Ahh The Living End. The saving grace for Australian punk music. After 'Modern ARTillary', which wasn't as strong as it should have been, even The Living End themselves admit it, but with 'State of Emergancy', they have prooved alot of people that they can still make a really strong album. For 'Modern ARTillary', they changed to a multi million american label (Capitol Records), and were told by the label if they did what they said they will make them one of the biggest bands and they will advertise it so well that they would crack the mainstream in America, or so the story goes. They did what the lable said, but then they just didnt like it and therefor didn't Advertise it. They swiftly said their Goodbyes to that lable and went back home to Australia and in late 2005 started recorded just out side of melbourne with their old lable. The result is good ol' Fashioned The Living End we all love. With it Debuting at #1 in australia the public seem to agree.
Their sound progresses from their traditional punk rockabilly stlye on some songs on here which is something very pleasing to hear. Chris Cheney, Lead guitarist and Vocalist was listening to Queen alot before this release and it shows.Songs like 'No way out' and 'Nothing lasts forever' are a welcome change from these melbourne boys.The instumentation as usual is quite high with Andy Strachan's Drum kit sounding as good as ever, Scott Owens double bass gets that tradiotional living end sound and of course, Chris Cheney's memerable guitar lines.
But naturally this album is filled up with knee slapping rockin' Tunes namely 'Long Live the Weekend', the energetic 'Whats on your radio?' and the definate sing-a-long 'Reborn'.
They also havnt forgotton to have a Token Ska Song on their with the very catchy 'Nowhere Town'. Damn Chris is a Good guitarist!
Here is some Track by Track Review Goodness:
'Till the End: Very Rocking Opener as Living End seem to do on all their Albums. Interesting Wah-wah like effect on the guitar in the chorus of this one.A break down solo in the middle of the song.Very cool. Nice Lyrics about not Giving up."im never gonna give up, not gonna stop till i try, not till i satisfy, till i get what i want, till i get what i need" Good Start.
Long Live The Weekend: A personal Favourite.Very catchy Vocal melody in this one.
Lyrics everyone can relate to, about working during the week and its just so boring and your just wasting away counting down the hours 'till the weekend. I'm Diggin this.
No Way Out: The most mellow Living end song i have ever heard and boy do i like it. Very quite start with just rim clicks from the drums and chris working his magic on guitar with a sweet line. Then it all kicks in toward the end and has a hell of a finale.
We Want More: I recognise this sound! Its the Rocking Living End coming back for a welcome return. Boy is this song Rocking! i would imagine this would go off live. Such a driving rythm throughout this song. Some nice Da Da Da Da's in the chorus which is un-charted territory for The 'End. As usual Awesome solo.
Wake Up: 2nd Single and Debuted at number 5 in the charts in Australia. When you hear this song you can just tell its a single by its general catchy-ness. Not your usual Living End sound though, it actually a quite sad sounding song but its topic warrants it."Suicidal Education, it got sold to our generation. Wake up to the Manipulation, Wake up to the Situation" finishes with a break down of the chorus and a lot of young school kids joining Chris on the Vocals.
What's On Your Radio: 1st Single of the Album. At first when i heard this song live at a gig as a taste of their new stuff, i didn't like it that much but boy has it grown on me. After listening to it ,ironicly, on the radio i really started to Dig it. Very high tempo, energetic song that hasnt got much much of a catchy vocal melody in the chorus, but it so energy filled you can't help tapping your foot to it.
Nothing Lasts Forever: Mellow Song #2. Takes some getting used to to at first and you must try and realise its living end coming through your speakers, but its an enjoyable song. The lyrics tell a story of a couple and there lives. You can see that Chris' lyrics have improved.
Not the best on the album but still good.
One Step Behind: The start of this kind of reminds me of the start of Carry me Home from Roll on, or was it the song before it? either way. Good song, it tells a storey of someone getting interrigated by the police for some crime in question. Cool little Horn Line in there. Nice.
Reborn: Woa this song is good. Very Anthem like and killer vocal melody that will be in your head for weeks.Damn Chris is a good Singer.Very nice Lead line in this one. Destined to be a single.
Order of the day: At the start sounds like some crazy Spanish song with just the drums. then the guitar comes in and seems to be heading to be Mellow song #3 but it then all of a sudden it all comes in and you realise its living end. Mellow Verse is good but thats about the only good thing the song has going for it.Good but not Great.
Nowhere Town: Ah The typical Ska song for Living end. Well it has a Ska chorus. Its a Personal Favourite but thats because im biasted cause i dig ska but it has a catchy as hell chorus especially when it goes "Winners always win and sinners always sin"
State Of Emergency: As a title Track youde think this song would be, well, better. But not taking anything away from this song, It still is good, but not great.
Black Cat: Another personal Favourite and its back to very Traditional Rocking Living end. Has a very Big Catchy chorus. This was the only song Co written by Scott Owen (upright Bassist) and Chris.I'm not sure what its getting at Lyrics wise with the chorus "there a black cat waiting for its moment to strike" but its catchy so i dont care. Has a really cool bridge where its just the drums for a while then the Guitar joins in. I like.
Into The Red: Very uptempo real Traditional Living end song and for some reason it sounds like it would fit 'Roll on' to a tee. Rocking Solo,(suprise suprise) and just generally a fun song. Good way to say goodbye.
Well its triumphant Return for everyones favourise Melbourne Punks... Well at least they are my Favourite.
So in short, The Living End arnt quite back to the Brilliance of 'Roll On' and Their Debut Release, but they are well on their way.
I suggest you guys pick this one up. Please comment to amuse me.
