 |
|
|
|
| ::::::
MAY 12th, 2008 :::::: |
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ::::::
TRACK BY TRACK :::::: |
 TRACKLISTING 1. A Blessing and a Curse 2. Fire and Brimstone 3. When It's Blackout 4. Hold Fast (Sink or Swim) 5. These Moments Define Us 6. For Her 7. So It Goes 8. Timeless 9. In Memory 
INSTORES MAY 17TH DINE ALONE | SHOCK Pre-Order a copy now & get it delivered for free from Play4me.com.au [Click Here] |
"A Blessing And A Curse" kicks things off with a bit
of a call & response thing going on, an interesting way to set the mood,
on one side we have the singing of "We're getting closer to Babylon",
and the screamed response is "Will you, let me go to hell, however
I choose". It's an opening that will probably make more sense the second
time around than the first. "Fire and Brimstone" follows on, taking the introduction a step further, like every song that follows, the lyrics are strong and a quality that stands out through the album. This one repeats the "Will you, let me go to hell, however I choose" line many times as the piano comes to the front. "When It's Blackout" is a song in a few parts, well structured and a bit of a ride, this one it's the vocal sound that really impresses, it sounds like a bottle of whiskey has just made it's way down Wade's throat, and the result suits the music perfectly. The song starts with a nice build up before the piano brings it all back a notch and it slips into a bit of rock as the chorus hits, one of the instantly memorable choruses, then things go really quiet before a final blasting. I think you could read into many different things when it comes to working out what this song is about, listen close and see what you come up with. "Hold Fast (Sink or Swim)" is an upbeat number, well as upbeat as this album gets anyway, the tone musically and lyrically is very dark across the board, but this one stands out as a track of hope and positivity. The best chorus on the album hands down, it's a mood setter, one you can join in with and embrace. "These Moments Define Us" strips back to acoustic mode for it's intro, as the seconds pass you can feel that something big is about to drop, and it does, with a bit of an aggressive tone to it all. A powerful number, one of the album's highlights. "For Her" is a track where the piano really makes an impact, a hard hitting rock track but just peeking through is some great piano work, something to listen close for, it's not often you hear a piano in sounds like this. Another strong one lyrically, good chorus and solid verses really drive this one along. "So It Goes" begins to wrap up the ongoing theme throughout the album, puts the pieces together so to speak. A very raw, honest sound has you paying attention right away, pretty much everyone listening would probably wish they could pull of the vocal sound in this track, such a simple track, a guitar, piano and a voice, yet so very effective. One of the best. "Timeless".. who needs a bio when you can simply listen to this song, it sums up the whole album in four minutes. This song is pure gold, instantly catchy, all but inviting you do join in and sing along, and a chorus solid as a rock. Lyrics are at their most revealing as well. "In Memory" is my favourite track on the album, and probably the most powerful track i've heard this year, if you aren't already drawn into the album's theme by now, this one will make sure you don't leave with questions unanswered. Crank this one loud, listen close and tell me this one isn't simply amazing. The perfect ending to the most thought provoking album this year so far. The Verdict : I'm a lyrics man, if an album doesn't have lyrics that stand out I struggle. I felt an instant connection with this album from the very first listen, it roped me in, made me listen over and over again, each time more close than the last, trying to find the underlying meaning in the songs, images in my head, maybe I got it, maybe I didn't, either way it made me think, listen and most of all, enjoy. Get your hands on this album. |
|
::::::
PREVIOUS 2008 LOWDOWNS ::::::
|
| --------- [Monday May 12th] - Black Lungs, Stick To Your Guns, Ballpoint, The Click Five, Terror, Sin City, Punk Goes Crunk, The Weepies, Local Resident Failure, Flight Of The Conchords, Reptiles, Stiff Valentine, Mudcrutch, Scream Hello, Panic At The Disco. --------- [Monday April 21st] - Shihad, In The Face Of War, Zxspecky, As Tall As Lions, New Found Glory, Down And Away, The Hellacopters, Sleepercar, Periah, Four Year Strong, Witch, Rollins Band, In Fiction, Nixin. --------- [Monday April 7th] - Goldfinger, No Use For A Name, Cancer Bats, Zico Chain, Good Riddance, Fall Out Boy, Julia Nunes, Veebees, Panic At The Disco, Jackson United, Foals, Liam Finn, Galvatrons, Paramore. --------- [Monday March 24th] - Pennywise, New Found Glory, Anti-Flag, Broadway Calls, Polar Bear Club, Little Athletics, Levon's Crown, Closure In Moscow, Queens Of The Stone Age, Jim Ward, Dan Mangan, Boom Boom Satellites. --------- [Monday March 10th] - Millencolin, Triple J's Hottest 100, The Matches, Saosin, Suburban Movement, Soundwave, Serj Tankian, Young Knives. --------- [Monday March 3rd] - Gyroscope, Smashing Pumpkins, Paint It Black, Murder By Death, A Cursive Memory, The Raveonettes, This Is Hell, The Used, The Red Paintings, The Death Set, Simple Plan. --------- [Monday February 18th] - The Gaslight Anthem, Forgiven Rival, The Phoenix Foundation, X-Box Presents... Start, Dora Mah, Subwaste / Tommy Gustaffson & The Idiots, The Reason, Panic At The Disco, Shihad. --------- [Monday February 11th] - Time Again, Socratic, Bedouin Soundclash, The Getaway Plan, Angela's Dish, Juno Soundtrack, Boys Like Girls, Regular John, Louis XIV. --------- [Monday February 4th] - The Loved Ones, Chris Walla, Fast Forward - Indie Trax #2, Bullet For My Valentine, Promise Of Redemption, Mae, Enter Shikari, Jack Johnson, Unpaid Debt. --------- [Monday January 28th] - Flogging Molly, Vice Pirate, 50 Years Of Australian Rock 'N Roll, Our Last Night, Sherwood, Change!, Pee Approved #4, The Mars Volta, Danny Diablo, The Hampdens, Carpathian, Pee Zine. --------- [Monday January 21st] - Horrorpops, Lungs, The Audition, The Contact, Rise Against, Gyroscope, Milloy, The Gaslight Anthem, Dark Skies, Straightjacket Nation, Puddle Of Mudd, Damien Rice. --------- [Monday January 14th] - City And Colour, Run! Hide!, Protest The Hero, Teenage Bottlerocket, Dub Trio, Too Pure To Die, Memphis May Fire, The Leap Year, Mindless Self Indulgence, Crapulous Gee Gaw, Liam Finn, Blackpool Lights. |
