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http://www.theonlybandever.com/image..._out_cover.gif
Album: Watch Out!
Label: Distort Entertainment (Canada)/Equal Visions (US)
Web: [url]www.theonlybandever.com[/url]
Lineup
George - Vocals
Wade - Guitar/Vocals
Steele - Bass
Dallas - Guitar/Vocals
Jesse - Drums
Alexisonfire burst onto the Southern Ontario hardcore/screamo scene in late 2001, released their Self-Titled cd in late 2002, and began to grow a cult following. In Canada, they are quite well known and have even had their single "Pulmonary Archery" hit #1 on Powershift (a show on Muchmusic where people vote to choose the top 30). They were the first screamo/hardcore band to ever do this, quite an accomplishment for a band barely a year old. Soon, the band was touring across Canada, selling out most of their shows. Now, obviously I'm going to have a bias. This band has been in my cd player for the past year and this sophomore cd is hugely anticipated. However, after over a week of listening to the cd and getting used to it, I have tried to write a more or less non-biased look at this band.
Now, a few years later, the band is releasing their sophomore cd with some significant changes. While their self titled was an almost chaotic guitar and screaming mix...this cd is a lot tamer. The first song "Accidents", also the first single starts off with some good intro guitar and shows how this album will be different than the last. First, the guitars are much tamer on this cd, and George's screaming vocals have been distorted to the max. The riffs are much "dancier" and carry a fast beat with them, and will undoubtedly be good for the dancers at their live shows. By the time the second song comes, you can tell another huge difference which many fans seem angry about. That is, George screams a lot less, and Dallas sings quite a bit more. On the first cd, Dallas (and wade, at some points) would compliment George's terrifying screams...now it seems to be switched. Once "Side Walks When She Walks" hits, you can tell the maturity of this band. This song has NO screaming in it, and is only Dallas's singing. At first, this will anger some but the song itself is quite good. "Hey It's Your Funeral Mama", a song about racing/go-karting is probably one of the most fun songs I've heard in a long time. Songs like "That Girl Possessed" and "White Devil" shows that the band are ready to tackle big issues such as rape and drug use, respectively. A major high point on the cd is "Get Fighted", a song about not taking music so seriously...and just having fun. It will definetly be a dance floor favourite and carries a great rhythm through it. The album, to me, doesn't really end on a good note. "Happiness By the Kilowatt" is dominated almost entirely by Dallas's singing, and by this song some fans may be angrier about the increase in singing.
This CD will undoubtedly cause SOME fans to cry "sellout", even though it was recorded in the basement of some guys house instead of a huge studio (which was offered to them). "Watch Out" is much dancier than their last cd, but this in turn is a trade-off for the lack of fast guitar riffs that were common on the Self-Titled release. The Combination of Screaming/Singing is executed amazingly on some songs, and it just feels right in many of the songs. Dallas's beautiful and smooth voice is perfect, Wade's singing throaty and rough but at the right times is absolutley perfect and George's screaming distorted and almost indecipherable. Overall, I just want to say that Alexisonfire are at the top of their game and having a good time while doing it...something which other bands should really try to do.
Rating: 4.5/5
Best Songs:Accidents, Side Walks When She Walks, Sharks and Danger, Get Fighted
For Fans of:
Silverstein
A Static Lullaby
[insert most of today's (lighter)hardcore/screamo bands]
**Really, if you dont mind screaming and like having a good time...this band is where it's at. While most bands are stuck on screaming love songs, Alexisonfire is at the top of their game and showing they have more to offer in their lyrics. I think this will be one of the best cds of 2004.**
| other reviews of this album |
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Nice review, you think ths is better than the self titled?
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I thought their self-titled was decent, but after hearing 4 or 5 tracks from this one, I feel no need to go out and buy it. The songs came off to me as boring and a little bit forced. I'd actually be really interested to see what the hell George does live during these songs though. And they're not screamo, but that's a Pandora's box in itself.
I'm enjoying your reviews though, stick around. One of the better reviewers I've seen around here.
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im a huge alexisonfire fan...and yes, us canadians do for the most part love em...
i liked Watch Out! better then ther self-titled album...I found Watch Out! to be absolutly brilliant
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It's not brilliant, but its good.
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Great review man! I've only heard accidents off this album but I don't like it too much and I'll check out some of the recommended songs. :thumb:
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That's a dang good review, hope you didn't steal it.:mad:
I've been with Alexis since the beginning, one of my favourite bands. I haven't heard anything off the new album though, I'll probably pick it up sometime.
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[QUOTE=IhateUsernames]That's a dang good review, hope you didn't steal it.:mad:
I've been with Alexis since the beginning, one of my favourite bands. I haven't heard anything off the new album though, I'll probably pick it up sometime.[/QUOTE]
No I didn't steal it, I just wrote it myself. I was quite bored today and was listening to a lot of music. I'll write more maybe.
