Archives for February 17, 2005

Eighteen Visions – Obsession

February 17, 2005 by Rich Leave a Comment

I really don’t see why bands like this get signed to a major label like Sony Music – there really is nothing great at all about them, and they definitely shouldn’t be on any sort of major label. This band plays that terrible brand of ‘Post-Hardcore’ with the horrible, pointless screaming placed at random points throughout the songs. I really don’t like this kind of music and fail to see why labels keep releasing CD after CD of seemingly the same old – sure it makes them money at the moment, but eventually the buying public are going to wise up to the fact that generic rubbish keeps being released and people are going to stop buying it.

Instrumentally this band is quite good – they have some strong guitar riffs, great bass lines, and superb drum beats. There is no denying this bands ability – they have definitely got talent and are clearly great musicians, I just don’t like the way they use their talent to make generic Post-Hardcore nonsense. Lyrically I really despise this album with its self loathing, with such randomly screamed lines as “Don’t want to live today when all I feel is pain. I know this world’s the enemy.” It’s just so cliché, and really not the kind of thing that I personally would want to spend my hard earned cash on. They also have the stereotypical lyrics about relationships that have gone wrong such as “after all is said and done you’re not mine” and “you left me hear to die alone.” The world really doesn’t need another of these bands so hopefully, Eighteen Visions will soon disappear – either that or come back with an album where their talent is actually put to good use.

There really is nothing new here – the band is just regurgitating Post-Hardcore clichés in a vain attempt to sell records. The only redeeming feature of this album is that instrumentally the band are tight and clearly have a lot of talent – the drawback of this that you have to take in this fine musicianship with poor, done before vocals, stereotypical lyrics, and a dark, depressing tone that you could really do without. It might be a great album to listen to at a mass suicide pact meeting, but other than that it really doesn’t have a lot of use, other than perhaps being a useful coaster if ever you run out.

Rating:

Rich

UK based film graduate with a huge passion for music, sports and video games.

New Found Glory, Hot Water Music + The Explosion @ Hammersmith Palais 15.2.05

February 17, 2005 by Rich Leave a Comment

I was really looking forward to the moment when The Explosion took to the stage, having heard a lot of their material and being impressed with what I heard. However, when they took to the stage the crowd remained lifeless and didn’t seem to care for the band whatsoever – this crowd had come to see New Found Glory and didn’t seem prepared to give any of the support bands a chance. Sure, there was a bit of a circle pit, but this consisted of very few people while the majority of the crowd just stood their lifeless like lemons. The band got through a number of tracks off forthcoming album ‘Black Tape’ and appeared to be putting a fair amount of effort into their set but people just didn’t seem to care. I was expecting ‘Here I Am’ to get quite a big reaction due to its catchy pop sensibilities, and superb guitar riffs but the crowd didn’t even get going to that, despite its being on the music channels lately. I think the problem is that The Explosion are still relatively unknown in the UK at the moment so people didn’t really know quite how to take them or what to make of them. It can be hard trying to win over a crowd of people that have never heard your songs before as you’ve yet to release any material in that country – The Explosion are proof of this and despite attempts to get the crowd going it just never really happened. The Explosion seemed to be enjoying themselves and I don’t think they let the lifeless crowd got to them much so I have great respect for them on the basis of this alone. Despite the lack of crowd reaction, I enjoyed The Explosion’s set and thought they put on a pretty good show.

Next on was Hot Water Music – another band I have heard on CD, but never before experienced live. I didn’t think the band was that bad, they weren’t as good as I was expecting them to be but they were by no means a poor live act. Again, the crowd just didn’t seem to react to this band and everyone remained rather lifeless meaning that the gig couldn’t be as enjoyable as it should have been. Hot Water Music, much like The Explosion seemed to be putting a fair bit of energy into their set – but I just don’t think a band can give it their best shot when the audience are being this dull. I would like to see this band again as I did enjoy their set and maybe in a different situation, with a more motivated crowd then Hot Water Music would really come across at their best.

Finally, after a long wait – New Found Glory took to the stage and for the first time this evening there was actually a reaction from the crowd. As soon as the band played their first note everyone moved forward and it was just one huge crush as everyone pushed towards the front. I made my way to the back shortly after this as I really didn’t appreciate getting squashed by people half my size and could appreciate the bands set much more when I wasn’t getting crushed by sweaty 14 year olds. The band got through countless tracks off their incredible back catalogue such as the superb ‘Dressed To Kill,’ the amazing ‘Hit Or Miss’ and the storming ‘Head On Collision.’ As well as these classics that had the majority of the crowd singing along the band also played some newer material off their most recent album ‘Catalyst’ such as ‘All Downhill From Here’ and the recently released ‘I Don’t Wanna Know.’ After a mammoth set, the band went offstage – but I don’t think anyone really believe that they had gone for good. Everyone realised that they’d be coming back on for an encore – the fact that they had yet to play ‘My Friends Over You’ gave it away a bit. It was that very track that ended their set – everyone seemed to move out the way for this one and I was able to get near the front, this time without getting crushed. There was a huge circle pit for this song, which I found a bit strange seeing as its probably the most poppy of all the songs they played tonight but there you go – I guess you have to go crazy for a last song regardless of what it is! I was impressed with the set that New Found Glory put on – they were tight, played well together and there was a fair amount of talking with the crowd to keep everyone entertained so all in all it was a good night. It could have been better if the venue was a little less packed and you could actually move and breath but there you go – it doesn’t always go your way and when a bands as big as New Found Glory are its to be expected that’s its going to be a sell out and everyone’s going to be tightly packed in.

Rating:

Rich

UK based film graduate with a huge passion for music, sports and video games.

LoLa Ray – What It Feels Like EP

February 17, 2005 by Rich Leave a Comment

When this CD came through and I saw that the band were releasing this CD on Good Charlotte’s label ‘DC Flag Records’ I was expecting it to be an over produced piece of rubbish to be honest. However, I though I’d give the CD a chance and listen to it a few times before deciding whether or not I liked it. On first listen I was proven to be wrong about it being over produced and rubbish as it is actually quite a good CD, and the more times I listened to it the more I began to like it.

There are 4 tracks on display here on this fine EP – four tracks which will later be appearing on their album which is yet to be released in the UK. The band is definitely very different to the people that run their label – Good Charlotte, and in my opinion are a far superior band to the aforementioned. They combine tremendous pop sensibilities with superb guitar riffs in order to create songs that are truly unforgettable. I love the bands vocals – on every song they shine through and really make way for an exciting and fulfilling listen. Track 3 on this EP, ‘Slave’ really is a classic – it has one of the most amazing and truly unforgettable choruses I have ever heard in my life, it really is that good. In fact, every track on this EP has a super chorus that you won’t be forgetting in a hurry. This band certainly seems to have a great knack for song writing and as a result every track on display here has come out sounding perfect. The striking thing about LoLa Ray is that despite all being from Orange County, there is a truly British element to their sound. I think this is what makes them so special as they’re not like a lot of American bands – they have a truly original and exciting sound that many fail to capture.

Benji Madden made the statement “I just can’t imagine anyone hearing it and not wanting to put it out – it’s that good.” For once, I actually agree with the guy here as this really is a fine EP, and if it is anything to go by then the album is sure to be a stormer. If this band don’t get huge then there’s something seriously up with the world as they are clearly a great band with a lot of talent and a fine skill for penning great tunes.

Rating:

Rich

UK based film graduate with a huge passion for music, sports and video games.