The Chorus Music Club Society • Page 193

I pretty much stick to the same threads as you do haha

 

I got her a few months ago but I feel like there's more to share hopefully

 

So I'm part of the core members? Nice!

 

Also @Davjs, the challenge will be to find albums where we will agree on which tracks are the best.

 

You two being matched together made me grin knowing you’d say this

 

@Patterns in Traffic check your inbox :)

 

Patterns In Inboxes

 

Patterns In Boxes

 

Boysetsfire
The Misery Index: Notes From The Plague Years
2006



For this session, I was assigned 2 albums by @ugman_2000 and here's the first of my two write-ups (the other one should be coming on Monday during my lunchtime - I do my best writing when I'm eating).

I had heard of Boysetsfire prior to this session, but I had never really listened to them much. Back when I was in college in the early to mid 00s and file sharing was pretty rampant (maybe it still is, I'm a little bit out of touch) I came across their second album, 2000's After The Eulogy. I listened to that a little bit and I enjoyed it, but for whatever reason I never explored the rest of their discography.

The Misery Index: Note From The Plague Years (from here on out I will refer to it as just The Misery Index) is the Delaware group's fourth full-length album and their last album that they released prior to a brief hiatus. Wikipedia classifies this album as post-hardcore/melodic hardcore and I couldn't do a better job of classifying it than that.

The album starts off with the song Walk Astray which is a relatively slow song for the first minute and a half or so before it ramps up and explodes. It's a really good start to the album. Up next is one of my favorite tracks on the album Requiem. It has a really catchy chorus and a fair amount of screaming. The third track Final Communique is a fast song that shows some definite punk influences. At this point, I'm confident that this is going to be an album that I really enjoy. I don't necessarily want this to be a track-by-track review so I'll touch on some of my other favorite parts of the album.

My absolute favorite track on the album is the fifth track 10 And Counting. It's a bit slower and the song is predominately sung, but it's just so catchy and emotional. I've probably listened to this song a dozen times in the past week or so. I really wish I had discovered this album back in 2006 when it was released. I know sometimes people say that in more of a negative way (like "I might like this album if I was 17") but I mean this more in the way that I wish I could've had this album (and this band) in my life for an additional 12 years!

Anyway...the eighth track So Long...And Thanks For The Crutches is another highlight for me. The song starts with an intro that is about 20 seconds of swing-type music and I thought it would be more or less a throwaway interlude. I was very very wrong! The second the intro is over, the song goes crazy and just doesn't let up. The lyrics in this one stood out to me too:

We wanna fuck, but we end up kissing
Is this still rock cause the danger is missing
You gotta feed it, gotta feed your addiction
So pack a lunch for the next crucifixion

The song Deja Coup is unique because of its use of horns and the lyrics in this one are probably the strongest on the album (in my opinion, obviously). This line really stuck out to me:

And why be born again, if it's so hard to get in

The final track on the album A Far Cry is another one of my favorite tracks on the album. It's an aggressive song and a great track to close the album with (there is a hidden track of a slower version of the song Still Waiting For The Punchline from their album After The Eulogy, but I would consider A Far Cry to be the album's proper final track).

All in all, I really enjoyed this album (if you couldn't tell!) and I definitely want to go back and check out their discography from the beginning. I'll give After The Eulogy another listen too since I was just a dumb kid in my early 20s when I heard it.

I have to say that I'm a little surprised by how much singing there actually was on this album. Don't get me wrong - there's plenty of screaming too, but the balance was really well done.

I've already touched on them all above, but to sum up my favorite tracks: Requiem, 10 And Counting, So Long...And Thanks For The Crutches, and A Far Cry.

Thank you to @ugman_2000 for the recommendation! I hope I did this album justice!

 

Bringing you another day one review for:
Between the Buried and Me: Automata I (2018) Sumerian Records

I think most on this site know who Between the Buried are but for those living under a rock, I will enlighten you. They are a progressive metal band based out of Raleigh, North Carolina that formed in 2000 and this is their 8th studio album. I will go so far as to say they are kings in their genre and stack up against heavyweights Dream Theater and Devin Townsend. The five members are masters of their craft and not only create music but experiences that bring to mind albums by David Bowie where each one is meant to be listened as whole and not piecemeal.

Automata I is no exception and takes you through a journey. This experience is meant to be divided into two parts with the second to be released in June of this year. The theme with the last few records has been concepts and this one is no exception. The story of this record follows a protagonist whose dreams are used as entertainment and broadcasted by a company known as The Voice of Trespass. Most the "experiences" take place within these dreams which the protagonist thinks are real.

