Review Summary: A very generic and laughable album, yet so fun.
Nobody will ever change what a band does. That’s a fact. The members can notice that people don’t like this or that, and will do whatever they feel from there, but never will your opinion change them fully, make them a completely new band. Honestly, as a fellow reviewer it’s ridiculous when a band gets trashed for being like someone else, or sounding like this band or that band, let them do what they want, if they bring out fans and sell cd’s where does your opinion fall. Whether you like them or hate them, or just fully refuse to listen to them, Abandon All Ships! Are one of those bands that will always be hated for what they do. Do they care? I don’t think so.
Geeving is AAS’s full-length debut, and fans of the band will notice that a majority of this record are re-recordings of older songs from the band. I don’t find this a problem since I like most of those songs, and I guess the band just wanted to play it safe it’s first time around and make a record full of songs people already know and love. If your still wondering what the giant rant above was about, then obviously you haven’t heard Abandon All Ships! Breakdowns, auto-tune and synth just about sums it up. They do it in a fun way though, on tour they represent fist pumping more than they should and they love to make people dance, whether it’s rave dancing or tearing up the pit at a show.
This is a band all about fun.
Bro My God opens Geeving as one of the heaviest songs on the album, and you learn everything you need to know about the band in this song. A minute in the song slows down to an auto-tune filled singer surrounded by synth dance beats, picking back up to a catchy chorus. This is one of the things this band does so well, utilizing between the heavier moments and the synthy dance sections. A majority of the songs on the album follow the same basic formula and contain the same elements but it’s varied enough to keep the songs fun. Megawacko 2.1 was originally just named Megawacko on the band’s previous EP, but the reason for the slight name change was because of a typo on the album, so I hear. “Even if it rains and the sun won’t shine/whatever the weather she’ll be mine” are the opening lines to the song, and expect many generic lyrical lines like this all the way through the record.
As you continue to listen on through the album, you soon notice that every song sounds almost exactly the same. This is because of the bands lack of formula, every song on Geeving has a breakdown, a synthy dance section, some singing and maybe a few little things in between. One of the best moments on the album is in the song When Dreams Become Nightmares where a violin plays in the background of an awesome 1, 2, 3 breakdown section. It’s easily one of my favorite moments on the record and it’s so easy to just imagine a crowd going wild over it. Family Goretrait has found itself as my favorite track off the album, simply because from start to finish this song never lets up one bit. It’s fast, it’s heavy and though it may be forgettable to some, it’s the best track off the entire album.
Most of the songs that end the album are a lot alike, all of them leading up to Take One Last Breath which was the big single off the album. A music video was released for it way before the album and it’s probably the catchiest song off of the record. All in all, Abandon All Ships! Has made the biggest mystery album of the year for me in terms of rating. I like it, yet hate it. It’s catchy, yet generic. It’s easy to hate, yet hard to not listen too. I like this record, as well as hate it. This will probably become one of the most hated albums of the year and though it’s very unfortunate, it’s bound to happen. For me, it stays as average, yet fun.
