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The Chorus Music Club Society • Page 290

Discussion in 'Music Forum' started by The Black Parade, Nov 20, 2017.

  1. bachna84

    we are nothing more than mannequins Prestigious

  2. This week I was paired with @Micool1 and I was recommended albums by two bands that I've been meaning to get to know better. The first is Billy Talent. I've always enjoyed the singles I've heard from the band, but their most recent album, 2016's Afraid of Heights, is the first of their albums that I've listened to all the way through. I've now experienced their previous album from 2012, Dead Silence.

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    I'm not sure if this is supposed to be a concept album, but it certainly opens like one with the cinematic "Lonely Road to Absolution." This is a short intro track that very much sounds like the opening to a play with fingerpicked guitar and strings. This song kind of reminds me of Green Day, particularly "Boulevard of Broken Dreams," though that could be partly due to the similar song titles.

    The second track, "Viking Death March," was the first single from the album, and it features vocalist Ben Kowalewicz's distinctive yell with the instrumentation galloping along behind him. "Surprise Surprise" is a driving rock track with a surprisingly sugary pop melody in the chorus. "Runnin' Across the Track" has a hook that reminds me a lot of some other great Billy Talent singles I've heard, and the guitar work in the verses sounds heavily inspired by '70s and '80s classic rock. A fun, fast-paced track follows in "Love Was Still Around," which was a personal favorite for me.

    Track six, "Stand Up and Run," is a softer track that features some cleaner guitar work and more anthemic singing. While I think the band excels more with louder and more driving fare, I appreciated hearing them try something different and providing some variation with this song. "Crooked Minds" is a bit of a dirge in the verses and Kowalewicz does his best Robert Plant scream at the beginning. This one definitely sounds Zeppelin-inspired. The energy is pushed up another notch on "Man Alive!" where the chorus moves along at breakneck speed. Other highlights include "Don't Count on the Wicked," with a great main guitar riff, and "Swallowed Up by the Ocean," which starts as a piano ballad and gradually builds to full band instrumentation.

    This is a long rock record at 54 minutes, but it held my interest throughout because of the impressive amount of variation on display. The songs here are undeniably Billy Talent, but each one has a unique twist or new influence that creeps in to separate it from the others. It is rare to find a 14-track album where each song is distinct and nothing sounds like a lesser version of another track on the album, but that is the case here in my opinion. I'm glad that I was able to check out another Billy Talent album, and I am definitely going to continue to work through their discography to see what else I've missed from this band.
     
    Micool1, Nate_Johnson and anonimito like this.
  3. SamLevi11

    Prestigious Prestigious

    There's actually four vocalists in Mobo, the two guitarists, and then the bassist and drummer do bits here and there (for instance the drummer sings the second verse on Your Grad). I definitely understand why Bren's vocals can be grating, and even though I'm a big fan I can totally understand they aren't everyone's cup of tea!

    Glad you enjoyed The Front Bottoms though, they're a fun band and whilst that isn't my favourite album of theirs (Back on Top is that), it's a good place to start!
     
  4. SamLevi11

    Prestigious Prestigious

    Also, yes, I just used a British phrase involving a cup of tea. We really are like that.
     
    ugman_2000, Mary V and anonimito like this.
  5. Nate_Johnson

    CCRN, MSN Prestigious

    Great review and I have to agree that live albums are tough, especially if you aren't familiar with the artist. I don't know if anyone listens to the theneedledrop podcast but he had done an episode speaking about live albums and saying that they are great if an artist is long gone but it's still so hard to connect to the record unless you were there and even then, nothing will ever be as amazing as seeing that artist live.
     
  6. Nate_Johnson

    CCRN, MSN Prestigious

    Head Shrine...I am not sure about this one.
    Animal Flag: Void Ripper
    Black Foxxes: Reidi
     
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  7. bachna84

    we are nothing more than mannequins Prestigious

    The Republic of Wolves - Shrine
     
  8. SamLevi11

    Prestigious Prestigious

    2018 has actually been a weak year for me musically. Last year I had Creeper, Deaf Havana, The Menzingers all in the first two months and I think they are all 8.5+ albums. This year I only have three I consider 8 or above and it's basically June.
     
  9. Nate_Johnson

    CCRN, MSN Prestigious

    That’s what I thought it was but you know Colin. He finds bands in the darkest corners of the world.
     
