pop is expanded upon and further refined on their sophomore effort Entertainment. Entertainment is undoubtedly entertaining between its anthemic choruses, syrupy synth melodies, and crunchy guitar riffs. Standout tracks include “Blonde,” “Not Warriors,” “We Need to Talk,” and “Rare.” Entertainment is bound to please followers of As It Is, Against the Current, and PVRIS. Click here to listen.

6. Florence + the Machine – High As Hope

Florence Welch provides her most personal and vulnerable material to date on Florence + the Machine’s fourth studio album High As Hope. High As Hope is outlined by organic instrumentation, luscious background vocals, and the powerhouse delivery of Welch, but the most compelling aspect of this release is her raw, emotional exposition. Standout tracks include “Hunger,” “Sky Full of Song,” “Patricia,” and “Big God.” High As Hope is sure to attract listeners of Alice Merton, London Grammar, and Lily Allen. Click here to listen.

5. Fickle Friends – You Are Someone Else

The colorful, glistening indie pop rock of Fickle Friends’ You Are Someone Else is entrancing and consistently replayable. The band’s debut record is defined by smooth electropop and scintillating guitar melodies, melding contemporary sounds with a throwback attitude. And gosh, the bass grooves will get stuck in your head for days! Standout tracks include “Glue,” “Brooklyn,” “Say No More,” and “Paris.” You Are Someone Else will appeal to fans of The Aces, Paramore’s After Laughter, and The 1975’s I like it when you sleep. Click here to listen.

4. Charlie Puth – Voicenotes

Charlie Puth has always displayed an element of retrospective influences in his sound, but Voicenotes is a drastic change from his previous outing. Trading doo-wop harmonies and antiquated piano ballads for uptempo ’80s pop rock jams and dark R&B moments, Voicenotes is a multidimensional pop record with plenty to offer to diverse audiences. Standout tracks include “Empty Cups,” “Somebody Told Me,” “BOY,” and “The Way I Am.” Voicenotes will capture listeners of New Edition, Breakbot, and ZAYN. Click here to listen.

3. The Aces – When My Heart Felt Volcanic

The vibrant, shimmery indie pop rock of The Aces’ When My Heart Felt Volcanic is captivating and undeniably fun. This debut full-length is characterized by ’80s-influenced guitar timbre and catchy songwriting, blending the ever-present throwback elements with fresh, modern-day production. Standout tracks include “Just Like That,” “Strong Enough,” “Last One,” and “Lovin’ Is Bible.” When My Heart Felt Volcanic will appeal to fans of Paramore’s After Laughter, Fickle Friends, and Scavenger Hunt. Click here to listen.

2. LANY – Malibu Nights

LANY’s sophomore record Malibu Nights arrives just one year after their self-titled debut but is decisively more improved. Trimming down the album to just 9 tracks, the album feels more cohesive and refined compared to its 16-track predecessor. Malibu Nights shares a tale of heartbreak and confusion, and while not a single song on this record is totally cheerful, you will be shouting along to the upbeat choruses and crying your eyes out to the gut-wrenching piano ballads after just a couple spins. Standout tracks include “Thick and Thin,” “Taking Me Back,” “Let Me Know,” and “Malibu Nights.” Malibu Nights is bound to interest followers of joan, MILKK, and COIN. Click here to listen.

1. 5 Seconds of Summer – Youngblood

After nearly three years, 5SOS recrudesces to deliver their most experimental and mature record yet. Youngblood is expertly characterized by moody guitar melodies, pensive atmosphere, and stellar vocal performances contributed by all members of the band. Catchy, instantly replayable, and downright interesting, Youngblood is our album of the year. Standout tracks include “Babylon,” “Better Man,” “Midnight,” “Talk Fast,” and “Moving Along,” but every song is amazing! Youngblood will appeal to listeners of All Time Low, The Vamps, Fall Out Boy, and Imagine Dragons. Click here to listen. I mean, was this a surprise to anyone? I literally got a custom necklace made over this album.

 

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Let us know your favorite albums of the year in the comments below!

Best Songs of 2018 – 5 Seconds of Summer, The 1975, twenty one pilots, & More

Well, it’s that time of year again. We get to discuss the good, the bad, and the ugly of the past year. Right now we’ll run through our top songs of 2018… While this is Alt Columnist, we can’t deny there were some true bops in every genre this year. There’s a bit of everything on this list, from rock to indie to pop punk to singer/songwriter to R&B to electropop. So strap in and enjoy!

