Not Your Mother's Album Reviews

Vetrus Reviews: "Voices"

2009-09-29T20:38:00.000-07:00

Vetrus Reviews: "Voices"

By: Matchbook Romance

Overview: If you think this album is anything like MR's first album, RE-THINK. This album is made at such higher vocal, lyrical, instrumental, and atmospherically levels, it doesn't even resemble “Stories and Alibis” in the slightest. Deliciously dark, captivating and enchanting, this is one of my favorite albums of all time. If ever there were a comparison between matchbook romance and my chemical romance, it would be “Voices” and “The Black Parade”

Highlight songs:

You can run, but we'll find you- Beginning the concept of what seems to be a horror story, the band comes to you as a team of veritable monsters and warns you, there is no escape.

Goody, like two shoes- nice wordplay on the old phrase. But this song BLARES Lyrical brilliance. With such lines as “My heartbeat was louder than the sound of my steps to your door” and “You're cold, but you're beautiful, you're a mess, but I like it that way” rivaling Muse's lyrical prowess. I can't forget to mention one of the best sudden riff breakdowns in modern “emo” music.

Monsters- “Girl, what's come between you and me? You look right through me.” Guitar hero 3-ists probably faced this difficult song eventually, and hopefully enjoyed it. A Killer solo between chants of the band self-declaring themselves monsters makes this a simply spellbinding song. The monsters are calling.

Say it like you mean it- a break from the metal chords brings us the delicate guitar of the following song to “monsters”, with ever more genius lyrics. “the brilliant lights, flanks my blinds, sends ghosts back to their graves, and us back to life.” Also, “The best is when you say the worst is over, it's like saying we had luck with a three leaf clover, and you kept saying that over and over” but that alone is not the full extent of the speed-rap length rhyme schemes that appear in this song.

Fiction- “You found revenge in the bed, and it only cost you a name, you make me sick, sick to my stomach” The only truly hateful song on the album, begs to understand faithlessness and betrayal, and the music reflects his rage and loathing to a seething scale. The Monsters are furious.

Don't ever forget me- Contrast was clearly the name of the game deciding the track listing of “voices”, as the most furious song is followed by words fit for the finest love poems. Lyrics still getting better, I end with this final quote “I would leave to return more lost than before, a little more tired, a little less sure of where I was. The earth would move, but we would stand in place, hide in the shadows of the day, we're almost out of time.”

Review: It surprises me every time I listen to it, and I feel I can do nothing but underrate this album, since I promised myself never to give another album a 10 out of 10, but yet the rating stands as it is, with the mention of a major deciding factor, ALBUM ART/ INSERT. Brilliant is all I can say. The lyrics are printed side by side with Tim Burton-esqe characters appearing in the most dark and unusual of surroundings. The lyrics are misprinted however, and that is why it is so good. If you put together all the differently colored letters in the lyrics, you get the lyrics to the hidden track at the end of the album, but the genius doesn't end there! Included with the slipcase style packaging is a transparency screen with black lines drawn across it, that only bewilders the discoverer until understanding it's purpose. Patterns in the pictures in the book can be decoded to reveal secret messages about the “voices inside the walls” and the words of the monsters themselves, like “mind your skull, lest it become my chowder bowl” or, “purchase at your peril, oh wretched believers of Non” The Monsters of Matchbook Romance receive a rating of-

9.7 out of 10

“Believe what you read”

Vetrus Reviews: "Stories and Alibis"

2009-09-22T20:42:00.000-07:00

Vetrus Reviews: “Stories and alibis”

By: Matchbook Romance

Overview: After the band's beginning EP, “West for Wishing”, Matchbook Romance released this, their first full album. Note: Matchbook romance is not to be confused with either matchbox 20 or My Chemical Romance, or that they are some kind of freakish combination of the two. MOVING ON, “Stories and Alibis” has a whiny, angst-ridden punk sound that, somehow, despite that description, sounds very good. The band experiments with many mechanical sounding audio bits that are scattered throughout the album, and make the various tracks very cohesive. There are a variety of songs here worth checking out, and they are:

Highlight songs:

Your stories, my alibis- A highly charged, driving beat introduces a song meant for the opening of an album.

Promise- A dedicated love song, easily Matchbook Romance's “Wake me up when September ends”, a amorous tune amidst a sea of pop-punk.

