Yellowcard – Where We Stand

I think that some people may think that this is a new album from the band and they have had a massive progression in sound, however in actual fact it is a re-release of an album they recorded back in 1999 – and when you look at it in this light, it is really quite an impressive album. With a different singer, and less top heavy violin work this band really do sound completely different. Ok, so this album’s never going to be your favourite album, but still – for what it is, it’s certainly very good. I have a feeling that some Yellowcard haters may enjoy this record if they didn’t know who the artist was – it really is that different.

In ‘Where We Stand,’ Yellowcard created a far more edgy Punk sound, a far cry from the highly defined, perfectionist recording approach of the Yellowcard of today. Instead of being led by the violin, it is very guitar heavy with some good violin work and the occasional violin solo which show that even at a young age this band were highly creative and trying to do something new. One thing that is extremely noticeable from listening to this album is that Yellowcard were a lot faster back in the day and in turn had a much heavier sound. The drum work throughout this album is particularly impressive – it is hard and fast and really does shine through and stand out on this album.

I’d imagine that there’s a fair amount of die hard Yellowcard fans out there that would absolutely hate this album and never consider buying it had it been recorded by another band. I much prefer this album to ‘One for the Kids,’ the bands breakthrough album which I thought was out of tune and extremely dull to listen to. Although this album is far from being perfect, I really think that this band could have had something with this singer – I doubt they would have had the chart success that they’ve had with Ryan Key, but they almost certainly would have been a Punk sensation. There’s definitely something distinctly charming about this album which makes its rawness loveable and almost adorable.

Released: 1st August 2005
Label: Kung Fu

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Yellowcard – One For The Kids

I have really enjoyed what I have heard of the bands ‘Ocean Avenue’ album and was really looking forward to listening to this CD. Obviously I was expecting that this CD would be a bit different, and inevitably not as good seeing as it was released four years ago – but this is just stupid. This album is devoid of any real excitement, and the vocals often sound really out of tune.

The power which comes across through the violins on the tracks from ‘Ocean Avenue’ really doesn’t come across here, and as a result listening to this CD is a far less enjoyable experience. As I have already mentioned, the vocals on this album often sound really terrible and are at a lot of times painfully out of tune. There are some moments of promise on display in this album, but just when you think it’s getting good the band go and spoil it and throw in another bum note.

This is a truly off putting album by the band and really not a good reflection of the band and where they are today. I really don’t know how the band got signed to a major on the basis of this release as it really is quite terrible. This album is really rather dull, lacklustre, monotonous, mundane and generic. There’s very little to be gained from this CD – if you were a fan of hit album ‘Ocean Avenue’ then I would advise you not to check out this earlier offering as it’s really not worth your time or money. I honestly won’t be listening to this album ever again.

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Yellowcard – Ocean Avenue (Single)

I didn’t really know what to expect from this one as I had liked the bands single ‘Life Of A Salesman’ but had not been too impressed with ‘Way Away.’ I was glad to find that the band had again released a good single as ‘Ocean Avenue’ really is quite a good song – its not going to change the world, but its certainly fun to listen to and easy to dance to. Yellowcard are a good Pop Punk band and this track really shows that – it is fast paced, fun, and full of energy. It is no wonder why this band is so big in America – they are a fine example of good Pop Punk.

On display here are some catchy guitar hooks, some amazing bass lines, great drum beats, and super strong vocals. Sometimes this kind of music can lack power, but there are some tremendous guitar hooks here that really power the song on and help it keep its momentum. If you are a fan of Pop Punk then you will almost certainly love this Yellowcard track, because the music that they create here is pure gold. Everything about this track is really strong – there is nothing to fault about it at all, it’s all glued together perfectly to make a masterpiece of a track.

If you are looking for a good, fun band that are not afraid to write a powerful song then look no further than Yellowcard. No, this isn’t the most original style of music around but it’s done so well here that this doesn’t really matter and you just enjoy the music for what it is. The violin in the band certainly adds to the whole atmosphere of the music and makes them that extra bit exciting, and interesting to listen to. This single will be released on September the 6th so you’ve got a good amount of time yet to hear it on the radio or see the video on TV and make up your own mind about whether you like it or not. If you are at all in to Pop Punk then the chances are that you will like this track and will want to listen to it more. Don’t just go downloading it on Kazaa or something – buy the single, support the scene.

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