Converge
Jane Doe


2.0
poor

Review

by Tyrael USER (28 Reviews)
January 12th, 2011 | 224 replies


Release Date: 2001 | Tracklist

Review Summary: With Jane Doe, Converge find themselves trapped inside their own anger.

Being subject to a beating isn't fun. Anyone who has been through that will tell you that it's one of the most horrible things imaginable. Feeling that helpless and weak is a truly terrifying experience. As odd as it may seem, that is exactly what listening to Jane Doe feels like to me, as throughout the album you are the target of Converge's musical aggression. While this is a thing that a lot of people like about this album, I find it very off-putting. That aggression is also one of the main reasons why Jane Doe is such an unconventional album and why it has managed to attract so much attention.

With Jane Doe, Converge tried to make something resembling a concept album, following the life of a woman (the 'Jane Doe') whose life is slowly crashing down. Sadly, if you are able to follow the story, which is an achievement on its own, you'll find that it is in fact quite vague and uncompelling. The lyrics are certainly interesting, but the story they are representing doesn't really get the chance to fully unfold. This is mainly because Jacob Bannon's screams don't quite manage to capture the essence of the story, something which he is more succesful at with his lyrics, which often do manage to recreate different emotions than he is expressing with his vocals. The lyrics themselves could have easily been made into a poem, but on Jane Doe they stay encased in a golden cage of anger and riffage.

The hesitation, the awkward silence
I felt everything in those seconds
Splinters of sentence and heartless advice
Nothing's changed but these days entwined


The main problem here is that Jacob only expresses one emotion here and that is anger, while the lyrics may point in another direction, or more specifically another kind of emotion. This is confusing because it disconnects the story from the music, which might put off some listeners. The fact that anger is the only emotion that Jacob displays on this album is a little frustrating, since it removes a lot of depth from the songs, and can get monotonous after a while.

From a musical perspective, Jane Doe is a strange experience, whether it be the wailing vocals, resembling something only your worst nightmare could have produced, or the technical blend of metal/hardcore which is constantly assaulting your ear drums. It's a shame that, unlike what you might expect with so much melodic and experimental input, it tends to get quite boring, which is a weakness that most metalcore bands suffer from. This is because the whole album keeps up the same pace and every track progresses at a more or less similar tone, which makes it hard to distinguish most of the tracks from each other. If you manage to get past that flaw, listening to Jane Doe still is a very painful listen, simply because the whole album is a constant assault of uncontrolled anger.

The overall feel of Jane Doe is very hard and painful, but it is hard to truly capture its essence. You can feel the anger and hate rushing through your veins if you listen to it, but if you take away the anger there would be little left and that is this album's downfall. Converge tried and failed, and that is exactly why Jane Doe is so adequately titled: it's Converge searching for an identity, but ultimately creating an album with little depth.



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user ratings (5161)
4.4
superb
other reviews of this album
1 of


Comments:Add a Comment 
BigHans
January 12th 2011


30959 Comments

Album Rating: 2.0

Looks like I picked the wrong day to post a review. Prepare for flamage. Good job, btw

Counterf3it
January 12th 2011


563 Comments


wtf

Tyrael
January 12th 2011


21108 Comments

Album Rating: 4.5

Just my opinion, I hope people won't neg just because of the rating.

Spec
January 12th 2011


40136 Comments

Album Rating: 5.0

The summary actually makes sense. Good review. Pos.

Irving
Emeritus
January 12th 2011


7496 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0

(the 'jane doe')


Capitalize, maybe?



Other than that, I have to second Hans - this was a very good review, and it displays a step up in quality from your previous pieces (which is always a good thing).



But yeah, I see what you meant now in your shoutbox post...so, shields up. And brace for flamage.

Counterf3it
January 12th 2011


563 Comments


my criticism is fuck you douche.
but no really it's decently written.
but i whole heartedly disagree with you and it makes me scratch my head.

Spec
January 12th 2011


40136 Comments

Album Rating: 5.0

I still love the album though except Phoenix In Flames is annoying as fuck.

TheStefan
January 12th 2011


1003 Comments

Album Rating: 4.5

good review. pos.

BringMeABrick
January 12th 2011


340 Comments

Album Rating: 5.0 | Sound Off

Take away the anger there would be little left? Are you serious?

So you're telling me that Homewrecker doesn't have some of the catchiest and heaviest riffs you've ever heard?

You're saying that Jane Doe (the song) wasn't perfectly written, with riffs and melodies that keep your attention for 11 and a half fucking minutes?

You're saying that Phoenix In Flight's harmonies alone don't put you in a trance?

I could go on...

Lakes2
January 12th 2011


206 Comments

Album Rating: 5.0

Pos'd even though I highly disagree.

Voivod
Staff Reviewer
January 12th 2011


10937 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0

pos'd.



Your review is well written, although i disagree.



It's only a shame that, unlike what you might expect with so much melodic and experimental input, it still tends to get quite boring



You don't explain anywhere in your review why this holds.



Plus your review reads like a 2.5-3/5 (at least)

rasputin
January 12th 2011


14968 Comments


look at me i love converge therefore i must make a comment on this review regardless of how dumb i sound

Spec
January 12th 2011


40136 Comments

Album Rating: 5.0

Looks like you caught Sputnik on a good day, no random negs!

DoctorNurse
January 12th 2011


475 Comments


i dont understand all the converge fapping that goes on

OutOfMyself
January 12th 2011


688 Comments

Album Rating: 5.0

The overall feel of the album is a very hard and painful, but is hard to truly capture.


Very hard and painful what?



Anyways, it was a short and to the point review but you got your points across well. I Pos'd.

KILL
January 12th 2011


81580 Comments

Album Rating: 2.5

great review dude

climactic
January 12th 2011


22765 Comments

Album Rating: 5.0

listening to Jane Doe still is a very painful listen, simply because the whole album is a constant assault of uncontrolled anger.




thats why it's so good.....

Irving
Emeritus
January 12th 2011


7496 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0

It's only a shame that, unlike what you might expect with so much melodic and experimental input, it still tends to get quite boring


Voivod has a point. I noticed that too but decided to give the benefit of the doubt. That bit needs some serious justifying.



But again, great review mate.

KILL
January 12th 2011


81580 Comments

Album Rating: 2.5

first fanboy neg omg

Scenegirlsdontbang
January 12th 2011


106 Comments

Album Rating: 5.0

"Even if you manage to get past that, listening to Jane Doe still is a very painful listen, simply because the whole album is a constant assault of uncontrolled anger"



I think thats why most people like it.

But good review, even though i disagree strongly.



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