  10. Micool1

    Trusted Prestigious

    Great review! Makes me want to relisten since it's been a long time. Loved that album when it came out!
     
  11. ugman_2000

    Trusted Prestigious

    I've found 2018 pretty strong so far but a whole chunk of my favs this year have been metal releases so I can understand why you'd think that if metals not your thing.
     
  12. Micool1

    Trusted Prestigious

    The only albums I'm anticipating right now are Panic at the Disco, Mike Shinoda and of course Thrice.
     
  13. SamLevi11

    Prestigious Prestigious

    There's a lot of albums i'm looking forward to in the second part of the year luckily.
     
    Nate_Johnson likes this.
  14. Have you heard Nervus' album from this year? Very good stuff and kind of similar to Creeper so it might be your thing.
     
  15. BTDandFeelingThis

    Now I Know This World Isn’t Spinning Just For Me Prestigious

    I’m glad this album was such an out of left field hit for you. Their older albums are much different (the one right before this is kind of the bridge between the two sounds). If anything it can get you geared for the next album.
     
  16. SamLevi11

    Prestigious Prestigious

    I have, it's in my top 10 :-)

    I actually spoke to Em for a bit when she was driving Slaughter Beach, Dog on their tour supporting Tigers Jaw over here and she's really funny. Hyped to see them for a second time at 2000 Trees.
     
  17. SamLevi11

    Prestigious Prestigious

    Started compiling my list for the mid year thing and I only have 9 albums I really really like. Need one to come out in the next month. Or I could include that new TFB EP?
     
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  18. Davjs

    Trusted

    My top 2018 so far are:
    -Underoath
    -Sevendust

    Solid list :-)
     
  19. Nate_Johnson

    CCRN, MSN Prestigious

    TFB EP?
     
  20. BTDandFeelingThis May 23, 2018
    (Last edited: May 23, 2018)
    BTDandFeelingThis

    Now I Know This World Isn’t Spinning Just For Me Prestigious

    My current top 10 2018, since we are sharing

    UPDATED AOTY 2018 LIST

    1. Hawthorne Heights- Bad Frequencies
    2. Senses Fail- If There Is Light, It Will Find You
    3. A Perfect Circle- Eat The Elephant
    4. Cecil Frena- The Gridlock
    5. The Longshot- Love Is For Losers
    6. Schmaltz- Spanish Love Songs
    7. Sevendust- All I See Is War
    8. Stonefield- Far From Earth
    9. Out Of Service- Morning
    10. Heavy Things- Glimpse
     
  21. ugman_2000

    Trusted Prestigious

    Well if you’re all sharing (and because I already typed it out for Nate today)

    These are the albums fighting it out for my top 10 atm in no perticular order (other than APC being number 1 atm)

    A Perfect Circle - Eat The Elephant

    MOL - Jord
    Rolo Tomassi - Time Will Die and Love Will Bury It
    Conjurer - Mire
    Palm Reader - Braille
    Cancer Bats - The Spark That Moves
    DZ Deathrays - Bloody Lovley
    Turnstile - Time and Space
    The Xcerts - Hold On To Your Heart
    Kacey Musgraves - Golden Hour
    Gost - Possessor
    The Penske File - Salvation
    Barely March - Marley Barch
    Nervus - Everything Dies


    There's a few albums out in the next month or 2 that I'm expecting might work their way into contention: Svalbard, The Interupters, Bury Tomorrow and Culture Abuse
     
  22. ugman_2000

    Trusted Prestigious

    That’s awesome Em always comes across really cool from all the interviews I’ve seen her do. The Nervus twitter feed is usually pretty hilarious too. Depending on clashes I’ll most likely be watching them too at 2000 Trees :-)
     
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  23. Nate_Johnson

    CCRN, MSN Prestigious

    Top 10 currently (in no particular order):
    Between the Buried and Me: Automata I
    Black Foxxes: Reidi
    Casey: Where I Go When I Am Sleeping
    Heavy Things: Glimpse
    Kacey Musgraves: Golden Hour
    Our Lady Peace: Somethingness*
    Sevendust: All I See is War*
    Shame: Songs of Praise
    Superchunk: What a Time to Be Alive*
    Turnstile: Time & Space
     
  24. bachna84

    we are nothing more than mannequins Prestigious

    Why the *?
     
  25. BTDandFeelingThis

    Now I Know This World Isn’t Spinning Just For Me Prestigious