The album opens with the first single released, Condemned to the Gallows, that contains a shimmery guitar line mixed with spacey synth notes and lead singer Tommy Rogers utilizing one of his MANY different vocals styles to resemble an almost robotic voice. Then, at the minute mark, the band comes in with these swirling synths and just bludgeon you with furious riffs, double bass and Tommy's razor sharp vocals. The songs starts to slow down around the last minute or so with Tommy and the band switching gears into Faith No More territory and the song sizzling out with very syncopated beat that leads directly into one of my favorite tracks:

House Organ. HOLY drums! Drummer Blake Richardson jumps directly into the song with this ridiculous drum solo and I just want to take a second to say that the drumming on this record is fantastic and is downright inspiring how wizard like he is. My favorite part of Between the Buried in me in how seamlessly they flow in and out from one genre to the next and never make it feel forced. This song is the perfect example of that and how they can just bring warmth and the feeling of being beaten to death all in the same song.

My favorite track and dare I say one of my favorite Between the Buried and Me songs, Yellow Eyes, is next and is nine minutes of pure amazement. It is just a whirlwind of sounds and almost makes you lose your breath trying to figure out everything that is going on. The harmony that rhythm guitarist Dustie Waring and bassist Dan Briggs create while lead guitarist Paul Waggoner just dances around them with solos and riffs is impressive to say the least. It has this eeriness to it that come from Tommy's keyboards and starts to slow down around the 5 minute mark and just settles into pure prog goodness.

Millions is a track unlike anything they have ever written and is meant to feel like being in dream and almost feeling "catchy" which is weird for me to say about them, because their music is anything but that. Bassist Dan Briggs describes it as glittery and whimsical and would fit perfectly on the recent The Contortionist record.

The last two tracks, Gold Distance and Blot are meant to flow with one another and goes from this sort Pink Floyd-esque intro into something that packs all of their sound they have ever done into one 9 minute long song and never feels long at all because they are constantly changing it up keeping your attention.

Let me also note that I love the middle eastern theme that is central to the entire record but remains very much in the background.

If someone were to ask me what record to start with in their amazing discography, I would choose this one because it is diverse and showcases all of their amazing talents into one. Is it my favorite? No, that place is reserved for Alaska or Coma Ecliptic but this sits in the top 3 for me and I can't wait to see what part two brings. I honestly can't think of a single thing wrong with this record but this genre is not for everyone. Maybe the fact that it is two parts and we are forced to wait for the second half and this it is sort of a "safe" record for them and we know they are fully capable of easily performing this style of music.

This record showcases a band that are at the top of their game and leaders in the progressive metal genre.

10/10

Favorite Tracks:
Condemned to the Gallows
House Organ
Yellow Eyes

 

Nice! Looking forward to checking this album out!

 

Great reviews! Both sound like stuff I’d like

 

That's why I always try to include at least a few key tracks so hopefully people can check out at least a song or two!

I also think that you'd enjoy the album that i'm recommending for this upcoming session (I can't spoil it yet)

 

@Patterns in Traffic and I have come to terms on this upcoming session.

I will be listening to
Audrye Sessions - Audrye Sessions

He will be listening to
Donovan Wolfington - Waves

 

Awesome write up and I’m so glad you digged the album as much as you did. Crutches is one of my favs on that album too, that intro always cracks me up. If you swapped out Far Cry for Empire you’d pretty much have all my fav tracks listed too.

If it’s any consolation I got into this band on this album literally a week after they’d toured the UK. Then they went on that hiatus and I had to wait years to see them live.

Imo the bands got a very solid discog so you’ll have fun digging into their other material. After the Eulogy is prob my favourite of theirs, there’s some really incredible lyrics on that one. The 1st post hiatus album is very strong too, prob my 3rd fav after Misery.

Anyways I should have the reviews for your recs up sometime today (once I can be bothered to crawl out of bed lol).

 

I'm down to join in - this sounds like fun!

For the list in the first post, is that a list of previous suggested albums that you can't recommend anymore? Can you recommend anything or is it recommended to PM the person you're paired with that week to get a sense for what they like?

 

Welcome Spenny, I’m sure @JediMasterKevo182 can find someone to match you with for this week.

The albums are there just to note what’s been reviewed, it’s fine to recommend them to other people if they’ve not heard them. Although personally I generally try not to.

It’s best to drop who you’re paired with a PM and discuss tastes and what not there. Then recommend something based off that but you don’t have to match to their tastes. It’s perfectly fine if you want to rec something to take them outside of their comfort zone though. Part of the fun of this is listening to stuff you wouldn’t necessarily gravitate towards on your own accord.

 

Welcome buddy. I’ll trade with you, I’m sending you a dm now

 

Yeah it’s what I’ve been loving about this too. I’ve definitely had a couple that have taken me out of my usual areas that I’ve loved. That Ryn Weaver rec particularly struck a chord with me.

Have you been enjoying that Turnover rec then? I only discovered that album last year but it was my most played album according to Spotify’s end of year thing. It’s my go to record when I need to chill out.

 

I liked Empire a lot too! Honestly there wasn’t a single song that I didn’t enjoy. That makes it a little tough when I’m listing a few of my favorite tracks!

 

That’s what this place is about! Glad you guys enjoy it.

Feel free to recruit your friends ;)

 

So me and @JediMasterKevo182 have been paired up again.

