The Chorus Music Club Society • Page 364

Bought a few gig tickets last night. Boston Manor, Microwave and Drug Church is one, and With Confidence at Mama Rouxs (a Hawaiian themed burlesque club I saw Thr Hotelier at) being another.

However, most excitingly, Hawthorne Heights are playing The Flapper, a canal side bar/pub thst has gigs in its pretty big basement.

@Bad Frequencies as someone who knows the first two albums, Skeletons, HOPE and HATE, how much of The setlist will I know? Never seen them before and it’s not for a few months so have time to revise!

 

Review: Starset - Transmissions
Release Date: 8th July 2014
Trading Partner: @Bad Frequencies

Starset was formed by vocalist Dustin Bates. His passion for astronomy led Bates to teach at the International Space University, complete research for the U.S. Air Force and complete his masters in Electrical Engineering at Ohio University. It is due to this that it is evident that Bates’ backstory for Starset is full of space themes. The band claim that Starset was formed as a public outreach initiative by The Starset Society whose aims were to alert the public about the contents of “The Message” that was obtained from a mysterious signal from space.

Transmissions is the debut concept album from Starset about a secret society/government organisation that has been sent from space to kill Starset and their followers. The band acts as the vocals for the society, a fictional group whose aim is to publish major scientific discoveries silenced by the government. The album is based around a transmission of human origin that was broadcast from the constellation Ophiuchus that tells the future and demise of mankind. It is evident from Bates interests that this is an album full with ambition and intergalactic references. Part of that ambition started when Bates set up online portals with links to documents, agencies, videos leading up to the album’s release.

Starset enter their Hans Zimmer-rock album with “First Light”, an instrumental that sounds straight from a Transformers movie. This albums counts down to this music space opera when “Down With The Fallen” hits. This is a cinematic-rock track that kicks off the entire story. It showcases what Starset have set out to achieve. There is a heartbeat monitor in the background and ends with screams that just fuck you up with intensity.

“Carnivore” is one of the hits that this album produced with an amazing cello piece moulding into a hard rock sound. It is purely cinematic and evokes such energy that makes it one of the best on the album.

“Halo” begins with the lyrics “I can see you running every eye from the same darkness”. It’s a positive song about banding together and not being alone. There are some straight-up creative sci-fi-musical styles present and this continues Starset’s strengths. The chorus belts “if you need me to I will save you” which shows that this may be a typical “hero” trope story but it still hits you hard. The ending of the song sings an elongated “halo” that only Beyoncé would be proud of.

“Dark On Me” focuses on keyboards, strings and drums that remind me of a very Third Eye Grace-esque track. It’s a heartbreakingly beautiful scene of that sense of feeling lost after losing someone immediately. “You led my way then disappeared….in the dead of night, you went dark on me” hit me hard and you get thinking of relationships lost in your own journey. There is such emotional substance included with raw passion that this is, by far, my favourite track on the album.

“Point of No Return” is a hypnotic drum beat with guitar riffs and lyrics that are passionate works of music. The whole song is an inspiration of ambition towards your own personal goals.

Album closer “Rise & Fall” sounds very much like the climax of a movie; it’s dangerous, earth-shattering and embodies what destructive war should sound like. It’s a longer track whose closing 2 minutes embody hauntingly gripping pianos and wind howls.

If you’re looking for Linkin Park infused with Daft Punk meets Breaking Benjamin with a Philip K. Dick story then this has the potential to keep you occupied for hours. I have deliberately kept the story as simple as I can to avoid spoilers and missed some songs because the most fun I had with this album was working out the intricate plot devices and synergy that Bates uses to tell the story. Starset has created interstellar space elements weaved carefully throughout each song and the look they have created. The lyrics and instrumentals genuinely feel like they could have been produced for any new-age sci-fi movie epic.

It’s a great debut album from a creative band and the future is bright for them. I also recommend checking out Vessels but that’s another review for another time.

RIYL:
War of the Worlds meets Muse
The theatrics from Interstellar but instead of music by Hans Zimmer, it was created entirely by Tom Delonge.
“space movie” meets “rock music”

 

It’s pretty interesting because they essentially played “The Hits” on the Bad Frequencies tour while only playing the singles from the new album and the title track.

Im sure that might change for their European run.

 

They’ll likely play 3-4 songs off their new album and a couple from Fragile Future. @Bad Frequencies will also tell you to listen to HURT (but they probably won’t play anything from it)

 

I'm so glad you liked it! I discovered this album accidentally while browsing Bandcamp and I seriously can't believe how little attention it has gotten. Definitely in my top ten albums of the year so far. I've been listening to that Stayawakes record a lot, can't wait to post my review in a few days :)

 

You’ll know about half. I recommend checking out Fragile Future and Bad Frequencies to get fully invested


And HURT but as @bachna84 said they probably won’t play anything from it. Which is a shame

 

Just checked and I know basically everything on the recent set lists so that's cool!

