SONG OF THE DAY: "Got Social" by The Swellers

The Swellers are a pop/punk/alt/rock band from the tropical land of Flint, Michigan. The lead singer/guitarist and drummer/back-up vocalist are brothers. They've been a band for over 10 years, but have been continually on the rise and are just beginning to get the mainstream notoriety they've deserved for at least the last five or so years.

They began essentially as a melodic skate-punk band, which is a style so supersaturated with similar-sounding bands that it's been nearly impossible to stand out since the genre got big in the '90s. I first heard the band upon the release of their second album, 2007's My Everest, which remains my favorite, largely due to introduction bias. But The Swellers got smart and tapped into some of their other influences (namely '90s alt-rock) for their next album, Ups and Downsizing, which featured a new, aaaalmost radio-ready sound and a few brilliant songs.

Their next album, Good For Me, released two years later, was viewed by some as a somewhat forgettable misstep as the band tried to hone their sound even further. The songs got a bit same-y and tame for my tastes, and I didn't give the band much consideration when last year's The Light Under Closed Doors was released.

But, when I heard "Got Social," with its heavy riff, catchy chorus, and memorable video, I started paying attention again. The whole album revives the energy, song variety, and, most importantly, LOUDNESS of their earlier work, and it proves to be an exhilarating listen every time. The band often gets correctly stuck with some sort of "'90s alt-rock revival" label, but in this case, it's a great asset to them. Check the tune and video out below!