Gahh, Sorry i haven't updated in like a month, i've just been so tired and swamped with stuff I haven't had time to review the second CD. But I am now. same things before, go through it track by track in real time.
International Superheros of Hardcore - Taking it Ova L.P.
Track 1: ISHC Theme Song (1:19)
Got me pumped up. This is pretty tight. NFG are holding themselves up as a good hardcore band. Good vocals, actual hardcore punk sound, as opposed to all these nu-hardcore bands out that just want to sound like Converge.
Track 2: Screamo Gotta Go (0:56)
Ahh, it's loud, and angry. And Fast. I love it. Satirizes the so called "screamo" genre (aka scenecore) Not much left to say. it's short, but not very funny. Kind of just repeating what everyone else has been saying for the past 5 years about scenecore. I thought they could've done better.
Track 3: Captain Straight Edge (1:24)
Oh god, tell me this one is satirical as well. I have no problem with teetotalers, but straight edge bands and songs like this are the reason they get a bad rep. It's like christianity. Probably a good idea in itself, but if you bug everyone about it, they're not gonna listen to you. and the boring breakdown and "Yeeeea boii" were just the icing on the crap cake.
Track 4: Seat Belt (1:43)
This one's catchy, not too much of a hardcore punk sound, the boring nu-hardcore riffs, but the lyrics are really funny, and it again pumps you up, gets you jumping around. That's probably about it. it's just another standard nu-hardcore song. Only thing that it's got going for it are the lyrics.
Track 5: Madball's Got Our Back (1:09)
Good mid-tempo song, gong into a d-beat sorta thing, so that kinda just repeats, and ends with them shouting "Madball rules" Okay guys, except Madball suck, and this song was pretty boring. Try to impress me here, I got a more hardcore punk feeling from the NFG side, and they're a pop-rock band.
Track 6: Fashion Show (1:41)
This one's really nice, more of a hardcore punk sound here, angst about how the hardcore scene went from the anti-fashion ideals, into another fashiony lifestyle, looking like a bunch of skinhead jocks. Good lyrics, nice midtempo song, but really nothing that is catchign my attention. i think the first rasck was the best so far. Dammit, and I'm only halfway through the CD.
Track 7: Back to The Future (1:31)
They just went from understandable angst about how the scene is messed up now, to whining about how they want to be back in the 80's watching all the old hardcore bands. Well guys, if you keep making boring nu-hardcore like this, you'll keep wanting to go back to see the good bands.
Track 8: Superhero Sellouts (0:43)
Pretty good musically. But the lyrics, I don't get it guys, is it suppossed to be funny? Witty? You're not real superheroes, you know that, right?
Track 9: Just Like Dr Jones (1:06)
cool musically, better hardcore punk sound. I think the music is getting better as the album goes on, but the lyrics just get really stupid. I'm a fan of funny songs. But the key word there is funny, guys. I feel like I'm listening to Dane Cook.
Track 10: Hardcore Hokey Pokey (1:10)
Gahh, what did I say about the music getting better? I take that back. This sounds like a guitar riff Slipknot would write. And they're just advocating those dicks in the crowd who kick me in face while I'm trying to pogo, and not get in anyone's way. Can I get a refund?
Track 11: Dirty Mouth (1:33)
I'm guessing they're supposed to be good role models here? Except for the fact that they were swearing earlier on in the album. These guy's aren't really good superheroes. I really don't want these dicks saving my city. It isn't your job as a band or as "superheroes" to tell me how to speak. These guys might as well be playing with Skrewdriver. Thank god there's only one more song.
Track 12: eBay Revenge (1:05)
I'm tired by the end of this album. It's just mediocre overall. I don't want to talk about this anymore, I'm gonna go listen to the NFG side again, to cleanse my ears of this crap.
Tuesday, August 26, 2008
Monday, July 21, 2008
New Found Glory/International Superheros of Hardcore Pt. 1
I bought the album a few days ago and listened to it as soon as I got home. I'll go through each track now, and do my thing.
