The Chorus Music Club Society • Page 327

@anonimito and I have an agreement for next week!

I'm checking out:
Andrew Belle - Black Bear
Darren Hayes - Secret Codes & Battleships

And they are listening to:
Feeder - Pushing the Senses
Longwave - Secrets Are Sinister

It's gonna be lit

 

This is a band I haven't thought about in over a decade!

I used to play "High" on repeat all the time as a kid haha.

 

The other album that @Bad Frequencies recommended this week is Fluorescent Youth by Conditions. This one has been passed back and forth among the club pretty heavily for the last few weeks, so I was careful not to catch anything. I knew a little bit about what to expect going in and it sounded like something I would enjoy.



After 30 seconds or so I could already hear the Saosin comparisons that several other folks have pointed out when reviewing this album, and that is a positive in my book. I also noticed from the jump that the band is going for some deeper lyrical content than some of their peers. Opener "The End of Progression" encourages listeners to leave their comfort zones with a chorus that advises, "You play it safe, you end progression."

"Better Life" has more of a pop-influenced chorus and intricate guitar work. This can also be said for "Natural Competition," and these are two of my favorite tracks on the album. "When It Won't Save You" contains a standout drum performance (though the drumming excels throughout). "Make Them Remember" has an incredible vocal performance that is full of passion and high in the singer's register. "Keeping Pace with Planes" has a wild bassline that reminds me a lot of the bass in Thrice's "Stare at the Sun." More fast, catchy, and technical guitar work is present in "...Made Ghosts," and at this point it just seems repetitive to make note of it. That is definitely a signature part of this band's sound (at least on this album).

The tempo is finally slowed down to give the listener a bit of a breather on track eight, "Comfort Far Away." The powerful vocals and big drums remain, however. The impressive minute-long instrumental interlude "The Color 21" leads into closer "Illuminati," which ends the album with one of the most anthemic choruses here. This song also has an impressive bridge that builds tension and a tasteful guitar solo to lead into the final chorus.

I feel like I didn't have as much to write about this album as I do about most that I review for this club, but that is not because I didn't enjoy it. It is partially because the album is solid throughout, without any songs that are appreciably better or worse than the others. It's a very consistent album in both quality and sound, without much sonic variation from track to track. This isn't a knock on the album, as the band is really excellent at the style of heavy, anthemic, and technical rock that they perform. I did my best to try to highlight the main differences in my review, such as when one instrument was more prominent or a chorus was more soaring, but generally if you like any of the songs on this album you will enjoy the entire thing. Overall, this is an excellent album and I'm interested to hear whether or not the band has expanded their sound in the years since this album was released.

 

Wow, awesome review! I just love this band. "Full of War" was their sophomore album, and it's my favorite of what they've released so far.

 

Haha yeah hard to believe they've released 10 albums over the last nearly 25 years and despite all their success in the UK they don't seem to have much recognition elsewhere. I don't have a full grasp on their entire discography, but I absolutely love Pushing the Senses. None of their other albums have immediately grabbed me like that one has, although I'm well aware they have great tracks throughout their career. I actually think that Pushing the Senses is considered one of their weaker releases by their fanbase (too mainstream sounding perhaps), but I really like the direction they took with it.

 

I'm listening to "High" right now and it's a great song haha, this sounds 100% like something that would have been on rock radio in the '90s.

 

Thanks! I'll have to check that one out!

 

Excellent reviews on both, and I’m glad you liked both debut albums by both bands

 

@edisnfg and I have made our exchange for the upcoming session:

I will be listening to Park - Building A Better _____

He will be listening to Life In Vacuum - All You Can Quit

 

Ohio is for Lovers still bangs.

 

Me and @Bad Frequencies have made our picks.

He will be listening to:
Panic! at the Disco - Pray for the Wicked
and
The Fratellis - In Your Own Sweet Time

I will be listening to:
Alkaline Trio- Crimson
and
Starset - Vessels

 

Glad I could indirectly introduce them to you, it's easily one of my favourite albums of the year so far!

 

I've been listening to this all morning, so it's such a strange coincidence to see this album be rec'd in the group! I always forget about these guys until this time of year. Great album!

 

I gave the new single 'Focus' a listen thanks to Jason posting about it and adored it , I really need to get round to checking this out.

 

I've heard of them, but for whatever reason I've never listened to them. That's about to change!

 

Yeah it does. As he said in the review, it’s the go to song for people who want to call this band bad; but it’s a Catchy banger of a song on that album

 

I would personally say their second album or Skeletons are better, but that album really did come along at the right time to catapult them to fame. It was the right look, sound and lyrical content are exactly the right time.

 

I agree. IOYWL, Skeletons, and the newest album rank higher for me than TSIBW does, but that album is still a golden one

 

I didn't mind the new one but I don't really listen to much sing/scream/sing again style post-hardcore anymore so I mainly listen to bands like HH for nostalgia. It was good but obviously didn't connect the way their old stuff did for me.

I also liked either HOPE or HATE a lot but I can't remember which.

 

I got into them thanks to Silverstein's 'Decade' live album. The band were discussing how they wanted to work with Cameron Webb for 'Discovering the Waterfront' based on his production work on Park's 'It Won't Snow Where You're Going'. While I can see why that album is Park's staple, I've always prefered 'Building a Better ______'. Hope you enjoy it as much as I still do!

 

It’s really good and I think you of all people would really love it.

 

Yessss the Fratellis album is spreading

 

@anonimito !!!

 

BETWEEN THE BURIED AND ME Preview New Song

@skurt

 

I saw! I'm stoked! There just might* be an album this year...maybe!

Thank you!

(*I don't get my hopes up with Mae anymore. It's easier that way.)