Review Summary: The greatest kind of mess
For Layton, Utah-based rock outfit
Get Scared, it's probably been one of the most hectic rides of any band in music history. From humble beginnings, they climbed the mountain despite an avalanche of issues; they lost original singer Nicholas Matthews, found a new guy only for him to get replaced by a returning Matthews, got unceremoniously dumped by their original label, and so on. Throughout the trials and hardships faced, however, Get Scared soldiered on no matter what and put out three albums and three EPs before the madness surrounding the group finally overtook them and led them to a hiatus. All three of their albums represent the hell they went through as a band, but none do this quite as well as their debut full-length
Best Kind of Mess.
Matthews' lyricism may seem like cookie cutter scenecore lyrics at first glance, but the truth is that these lyrics are straight from his heart (he actually attempted suicide a few months after the album's release); not unlike Linkin Park's Chester Bennington, the music has always been his way of wrestling his demons. Songs like "Scream" and "Drown" are captivating looks inside of his mind and how he truly feels about himself: a complete wreck and how unsure of whether or not he should stay on this Earth or say goodbye. The sheer emotion in his voice—such as his anger in "Whore" or the feeling of defeat in "Moving"—just adds to the power of his vocals, easily making him one of the greatest in the genre. His instrumental company (guitarist Johnny B, bassist Bradley "Lloyd" Iverson and drummer Dan Juarez) just add to the power of the music of itself; the intense but darkened sound just adds to the feeling of bleakness conveyed throughout the album.
Producer John Feldmann is also at his peak here. Everything is beautifully mixed, and he manages to add a feeling of accessibility without detracting from the feelings Get Scared are trying to convey. Accessibility isn't a bad thing when it comes to this album—in fact, it helps it speak out to more people, especially if they're going through a tough time in their life, which makes it one of the greatest assets.
Best Kind of Mess is an excellent showcase of how emotion can create a truly beautiful album; it's a roller coaster ride from start to finish, and dare I say one of the finest works in the genre. Get Scared proved themselves as one of the most underrated rock artists of all time here—the overwhelming heart the band poured into it cemented
Best Kind of Mess as not only their finest work, but one of the most underrated rock albums of all time.