New Found Glory - Tip of the Iceberg E.P.
Track 1: Tip of the Iceberg (1:24)
Alright, first thing I noticed about this E.P. is that all the tracks are under 3 minutes each. That's damn good for a pop rock band, especially New Found Glory. The song starts off fast paced, voice is high and slightly nasaly. But one thing I notice, is this is a definitely hardcore punk influenced song. it's NFG, but not the one I know from my summers in grade seven. About halfway through it, the tempos goes into a shouty breakdown-ish part, and it ends. Good starting track.
Track 2: Dig My Own Grave (2:21)
The first track and the second track segue nicely into each other. Again, this is a more hardcore punk influenced song, although a more moderate pace, but unmistakeable chugs on the guitar. Voice is still NFG, I have my entire bobbing along to this one, this reminds me more of the old NFG I knew and love, not saying the newer stuff is bad. It's still poppy and rocking as hell. I find myself singing along to the choruses, now, the end is another breakdown, repeated vocals, half time tempo, with the vocals shouted, not sung.
Track 3: If You Don't Love Me (1:55)
Vocals start right as the song does, it's fast paced, makes you wanna jump around, the drums are really good, not showy, but not boring, definitely perfectly done. The prechorus is kind of weird though, the voice seems sort of like off wit an expected sort of tune, it's not atonal, but has taken me alot of time to get into. Another solid song. No complaints about this one. I love the ending though, slows right down and is reminiscent of a doo-wop song. This song marks the end of their own songs, and brings us into the covers.
Track 4: No Reason Why (Gorilla Biscuits cover) (2:03)
I thought this was a weird choice for a cover. sure, Fall out Boy covered Gorilla Buscuits, but Fall out Boy are boring and were only good on one, maybe two albums. and they butchered a Jawbreaker song, so I'm not very happy with them.
This is a good song though. I honestly was never much of a gorilla Buscuits fan, due to the whole dumb "crew" thing that those bands are into, but this is a good song. It has a melody, catchy chorus, and a good lyrical message. NFG did a good job, adding in little melodic leads here and there, and their vocalist, jordan, handled the fast delivery of the lyrics quite well.
Track 5: Here We Go Again (Shelter cover) (2:29)
I've never heard of shelter before. My resources (Aka, Wikipedia and the band's official Myspace) Tell me that they are a Hare Krishna hardcore punk band. Whatever the hell that is. This song is very melodic, slower paced, sounds like a very radio-friendly song, not very hardcore to me. Possibly a melo-hardcore song, I'm swaying to the beat of it as I type this, I can't put my finger on what this reminds me of, but nonetheless, it's a good song. I couldn't find an original copy of this song, so I honestly can't compare it to the original, but I think it sounds good.
Track 6: Cut the Tension (Lifetime cover) (1:53)
I'm no avid Lifetime fan, but I like them. This is a fun song, another song I feel is good for NFG's pop rock style, not a really hardcore punk vibe in here, maybe the drums a bit, but other than this, it sounds like a normal NFG song. Not the best way to end an album though, I dunno, it's good, but, not as epic as I expect a final track to be.
New Found Glory - Tip of the Iceberg E.P.
Track 1: Tip of the Iceberg (1:24)
Alright, first thing I noticed about this E.P. is that all the tracks are under 3 minutes each. That's damn good for a pop rock band, especially New Found Glory. The song starts off fast paced, voice is high and slightly nasaly. But one thing I notice, is this is a definitely hardcore punk influenced song. it's NFG, but not the one I know from my summers in grade seven. About halfway through it, the tempos goes into a shouty breakdown-ish part, and it ends. Good starting track.
Track 2: Dig My Own Grave (2:21)
The first track and the second track segue nicely into each other. Again, this is a more hardcore punk influenced song, although a more moderate pace, but unmistakeable chugs on the guitar. Voice is still NFG, I have my entire bobbing along to this one, this reminds me more of the old NFG I knew and love, not saying the newer stuff is bad. It's still poppy and rocking as hell. I find myself singing along to the choruses, now, the end is another breakdown, repeated vocals, half time tempo, with the vocals shouted, not sung.
