| Rise Against The Sufferer and the Witness |
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 | Tracklist:
1. Intro/Chamber The Cartridge
2. Injection
3. Ready To Fall
4. Bricks
5. Under The Knife
6. Prayer of the Refugee
7. Drones
8. The Approaching Curve
9. Worth Dying For
10. Behind Closed Doors
11. Roadside
12. The Good Left Undone
13. Survive
Release Date: 2006 | Ranking: #50 for 2006 | |
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On 98 Lists
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2 of 2 thought this review was well written
I'm pretty confident that most of you are already acquainted with this Chicago foursome, and that no further introduction is necessary. After last years major label debut - "Siren Song of the Counter Culture" which got a pretty luke warm reception, and was foremost noticed for the acoustic single "Swing Life Away" - I'm sure some people may have given up on Rise Against. But I'm just as sure that a lot of people are really anticipating this album, the bands fourth full-lenght.
If one was to glance at some other "sell-out" bands (i.e. bands who have jumped to a major label) sophomore major albums, one could venture a few guesses as of how this album would sound. Would they completely lose sight of their music and try to water it down for easy mainstream digestion (like the Offspring)? Would they turn it down, get introspective and less accessible (like Thrice?)?
Not very surprisingly, Rise Against decided to (more or less) stay true to the sound they established on their 2004 album - hooky punk rock with hardcore flirts and pop-punk tendencies. A prime example of this being fitting opener "Chamber the Cartridge", sporting a classic hardcore "octaves-over-drumrolls" intro, a catchy "whoa"-laden chorus and half-time break inbetween chorus repeats. Followed by "Injection" (that I'm sure all fans have downloaded by now) with it's characteristic octave intro, harmonized chorus and half-time/part-screamed breakdown, this albums opening is promising indeed.
If the promises are lived up to? Well, it's obviously a matter opinion, but I'd say they only deliver about half the way. Sure, they're as tight as ever and neither delivery nor production can be critiqued too harshly. However, after a few listens, some flaws emerge that are too critical for me to ignore. The formulaic approach that "Siren Song..." introduced is more than adequately established here, as most of the album follows the same mold of "verse-chorus-verse-break-repeat chorus-end". And most songs exceed both 3 and 3 and a half minutes doing so. That just strikes me as unnecessary - shave off a few repetitions and you have a better song
No, most interesting on this albums are the deviations from the norm; 90 second song "Bricks" seems to aspire to be the hardcore track of the album. While it never reaches the intensity of songs like "To the Core" or "State of the Union", it's a nice speedy number. Both songs that include rather unexpected tempo-changes for the chorus, "Prayer Of The Refugee" and "The Good Left Undone", rank among the stand-outs - the first for its "soft verse-rocking chorus" dynamics, mood and heartfeltness from Tim, the second for it's commendably offbeat tempo-shifts. In fact, that welcome spicing-up may well make "The Good Left Undone" a contender for best song on the album.
If "Swing Life Away" was the unorthodox hit from "Siren Song...", surely "The Approaching Curve" will be the same from this album. It's melodic, almost atmospheric spoken word verses and slow bombastic chorus make up for the somewhat ostentatious lyrics. At least it destroys tired singer/songwriter-styled "Roadside" that, despite featuring a female singer in the chorus, just seems anaemical and redundant.
So it's both hit and miss for Rise Against on this album - they know their trade, but perhaps too well. Often they seem too comfortable in their set pattern of AABB-rhymes and predictable chord changes. Some attempts (both succesful and not) to break up the routine and an undeniable nack for writing songs that makes you want to see them live just to shout along saves this album from being boring. It's a good album, but it's no "Revolutions Per Minute".
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| Recent reviews by this author | | | |
Album Rating: 3.5
I wrote this review weeks and weeks ago, so when I uploaded it the first time it had to be deleted due to the album not having been released yet. Then, of course, I dropped the ball and got beaten to posting this first. Meh, I don't mind, but here's my view on this disc anyway.
Lame how it doesn't show I posted a new review, but looks like I just made a new comment =/This Message Edited On 07.09.06
| | | Album Rating: 3
I'm really dissapointed with this after the first few listens. There are a few gems but there seem to be quite a lot of really weak tracks. It's very similar to SSOTCC.
Nice short review though.
| | | Album Rating: 4
Nice review. Its short and to the point. I didn't know these guys were from chicago
| | | Album Rating: 4.5 | Sound Off
Fair review. I can understand why people that really love RPM are not really too fond of this album. Maybe I really love it as the first album I really got into was "Siren Song". Let's see if they really change with the next record. 
Again, good review. Gets ze vote of teh moderator :thumb:
Digging: A Wilhelm Scream - A Wilhelm Scream | | | Album Rating: 3.5
Hey hey, Damrod - I did give it a 3.5 which is a good point over the medium, so I do like it. :p
I think it's slightly better than SSotCC too.This Message Edited On 07.10.06
| | | Album Rating: 4.5 | Sound Off
You like it, but don'T love it ;)
It definately is better than Siren Song, but I can understand when people say "it has not enough progression for my taste"
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If you do that not only will you be broke but in debt and possibly jail.
Get a job!
| | | Album Rating: 5
But bootlegs should bring you guilt of ripping off the record industry.
Its a good review, but still, I'm basically ear humping this album to death.
Digging: Bon Jovi - Crossroad | | |
Ear humping this album.. You also made some remark about being soiled by it earlier.
You've got some strange analagies there sludgeman. I think you need some sleep!
| | | Album Rating: 5
Not to mentioni I'm getting married to it in the fall, and its baring my child.
I laugh at triple post.
| | | Album Rating: 4
I really enjoyed the album. Steps in the right direction and enough of them made. Satisfies this listener.
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