So this band is not exactly unknown, for the most part. This band has gotten it’s fair share of publicity from 2005-2009 and I guarentee you have found yourself humming one of their tunes or blasting the volume when one of their songs came on the radio.
The band is Cute Is What We Aim For:
I’ve always considered Cute one of my few absolute favorite bands going back to Warped Tour 2006 when I first heard “There’s a Class For This” on a demo mix CD someone was handing out during that Chicago Warped Tour day. After that, I have slowly been becoming more and more a fan of Cute Is What We Aim For, meaning to pick up their first album, Same Old Blood Rush With A New Touch(2006) with hits like, “There’s a Class For This”, “Newport Living”, and “The Curse of Curves” to name a few.I would have finally gotten myself to get said CD after Alternative Press featured a story on them for the first (and only decent) AP Tour w/ Cute as headliners.
Just goes to show you, Don’t throw away those Free CDs you get at Warped Tourrr! You’re new favorite band could have one of their songs on one of um’!!!
Now, Cute Is What We Aim For has gotten a lot of shit over the years for god knows what negative publicity or garbage people make up, It tears me up to hear so much hate on a band that is so effin’ brilliant! Lead Singer/founder of the band, Shaant Hacikyan has got a way with words. His songs are so catchy, so fun and his lyrics, when you actually take the time to decipher them, are pretty sexual which makes listening (and in turn, singing along with) all the more enjoyable!!! :P
Cute Is What We Aim For was signed onto Fueled By Ramen from 2005 until just this past April/May 2009 when the band announced a hiatus. Prior to the break, Cute has gone through numerous band members because of inter-band dramas. Shaant has had problems with alcohol in those days and fans have insulted him and spoken ill on his attitudes with fans after shows be it, a huge slap of “OMG, I’m A Rockstar”-itis’. Jeff Czum and Dave Minnillo left CIWWAF to start a new band, “Nocturnal Me”, which led to the hiatus and thereby allowed Shaant to re evaluate his life and get help with alcohol addiction (he just recently announced that he is now 10 months sober).
Just this past May 2010, after a year and a half of mums the word from Shaant, he announces that he is starting Cute Is What We Aim For up again!
Basically, thus far, Cute Is what We Aim For was reincarnated into a “The Rocket Summer” or “Never Shout Never” or “Young Love” type band. The type of band that has touring members but only one guy is in press photos and featured in interviews and whatnot.
Currently Cute Is What We Aim For just finished his first cross country tour back from the hiatus. I was lucky enough to hit up the Chicago date at Reggies Rock Club. I was pleasantly surprised, after seeing Cute 3 times b/f the hiatus, this return to the stage was the best. Shaant is so much happier, friendlier, and more down to earth then he ever used to be. It’s amazing and makes for such a great show! I am still smiling wide whenever I reminisce in the events of that night. If you ever had a sour impression of him in the past, don’t hate, he’s a phoenix reborn, give him a second chance.
If you ever have the opportunity to see Cute in concert….GO!
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Before Cute’s hiatus, the original band lineup(or somewhat original lineup), released their second and most current album, ROTATION (2008) with hits like, “Practice Makes Perfect”, and “Doctor” to name a few.
While “Same Old Blood Rush…..” was the best, in my opinion, with more summer anthems and danceable songs, “Rotation” didn’t steer too fair away from that feel of the first album. Rotation is a little more reserved from the first album, more sobering but amazing, none the less (with an amazingly random bonus song at the end that consists of just Shaant singing a few lines while you hear scissors cutting in the background…I call it the Scissors song b/c there is no name).
A band is only as good as it’s lead singer, you can take away the bassist, the guitarist, and the drummer but if you get rid of the lead singer…that band is fucked. As long as it’s still the same guy singing for the band, Why stop calling yourself a fan?! It’s about the music, not about the looks of the band…somewhere down the line, music fans forgot that. Don’t Hate, Cute Is What We Aim For is still awesome, embrace the band’s higher level of awesome in this, the year of the tiger(2010).
LINK CUTE:
myspace: www.myspace.com/cuteiswhatweaimfor
twitter: www.twitter.com/shaantastic
facebook: http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/cuteiswhatweaimfor
