Review Summary: Saosin's long awaited debut may disappoint fans of the group's earlier era, but those that embrace the changes will find an ultimately satisfying and compelling post hardcore effort in Saosin.
Open your minds. Anthony Green, alternative rock "superstar" is no longer a member of Saosin, nor has he been for three years. As far as I see, you have two options. First, you can wallow in your disappointment at Green's departure and litter online music sites with posts along the lines of "Saosin will never be the same!", "Anthony was so much better!", and "cov brings the sux", or you can face the facts that young Mr. Reeber is Saosin's new front man, and take the group for what they are now.
Face it, Saosin have always been a nonconforming group of individuals. They were among the first bands to fuse the vicious guitar riffs and double bass of metal with pop and alternative rock, and paved the way for dozens of other groups to do the same. However, years later, when screaming bridges and double bass breakdowns are to be expected from alternative rock releases, Saosin manages to find a sound all their own, courtesy of veteran guitarists Beau Burchell and Justin Shekoski, as well as lead singer Cove Reber.
It's Far Better To Learn - 4/5
The album begins with an undistorted guitar riff amidst ambient noises. Before long, the exemplary tom favoring drumming of drummer Alex Rodriguez joins the mix and sets a mood of delicacy, ready to explode at any moment. Explode it does, as singer Cove Reber's powerful voice launches the group into the first verse. The song follows a basic verse-chorus-verse-chorus-bridge-chorus structure, but is still enjoyable throughout, thanks to the imaginative fills of Alex, and Beau and Justin's never ending diversity. The song ends with an echoing guitar riff that leads directly into track two.
Sleepers - 5/5
For those of you familiar with Saosin's Warped Tour EP, "Sleepers" is a remake of "I Wanna Hear Another Fast Song". This version is exemplary in every manner, particularly around the pre-chorus, where the crunching guitar riff is now accompanied by Cove's vocals. Bassist Christ Sorenson makes himself noticeable for the first time in this track, with his drum accompanying rhythms throughout the chorus and breakdown. The lyrics in "Sleepers" are a step up from the majority of the album's content too. The song ends with Alex's thumping double bass and cove singing "All we are is golden, this won't mean a thing".
It's So Simple - 3/5
A favorite among the fans at Saosin's official message board, "It's So Simple" has absolutely no appeal to me whatsoever. This song takes all the moods of the album and dumbs them down, balls them together, and slaps some unimaginative lyrics on top. No pun intended, the song is "so simple" that it's easily overlooked in contrast to the other tracks.
Voices - 4.5/5
The first single for Saosin's debut, "Voices" showcases the groups poppier side; more so than tracks like "Follow and Feel", but not as much as the perplexing "Finding Home". In essence, this track was the perfect single choice for the album, which is why Capitol has taken the gamble of recording a real video to replace the live performance/back stage montage video in rotation on Tv Channels like Fuse and MTV2. The lyrics, although somewhat repetitive, are interesting, the main theme being the communication barrier between broken relationships. The highlight of the track is the very end, where Cove yells "To know they're real. REAL!". Seeing Cove hit this note live is particularly entrancing.
Finding Home - 4.5/5
I simply don't understand all the crap this song gets. I've heard people say ridiculous things on music websites before, but one comment, "It's just not Saosin," annoyed me to no end. People, Anthony Green is not Saosin. To listen to a song on a band's first full-length and claim it's not a song the group would write is so close-minded. The band has only been together a few years under this line-up, and they are still finding their style! All quarrels aside, this is a very appealing song. The innocence and high-spirited lyrics drive the tune, while Alex's brilliant fills keep things interesting throughout.
Follow and Feel - 5/5
If anything should appease the fans of Saosin's "Anthony Green Era", it's "Follow and Feel". A crashing drum intro leading into an old-school Saosin riff sets the mood for this song right away. The chorus takes a step back, the drums retreat to half-time, and Cove's vocals fluctuate from the highest to lowest points of his range. The bridge may as well act as a drum solo, with Alex's Artist In the Ambulance-esque tom/dobule bass rolls driving the beat. His hands are obviously his most impressive attribute, and he uses them well with particularly nice usage of his stacks. Beau and Justin take over from then on until the song closes with the chorus repeating.
