Billy Talent is during self titled album:
Ian D’sa - Guitar & Vocals
Jonathan Gallant - Bass & Vocals
Aaron Solowoniuk -Drums
Benjamin Kowalewicz - Voice
Produced by Gavin Brown
Recorded by Jacquire King
Recorded at: The Factory Studios
Original Release Date: September 16, 2003
Label: Atlantic
Canada
When I gave this CD to my father to listen too (he listens to a lot of the music that I like) he made reference to how the vocalist Benjamin Kowalewicz at times sounds like the singer from Rush. Both hailing for Canada could there something be in the water that gives these singers a unique hi-pitched voice? It’s simple to say that in my experience of the band comes from my first Warped Tour back in 2003. They were the one of the first acts at 12 noon, and I’ll never forget there set. I keep in mind that this isn’t really a band that I’d get into on my own time but when I saw them as the first main stage act back in 2003 it blew my mind.
They had the most energy I had seen for a band at the time and to back this up was the guitarists block head hair cut, the vocalist being a pogo stick all over the stage and stripping off his clothes. I saw the band again this year in 2006 at warped tour and they carried the same energy. There set has a different more raw sound to there album recording but the vocals are obviously right there as with the music. This band is no filler, and if anything, some of the songs are better played live in my opinion even. Even if I didn’t like the music the band is extremely respectable and fun. They aren’t apart of any made up scene, they are all about having fun, and I thought it was one of the most sincere things when the vocalist told the crowd during the instrumental interlude of “Try Honestly” that the best thing about the Warped Tour is seeing so many different faces smiling back at him when they played. They just overwhelmed me both times with superb performances.
1st Album
This is the first album by the Toronto based quartet. It displays a pretty full effort on a musical basis and on a lyrical one also. The first thing that you’ll notice if your trying out this album is the unique voice of Benjamin Kowalewicz.
The vocals at times really are hi-pitched and the screams can be compared to of a squirrel’s mate who recently got ran over by a Dodge Durango on the freeway. The voice is pretty unique and not an easy one to listen to right off the bat, which may turn a lot of people away from this band. I remember it always being “weird” to me but it really did grow on me. It’s hit or miss and I like to think that the vocals are a big part of whether you can enjoy this band or not. In songs like “This is how it goes” the singing and scream are switched on and off with growing tension through the verses until the pre-chorus causes a volcanic eruption. “Line & Sinker” also is a more aggressive vocal song where the voice just seems whacked out. It really diversifies a CD where the vocals can change on many instants. On that note the backup vocals by the guitarist and bassist are a real big deal to me. I really do think that this band wouldn’t be as dimensional as it is without the backup vocals that are on the other hand more gruff, and aggressive with deep monotones. It’s a fresh breathe of air and a great touch to a lot of the songs and plays a fairly big part since almost every chorus at the minimum has the backup vocals at full force. These backup singers are no slouch either seeing how in a live setting you can tell there voices weren’t really overproduced on the album recordings like most backup vocals from guitar/bassist.
The music from the band falls under a lot of punk and pop-punk influences. There is no down player in this band as everyone fills an important void and doesn’t seem easily replaced. If Fender wants to endorse someone who appeals to a younger crowd of people I really truly believe that guitarist Ian D’sa can do just that.
The tone that he gets out of his “Fat” Strat is something a lot of people should take notes on. He also uses a wide array of Strats and Teles by Fender and uses them concretely. I can tell a Billy Talent song simply by the guitar tones as much as I can tell a CKY song simply by there guitar work also. It’s things like that, that really places a band outside the box instead of sounding like everyone else’s damn distortion set at 8 gain, with high mids, boringly. I don’t want to place a finger on one song because all of the songs seem to have its differences with a diversified guitar sound but I am impartial to “River Below”. The intro riff to that song is just so sleek, smooth, and sounds so great. Once you hear it, you’ll bob your head up and down right to it. The bass player is not a root note bassist like you find in this genre of music but creates a nice groove to everyone else in the band. He doesn’t really have any times where he solos or goes at it alone but he’s more then ever present. The album does a great job not drowning him out but he fills the bottom end of the songs more then adequately.
The lyrics of this album is really something that I don’t say often but they are decent. The melodies and choruses are really short and to the point but extremely catchy. The lyrics seem to tell stories of many different things but overall a major focus on failed relationships. My favorite part is sometimes they sound like scripts right out of movies in the third person and other times they are so sincere, straight from the heart, in first person perspective. In “River Below” the lyrics are set around someone who is twisted with a short fused temper who is plotting to bomb a place. “Nothing to Lose” is a sad reflective song that is focused on telling a story of a suicide by a kid who really doesn’t have anything. That song on a whole is probably the most different of the album but the lyrics may be at its peak in it…
Never played truth or dare
I’d have to check my mirror
To see if I’m still here
My parents had no clue
That I ate all my lunches
Alone in the bathroom
My New Song Layout (I review songs in 4 words or less)
1. This Is How It Goes - “How it should go.” *9/10*
2. Living In The Shadows - “Not my favorite” *7/10*
3. Try Honesty - “Cool instrumental breakdown” *9/10*
4. Line & Sinker - “Wow…” *9/10*
5. Lies - “Generic Title, Excellent Song” *10/10*
6. The Ex - “Best transition from Lies” *10/10*
7. River Below - “Awesome vocals everywhere” *10/10*
8. Standing In The Rain - “Best chorus in album” *9/10*
9. Cut The Curtains - “Heaviest song on album” *8/10*
10. Prisoners of Today - “Old material anyone?” *7/10*
11. Nothing to Lose - “Soft, melodic, heartfelt.” *9/10*
12. Voices Of Violence - “Fast, weak closure” *7/10*
When I was a little Girl
The two songs that I do skip more then I should be is “Living In The Shadows” and “Prisoners Of Today”. Everything else is more than listenable and even more enjoyable. The strongest stretch of songs is between “Lies” to “River Below” which these three songs make the album excellent. The hooks and catches in these songs are the strongest and perfectly timed and placed. The overall satisfaction of this album is great and the album has adequate staying power in your collection. You may reach a stretch where you put this album away for awhile but it’s just inevitable that it comes out time after, time. The guitar tone is sexual and unique and the vocalist is… weird and unique. It really may not seem much but it differently places this band outside the box of things. Overall they are just fun, bouncy, and a great live act. This album just proves that on record too…
Pros:
+ Lead vocals
+ F it… All vocals.
+ A band that fills the voids in all roles
+ Unique
+ Lyrics that do tell stories
Cons:
- Lead vocals (it will hit or miss with people who want to try this band out)
