| Summary: Nothing but synthy pop-punk fun. |
3 of 3 thought this review was well written
After finishing this album, it struck me: a band has finally seamlessly melded together the beats and synths of 80's dance-pop and crunchy pop-punk riffs. Since "Here In Your Arms," band after band has attempted to deliver a consistent album of this sort of techno-pop-punk hybrid and failed. Panic! At The Disco came close with 2005's A Fever You Can't Sweat out, but failed to deliver the goods on several songs. It was also littered with songs that put off a straight up rock vibe, and then went into a bizarre straight-up techno breakdown like someone randomly decided to change the television channel.
But this album is strangely different. The first song, the dangerously catchy "Whoa Oh! (Me vs. Everyone)", is the perfect example. It's like a genre all in its own, because the various genres are combined so well. Keyboard lines and guitar riffs aren't just awkwardly jumbled together; it really makes sense musically.
There are two easy ways to produce an album like this, and you can use one of about 75% of the bands signed to Fueled by Ramen as demonstrations: mix awkward transitions between mostly techno and mostly pop-punk sections, or turn the keys down so low that they barely exist. This band and producer Matt Squire take neither route. They instead perfectly blend the two conflicting sounds into a sugar-sweet smoothie.
Granted, too much sugar makes you sick, and this album gets dangerously close at times. It reminds me of the Mutt Lange-produced Hysteria in this regard. Too much bubblegum-pop percfection can actually backfire. And by the end of this album, you probably won't be up for a second listen quite yet. But like a box of chocolates, it won't be long before your musical sweet-tooth gets to you and makes you pick it up again. Hook after hook bombards you, often thanks to shouted "whoa!"'s and "yeah!"'s and "doo!"'s, but also tempo switches, varying verses, catchy synth lines and riffs that refuse to let your head go. It would make you sick if it was, say, 98 Degrees. But it isn't 98 Degrees. It's a band of guys who seem to be in this for the same reason you are: a big, sweet summer party that everyone who wants to have fun is invited to.
As with any band whose only goal seems to be to get you bobbing your head and tapping your toes, this creates a few problems, not the least of which is a general tendency towards cheese. "My Worst Nightmare" begins with a piano line that will probably remind you of some cheesy Whitesnake power ballad. But it works here. I'm not sure why, other than the simple fact that the band seems to be aware of the cheesiness, inviting us to laugh with them rather than at them. And the lyrics also fall victim to this pop-hook-machine. In fact, almost every lyric here is a scene cliché.
But who listens to pop for the lyrics? Time will tell if they can improve the lyrics and go from a good band to a great band, and they have plenty of time. For now, you're listening to this for moments like the fun, fast keyboard solo of "Believe Me I'm Lying." And this album won't let you down there. So just sit back and splurge on this tasty little treat. You can sleep off the stomach ache later.
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Album Rating: 4
Guys you really should check this out if you haven't yet. If you don't mind some straight up pop it'll be a great guilty pleasure for this summer.
Digging: From First to Last - From First To Last | | |
Terrible band.
Digging: Sun Kil Moon - April
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your new username is appropriate
Digging: Psycroptic - The Scepter of the Ancients
| | | Album Rating: 4
No, this album rules.
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hahahahahhahahhah this band is so ****ing bad.
Digging: Transistor Transistor - Erase All Name and Likeness
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Well anyone want to actually offer their reasons for hating it? I guess because it isn't boring and pretentious, it isn't the type of music for people here.
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your new username is appropriate
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Hahahah I just told him that today as well.
Jeez I didn't think pop-punk could get any worse, then these allstars came along.
If you wanna hear a song that will def make you laugh, listen to their cover of the "Men in Black" rap.
Digging: Russian Circles - Station
| | | Album Rating: 3.5
Band isn't that bad at all.
Digging: Jimmy Eat World - Chase This Light | | | Album Rating: 4
ugh. three different screennames in and HighandMighty (hee-haw, see, now I'm funny too!) is so embittered over a disagreement on music that he trolls everything i post. and for the record, the "Men in Black" cover is meant to be funny.