Come Close - 5/5
"Come Close" begins with a hard hitting intro, that sinks into a soothing a calm verse. The figurative language, although indiscernible, has a certain charm to it. Cove's first words "Remind yourself that they are the ones who will hold you still. My thoughts exploding in thousands of pieces. They look so beautiful when I know it's not love". The theme comes together, however, towards the ends of the song when Cove yells "Now you've found love. It's shining through", suggesting two lovers caught in a Romeo and Juliet-esque relationship, hindered by those close to them. This is one of my favorite songs on the album.
I Never Wanted To - 5/5
I'm not particularly one for soft songs, but "I Never Wanted To" is simply the most beautiful piece of music I have ever heard, barely outdoing Thrice's "Stand and Feel Your Worth". "I Never Wanted To", the completed version of Saosin's "New Angel" from their Warped Tour EP, is stunningly eloquent in every area. It is songwriting at its best, and every member bring something truly creative to the table. There's even a brief homage to "New Angel"'s drum pattern that acts a transition from the chorus to the second verse. The highlight of the track is the epic (YES, I said epic and NO, I didn't misuse it) bridge in which cove sings "I want to break it off... We should stop cause there's nothing going on." Original? No. Compelling in its method of delivery? Very much so.
Collapse - 4.5/5
Easily the heaviest song on the album, "Collapse" slows things down to bring Saosin into a realm of alternative rock they haven't explored before. The track somewhat reminds of me of the group's rare "Uphill Battle" demo that features a similar vibe. The intro and verse are exemplary, with incredible guitar worked served, once again, from Beau and Justin, although the chorus is somewhat of a let down compared to the other tracks. The breakdown however is easily the most breathtaking moment on the album. The same breakdown acts as a bridge earlier in the song, but Alex's drums and Cove's vocals sort of "keep cool" in anticipation of the explosive ending that is to come. Once again, Alex provides material for nomination as the most creative drummer in post hardcore, using everything from his characteristic tom rolls, to an innovative inclusion of his ride cymbal.
You're Not Alone - 3.5/5
Somewhat of an acceptance that every album needs a slow song, "You're Not Alone" takes the "I'm slow and emotionally provacative" route. Cove's vocals sound extremely layered in this track; more so than the others, most likely because of the lack of commotion in the background. The song is good for what it is, but doesn't captivate you the way a melody focused Saosin track does. It's easy for "You're Not Alone" to get lost in "I Never Wanted To"'s shadow.
Bury Your Head - 4.5/5
All naysayers aside, this version of " Bury Your Head" is just as good, if not better, than the version found on Saosin's Warped Tour EP. The vocals are a huge step up, just as the guitar and bass. The addition of background screaming is unique to the song, (screams are nowhere to be found, and unnecessary due to Cove's powerful vocals) and does a lot to push the mood of the song. The drumming, on the other hand is a large step down, partly due to the slower tempo. Overall, I have no doubt that this song would have much more appeal had the demo version never existed.
Some Sense of Security - 5/5
Props to Saosin for closing on a good note! The song begins with a brief drum that leads into a musically genius phrase. Saosin are truly exemplary songwriters, and it shows by the way every part keeps its distinctness, while blending together perfectly. The vocal melody in the chorus is one of Cove's best moments. The lyrics in particular are through provoking, with Cove's chant, "Why write with confidence? Why try to save them? We try to not forget It's so much better there." The verses, on the other hand, showcase the album's weakest lyrical efforts, second only to "It's So Simple", but they are delivered in such a way that they're easy to tune out. The ending bleeds into a distorted echo of Cove singing "This won't mean anything. This won't mean anything tonight."
Overall, this is an incredible effort that every fan of alternative rock, post hardcore, emo, and pop punk should own. As soon as you accept that Anthony Green is no longer a member of Saosin, you will enjoy this album an incredible amount more. Highly reccomended!
