Yellowcard Deep Dive
Everyone’s favorite pop-punk band with a violin. Whether that is a joke or a masterful artistic decision, you most likely have at least heard of Yellowcard. Ryan Key and the crew manage to effortlessly combine in your face guitar riffs with soaring violin melodies. This does not come without questioning why anyone let this band near an acoustic guitar or a piano. Even though I had to endure the melodrama of those ballads I still enjoyed this. Though they’re inconsistent with each the quality of each release, each LP is consistent. Overall solid band 7.2/10 |
| 1 |  | Yellowcard
Southern Air
Yellowcards’ magnum opus. The best production, the best drum performance, the album I kept coming back to when doing the dive. I’m pretty much hooked the moment I hear the 1-7-6-7-1 chord progression off my favorite song by the band - “Awakening”. This has the perfect blend between maturity and youth, something the band was always searching for. I’ll be jamming this for a long time. Low-Mid 4.5
Fav track(s): Awakening, Always Summer
Worst track: Ten but they’re all good songs, this one is just the least good |
| 2 |  | Yellowcard
Paper Walls
The true successor to Ocean Avenue. I did not expect to enjoy this album nearly as much as I did, and still do. From the first listen it felt like home. Maybe it was because this was later into the dive, maybe because I already knew a track or two - maybe because I nut over emo music and this fits that vibe. My one big gripe with this album is that it contains within its walls “Dear Bobbie”, my least favorite song by this band. Despite this the melodrama is pulled off solidly, included yet never intruding. Low 4.5
Fav track(s): Light Up The Sky, Fighting
Worst track: Dear Bobbie |
| 3 |  | Yellowcard
Ocean Avenue
Ocean Avenue provided the reminder of the joyful parts of my youth, an emotional niche that rarely gets hit. Even though I was a tiny child when the album dropped it brings me straight back to being a teenager. I’ve known the title track and Breathing for ages now - even got to listen to “Ocean Avenue” ON Ocean Avenue - so I was definitely excited about the other absolute SLAPPERS on here. The “Ocean Avenue” chorus will always remain with me. Oh and the record also has the best acoustic ballad in “One Year, Six Months.” Soft 4.5
Fav Track(s): Ocean Avenue, Only One
Worst Track(s): View From Heaven, Life Of A Salesman |
| 4 |  | Yellowcard
When You're Through Thinking, Say Yes
What a record to come through with post-hiatus, containing a very solid punk to theater ratio. I struggled to think of much else to say about this album and I think it’s because the songs don’t hit AS hard as some of the others on the list. It’s still VERY good and “With You Around” is one of my favorite Yellowcard songs. High 4
Fav track: With You’re Around
Worst track: Sing For Me |
| 5 |  | Yellowcard
Where We Stand
Fucking stupid, the two words I will use to summarize this album. I mean that in the best way possible. The songwriting and riffs are solid though this record is far from perfect. For starters this has the “None So Vile” snare tone on top of generally awful production. I would love to respect the musicianship the band puts on but god knows whether or not it was recorded to a click. Oh yeah did I mention Brian Dobson was still in the band when this released? Can’t forget about him! Mid 3
Fav track(s): Honestly they all sound the same, maybe Uphill Both Ways because it contains my favorite chord progression in 4-6-5?
Worst track(s): N/A |
| 6 |  | Yellowcard
One for the Kids
The album where Yellowcard found themselves, the foundation of the successes and failures. The songs are generally ok, though nothing special. It mainly falls apart due to the way it manages to drag despite only a 43 minute runtime. I became pretty bored during my listens. I’m also a big slut for good production and I am not a slut for this record if that says anything. Mid 3
Fav track(s): October Nights, Cigarettes
Worst track: Trembling |
| 7 |  | Yellowcard
Yellowcard
They definitely went all out balls-to-the-wall to create an epic departure. I respect the effort in trying to put out the hardest hitting and most dramatic work to close out their career (didn’t they just play riot fest though?????). The output of the effort is less respectable. Going for the extremes is either a masterpiece or a flop. It’s a shame that this was the record they left town with (wait their Instagram has #staytuned on a post WHAT). Low-Mid 2
Fav track(s): Rest In Peace, Got Yours
Worst track(s): Fields and Fences |
| 8 |  | Yellowcard
Lights and Sounds
Oh my god how in the hell did they go from Ocean Avenue to THIS. I swear they forgot they were a pop-punk band, that’s how I try to reconcile this album. They turned the melodrama into an aggressively melodramatic theatrical brotha moment of an album. Thank god they resurrected themselves after this. Mid 2
Fav track(s): Down On My Head, Two Weeks From Twenty - maybe an odd pick but somehow it’s good
Worst track(s): Most of them are not good but How I Go is particularly atrocious |
| 9 |  | Yellowcard
Lift a Sail
You could say nothing happened and I would have agreed with you. I don’t blame the original drummer leaving due to creative differences, I would have too. Mid 2
Fav track(s): N/A
Worst track(s): Who knows man I don’t want to try and remember |
| 10 |  | Yellowcard
Midget Tossing
An album not on Spotify with a 1.7 on this website is not something I actively want to pursue. Yes I’m a lazy consumerist dog deal with it. |
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