Band: Billy Talent
Album: Billy Talent (self titled)
Released: 2003
Benjamin Kowalewicz - Vocals
Ian D'Sa - Guitar/Backing Vocals
Jon Gallant - Bass/Backing Vocals
Aaron Solowoniuk - Drums
Review:
This Is How It Goes - This starts out the cd with a little, fast-paced riff by Ian, which is played through a few times. Then the third time it's played, after the symbols come in, the bass starts its riff. After that plays a while, it breaks out into some trashing, instense chords that make you want to pick up the nearest breakable items and throw them. It sounds very sloppy, but if you tried to play it all perfect, it would sound horrible. Then it goes back to the intro as the verse and Ben's high pitched, semi-scratchy sounding vocals fuel the verse. Then he does a little bit of screaming (not hardcore-style, just rock-style screaming...if that made any sense) in the chorus...it's just amazing; it's also backed up by Ian and Jon, who fit perfectly. There's some more verses and choruses, but then it gets to the bridge which isn't bad itself, then another chorus. A great song. 10/10
Living In The Shadows - Starts out with a chord and then becomes a little faster, then slows down for the verse and builds back up again for the chorus, in which, Ben does another semi-screaming chorus, with the backing vocals again. Same formula as the first song: Intro-Verse-Chorus-Verse-Chorus-Bridge-Chorus. They do this, or something similar, for many songs, but it works quite well. Not as good as the first song, but still good. 8/10
Try Honesty - You may have seen the video or heard this on the radio. The first single from the cd. The guitar intro is somewhat uplifting and quite wonderful. After that it is power driven, with all instruments, and then there's a break for part of the intro riff, then back into the power, and repeated a few times. It slows down for the verse, in which the drums and vocals are the main focus. Ben's singing is a little bit sadder sounding in the verses of this song than the previous two. The chorus is the driving music again with urgent sounding vocal trade-offs of Ben and the back ups. The bridge is pretty good too. He starts to scream like he's insane, and the video makes it seem even more so. A great song. 9/10
Line & Sinker - This song, on the other hand, starts out with Ben screaming and the chorus, with three overlapping voices, then goes into the verse. It has one of greatest lines that has ever been written in music:
Don't think that you're so great, 'cause being great must suck. There's not a single song on this that doesn't have great lyrics, but the little part before the chorus is wonderful. They mention Santa, heh. The breakdown with the palm muted guitar is nice too. Then another chorus, and ends abruptly. Another good song. 8/10
Lies - The opening riff on guitar is different than the past four songs, it's sounds more happyish, you'd have to hear it, the words go along with it really well. Overlapping voices in the verse and then goes into the chorus, which is basicly saying that lies are everywhere. Then a verse, then a chorus, and then a faster chorus and then Ben screams "lies." The bridge is fast with Ian and Ben trading off vocals again, and back into the chorus. Then ends with "lies" but not screamed. 8/10
The Ex - The only blunt song about an ex-girlfriend. The opening riff on this song is comparable to the song before, but lower. Then the verse comes, where Ben sings a few lines and then the back up and Ben sing one, then Ben, then the band and into the chorus. When Ben sings the chorus, the back up is screaming the first word of every line, for about 1 second. You don't really realize it, because it's just put together so well. A good song for when you're angry about your ex. 9/10
River Below - Another great guitar riff, bass and drum intro. Another vocal trade off, but this time is slightly different than the other songs. It lasts throughout the whole verse, and Ian starts, instead of Ben. The chorus is the best part of the song. Ben stretches his voice out on the o-sounds on the words "below" and "inferno." Sounds awesome. It will have you singing along with it, just like most on this cd. Verse and chorus, then the bridge. Which is just lines from the chorus repeated and some screamed. Then a chorus and an abrupt stop. 9/10
Standing In The Rain - One of the highest points on the album. A song, in which, Ben takes the place of a drug addicted prostitute. Either herion or cocaine, because he mentions needles. A little more laid back opening this time, that goes into the scene of a man driving by her, standing on the street, wondering if she'll get picked up. His voice fits the slow moving verse perfectly. The chorus has a lot to offer as well. Ben is backed up by the others and then sings a fast line, and repeats the same rhythm with different words, four times through. A truly great song. 9/10
