Yellowcard Band • Page 37

It was the mix of great components that made this band. Taking one away and replacing it with the total opposite just sucks.

 

Would take Yellowcard with LP 10/10 times over dude from Anberlin butchering the old shit live but I guess not a lot of people are as bothered by that as I am..

 

What is the "total opposite"?

 

Very slow, uninspired and overall boring drumming. Sounds almost like a computer program. And the transitions... like they don't exist. Just my feelings about this.

 

I generally agree. The songs LP drums on are way more "full". Take a listen to any of the older stuff and imagine those same songs without LP's amazing fills or cymbal work. It's a huge, huge difference. I don't hate the new stuff, i love most of it, but there is no denying the impact.

 

No wonder, he had skills and talent.

 

I don't think the older stuff sounds more full than the songs on Lift a Sail at all.

And, you can have your opinion about what he brought to the table and whether or not you prefer his drumming to what they're doing now, but to say "they're not the same" is not only an unreasonable argument, but disrespectful to the rest of the band.

 

They are legitimately making music in a different subset of rock music now though. Lift a Sail is practically in a different genre than Ocean Avenue. Sure, I can't imagine their pop punk work without LP's fills. But I equally can't imagine LP's style matching most of what they did on Lift a Sail.

Also, yeah, no way in hell Lift a Sail has a "thin" sound.

 

BTW, Check out these screenshots of the old Yellowcard forum from way back when.

 

Well if that's not a straight shot of nostalgia..

 

I used to be on that forum and underoath's forum. My name was xthesunstillsleepsx bc I was so edgy.

 

Ironic that you post that since a group of us have been reminiscing that place hard lately.

 

I vaguely remember there being a lot of drama on that forum when Ben Harper left Yellowcard right before Lights and Sounds came out. Pretty sure several songs on Paper Walls ended up being about that split.

 

oh definitely.

 

That forum was the best. Nostalgia for sure.

I love the intro they are playing to With You Around on Warped. Man, I was so mad they didn't push that as a single.

 

Will go ahead and echo comments regarding the lack of energy since LP left. Now, that's not to say the songs on Lift a Sail sound empty or are lacking a rich, full sound, but the presence of LP's drumming in prior records really gives those songs a completely new dimension.

I love the new song, but I can already hear in my head how it would sound differently if LP was behind the kit. Even if he was playing the same patterns, the presence would be different. I don't know if it's the way they are mixing the drums in these new songs, but they certainly take a backseat relative to where they were placed in the mix previously. Again, I say this taking nothing away from the new material, but it's clear their approach to tracking drums changed after LP left. (obviously)

LP and Yellowcard are the main reason I got into drumming, so maybe I'm weirdly picky about this subject... *shrug*

 

Absolutely. They're the same reason I got into drumming as well. Though Yellowcard's sound/style has changed, it wouldn't have lacked LP's flair, if he would of stayed. He just has it man. Pretty sure he could adapt to any style, and make it his own. His lack of presence has been felt on both records so far. He added so much to the "yellowcard sound." Forgive me for saying this, but imho, it's like taking away Key, or Mackin, to me. Doesn't feel like Yellowcard if you take one of them away.

 

It blows my mind that anyone could think taking away LP is comparable to taking away Ryan Key

 

Maybe if I were a drummer I would feel that way. But I think for anyone who isn't focused first and foremost on percussion when they are listening to music, Key and Mackin are and have long been the defining assets of this band.

 

Iirc after the whole LP drama, Harper said "the band was built around LP." Idk much about drumming, but you can certainly hear a difference.

 

Very random and OT but anybody who enjoys YC will undoubtedly enjoy this band. I've been spinning this record for a week now and can't get over how good it is:

 

I spent a lot of time on the Yellowcard forum back then. I think I was Fourchordwonder over there, which I ended up using on AP.net as well.

 

Told this in another thread, too, when it came out. Gotta lotta shit. lol

 

I'll say this about their drumming situation: Ridiculously good drumming can make some uninspired / boring songwriting sound good, but if there's already good songwriting behind a band then the drummer can either take a back seat or compliment the song structure (i.e. Reach for the Sun by TDS - an album that would've been great with generic drumming, but becomes truly exceptional because of the drumming). LP always complimented the rest of Yellowcard, he was fucking awesome and made their sound unequivocally better, but he really didn't need to be because the songwriting was so good. I think incredible drumming (such as LP's) could've saved Lift a Sail at some points, but generic drumming (what you hear on the album) cannot / could not.

 

Just took a second to go back and watch some old stuff. Man, Yellowcard was really in their best form the moment they came back from hiatus. This first show back, Ryan's voice sounds amazing and so does the entire band.