 

I would check out the new album juuust Incase they start playing a few more new songs. JT has hinted at this

 

That's a great Bandcamp discovery! I found The Stayawakes on a random review site when they were linked from another review I was reading.

 

I have searched this thread to no avail. Did I see an idea for a discography run in here?

 

@Bad Frequencies is doing one soon, I believe!

 

He is doing one for Alkaline Trio. You can always exchange discographies with another person if you would like of course!

 

If anyone is up for it then give me a DM. If someone can link the original post for the rules too then I'd be happy. I really can't find this haha.

 

I’ll trade someone Buckethead’s discography

 

We will see you back here in 2020!

 

I’m not listening to it :P

 

I've never heard ETID so I could do one for them, but it'd have to me my rec for like 3 weeks haha

 

It's a pretty big commitment but I guess it could be worth it.

 

CHORUS MUSIC CLUB SOCIETY
DISCOGRAPHY RETROSPECTIVES


ALKALINE TRIO

Goddamnit (1998)



Here we are for the first edition of my Alkaline Trio discography run. I have listened to these albums, but for quite a few of them its been a while. With their first new album in 5 years right around the corner as well as a supporting tour for said album, I figured no better time to revisit their albums from first to last and decided to take you guys on the journey with me. First up is Goddamnit, which actually turned 20 this year. That is impressive to think about, that this band has been releasing albums and has the fanbase it has 20 years later. This debut LP by the trio sees a much different sound for the band than you would hear from their releases of Crimson (2005) and onward. This sees them more raw, more pop punk. Its almost fair to say that this album is to Alkaline Trio like Dude Ranch is to Blink-182. Raw, breakneck pop punk and sounds vastly different to their later work.

Goddamnit is a damn good pop punk record, filled with catchy hooks, pounding drums, and a raw sense of energy to it. Songs such as 'Clavicle' and 'Nose Over Tail' are prime examples of the 90s pop punk sound that this album encapsulates so well. The lyrics are dark, as Alkaline has a skill with doing, but there is also a dash of a sense of humor and just letting loose, such as on the aforementioned latter track and opening track 'Cringe'. Dan was not as present on these tracks, only taking control of two of these songs, 'Enjoy Your Day' and 'Message from Kathlene'. One thing that does stand out though is while Dan only really sings main vocals on these two songs, his bass lines on this album are insane. 'Trouble Breathing' is insanely catchy as pop punk songs should be, and is riddled with the beginnings of Alkaline Trio. At 35 minutes it runs at break neck speeds, and while its hard to fault a genuinely good pop punk album from the 1990s for its flaws in comparison to music from the modern age, there is not a lot to fault on this album. The album is personable and relatable, with lyrics that are bound to strike a chord with anyone listening. Its clear to me upon revisiting this album what made this one such a special record; and how even from the start Alkaline earned the dedicated fanbase and attention they get even to this day. As @ComedownMachine put it upon listening to the album with me for his very first time, "its a very good record, and I like how raw it is. but I think they go on to do much better things", and I am inclined to agree. This album is fantastic in its own right, but its only a taste of whats to come in the later years for Alkaline Trio; and I am eagerly looking forward to those stepping stones in my journey of revisiting their discography. If I had to label some stand outs from this one, it would be 'Nose Over Tail', 'Clavicle, 'My Little Needle', and 'Sorry About That'.

There are two (technically three if you count the Past Live version) versions of this album on Apple Music, one is the 12 track and 35 minute original, and the other seems to be an extended cut with some b-sides and demos that runs about 49 minutes. You cannot go wrong with either one of them; and if you are looking to binge some Alkaline Trio or are craving some fast paced pop punk bliss from the 90s, this album is a great way to scratch the itch. There are distorted guitars, great hooks and riffs, busting drums and downright impressive bass lines for days. It may be jarring to fans of only their later work to hear Alkaline Trio sound like this if they've never heard it before, but its a sure show of where they started and where they would be going as they grew as people and as a band. Give it a spin and wish it a happy 20th.

Up next is 2000's Maybe I'll Catch Fire coming at you soon.

 

I hope you’re gonna do the self-titled compilation and also Remains at some point!

 

Awesome review @Bad Frequencies I like that album a fair bit but it’s definitely one of their weakest compared to what comes after.

If you haven’t heard that self titled compilation album then it’s definitely worth doing. It has two of my favourite Alk3 tracks on it in Bleeder and ‘97. Remains is also really good as well, their Hot Water Music covers on there are awesome.

