Review Summary: A Day To Remember do exactly what they were expected to do; whether that's a good or bad thing you have to decide for yourself.
I actually wanted to start doing reviews some time ago when CC came out which is why this is my first review. I hope you enjoy it (it's a bit long though).
ADTR – Common Courtesy
City of Ocala:
CC starts with a typical ADTR pop punk song, well the screamed *** yeah may be a bit unexpected but thats the only aspect in this one. It sounds like the pop punk side of the band we all know and the lyrics are also quite typical for this genre. Towards the end is the fun part of the song with the
Oh oh oh, this is where I came from, I'm right back at it again.
Oh oh oh, this is where I came from
Oh oh oh, this is where I came from, I'm right back at it again.
Oh oh oh, this is where I came from
this is going to be a huge singalong live.
Right Back At It Again:
This song start with a mediocore pop punkish breakdown and then turns into another pop punk song obviously. The lyrics are nothing special here again. Then the chorus comes in and I think it's a really good one starting with the 2step beat and it's kinda pumping up especially this part with the gangshouted HEY!
"And I said hey! (HEY)!
I'm right back at it again.
Just like I have always said,
You're too cool for school.
I ain't here to make no friends."
The last time the chorus comes in it starts with some electronic beat but not long enough to annoy the listener.
Sometimes You're The Hammer, Sometimes You're The Nail:
So this is the first heavier song on this album, even if it starts with the:
„You wanna take, take, take, take, take it away from me.
Take it away from me.
You can't wait, wait, wait, wait, wait till I'm stumbling.“
like the other songs before it ends with a more metalcoreish breakdown. After the chorus there's a riff which kinda reminds me of the devil wears prada with it's breakdown rhythm and it (of course) it leads into another breakdown. The lyrics are much better and especially in the end, there are a few lines i like.
„That's why sad songs make me happy, cause I don't have to feel alone.“
„I got no regrets, but have my days with doubt.
To those left in sadness I'll be the one to lead you out.“
Dead & Buried:
D&B starty with a heavy breakdown which continous throughout the breakdown until the clean
chorus comes in with quite unexpected chords for adtr standards. Apart from the chorus this song only consist of two different breakdowns and for me it seems like it's just there to be heavy.
Best Of Me:
It starts rather soft but grows into a cool song, probably one of the best on CC. Its nothing really special but somehow it is much more unique than the other pop punk songs by adtr. It hase some cool melodies if in it and really is a fun song, especially the chorus.
I'm Already Gone:
So here it comes. The first acoustic Song of this Album: The clean guitar accompanying the acoustic guitar is very pleasent to hear and they also make it more interesting. It feels kinda dreamy to me which I really like.
„I've worked it out you'll always bring me down.
From here on out I'm doing things for me.
I'm impatient now. I'm not the type for life alone,
I need someone.“
The lyrics seem standard but somehow Jeremy makes them feel and sound very special. I'd say this is one of ADTR's best acoustic songs, if not the best.
Violence (Enough Is Enough):
This is my favourite song of the album. It starts with a cool heavy riff causing a massive amount of headbanging especially after going into halftime rhythm. After a clean sung pre chorus leading into a chorus worthy of the song title: it really sounds violent. And of course this song wouldn't be complete without a really "brootal" breakdown in the end.
Life@11:
Just a typical ADTR song passing by. Not bad, not a standout, just passing by.
I Surrender:
The next acoustic song (it's not a complete acoustic song though) on this album but definately worse than „I'm already gone“
This sounds like a radio pop song and the melody he sings in the chorus sounds like I've heard it a million times before. Also the lyrics are cringe worthy ...
„So I surrender, I can't forget her.“
Life Lessons Learned The Hard Way:
This song is definately the heaviest one ADTR ever did. I don't really get the meaning of the lyrics but they're really dark and suit the song.
End Of Me:
And the next acoustic/pop rock song comes in. It's more like an anthem and it reminds me a lot of coldplay (not that it's a bad thing). Nothing really special but definately different from what they're normally doing and they're doing it well.
The Document Speaks For It Self:
There are many contrast parts in this song. The clean vocals and the heavier parts, the clean pop punk chorus and the many occasionaly placed breakdowns, but this is what keeps the song alive, because otherwise it's not that special.
I Remember:
Standard pop punk song by ADTR nothing more to say about it.
Leave All The Lights On:
Acoustic pop song with e drums in the beginning. Turns out to be not that acoustic again. This is horrible i think.
Good Things:
Again a standard pop punk song but one of the better ones.
Same Book But Never The Same Page:
The last song on the Album again feel much like an anthem for fans and a good song to end the album but it end in a totally unnecessary and wrong placed breakdown.
To sum things up, it' neither a bad nor a really good album, it's just what everyone expected. With 16 songs it's pretty long which emphasises the feeling that you already heared everything before. The album repeats itself a lot, like: pop punk song, acoustic pop rock song, heavy song which is also why I did not go into detail towards the end of the album because everything was said before. Like I said it's not really bad but on the other hand not really god. Nevertheless it's a fun listen, so I'd rate 3/5