One day, sometime this school year, a good friend of mine sent me a music file. He said, "Hey man check this band out, they're pretty decent and have some nice music" or something to that extend. He sent me the first true song off the album, "Heartless". At first, I was very suprised. The song started off quite brutally, with good deep vocals. Then, the clean chorus. I thought this spelled disaster for A Day To Remember. This is an overused formula used by so many bands, that to be frank, are no good. But, while repetitive, I found the song catchy and the bridge doesn't dissapoint, with whining guitars and distant vocals, it truly makes the song. The breakdown is good as well, with a brutal end to a well done song.
Now, my hopes are set pretty high for the rest of the album, and it truly doesn't fail to dissapoint. Songs like "A Second Glance display some brilliant lyrics, such as
"The only thing that's going to bother me, Is that you'll all call yourselves my friends"
While a bit corny at first glance, it represents my school and some of my own emotions quite well. The Lyrics are also quite well done on "A Second Glance", once again, implying a broken relationship.
"Your reign is over, Why couldn't you prove me wrong?"
Now, older readers will take these as chessy, but from my current vantage angle, they are easy to relate too, and, unlike some other bands with similar messages, A Day To Remember has the musicianship to back it up.
If the lyrics don't do it for you, then the instruments certainly should. The vocals are very good throughout the album, with no letdowns or breaks. The guitars are also great on most tracks. Ranging from acoustic (You Had Me At Hello), to heavy breakdowns (Heartless, 1958). Perhaps the coolest part of A Day To Remember's debut is the song 1958. With a prayer to start the song, it really adds to the epic feeling of the song. This song excels in all catagories, Vocals, Lyrics, Guitar work, and the rymthm section is tight. A eerie pre-chorus leads into a anthemic chorus which may define the album.
"This is where we prove all your fairy tales wrong, this all stops tonight. Swim in your sea of smoke, til your lungs lose the fight. It's over, this all stops tonight.Or prove me wrong.
While the bridge is nothing special, it cetrainly doesn't take away from a truly epic song.
Now, I bet your wondering why I didnt rate this higher than a 3.5. Well, unless my version of the album is god awful, the bass is next to non-existant. You have to strain to hear it, and even so, it's nothing very complicated. Also, the album's closer, "Sound The Alarm", seems cut short and doesn't do the album justice. A British man seems to be talking, and is then cut short by a drum beat.
Pros:
*1958
*Lyrics
*Guitar Work
*Changes in Tempo and Style
Cons:
*Bass
*Sounds a bit genric after a few listens
Overall, I'd recommend this to anyone who wants a band that has good changes in tempo, style, guitar work, and good emotion, but isn't looking for basswork.
Recommended Downloads:
*Heartless
*A Second Glance
*1958
Final Rating: 3.5/5