Cut The Curtains - Palm muted guitar intro, with rumbling bass and drums, that slows down when it reaches the start of the verse. I don't find the verse extremely exciting, but the chorus makes up for more than enough of it. Overlapping voices, with a harmony by Ian, which is simple, but cool. It's not so much that most of the things on their songs jump out and choke you to death, but that you listen to it and notice them. It makes you appreciate the music more. I don't believe there's a single person that can match Ian or Ben's voice. Another great part of the song is the bridge. They do something they haven't done the entire cd; they play the same thing over and over until you can't hear it and then it blasts right back at you with intense power. Another great installment to this already great cd. 9/10
Prisoners Of Today - This has to be my favorite opening guitar riff of the entire cd. It's so different from all the others. It's the most mellow sounding one, but it also sounds like it's something caged about to break loose. That's the only way I can think to discribe it. The music builds up and it does get slightly heavier, just not too much. It never really "breaks loose," but the verses are some of the best on the cd. Ben sings the fastest he's sung throughout the whole thing. The bass is extremely audiable for a 10 second part of the song, which is really nice. The chorus is rather nice too. It's quiet, with the intro riff, and the riff that's right after the verse (with the bass part) after the singing is done. The second time through, Ian sings the second part and it sounds cool. The bridge in this song is okay, it's not incredibly awesome, but it's pretty good. It ties you over until it gets to the next part of the song. The building intensity of the song toward the end is good though. 9/10
Nothing To Lose - My favorite track on the whole cd. Most of the other songs are fast-paced and just rip right through them, but this one is slow and it builds up slower than any of the other songs. Very sad sounding vocals and guitar. The drums and bass don't really come in until after the first chorus. Ian and Ben switch off again. The second verse has more power than the first and the same goes for the second verse and then goes into a nice chord progression and gets quiet again with the guitar intro played for the third verse/bridge. The third chorus is the same as the second, but the fourth is just...amazing. It has a lot power in the vocals and the lyrics, backed by the power of the music. This is the first and last time that Ben really screams more hardcore. And when you listen to it, it just feels like an overwhelming feeling (that was built up throughout the first part of the song) has just been suddenly lifted. And it's a topic most people can relate to: teenage years. It's not your typical punk-angst type song though. No, not at all. It must've sucked for him in high school if he ate his lunches in the bathroom alone. 10/10
Voice Of Violence - After that sad song, it bursts right back into the raw, sloppy power that most of the other songs have. The singing's great on the first, but the chorus tops the vocals on every other song on here (including River Below and Cut The Curtains). The back ups start the chorus and hold the note, and Ben screams over it, and while he's screaming they start singing the title twice and Ben comes in at that end with his talented voice and does something like: "(voices of violence, voices of violence) violen-ay-yeah-ay-ence." The parantheses are the back up. It just simply awesome. But you can barely tell when Ian's voice ends and Ben's starts, quite amazing. You'd have to hear it. The bridge is simple but great as well, and it ends with it and a final drum beat. A great song to play on bass or guitar, just as most are. A great song to end a great cd with. 10/10
Other things:
They are Canadian, and they have punk influences, but they are not punk. The influences just make their rock sound faster and sloppier, which makes it sound better than it might. The lyrics on every song are some of the best I've ever heard and you can't help but be amazed by some of the guitar riffs and all the tempo changes. I would recomend this cd to most people. If you love punk, metal or rock, you will most likely love this. Even some pop- listeners might enjoy some of it if they sat down and listened to it, but I doubt most of them would appreciate it. I give the whole cd 4/5.
There's nothing to lose
When no one knows your name
There's nothing to gain
But the days don't seem to change
