| Asking Alexandria Stand Up and Scream |
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 | Tracklist:
1. Alerion
2. Final Episode [Let's Change The Channel]
3. A Candlelit Dinner With Inamorta
4. Nobody Don't Dance No More
5. Hey There Mr.Brooks [Featuring Shawn Milke Of
Alesana]
6. Hiatus
7. If You Can't Ride Two Horses At Once...You
Should Get Out Of The Circus
8. A Single Moment Of Sincerity
9. Not The American Average
10. I Used To Have A Best Friend [But Then He Gave
Me An STD]
11. A Prophecy
12. I Was Once, Possibly, Maybe, Perhaps A Cowboy
King
13. When Everyday's The Weekend
Release Date: 09/15/2009 | |
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On 9 Lists
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| Summary: With so many bands trying this new "trancecore" thing, so many have failed horribly. Until now. |
4 of 5 thought this review was well written
There are so many genres in the world of heavy music today. Music has progressed and continued to branch out because of new musicians trying new things. Some of these things take not so much talent, and a lot of creativity, some are the opposite, some have both, and some have none at all. Asking Alexandria has more talent then every single band who has tried this idea before, while still remaining creative enough to keep the listener intrigued.
Take a band like The Devil Wears Prada, and listen to the album "Plagues." Now pop in their brand new "masterpiece," "With Roots Above And Branches Below." At first listen, the record may be enjoyable. Take a closer listen, and they have not progressed one ounce since their last attempt. The keyboard parts are bland at best, the screaming is even MORE annoying, and Jeremy seems content with singing the same high pitched lines over the exact same guitar strumming in every song. The point is, they don't change it up. This record does. Every song has a different feel to it, even if a FEW sound moderately similar.
If you want breakdowns, there are a lot. That is a good thing, as well as a flaw. Most of the breakdowns manage to actually sound original, surprisingly. The fact that Danny (the vocalist) has a strong accent makes it even more interesting. Throw in the fact that he sings quite well, while maintaining a diverse screaming range, and you have a great vocalist. He is also great live. Now listen to the Devil Wears Prada. You will be bombarded will the same monotone mid-range scream until your ears *** themselves. Asking Alexandria, love them or hate them, are going places.
The drumming is quite enjoyable, as it always seems to fit the song. It is impressive for the style of music on just about every song. The guitar work in most parts is pretty predictable. Open strumming during choruses, muted breakdowns, etc. The band sometimes has a southern twang to them, which adds a whole other dimension. The songs "I Was Once Possibly, Maybe, Perhaps A Cowboy King," and "Not The American Average," show this. If you are looking for a serious listen, you won't find it here. The lyrics are very light-hearted and in some ways tongue-in-cheek. The line "You stupid ***ing bitch" dominates the end of the song "Not The American Average."
Finally, there is the keyboards, or the synth. Yeah, there are dance beats. There is an interlude which is devoted to a synth beat. The intro has a very poppy feel as well. At some parts though, the synth is a WONDERFUL addition, like on the chorus of "Hey There Mr. Brooks." Shawn Milke, a guitarist and singer in Alesana, sounds great on this song. "A Candlelit Dinner With Inamorta" has the best mix of singing and screaming on the album, and it is one of the strongest tracks. The keys do the band well in the intro of "If You Can't Ride Two Horses At Once.."
The production is great. The artwork and the album title are pretty damn cheesy. But, at the same time, you asked for it, because that's what's in right now. This genre is probably a fad, and a lot of bad, bad bands are trying to cash in. This record does it the best out of any I have ever heard.
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| Recent reviews by this author | | | |
Album Rating: 3 | Sound Off
this is my first review. cut me some slack heh.
Digging: Beneath The Sky - In Loving Memory | | | Album Rating: 3
not bad for a first, need to talk a little more about some individual songs and go in more detail. Also need to mention the terrible single hey there mr.brooks, song is so bad. This review is better then the other one so have a pos.
Digging: Vanilla Ninja - Blue Tattoo | | | Album Rating: 3 | Sound Off
thanks a bunch.
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good for a first review, the other one isnt very good. pos.
Digging: Touche Amore/La Dispute - Searching for a Pulse/The Worth of the World
| | | Album Rating: 3 | Sound Off
again, thanks : )
| | | Album Rating: 1.5 | Sound Off
listened to this last night, and this band + genre fail.
Digging: Touche Amore/La Dispute - Searching for a Pulse/The Worth of the World | | | Album Rating: 2
Good review, though try and avoid writing whole paragraphs about other bands
Digging: The Wrens - Meadowlands | | | Album Rating: 3 | Sound Off
thanks. and yeah i have one typed up for new despised icon which i think is a lot more polished. ill post it when an official stream comes out.
| | | Album Rating: 2
Review was pretty good. With the whole best trancecore thing, have you listened to We Came As Romans or The Word Alive? They're both, in my opinion, better than this.
Digging: Kingdoms - Daughters of Atlas | | | Album Rating: 3 | Sound Off
yeah i started listening to the word alive wayyy back when they first started with craig. i love those guys. but to me, idk i dont really consider them trancecore. the keys arent......gay? enough. aahahh. and personally TWA has really serious lyrics and the songs come off as more post hardcore to me. and i actually havent listened to we came as romans. i know they have toured with TWA. ill check them out soon.
| | | Album Rating: 3 | Sound Off
*sorry for lots of comments
| | | Album Rating: 3
This gets boring quite fast
| | | Album Rating: 2
Well I don't really consider this trancecore. In The Word Alive and We Came as Romans the synth is a major, and constantly present, part of their sound while with Asking Alexandria you just get one of the random beats going every so often.
I really wouldn't consider either of those bands trancecore either. When I think of trancecore I See Stars and Attack Attack come to mind. The dancy synth is constantly present, and not some random addition at a random point in the song.
This album is such a mixed bag for me: some parts are fucken awesome, while others just feel so cliched and boring. Probably gonna end up rating this a 3.
| | | Album Rating: 3 | Sound Off
yeah i agree, it does get really cliche at some parts. i guess its a guilty pleasure ahaha.. a really guilty pleasure.
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believe shotone323 meant "The World Alive"
Digging: At the Drive-In - Relationship of Command
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