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more people should listen to these guys. I've met them three times and seen them live just as many times. They are amazing live and really love what they do. It's hard to find such honesty from a band. And they're really really REALLY nice guys.
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the songs sound more independant than on the last record, and as amazing as the first album was, it was flawed in that alot of the songs sounded way too similar. i do however prefer the guitar work and song wriing style of self titled
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This album in my opinion is ten times better than the first. Mostly because of the diminished screaming and the much improved lyrics but over all its quite good.
| | | Album Rating: 2.0
Reviewer - How is this dancier? Could you please go in depth about this one? I heard "Accidents" and was really let down by that one. The gawky cover art also is throwing me off. At least they ditched their superpretentious song titles.
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Lucky Canadians..I have to wait until the 28th for the cd.
But I have heard 'Accidents' and 'Get Fighted' and enjoy them. I like 'Accidents' better than any AOF song on their self-titled.
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[QUOTE=DFelon204409]Reviewer - How is this dancier? Could you please go in depth about this one? I heard "Accidents" and was really let down by that one. The gawky cover art also is throwing me off. At least they ditched their superpretentious song titles.[/QUOTE]
its hard to describe. The riffs carry a better rhythm instead of insanity. The flow of some guitar riffs just makes you want to dance.
The cover art is great...and I miss the titles...
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[QUOTE=BuddyBigsby]I thought their self-titled was decent, but after hearing 4 or 5 tracks from this one, I feel no need to go out and buy it. The songs came off to me as boring and a little bit forced. I'd actually be really interested to see what the hell George does live during these songs though. And they're not screamo, but that's a Pandora's box in itself.
I'm enjoying your reviews though, stick around. One of the better reviewers I've seen around here.[/QUOTE]
What do you mean by you'll be interested to see what George does during shows?
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[QUOTE=cbmartinez24]What do you mean by you'll be interested to see what George does during shows?[/QUOTE]
Because on a lot of the songs he sings way less than Dallas, and it's not like he has an instrument to keep himself busy.
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compared to there self-titled this cd is crap...but thats just me...i like hardcore screaming blasting in my ears and it really dissapointed me...i am canadian and will still love there music...just not as much. now that ALEXISONFIRE has died down...anyone know a good screaming band other then silverstein??
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[QUOTE=Punkass_Bassist]compared to there self-titled this cd is crap...but thats just me...i like hardcore screaming blasting in my ears and it really dissapointed me...i am canadian and will still love there music...just not as much. now that ALEXISONFIRE has died down...anyone know a good screaming band other then silverstein??[/QUOTE]
If you're looking for that kind of music, check out the following bands. All are very underrated.
Across Five Aprils
The Calico System (I recommend "Love Will Kill All")
As Night Falls (Used to be called Nightfall. Their old singer/bassist plays in Atreyu now)
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I think the album absolutely ruled. At least what I've heard of it... You guys may like the hardcore power screaming all the time, but I put alot more emphasis on melody overall. Dallas is a bloody well INSANELY good singer, and Wade backs him very well. I *loved* their first album like I love the child I haven't yet conceived, but I thought George could've slowed down a bit. This album is Alexisonfire maturing as a band, and shifting the balance of emotional inspiration that one can get out of their music from all out thrash screaming to heartquaking melody. Honestly, I gotta say.. They did it differently this time, but they've done it again. I LOVE LOVE LOVE this album. Accidents and Control are the best two songs in my book. (Nice job on the lyrics.)
Also, if you haven't heard No Voice of Mine by Strung Out yet, do it immediately. The guitar riffs they use are absolutely insane. Not the hardest thing to play (they are difficult, mind you), but they sound SO good.
Other SCREAM bands: 18 Visions (saw them live. Cool show)
Poison the Well (some of their stuff sucks ***. Nerdy is good, and Pieces of you in Me.)
THRICE (They only scream occasionally, but they're awesome anyways)
AVENGED SEVENFOLD (very, very good band. Chapter 4 has the coolest guitar riff on the planet)
Raised Fist (absolutely INTENSE AS HELL Swedish thrash punk. They rule. Working on wood is an awesome song)
In Flames (Swedish death metal. They have a few good songs)
Soilwork (okay occasionally. Download "No More Angels")
Seven Angels, Seven Plagues (They're a bit hardcore for my tastes, but hey...)
RISE AGAINST (Anything from their album "Revolutions per Minute". Some of their songs are pretty hardcore, others are just flat out punk rock, but it's all very good. One of their heavier songs is "Dead Ringer". Seriously, these guys rule. Their live show rules. Everything about them rules.)
The ones in caps are the *really* good ones in my opinion.
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is this cd as good as there first? cuz the first owns. i mean his voice gets annoying after a while just screaming and screaming, some screaming is ok..but yeah they still kick ***...is there new one worth getting?
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read the review. yes it is worth getting...theres less screaming but his scream is distorted so it sounds different.
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