Review Summary: This was a highly anticipated album, and the band has not disappointed, this is a must buy if you are even interested in this type of music.
Band: A Day To Remember
Album: Homesick
Label: Victory Records
http://www.myspace.com/adaytoremember
Rating: 4/5
The difference between being the next big thing and becoming the next big thing is that it involves creating a great breakout album. When you’re becoming the next big thing, you have yet to make that album. A Day To Remember are looking to cross that threshold with their new album,
Homesick. If you have not heard A Day To Remember before reading this they play a mix of Post- Hardcore and Pop Punk in vain of Four Year Strong and Set Your Goals. While each band has their own take on this style, all three have not been able to breakout.
That is all about to change as Homesick commences with a spoken gang vocals breakdown on “
The Downfall Of Us All”. After the actual breakdown played by the guitars, Jeremy showcases that the band has gotten poppier for their pop parts. “The Downfall Of Us All” is very energetic, and that vibe travels throughout the first eleven tracks. The song also gives you a great guitar riff. This riff is followed by many good to great riffs on the rest of the album. The guitarists, Neil and Tom, are magnificent and they write some great breakdowns. Jeremy is a top notch vocalist who easily transitions his different styles so they do not sound forced or out of place. While he does each fantastically, his screams and growls are better than his singing.
This album greatly surprised me with how wonderful it is. I found
For Those Who have Heart to be average at best when I heard it, but it was still a good album and coupled with
Old Record I was very interested in this album. I got caught up in the hype and I was not disappointed one bit. With this listening right now, I’m on my twelfth listen. I credit the band for writing such a great album along with some damn catchy songs. This album is hard to pick recommended songs for, but I have decided to go with these three: “The Downfall Of Us All”, “
Homesick”, and “
If It Means A Lot To You”.
“The Downfall Of Us All” is, as stated above, a great album opener that sets the mood of the album really well. The breakdown is the best on the album, and the opening is just godly. “Homesick” is one of the softer songs on the album, but really heartfelt and shows you some great simple drumming. The chorus isn’t as catchy as the other songs, but it is the most effective of the album. Jeremy sings very well and puts emotion into his lyrics and singing. “If It Means A Lot To You” is mostly an acoustic song that turns out to be great when the “la”s and female singing comes in. If you like a proper ending then “
Another Song For The Weekend” is for you, but if you want something different than “If It Means A Lot To You” is for you, a great ending to a great album.
A Day To Remember is the next big thing, and this record allows that title to be placed on them. It may be too early in the year to tell, but the album has a great shot to be in the top 10 albums of the year for me. This was a highly anticipated album, and the band has not disappointed, this is a must buy if you are even interested in this type of music.