Best Songs of 2018

1. “Bulletproof” by DALES
2. “Bad Girls Don’t Cry” by The Night Game
3. “Enough” by Speak Low If You Speak Love
4. “Surveillance” by George Ogilvie
5. “Growing” by Blue Heaven
6. “Drive” by Pale Waves
7. “If You’re Over Me” by Years & Years
8. “Magnetic” by Phillip Phillips
9. “Topanga Lawrence” by Charmer
10. “Cool Out” by Imagine Dragons
11. “Good Kisser” by Lake Street Dive
12. “Pacific Kiss” by MILKK
13. “Again” by Kehlani
14. “Bullet For Your Sweetheart” by Make Out Monday
15. “Bad Machine” by Boston Manor
16. “take you home” by slenderbodies
17. “Sister Cities” by The Wonder Years
18. “Daydream” by The XCERTS
19. “My Life” by The Vamps & New Hope Club
20. “Haircut” by Ryan Beatty
21. “Lash Out” by Alice Merton
22. “Swim” by Fickle Friends
23. “Why” by Shawn Mendes
24. “Babe, Can I Call?” by The Hunna
25. “all the kids are depressed” by Jeremy Zucker
26. “Blonde” by Waterparks
27. “I Always Wanna Die (Sometimes)” by The 1975
28. “Sky Full of Song” by Florence + the Machine
29. “Just Like That” by The Aces
30. “James Dean” by The Wrecks
31. “Taking Me Back” by LANY
32. “Voices” by Against the Current
33. “Hair Too Long” by The Vamps
34. “My My My!” by Troye Sivan
35. “Villains” by Mainland
36. “Moving Along” by 5 Seconds of Summer
37. “Misty Mae” by Georgia Fearn
38. “Malibu Nights” by LANY
39. “Before the Sun Goes Down” by The New Respects
40. “Mariners Apartment Complex” by Lana Del Rey
41. “Heaven’s Gate” by Fall Out Boy
42. “You Can Count On Me” by Trophy Eyes
43. “The Overpass” by Panic! at the Disco
44. “stop and stare” by joan
45. “Mad Love” by Honest Men
46. “Youngblood” by 5 Seconds of Summer
47. “That Something” by With Confidence
48. “Daphne Blue” by The Band Camino
49. “Heat Wave” by Snail Mail
50. “Jumpsuit” by twenty one pilots
51. “Not Warriors” by Waterparks
52. “Powerslide” by Ryan Beatty
53. “Best Friend” by 5 Seconds of Summer
54. “Brooklyn” by Fickle Friends
55. “Lovely” by Pinkish Blu
56. “Revolution” by The Wrecks
57. “Hunger” by Florence + the Machine
58. “Lake Effect Kid” by Fall Out Boy
59. “Midnight” by 5 Seconds of Summer
60. “Empty Cups” by Charlie Puth
61. “Thick and Thin” by LANY
62. “Lovin’ Is Bible” by The Aces
63. “In My Blood” by Shawn Mendes
64. “Love It If We Made It” by The 1975
65. “Babylon” by 5 Seconds of Summer

Yeah, I’m surprised too. I’m not going to explain every song on this list, but let’s go through a handful of my favorites.

“I Always Wanna Die (Sometimes)” is basically if The 1975 made a late ’90s Third Eye Blind song… and it somehow works.

“Bullet For Your Sweetheart” by Make Out Monday is reminiscent of Fall Out Boy’s From Under the Cork Tree, lyrically and musically, which is a welcomed sound.

Speaking of Fall Out Boy, while I consider MANIA to be their most unsatisfactory project to date, “Heaven’s Gate” surprised me with its soulful melodies and organic instrumentation, seemingly harking back to the Folie á Deux era of their career.

Similarly, Panic! at the Disco’s Pray For the Wicked was a disappointing release, but “The Overpass” provided some punch, rhythm, and excitement with gutsy horns, racing percussion, and soaring choruses.

“stop and stare” by joan is an ’80s-inspired indie pop rock jam with warm synths, ethereal atmosphere, and a stellar guitar solo.

“Daphne Blue” by The Band Camino is an undeniable summertime anthem, perfect for a windows-down, volume-up drive.

“Powerslide” by Ryan Beatty is another tune for the summertime, but much more chill and smooth and, uh, suggestive, bound to get stuck in your head with its bouncy melodies and vocal harmonies.

“Lovely” by Pinkish Blu delivers a hazy indie rock vibe through nicely reverb-laden guitar timbres and poignant lyricism.

Fall Out Boy originally released a demo of “Lake Effect Kid” on their 2008 Welcome to the New Administration mixtape, but the song finally got its rightful studio version released this year, a decade later, as a love letter to the band’s hometown of Chicago. This is the Fall Out Boy we’ve been missing.

“Midnight” by 5 Seconds of Summer was released as a Japanese bonus track on their latest effort Youngblood, but it’s easily one of the best songs from the record. (Although, as you can tell from their numbers of entries on our list, it’s fairly difficult to say there were many inferior songs on the album to begin with.) “Midnight” is a sultry plea for a deeper relationship with a paramour who only gives their love after midnight, but the tune is so anthemic and gargantuan that the tremendous choruses and celestial atmosphere nearly eclipse the subject matter.

“Empty Cups” by Charlie Puth is a rather similar song, begging a lover to stay, but with more groove and allure… and more scandalous in regards to cheating.

LANY’s “Thick and Thin” employs tasteful simplicity and heartfelt lyrics to craft a refined, exquisitely minimalistic tune deserving of repeated listens and shouted singalongs.

“Lovin’ Is Bible” by The Aces is a fabulous ’80s-influenced tune with some real character. The chorus is undeniably catchy, and the guitar riffs are absolute earcandy.

“Love It If We Made It” by The 1975 is a desperate yet hopeful survey of our world’s current sociopolitical state, and while it is quite anxiety-inducing, it is one of the band’s strongest works to date.

Speaking of anxiety, “In My Blood” by Shawn Mendes is an empowering cry for help, a portrait of persevering through mental health struggles and general challenges of life. Shawn Mendes surprised us with this Kings of Leon-inspired pop rock song, and it’s brought me to tears on multiple occasions.

“Babylon” by 5 Seconds of Summer is a ripping pop rock anthem, characterized by colossal guitar melodies and sky-high choruses. Calum Hood’s moment to shine is an ultimately defining moment for the Aussie band.

That’s our list! Let us know your favorite tunes of the year in the comments down below or tweet at us on Twitter. @AltColumnist