|
| |
|
|
|
Review Summary: State Radio releases an album that feels a little too much like more of the same State Radio will always be compared to Dispatch. It is inevitable. It doesn't matter that the bands do not sound that much alike, or that it has been seven years since Dispatch broke up. As long as college kids in Vermont keep listening to reggae-rock, then Dispatch will always be brought up. State Radio is a band that is now finding itself at a crossroads, do they continue down the reggae path? Or do they venture more onto the rock path? The band has decided instead to try as best they can to toe the line between the two, with decidedly mixed results.
The band is no doubt at their peak when on the reggae train. Chad Urmston has his "white-boy-reggae" voice down, and it is what makes the song at times. "Calling All Crows" is a strong track, one that plays to Chad's vocal abilities and the instrumentals wouldn't sound that out of place on a Wailers album. "Doctor Ron the Actor" is another fun song, with a very catchy back-beat. The thing with the reggae tracks is that they start to bleed together (as most reggae does), and State Radio is not the most original of bands. As it tends to happen with so much reggae, you find yourself asking where you had heard this before.
That is not to say some of their rock songs aren't fun either. "Knights of Bostonia" is a fun, faster song, with an anthemic mindset to it, and "Arsenic and Clover," despite it's name, is a fun song, with a great chorus. Unfortunately, the inconsistency kills this album. Album opener "Mansin Humanity" is largely forgettable, and a terrible way to start the album. "Held Up By Wires" is another song that is sure to be skippable.
Another problem is that for the most part, their sound is not one that facilitates a lot of replay value. Most of the songs sound in one way or another like songs other people have written or even that State Radio has written in the past. Also, the lyrics, while sometimes brilliant, are at time so heavy-handed that it frustrates the listener. Some of the lyrics are too blatantly obvious to work, and it just ends up sounding like preaching.
State Radio's Let it Go is an album with a few standout tracks that stand head and shoulders above the rest. Unfortunately, the rest of the album is marred by inconsistency. If State Radio would decide which path to take, rock or reggae, then their writing would probably become more streamlined and less scattershot. State Radio has always had the potential to put out a brilliant album, but with this album it feels like more of the same, with maybe even a little regression. If State Radio could truly focus then a beautiful album would be on the way, because they have the abilities, just not the songwriting yet.
| trending alt & indie albums |
|
Album Rating: 3.0
This review had me stuck for a long time.
| | |
Haha, alas. Good review, sounds like I will be avoiding this one.
| | | Album Rating: 3.0
Yeah, unless you are a New England stoner then this probably isn't for you. Not that I am a stoner, because I'm not.
| | | Album Rating: 3.0
http://www.spinner.com/new-releases#/16
For anyone who does want to listen to it.
| | |
Yea I was sort of anticipating this, unfortunately, but I'll nevertheless get it at some point. They're an awesome live band.
| | |
hey, hey, hey, I may be a college kid in Vermont, but i do NOT like dispatch. so there.
| | | Album Rating: 2.0
This review kind of baffles me at the point where you said that Calling All Crows is strong track, while Held Up is largely forgettable. Calling All Crows is marred by horrible production, poor performance, and a fairly forgettable melody. Held Up is a really good rocker that really fills out in studio. To each their own obviously, and as a whole I agree with this review. The album feels unfocused, randomly embellished with instruments that don't really fit and inconsistent songwriting and production. I solved most of my major problems by deleting the first two songs and starting with Doctor Ron; that actually would have brought the album score up to a 3.5 for me.
| | | Album Rating: 2.0
This review kind of baffles me at the point where you said that Calling All Crows is strong track, while Held Up is largely forgettable. Calling All Crows is marred by horrible production, poor performance, and a fairly forgettable melody. Held Up is a really good rocker that really fills out in studio. To each their own obviously, and as a whole I agree with this review. The album feels unfocused, randomly embellished with instruments that don't really fit and inconsistent songwriting and production. I solved most of my major problems by deleting the first two songs and starting with Doctor Ron; that actually would have brought the album score up to a 3.5 for me.
| | | Album Rating: 3.0
It baffles me why you double posted
| | | Album Rating: 2.0
I did it on purpose to raise my comment count and because I like attention so I figure it would increase the chance of someone noticing my post.
| | | Album Rating: 3.0
well it didn't work
| | | Album Rating: 3.5
i'm a state radio fanboy
| | | Album Rating: 3.0
i like them so much more live, i never miss them when they play in my area
| | | Album Rating: 5.0
I'm sorry, i do not agree at all with this review... Listening to the cd, lets start off with the first track Mansin Humanity which is "largely unforgettable, and a terrible way to start the album", how so? The opening guitar is pretty heavy and the build up packs a punch with the lyrics to create a pretty forceful song. "And the allies just watch and whisper and talk As one million are marched to a nowhere land". But the injustice of turning a blind eye to genocide is obviously pretty forgettable. Chad's vocal abilities are displayed even more in bohemian grove... and "they don't have the songwriting yet"? what does that mean? They seem to have some powerful lyrics (which you seem to think are to simple and confusing somehow).... but i guess if your looking for a beautiful album maybe you should look into classical music.
http://blogcritics.org/music/article/music-review-state-radio-let-it/page-2/
In my opinion this was a better review
| | | Album Rating: 3.0
You like that review more simply because that review agrees with your opinions. Jackass.
I never said their lyrics were confusing, they are quite the opposite to people that aren't neophytes. Just because someone has a differing opinion does not make them wrong, you close-minded ignoramus.
And in my opinion, no one gives a shit about yours
| | | Album Rating: 5.0
haha yes belittling someone over the internet for stating their opinion...classic! I did not say you were wrong, i stated my opinion and supported my opinions, but obviously disagreeing with you upsets you (and I don't want to fight about a music review, everyone has their own opinions about music, if you feel its a 3 then thats totally fine).
However, I felt that making the dispatch listener must be from vermont stereotype was not objective, I don't think Chad is going for "a white-boy reggae" sound, I don't feel "they..just don't have the song writing yet" is fair (but thats opinion so you have yours).
In my opinion alot of their songs have "replay value", and mansin, held up, and bogrove are all great songs.
In my opinion this band has a great message and great music to express it. The more heavy songs in this album really capture the intensity.
And Sorry if I came off with the wrong tone on my previous post, I just felt that the review did not do the album justice, but what does my opinion matter, if I like the music I listen to then I don't need anyone else to.
| | | Album Rating: 3.5
To really appreciate the album you need to research the backstories of pretty much every song. Therefore, I can see why many people would just label it an 'alright album' because they hear the average-sounding (I hate to say it) musicianship and the lyrics don't really stir up the feelings that you would get say, if you had Googled Armenian genocide before putting on Mansin Humanity....just throwing that out there.
| | |
The "Vermont stereotype" about Dispatch is clearly an exaggeration, Chendrix, it's a joke rooted in popular perception. As much as you say to each their own in terms of music opinion, you still seem unduly aggravated about this review. Different opinions are fine, just keep in mind that no reviewer speaks the absolute truth, because that doesn't exist (for music).
| | | Album Rating: 3.0
who the fuck negged me? Was it you, Chendrix?
| | | Album Rating: 3.0
Not that impressed with the album, solid, nothing special save for a few songs. Love 'Blood Escaping Man' though.
| | | |
|
| |
