Review Summary: Alright, this is from our hearts, sincerity over simple chords, we make some mistakes, but it's a long time coming when you're giving it everything...
So, you’re probably wondering why I rated this album as a classic, right? In my mind, I view a classic album as a piece of music that has had a profound effect on not only my musical tastes but my outlook on life generally. Everyone has one of those albums right? You know, the one that marks that significant moment in your life when you finally realised who you are. This album did that for me. Back in late 06, I had just moved to a new school, and I tried my best to fit in, by listening to whatever music the “cool kids” were listening to, in hope of getting some respect. No dice. It wasn’t so much that I followed the crowd, more like I followed the followers. Then one day, I sat in front of my TV after a rough day, and saw 5 men with beards playing music like I had never heard in my life. The video, the music and the particular period in my life all seemed to combine into one cathartic moment.
After sitting for what seemed like years, I finally looked up the band and that song, (This Could Be Anywhere) and my journey began. After purchasing the CD, I sat down and just connected with the album on a level I had never felt before. The wandering guitar lines in melodic sections coupled with the heavy power-chorded riffs, the creative drumming and most importantly, the vocals. On one hand, you have George, who screams. However, unlike most bands with screaming parts in their music, he doesn’t over-power the other vocalists, nor does he barely get heard. He is always in the mix, bouncing off of the other vocalists, almost as if they were in a jamming session. Then, you have Dallas.
He is the band member I identified with most, simply because his parts seemed to be the most interesting musically. The melody and passion in his voice is stunning. Again, in difference to bands like (insert generic band here), he does not sound whiny or nasal. He sounds graceful and soulful; he never becomes grating. Of course there is Wade, with his gravely, beer-soaked squall, which fits so perfectly with the other vocal parts.
That’s the thing about Crisis. It seems like all the pieces of the puzzle have been put together; just...complete. Even the lyrics, while not being incredibly elaborate and poetic work incredibly. No cliches here. Even in the band’s first wholly relationship based song, they never seem corny. They manage to bring fresh takes on issues such as hatred of suburbia (Mailbox Arson), while talking about issues most bands wouldn’t even think of. (Boiled Frogs, Crisis) It’s genuine music that is from the heart, and it really spoke to me. As a musician, it opened up a whole world of new bands to listen to and new influences to draw from, and as a person, it helped me become my own person, and gain the self confidence to be truly independent. I agree with the fact it is not perfect, with two filler tracks, (You Burn First and Keep It on Wax) and compared with their first two albums, it lacks a slight bit of intensity and technicality, however, it had such a huge effect on my life that all of those things seem inconsequential. This album was my first love, and even two years on, I’ll put it on and feel empowered to be myself. That is the true definition of classic.