Anyways I’m really looking forward to the rest of the Alk3 reviews, especially the next one as it’s my fav

 

Review: Taking Back Sunday – Tidal Wave
Release Date: 16th September 2016
Trading Partner: @Bad Frequencies

I shouldn’t even have to introduce Taking Back Sunday so I’ll keep this short. Tidal Waves is TBS’s 7th studio album but this is not the same sound from the emo-rock group that we knew back in 2002. There is growth present in this album and they have experimented in moving away from their emo-punk sound.

There is a lot of versatility on this record. There are hard-hitting solos, meaningful lyrics, more elaborate vocals from John Nolan and Adam Lazzara. The opening track “Death Wolf” is a straightforward, energetic track that sets the tone for the remainder of the album. Immediately, you can tell that this is a focus of the original line-up’s efforts. It cranks up the sound but keeps the parts that we love about TBS. Lazzara and Nolan exchange vocals with such familiarity that it brings me back to the original era.

Moving onto the title track, “Tidal Waves” is a very Ramones-esque track charged with socially relevant lyrics to Americana-punk music. It could easily slot into any punk playlist with lyrics
"You can beg, you can plead, you can cry, you can pray but nothing’s gonna save you from the tidal wave” and the vocal exchange that follows thereafter. You’ll be singing this one for hours.

“You Can’t Look Back” shifts in tone and with some crafty vocal work behind some absolutely impeccable instrumentation. Lazzara sounds more honest and percussive as he has done previously yet still manages to sound as spirited as before. As if countering this, “Fences” capitalises with an opening crescendo moving into muted guitar chords with a chorus that has been written to be belted out on car drives.

“I Felt It Too” is an acoustic track that Lazzara sings soothing vocals over that just ooze with both trust and uncertainty. It is a reminder of the importance of Taking Back Sunday, of the constant changes that they endured and now they have settled into their song writing process without a line-up change for their last 3 albums with no drama.

“Call Come Running” to “Holy Water” to “In The Middle Of It All” to “We Don’t Go In There” is a showcase of musical talent as Mark O’Connell’s drum work with Eddie Reyes guitar are a highlight. They crash towards us yet knit together to create such melodic music. The run sounds exactly like a playlist that goes from Bryan Adams to The Clash.

“Homecoming” is my favourite track from the album. It is such a gorgeous song that truly blends every piece of personnel together into one miraculous play on your ears. It is an uplifting masterpiece about a Navy officer leaving on the force of duty but really resonates as it is a play on the band leaving home so many times and leaving family whilst being touring musicians. The line “If I live, If I don't get killed, I'm going back to Jacksonville" is one that can be applied to many a journey that I’m sure everyone experiences every day. When Lazzara finishes with “I’m coming home” there is a sense of relief and truth that culminates in those chants.

The album closes with “I’ll Find A Way To Make It What You Want”. Even the title showcases just how Taking Back Sunday have constantly tried to grow with the fans, going through changes and dramas that have made them the musicians they are today. I have to admit that I was disappointed with this. The rewind at the start of the song descended into the end of the album and the song was really just a monotonous take on the album as a whole.

Although we have been listening to Taking Back Sunday for most of our music lives, there is a sense of growth here whilst remaining familiar to old-time fans. Taking Back Sunday has produced an album that delivers and crafts in complex ways but this is not a bad thing. The work ethic of TBS has to be commended as remarkable, especially after so many years. They definitely still stand strong. It wasn’t my favourite TBS album however this is a sound that they are growing into and I still don’t predict that they will keep this the same on their next.

RIYL:
The Gaslight Anthem
The Clash
The Ramones
Basically any punk-era bands but instead you get a modern rock sound attached.

 

Me and @teebs41 will be trading this week !

I'll be listening to Movements - Feel Something
He'll be listening to Dan Andriano In The Emergency Room - Party Adjacent

 

@broken22 gave me Dan Andriano in the Emergency Room - Party Adjacent

Being a mild fan of alkaline trio I was excited to check this out. Immediately when the vocals kick in Dan’s very distinct vocals immediately hit you with nostalgia. It doesn’t take long to realize that this record is very different than alkaline trio tho. The distorted power chords and punk drumming have been replaced with open chords and thoughtful light percussion. The songs have a tinge of Americana alt rock, and are well crafted. Dans vocals are confident throughout the record and convey a lot of emotion.

The one area that I thought the record lacked in was originality. The songs felt a bit derivative of Americana alt rock at times, and I kept wanting the record to do somehow that knocked me out.

Overall I feel this record is definitely worth the time of any alkaline trio fan and/or fans of Americana punk/alt rock music.

3/5

 

So this week
@Anarchivist will be listening to 'This Will Haunt Me' by Dollar Signs
And I will be listening to 'Cocksure' by Laura Stevenson