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Band isn't that bad at all.
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Nope, not at all considering they're not trying to do much artistically here other than have fun.
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Oh it's funny all right and HighandMighty is a pretty good username, I'll use it if my account gets permaban.
| | | Album Rating: 4
^Yeah it is funny. Say Anything's song was funnier though haha. But anyway it's clear that you just hate pop-punk for the most part and that's fine. I don't get why you still insist on trolling me though and trying to restart our argument from a few days ago. But in any case I really don't feel like getting banned again so I'm just gonna point you on ignore.
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Nope, not at all considering they're not trying to do much artistically here other than have fun.
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Uh, that's a stupid thing to say.
Digging: Circle Takes the Square - As the Roots Undo
| | | Album Rating: 4
^No. Not really. But your avatar is stupid.
This Message Edited On 05.01.08
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So is yours.
Wait.
Dude, music is about being artistic, and whatever you're meaning to say, you said it completely wrong. I seriously doubt these guys are playing just to have "fun" because otherwise they wouldn't resort to such generic scene-crap.
| | | Album Rating: 4
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Dude, music is about being artistic
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No dude, that's just what you prefer in your music. Your tastes in music don't define what "music is about." It's like saying you can't appreciate both Van Gogh's work and Family Guy, or No Country for old Men and the Spiderman movie. It's totally different. Music can be more artistic, or it can be just for entertainment, just like any other media.
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I seriously doubt these guys are playing just to have "fun" because otherwise they wouldn't resort to such generic scene-crap.
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Um, ok, so "scene-crap" is contradictory to "fun?" What? Then what exactly does "fun" music mean to you? I guess "fun" music can only be like, xylophones and sing-a-longs?
Question: have you actually even listened to this album?
This Message Edited On 05.01.08
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Spiderman can't even compare to No Country, are you kidding me?
Digging: The Mountain Goats - Full Force Galesburg
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First of all, I don't see how having a fun sound and being a horrible band can coexist. I've heard the band's older material and wasn't impressed at all.
Second of all, there is absolutely nothing that says that a band can't be both artistic and fun. Every music is artistic because it is basically consists of the concretizing of the bands ideas, beliefs, musicianship and creativity into music. This band is just plain horrible because they copy alot from what has already been done in the past and don't do it with passion.
Oh and when you say the band is doing nothing "artistically other than having fun" you basically give us a heads-up on how bad they are.
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With that said this review was well written.
| | | Album Rating: 3.5
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I've heard the band's older material and wasn't impressed at all.
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You should check out a few tracks off this, some new and some old. They definitely took advantage of major label production on some of the older songs. Believe My I'm Lying sounds incredible IMO.
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^Yeah I agree, the new production really helped out here. Again comparing to Def Leppard's Hysteria, I think it would be half the rating I gave it if not for the awesome productionc
Kal I get what you're getting at and I apologize for immediately attacking you before quite understanding what you meant, but I think if you took a bit closer look at what you're saying you risk coming off as snobbish. I understand this band isn't original. And judging by my first paragraph, I'd say I made that clear. But I disagree that they didn't do it with passion, keeping in mind of course that that is subjective. I think what they did do was take other people's ideas and do it very well. Yes, music is technically always an art, but there is high brow and low brow art and this definitely appeals more on the lower spectrum. But that doesn't mean it isn't enjoyable on its own terms.
Taking again my No Country/Spiderman analogy. I personally liked No Country a million times more. But Spiderman was a ton of f*cking fun when I first saw it. Is No Country a better work of art? Well, duh. But that doesn't mean Spiderman isn't awesome too, as a fun blockbuster popcorn flick. It's the same with this. No, this isn't exactly 0k Computer (just using that as an example of a rock record looked at as a high quality piece of art), but it's a hell of a lot of fun dude!
I see now that I didn't word it well but seriously dude, you knew what I meant. And if you didn't, I just wrote the biggest post ever to expound on it. lol.
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With that said this review was well written.
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Thanks. I'd love a pos (hint) lol.
This Message Edited On 05.01.08
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