Track 3: If You Don't Love Me (1:55)
Vocals start right as the song does, it's fast paced, makes you wanna jump around, the drums are really good, not showy, but not boring, definitely perfectly done. The prechorus is kind of weird though, the voice seems sort of like off wit an expected sort of tune, it's not atonal, but has taken me alot of time to get into. Another solid song. No complaints about this one. I love the ending though, slows right down and is reminiscent of a doo-wop song. This song marks the end of their own songs, and brings us into the covers.
Track 4: No Reason Why (Gorilla Biscuits cover) (2:03)
I thought this was a weird choice for a cover. sure, Fall out Boy covered Gorilla Buscuits, but Fall out Boy are boring and were only good on one, maybe two albums. and they butchered a Jawbreaker song, so I'm not very happy with them.
This is a good song though. I honestly was never much of a gorilla Buscuits fan, due to the whole dumb "crew" thing that those bands are into, but this is a good song. It has a melody, catchy chorus, and a good lyrical message. NFG did a good job, adding in little melodic leads here and there, and their vocalist, jordan, handled the fast delivery of the lyrics quite well.
Track 5: Here We Go Again (Shelter cover) (2:29)
I've never heard of shelter before. My resources (Aka, Wikipedia and the band's official Myspace) Tell me that they are a Hare Krishna hardcore punk band. Whatever the hell that is. This song is very melodic, slower paced, sounds like a very radio-friendly song, not very hardcore to me. Possibly a melo-hardcore song, I'm swaying to the beat of it as I type this, I can't put my finger on what this reminds me of, but nonetheless, it's a good song. I couldn't find an original copy of this song, so I honestly can't compare it to the original, but I think it sounds good.
Track 6: Cut the Tension (Lifetime cover) (1:53)
I'm no avid Lifetime fan, but I like them. This is a fun song, another song I feel is good for NFG's pop rock style, not a really hardcore punk vibe in here, maybe the drums a bit, but other than this, it sounds like a normal NFG song. Not the best way to end an album though, I dunno, it's good, but, not as epic as I expect a final track to be.
Sunday, July 20, 2008
To Begin
Hi. I'm John.
I'm Sixteen, I go to high school and I enjoy music. Alot. I've started this blog to practice my writing about music. I figured the most viable job for me when I move is to become a music journalist, and work for some cool 'zine like Exclaim! or something. Something that shan't conflict with my personal political and social beliefs. (no Rolling Stone for moi!)
I do play guitar, bass, and a tad bit of the drumset. I sing and play in a local pop-punk band, Terry and the Dactyls, if you want to, check us out at our myspace at www.myspace.com/dactylmusic .
I have no favourite genre of music, my blogs will be quite diverse (I hope). I'll speak my mind about the music. If I rip on a band you like, then don't read that blog entry.
If you want me to review a band or album, I will, but I doubt I'll have it, so be a doll and send me a megaupload link of the file. I won't tell.
-Jawn
I'm Sixteen, I go to high school and I enjoy music. Alot. I've started this blog to practice my writing about music. I figured the most viable job for me when I move is to become a music journalist, and work for some cool 'zine like Exclaim! or something. Something that shan't conflict with my personal political and social beliefs. (no Rolling Stone for moi!)
I do play guitar, bass, and a tad bit of the drumset. I sing and play in a local pop-punk band, Terry and the Dactyls, if you want to, check us out at our myspace at www.myspace.com/dactylmusic .
I have no favourite genre of music, my blogs will be quite diverse (I hope). I'll speak my mind about the music. If I rip on a band you like, then don't read that blog entry.
If you want me to review a band or album, I will, but I doubt I'll have it, so be a doll and send me a megaupload link of the file. I won't tell.
-Jawn
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