| Saosin In Search of Solid Ground |
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 | Tracklist:
1. "I Keep My Secrets Safe"
2. "Deep Down"
3. "Why Can't You See?"
4. "Changing"
5. "On My Own"
6. "The Alarming Sound of a Still Small Voice"
7. "Say Goodbye"
8. "The Worst of Me"
9. "It's All Over Now"
10. "What Were We Made For?"
11. "Is This Real"
12. "Nothing Is What It Seems (Without You)"
13. "Fireflies (Light Messengers)"
Release Date: 09/08/2009 | |
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On 2 Lists
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| Summary: Saosin create an album with an unknown audience in mind. |
5 of 5 thought this review was well written
Saosin’s popular self-titled album was released back in September of 2006. The debut was respectable, partly due to the fact that it seemed to hint at a band that was secretly playing a deeper and more profound style of music under their seemingly typical post-hardcore disguise. Given the impact the band’s ‘Translating The Name’ E.P. had on the underground music scene in 2003, many music fans expected Saosin to rise above the confines of their genre and create something new altogether, some even going as far as to say a revolution of some sort could take place. It is with that same expectation and anticipation that many will approach the band’s second major label album, ‘In Search of Solid Ground, and as it turns out, they may be slightly disappointed.
Saosin tailors to a radio-junkie’s brand of post-hardcore, that is, screamed sections that are glossed over with production and made “acceptable” to an everyday common listener with catchy hooks. Many songs contain some kind of hook via anthem-like chorus or a catchy rhythm within the accompanying verses, but these seem to be surprisingly weaker than those featured within the band’s self-titled. This turns out to be quite odd given the fact that a scale-back in aggression usually precedes an increase in catchier choruses for this type of band, yet very few are too be found here throughout. For example, single Changing features a respectable verse delivery but suddenly takes a nosedive with the chorus as it tries and subsequently fails to take the song to a higher level. I’m not sure what went wrong songwriting-wise, but singer Cove Reber can’t seem to take off in the chorus as he did with the band’s last album, particularly in single, You’re Not Alone. In fact, many instances such as this fill the album where the singer and the band can’t seem to match up correctly or do so instead with undesirable results.
On My Own continues in like manner to the aformentioned song. However, this time the song is too long for its own good, tapering off near the five minute mark with a random assortment of ambiance and background noise. Later in the album, The Worse of Me and It’s All Over Now feature typical relationship issues that sound like a Top 40 pop punk band could have easily written them. Once again, the hooks aren’t convincing enough to warrant a repressed sound and the results are dry. Aptly titled, Nothing is What it Seems, is a lovesick ballad where the band slows their sound down even more so than before. The song is decent and captures what I believe to be the general summary and impression listeners will receive from this album after listening. It is repressed, strictly written on a surface level, and ultimately harmless as can be.
Closer Fireflies is the beginning of the end, and it broods and simmers for well over eight minutes. While listening, I couldn’t help but wish that the band would suddenly break loose from their slow progressive style for an epic ending to the album, throwing all pretensions and boundaries aside in the process. Instead they opt for a few rises in tempo, only to be immediately followed by a slow delivery once again. After a quick rise, the song closes the album with a retreat in the form of static ambiance.
I can’t help but wonder at what exactly Saosin’s agenda is with their release of ‘In Search of Solid Ground’. The album is not bad or terrible in any given way; it’s just disappointingly average. I also can’t seem to pinpoint which set of fans the band is trying to reach or write to here as well. Those that have followed the band since their 2003 E.P. will surely be disappointed, as will those that fell in love with their major label debut in 2006. New comers will also be turned off as the record is genuinely harmless and forgettable. The songs blend together with similar song structures and vocal lines, some tracks run for too long, and the hooks are not strong enough to gain them much commercial success, as far as singles go. Shame the band decided to tone down their post-hardcore element in their sound as this new direction was probably not the wisest course of action. Let’s just hope that in the future the band chooses to develop some of that rumored potential and talent the die-hard fans of Saosin seem to live and die by.
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| Recent reviews by this author | | | |
Album Rating: 2.5
I realize that I am about to be sandwhiched by Brand New reviews, but i was so surprised this didn't have a review yet so I decided to post it before someone else does.
Digging: Heaven Shall Burn - Antigone | | |
the summary should've said KEEP SEARCHING HAHAHAHAHA man that was solid good review though
| | | Album Rating: 2 | Sound Off
Chan was going to review this but never really did and this review is solid so... nice work.
Digging: The Red Chord - Fed Through the Teeth Machine | | | Album Rating: 2
solid review. absolute boring album.
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Thanks.
the summary should've said KEEP SEARCHING HAHAHAHAHA man that was solid good review though
haha yeah, I should have thought of that.
| | | Album Rating: 3 | Sound Off
Good review. I slightly disagree though. I think that Cove has really improved vocally and lyrically. The drumming is still strong and there is plenty of variety in the songs. But yeh, the guitars just aren't as technical and the choruses lack the hooks that 'Voices', 'Bury Your Head' and 'Your'e Not Alone' possess.
Digging: Masachist - Death March Fury | | | Album Rating: 2.5
Thanks, the drums are indeed good, and vocally he has progressed. How would you say its lyrically better though? Idk, some songs here seem pretty mediocre in terms of lyrical quality, but that's just me
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[b]Saosin’s[b]
I saw that as I was reading. Great review, I still wanna check this out though
Digging: Every Time I Die - New Junk Aesthetic
| | | Album Rating: 2
Saosin disappoints once again. Secret and Whisper is the same thing, except better.
| | | Album Rating: 2.5
Oh yeah, sometimes I miss those . . . thanks.
Yeah there is nothing terribly wrong with the album. People put way too much hype and pressure on the band I suppose
| | | Album Rating: 3 | Sound Off
The lyrics on Love Maker or whatever it's called now are pretty damn good
| | | Album Rating: 2 | Sound Off
vocally he has progressed
Definitely disagree. Their self titled was better vocally but it might just be because they had have an all-mighty producer; Reber has always had trouble singing live.
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totally not interested in this album, songs ive heard sucked.
Digging: The Middle East - The Recordings of the Middle East
| | | Album Rating: 2 | Sound Off
good review, this album is a huge disappointment.... i guess that has been said enough already thought ha.
Digging: Noah and the Whale - The First Days of Spring | | | Album Rating: 4
Definitely not as good as their first record but its not that bad.
Digging: Closure in Moscow - The Penance and the Patience | | | Album Rating: 2.5
there was a lot of production on the self titled but only because the producer was Howard Benson; he specializes in the vocal field.
still gotta listen to this, i wish it could have been as good as the self titled.
Digging: The Arusha Accord - The Echo Verse | | | Album Rating: 2.5
You can find the album on their myspace player. I hate it when band's hype up their releases. A few interviews with the band said it would be really great and better.
| | | Album Rating: 2.5
bands always say that shit before the release of their album; "it's the best we've ever done", "back to our roots", etc.
| | | Album Rating: 2.5
Yeah, that seems to happen a lot i suppose.
However some amazing albums do come out of nowhere ocassionally as a band may be rather "vague" on what the actual album sounds like before release. Typically these are from indie or underground metal bands though...
| | | Album Rating: 2.5
but if bands do that, then they generate absolutely zero hype about their album. so either we can have a great album unheard and dismissed, or a mediocre album overhyped and made popular because of the band's reputation and comments.
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