Review Summary: Weiss' unique vocal style and hardcore based sound give birth to a unique album that is both powerful and moving.
This is one of those bands that you'll either hate or love, and it all comes down to Aaron Weiss' voice. A creepy guy, to be honest, Aaron Weiss' voice and his music are inseparable, so if you're going to listen to this band, get ready for some...eccentric vocals.
A to B: Life is one of the most powerful albums I've ever heard. Taking a lot of influence from the hardcore scene, Weiss introduces some of the most memorable lyrics I've ever heard from any genre. If I were to rank lyricists, it'd be a close race for 2nd between Thom Yorke and Matt Bellamy, but 1st would always go to Weiss. Now, on to the song summaries.
Bullet to Binary - Beginning with some funky electronic sounds, this is a classic opener to me. The song begins to build with drums and guitar. Cymbals crash and then everything stops. And Weiss jumps in and begins his beautiful sonnet. Even yelling his voice is beautiful to me. 5/5
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The Ghost - The black sheep of the album, this song focuses more around backing vocals than on Weiss himself in the beginning. However, once the claps come in, Weiss begins his menagerie of words and emotion. 4/5
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Nice and Blue - One of 2 of the most amazing songs ever made. Nice and Blue is the first in a two part song (the 2nd part is on their latest album Brother, Sister) but it doesn't lack any intensity. This is song begins to build as soon as it comes on. The guitars work softly but surely to the climax, and Weiss opens with some of the most amazing lines ever:
"You were a song I couldn't sing, you were a story I couldn't tell,
I've only ever loved myself, but I loved myself so well"
As the song continues Weiss just builds with intensity until he finally explodes at the end. This song is one of my two most played songs on this album, the other being "gentlemen" 5/5
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Everything Was Beautiful and Nothing Hurt - This song is quite different as well. Beginning with a sketchy bassline, the song's bulk consists of drum and bass and some indecipherable vocals intertwining with a guitar. However, the end brings Weiss back out to form as he begins another beautiful rant. 4/5
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A - Oddly enough for a band centered around lyrics, A is simply an instrumental. Spacey and reverb filled, this song is basically spacey techno. I can't really give this a grade, but, since I do enjoy it, I'll say 4/5
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Gentlemen - This song is locked with Nice and Blue for best song on the album. Coming in strong, the music soon calms down and Weiss begins to "sing" again. Building and falling perfectly in harmony with Weiss' voice, this song is amazing. An excerpt:
"So I wander and I wander, your absence beating inside my chest;
I try but I can't remember the color of your eyes, just the shape of your dress!"
Yes, relationship based, but not necessarily emo. This song is rather short, but it's amazing while it lasts. 5/5
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Be Still Child - Like the 2nd part to Gentlemen, this song begins right where Gentlemen left off, and it still has that some powerful attitude. Like soldiers marching, this song is powerful and attention-grabbing. 4/5
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We Know Who Our Enemies Are - Not the most amazing song, I'd say this is the weakest song on the album. Weiss does his best to impress, but all in all the band falls short of success. 2/5
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I Never Said that I Was Brave - Starting slowly, this song builds up and Weiss screams into your face: "You might sleep, but you'll never dream! Onwards! Progress! Or so it seems..." Another favorite of mine, this song is powerful and amazing. 5/5
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B - Another instrumental. A to B, get it? Another techno spacey song. 3/5
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Silencer - One of the saddest songs on the album, Silencer is amazingly emotional. For a guy who can't sing, Weiss' yells and talking are more emotional than most singers I've heard. 5/5
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The Cure for Pain - This album never ceases to amaze me. Weiss creates another masterpiece with "The Cure for Pain," providing more powerful lyrics and amazing vocals. 5/5
You know, it seems like I'm a fanboy. And I am. But, regardless, this album is amazing in every aspect of the word. Of course, you'll either love them or hate them completely because of Weiss' voice, but if you don't mind it, you'll find this album to be amazing. A to B: Life is one of my favorite albums, along with mewithoutYou's other two, Catch for Us the Foxes and Brother, Sister.
An instant classic in my book. 4.5/5