My Eyes Burn- Honestly, a little too whiny. It's too easy to make fun of for me to take it seriously... but still fun to listen to, nevertheless.

The Greatest Fall (of all Time)- Probably one of the most epic non-orchestral songs ever written, with throat-tearing screams of pure emotion, and a double-bass drum action that could blow your brain out of your head. BRILLIANT!

Review: “Stories and Alibis”, besides its songs, has other good points, including the case design, which looks like a leather-bound journal, and the lyrics booklet appears as an insert in said book, like a note left especially for you. The band seems to take a Beatles angle, and gives a reference to “Sgt. Peppers lonely hearts club band”, with a long silence, followed by garbled speech, and undefinable noises. If there is anything to not like about this album, besides a few songs falling short of being interesting, it is that there are about 70 3-second tracks that split the actual track list from the album's “Inner grove” (to use the term that the Beatles described the phenomenon as). Not to mention that the track listing is only on the insert of the booklet... and it is printed in extreme cursive, and (here' the kicker!) BACKWARDS. Something so terrible, it HAD to be one on purpose. If you want to listen to a lot of the good music again, it is actually faster to press “back” a ton of times backwards to track 1 than all the way through the other 70-ish blank ones to get back around to number 1 again; overall, the music is forgiving though. The accentuation of those things, although interesting for effect, are stupid for album design, and it just gets annoying. But the band works its way up, which is why I give “Stories and Alibis” only a-

7.0 out of 10

“You're as welcome as cancer, but my door is always unlocked”(a line from the album, which strangely fits my attitude towards the album. It is enjoyable, but not great.)

Vetrus Reviews: "Decemberunderground"

2009-08-31T15:59:00.000-07:00

Vetrus Reviews: “Decemberunderground”

By: AFI

Overview: AFI's seventh album, released in 2006, embraces a dynamic scream-y sound for the band. There aren't too many ways to better display Davey Havok's astounding voice than to be more vocally diverse. As the title of the album suggests, the sound and album art bleed a wintery chill. The lyrics are luckily printed inside the CD case insert, and also companion poetry. The photography is interesting enough on its own, but then there is the music, which brings us to Decemberunderground's..

Highlight songs

Prelude 12/21- Suggestive of the date December 12st. The song has an almost, anthemic sound to it, with well-crafted poetry for three short verses acting as an intro to the album.

Miss Murder- The single that kept guitar-heroes busy for many a play-through (undoubtedly). Probably the best bit of music to showcase Havok's ability to SCREAM!

The Interview- Be prepared to be lyrically and sonically blown away as this song reaches its end, it has a most brilliant finale.

Love Like Winter- The “coldest” of the songs, with the most logic-distant lyrics on the record, just to keep you guessing.

The Missing frame- An epic love song, or something like it, depending on the way you look at the lyrics. A memorable track for its drumline.

Review: AFI's Decemberunderground possesses a variety of good lyrics, and catchy songs. Also, the bands ability to use special sounding effects with mastery is heard well here. Clearly the band members know more than just how to play their instruments, but rather how to make them truly sing. Fun to listen to and a successful album, but occasionally has some less-than-great songs. The second half of the album isn't too special. And therefore I give D.U.G....

8.5 Out of 10
“Kiss my eyes and lay me to sleep”

Vetrus EXTENDED Review: "The Black Parade"

2009-08-27T20:01:00.000-07:00

Extended Review: "The Black Parade"

By: My Chemical Romance

Overview: My Chemical Romance's third album, and by far, my favorite. The most dynamic up to this point, as far as sound and themes, for an MCR album. The band establishes this as, by far, their deepest concept album yet, with a clearly defined storyline, about a hospital patient who dies and encounters "The Black Parade", a fond memory of his that brings him into the afterlife. The band shows off their ability to use the styles of their roots in this, far more glamorous record. Queen, The Beatles, and Iron Maiden, are probably the most prominent of these.

Tracklist (that's right, not just Highlights, this is an EXTENDED review):

1) The End- An introductory song that sets the tone for the album, with striking lyrics, like "when I grow up I want to be nothing at all", just to get you into the proper mood. it's pink Floyd-type sound is SUDDENLY torn away into...

2) DEAD!- High energy, catchy and has a deceptively happy tone to it.

3) This is how I disappear- One of the more, glossed over songs in the album, "how I disappear" kinda acts as a filler, but a die hard fan cannot complain.