This time he’s getting an extremely underrated album by an emo band I hold dear to my heart. Then for his 2nd album he’s getting imo a superb debut album by a new upcoming emo/punk band:

Motion City Soundtrack - My Dinosaur Life
Creeper - Eternity in Your Arms

I’m getting the following two albums by bands I haven’t listened to in years from Kev, which I’m looking forward to checking out:

Silverstein - Dead Reflections
Hawthorne Heights - Hurt

 

A few weeks back, @duritzfan13 fan recommended me the Arkells album, High Noon. For those that are unfamiliar, Arkells are a Canadian rock band with a pop focus. They are a very popular band in Canada where artists like Frank Turner are actually the opening act. In the states, it's been more of a grind trying to develop a bigger following.

High Noon was released in August of 2014 and features 11 songs that clock in around 41 minutes. In short, a pretty normal release in today's music climate. A few songs inch close to 5 minutes, but most are in the 3:30 to 4 minute range.

The album starts out with an intro called, Fake Money that eventually breaks into an actual song with a sort of anthem vibe to call the listener's attention. The song serves it purpose, I suppose. The next two songs, Come to Light and Cynical Bastards are fantastic and this is where my attention is really caught and makes me pay attention. Come to Light is a catchy driving pop song that has great harmonies and just the right amount of piano/keyboard accents. It's the kind of song that makes you bob your head and tap your feet. Cynical Bastards is another fantastic song that reminds me of the Hold Steady in the opening in the vocal delivery, but the chorus has a straight up pop feel to it. Again, there a some awesome piano moments. It's not a punk song, but the drum beats in the verses are clearly influenced from the genre. Bastards is just a well written song.

Based on the hook of the song, 11:11, I am guessing that was a single. I hear the hook and like until towards the end of the chorus. It just sort of loses me. I also didn't really care for how the song starts in the verse. I wanted something a little different musically speaking. I also thought that hook could pop or explode more, but I like where that hook and chorus were going. The album goes into a slower mid tempo song in, Never Thought This Would Happen. It's a good song that's not chorus-driven like the previous three were. It's a good change of pace.

Dirty Blonde follows and picks up the pace and is really a catchy song. It feels like it should have been a single. From the bouncy guitar lead and the synth notes it sounds like summer. This is a good time to note the production on this album. I really like it. Everything sits nicely in its place and can be picked out. And some of studio decisions to make these songs sound like they fit into today's pop/rock landscape on what I assume is a lot less in terms of the budget are really impressive. Folks in the states that listen to bands like Fitz and the Tantrums, Kings of Leon, and Mumford and Sons should find something to like here. However, the songwriting here is coming from obvious '70s and '80s rock bands. It's a really cool balance of having a vintage approach but sounding current.

The album continues with another strong cut in, What are You Holding Onto. This song features some nice brass moments in the chorus. It has just a happy, summer festival vibe to it. Hey Kids and Leather Jacket follow and also good songs. The latter reminds me of John Mellencamp in terms of the lyrics and storytelling approach.

Crawling Through the Window is the second to last track and is a bit slower. It's slotted in nicely at the end to set the listener up for the end of the album. Systematic closes out the album and to be honest, doesn't really do much for me. It feels like a middle of the album dance/pop song. So its placement was a bit odd at the end.

Overall, this was a really fun album to dig into. I like the songwriting. I like a lot of the hooks. They are clearly influenced by many types of music and it's cool to hear a lot of that come through on the surface. At the same time, the production decisions really kept things feeling cohesive and current for today's mainstream audience. I can see why @duritzfan13, being what I assume is a Counting Crows fan likes this band. There are some vocal deliveries and songwriting moments where you can draw those parallels. This is an album that really gets better the more time you spend with it. Despite some of the moments I didn't care for, this is an album I definitely recommend giving a chance. Thanks for the rec!

 

getting mine out of the way today so i dont forget tomorrow

this week @broken22 and i swapped one album and i was given..

Stone Sour - Hydrograd

ive never heard a complete stone sour album in my life but obviously ive heard some singles, and im a big slipknot fan so i know all about corey taylor and what he's all about. so anyway this album was a bit confusing to me. some of this borders on metal so much that theres not much distinguishing it from slipknot's later day material, which poses the question why does corey taylor need two bands doing similar things? i mean this isn't EXACTLY like slipknot, its definitely not as rooted in metal but there are definite metal moments. but the choruses here are way more foo fighters, very soaring very catchy very poppy. now im not very into this style of hard rock, i'll be honest with you. this is definitely the stuff youd find on hard rock radio which is just not my cup of tea. but i actually find myself enjoying a lot of this more than ive enjoyed anything else in this style since i was a kid. maybe its my bias for corey taylor because i think he's a great guy and love his style. "song #3" is probably my favorite song here, it's ridiculously catchy and pretty far from what slipknot does in a way that justifies this band's existence. straight up rock n roll seems stale a lot of the time but something about this is definitely fresh which i think is important. anyway, ive rambled enough. final verdict: pretty good album, glad i listened to it.
6.5/10

 

Great job, both of you! Excellent write ups and these albums sound pretty good!