4) The Sharpest lives- Another slightly glossed over song, but when analysed, it is worth the time to listen to. Mikey Way's bass playing is shown off here more than anywhere else in their career thus far; the intro, a bass solo during a captivating choral chant, and the ending.

5) Welcome to the Black Parade- My Chemical Romance's biggest commercial success. peaked at number 9 on billboard charts, and set the band's name into rock history for a very long time, if not longer. As glamorously dark as the band gets, it leaves the memorable and song-writer-loved phrase "carry on" as the bands trademark chorus-line.

6) I don't love you- The UK single of sorrowful tone. One of the most emotional of the videos the band has released, too. Also includes one of the most heart-string pulling guitar solos I have ever heard. Bonus points to Ray Toro.

7) House of Wolves- Chaotic punk-metal paradise! The gothic lyrics of this little treasure is one of the most energetic on the album. "S-I-N-I-S-I-N"

8) Cancer- The piano's effect on the album's tone is felt nowhere more than here, the saddest song of the album. Quite possibly the first time since "Helena" that the band has ever focused on their true thoughts about the situation they dance around known as "death." A more genuine song is rare to find in today's music.

9) Mama- pulls out the big guns to get a point across. A devilishly playful song that causes fans to want to do nothing but sing along. The real highest point of this song is the sudden interlude that is a solo by none other than liza Minelli, singing "and if you would call me your sweetheart, I'd maybe than sing you a song" followed by the most profane moment in MCR's history. Hellions rejoice!

10) Sleep- With live audio of accounts of the bands stay at the paramour estate is heard here in the song, telling people just how far the band went to get the lyrics for his album. One of the deepest song to be heard also, with an intriguing contrast to the name, a slightly hidden scream of "WAKE UP" during the chaotic ending to the song.

11) Teenagers- A perfect poetic screenshot of teenage life, right in one hyper punk song. one of the least meaty in terms of lyrics, it survives almost entirely on its rousing chant of "teenagers scare the living s*** out of me." Another successful single that keeps My Chemical Romance in the mainstream's minds. Another song with a wicked guitar solo.

12) Disenchanted- Open to interpretation, but heartache to all who sympathise with the lyrics of this beautifully melodic song. A masterpiece of a ballad, but can be kinda depressing.
(what? I said something negative? it happens.)

13) Famous Last Words- the last single on the album. No other MCR song, or video, in my opinion even touches the true, raw, emotional power of this most vicious of songs, that manages to maintain a shockingly emotional refrain "I am not afraid to keep on living, I am not afraid to walk this world alone". it's MY favorite song of all time. another song open to interpretation, and filled with all kinds of angst to relive the right moment of your life. A sick guitar solo builds up to a thrashing climax of emotion that breaks off into the heartfelt words "'cause I see you lying next to me, with words I thought I'd never speak, awake and unafraid, asleep or dead." This song left Ray Toro, the lead guitarist to question whether the patient character of the concept even died, that the tone of the song brings hope, that the patient is maybe seeing positivity in the look back on his life.

14) Untitled (blood)- if you wait about a minute and a half, you can hear the comedic real last song on the album, one notable for it's use of piano and "timey"-sounding vocal style.

extra review factor- ALBUM DESIGN- It looks beautiful in a macabre way. Artwork adorns the entirety of the CD case and insert. With hail-shots back to The Beatles "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band", the very appearance of this album demands respect in it's incarnation of the greatest, most legendary band's own concept album.

Review- The bands use of tonal and lyrical contrast makes the album flow beautifully, almost flawlessly. The only thing that they should be rightfully accused of in the creation of this album is the band's use of emotion, as TOO MUCH, but even that would be mis-diagnosed. I don't think there is an album I will ever do this for again;

10 out of 10
PERFECT SCORE
That is all.

Vetrus Reviews: "Three Cheers for Sweet Revenge"

2009-08-08T17:35:00.000-07:00

"Three Cheers for Sweet Revenge"

By: My Chemical Romance

Genre: Emo Rock/metal. Also known as "Dangerous pop"

Overview: The Album that shot My Chemical Romance toward the stars. The abysmally dulcet tone of "I brought you my bullets, you brought me your love" Is suddenly abandoned in favor of a more glamorized darkness, with higher energy, and a defiant daring flare that captivated it's new audience, the MAINSTREAM. As many songs and the cover of the album suggest, it is known by many as a concept album revolving around the story of the lives and deaths of two characters. The tale is like modern Bonnie and Clyde, with some lyrics possibly dialog between the two tragic lovers.

Highlight songs (which just happens to be the singles):

"Helena"- The anthem of angsty, diehard MCR fans. It's catchy chorus line and driving, highly emotional song craft set itself as a very common favorite among fans.

"I'm not okay (I promise [it's the last time])"- High energy, super-catchy and charged with sympathy toward troubled teens, the song was one of MCR's biggest commercial successes.

"The Ghost of you"- A much darker song than the above songs, but arguably more emotional, instead of dealing with death and loss, but focusing on the grief thereof.

"Thank You For the Venom"- The only single off "Three Cheers" to lack a video. It's blazingly defiant and rebellion-charged song that begs to be sung along with.

Review: Far better Success than MCR's previous album, but also of a considerably different tone and feel to it's sound. This album was a magic carpet ride to stardom of the band, and it's biggest hits were it's catchy and well-written singles, but in my opinion, some other songs just kinda flopped around... they didn't tie in too well with the theme of the album, or just seemed randomly inserted. A rock'n'roll milestone when considered that the fans of this kind of music (which MCR seems to be the figurehead of) are going to be iconic of the teenage youth of the 2000's. Overall, it's an improvement, and it set the band up for a sure spot in rock history, when "The Black parade" would follow it, with far more success. This album IS a revenge, a milestone, a-

8.9 out of 10
"So long and good night."

Kendalf Reviews Narrow Stairs

2009-08-07T09:35:00.001-07:00

Narrow Stairs by Death Cab for Cutie

Genre: alternative rock, alternative pop

Overview: Definitely not one of Death Cab's finest albums. Don't get me wrong the lyrics are as poetic and brilliantly depressing as ever, no let down there, but the superbly crafted lyrics are confined to slow, bland melodies that do them do them no justice. It's like playing a BlueRay movie on an old fuzzy black and white television. All the scrutinous detail and depth is for naught.

The single I will Posses Your Heart, is snail slow. After 5 minutes of instrumental build-up you begin to wonder if this is even worth your time. The lyrics then try to justify the lack of vocals by pulling a "you got to spend some time, love." Yeah right! I'm not fallin' for it Ben Gibbard, if that even is your real name. The bass line is great at first but why repeat it for 5 minutes before the vocals come in.

Cath... The only other song worth mentioning and probably the best song on the album. The guitar intro and chord progression is actually rather catchy and the pace is a little faster, like a song from one of their earlier albums.

If you were expecting a well-rounded fully fledged Death Cab album continuing their previous trend, then your probably in for a let down. If you want to hear some of Death Cab's good music, go listen to Plans.

6.7 out of 10

Vetrus Reviews: "I Brought you my Bullets, you Brought me your Love"

2009-08-05T15:28:00.000-07:00

"I brought you my bullets, you brought me your love"

By: My Chemical Romance

Genre: Emo/Screamo, with some punk influences

Overview: SCREAM PUNK! My Chemical Romance's first Album. I had to start here, they are my favorite band! Recorded on the Indie label "Eyeball Records" in 2002, "Bullets" shows people who MCR was before they hit true fame. Since the band was formed in response to the 9/11 attacks, the music and themes of this album are bleak and dismal, but probably has some of the most poetic, and introspective lyrics of their collection.

Highlight songs:

"Vampires will never hurt you"- A song that sort of introduces the band as a group of vampires and sets the dark theme of the whole record.

"Headfirst for Halos"- According to front man Gerard Way, probably the most important song on the album. The lyrics are both the bleakest but also happiest of all the songs. Talk of death, anti-depressants, and depression in verses are broken up with chorus refrains of "Think happy thoughts", yet somehow, it all fits together rather well.

"Skylines and Turnstiles"- What I consider to be one of the most important songs to my generation, that saw, as young teens and older elementary/middle school students, just old enough to understand, terrorist attacks on the US's home soil. The lyrics in this song are what I name the deepest and most thoughtful of the whole album.

Review: "Bullets" must have been just too dark and depressing for mainstream rock to like, or maybe it was just the indie label, causing My Chemical Romance a few years before they hit rock stardom. If there is any problem with this album, it's just too dark. MCR's classic "suicidal" themes are present and considerably more difficult to decipher as being tounge-in-cheek. I may be biased as a hardcore MCR fan, but I give "Bullets" a-

6.5 out of 10
True story.