10 Years - Division Review
Posted by Dan Marsicano on 05.15.2008
Alternative metal band 10 Years returns with Division, their fourth album and second major label release. Can the band capitalize on the success of 2005's The Autumn Effect?
The Band
Jesse Hasek-Vocals
Ryan “Tater” Johnson-Guitar
Matt Wantland-Guitar
Lewis “Big Lew” Cosby-Bass Guitar
Brian Vodinh-Drums, Backing Vocals
The Track Listing (Tracks 14 and 15 are Best Buy exclusives)
1. Actions & Motives-3:23
2. Just Can’t Win-3:33
3. Beautiful-3:15
4. 11:00 AM (Day Dreamer)-5:09
5. Dying Youth-3:48
6. Russian Roulette-3:49
7. Focus-3:13
8. Drug Of Choice-3:38
9. Picture Perfect (In Your Eyes)-6:20
10. All Your Lies-3:46
11. So Long, Good-Bye-3:43
12. Alabama-3:54
13. Proud Of You-5:55
14. Scream At The Walls-4:06
15. Cycle Of Life-3:58
The Review
Mainstream rock is about as derivative and unoriginal as it has ever been. Everyday, a new band pops up, trying to replicate the success of bands like Breaking Benjamin, Chevelle, and Nickelback. They have that one upbeat, catchy song or a ballad that just tugs at the heartstrings, making you run out to buy the album. Of course, once you pick it up, you are sorely disappointed, either because the album sounds nothing like the single or because it’s just one of those albums that suffers from “been there, heard that" syndrome.
At first listen, 10 Years might be lumped alongside countless bands trying to make a name for themselves. After listening to current single “Beautiful,” you may think that the band sounds like a mixture of Breaking Benjamin and Tool. Nothing original, nothing special. This was my impression, at first. Like a great man once said, “You can’t judge a book by its cover,” and you can’t judge 10 Years' new album Division based on one song or one play through.
What 10 Years accomplishes with Division is releasing a modern rock album that takes chances. Most bands are content with having their best material in the front of the album, packing in the most exciting tracks to get the listener pumped up only to have a second half that sounds like the band got bored and had to add some tracks in to please the record company. 10 Years isn’t satisfied with putting all their best material upfront. Division actually gets better and better as the album goes on, not a small feat for a rock band to do in this day and age.
The album starts off with one of the best hard rock tracks on the album. “Actions & Motives” is a monster of an opening track, with the band firing on all cylinders and banging some heads along the way. The next two tracks follow a similar pattern, leading the listener to believe that they have a solid, albeit unspectacular, listen ahead of them. Then 10 Years puts on the brakes and turn a 180 with “11:00 AM (Day Dreamer).”
“11:00 AM (Day Dreamer)” starts out by sounding like the previous songs, building up in the verses towards an impactful chorus. Halfway through, the song ends and leads into a two minute outro that has lightly played acoustic guitars and a piano in the background. It’s a poignantly inspired conclusion to the song that is most welcomed.
The long outro is used sparingly throughout Division, only appearing twice more. “Picture Perfect (In Your Eyes)” is a slower song that has a three minute outro that features a slow building acoustic section with Alaina Alexander providing a spoken word poem called “Planets 2.” “Proud Of You” is a piano ballad that has just a piano and Hasek taking the spotlight and carrying the song to one of the best closing tracks in recent memory from any mainstream rock album. The outro is beautifully done, with Alexander providing backing vocals again and a mini-piano solo ending the track at an emotional high.
The long outro’s in these three songs help for the band to stand out among most modern rock bands. What also helps the band out is the middle portion of the album, which is a more melodic affair, with the acoustic guitar driving many of the main melodies on display. “Focus” is co-written by Stone Temple Pilots guitarist Dean DeLeo and is a standard ballad saved by the right emotional touch that Hasek brings vocally. “Dying Youth” starts off acoustically, but builds to a solid conclusion that brings back memories of Tool’s old material. “So Long, Good-Bye” is another acoustic ballad driven by Hasek’s soaring vocals, which hits all the right notes.
The band still rocks out though, with “Russian Roulette” and “Drug Of Choice” being instant highlights that will make fans of 10 Years’ heavier material happy and satisfied. Division finds that fine balance between heavy material and slower, more acoustic focused material and doesn’t go too overboard with one or the other.
Hasek’s vocals are great, sounding like a lighter version of Maynard James Keenan without straight up copying his vocal style. Ryan “Tater” Johnson and Matt Wantland keep the riffs coming and help the album to be as catchy and melodic as it is. Lewis “Big Lew” Cosby and Brian Vodinh make for a solid rhythm section, bringing it all together with good results.
Division is an album that, like Filter’s Anthems For The Damned, takes a couple of listens to really hit the listener effectively. 10 Years had decent success with 2005’s The Autumn Effect, but I believe that Division is the album that should finally break the band into the mainstream for good. The album gets progressively better, so much so that by the end of the album, you almost forget about the first three tracks. Personally, I think that “Just Can’t Win” and current single “Beautiful” are actually the weaker points of the album, compared to the material later on in the album. 10 Years has never sounded better and Division is a worthy addition to any modern rock fans collection, with the low price ($6.99-$9.99) being the icing on the cake.
The 411: Division is a great rock album that gets better as the listener gets further into the album. The band doesn't do anything revolutionary with their sound, but the extended outros and the drive to make an album that is consistent from start to finish has helped 10 Years to create something that deserves to be recognized by the general public.
I like both versions, the Demo version that was on their myspace and the Album version.
10 Years is a great rock band and they are probably the best all around band in quite sometime.
Like anyone really cares but,
My favorite bands by Decade.
80's Metallica
90's PEARL JAM
00's 10 Years
Pearl Jam is all caps because they signify my favorite band.
Anyways, I agree with your review 100 percent.
Posted By: Kirk (Guest) on May 15, 2008 at 12:23 PM
I'm glad 10 Years didn't suffer that sophmore slump that happens to many bands. I picked up Autumn Effect a few years ago...and that album just rocks. Ordering Division off of Bestbuy online, I can't wait to get my hands on that album.
I'm going to Projekt Revolution when it stops in Phoenix. I'm not going to that concert to see Atreyu, Linkin Park, or Chris Cornell. No. The ONLY reason I want to go to that concert is to see 10 Years.
I saw them in 2006 when they toured with Madina Lake, Far-Less, and Evolicity (local band). That concert, to this day, stands as one of my favorite EVER. It was so tripping that he actually read poetry on stage to music at one point. That was pretty surreal.
They have the accesibility that Tool lacks. In comparison, it seems that MJK is tied into being too cryptic, too confusing for the average listener. It doesn't seem that way with 10 Years.
Posted By: David R (Guest) on May 15, 2008 at 02:09 PM
This is an astute review, Dan. I'm pleased that you took some time to let the depth and beauty of "Division" wash over you. The band offers valid observations and delivers them without resorting to a didactic, finger pointing approach. One of the album's strongest features is the subtlety in each song and how they differ in tone, attitude and approach, which is why it seems to improve with each listen as many really good albums do. And you are spot on about the long outros, obviously, the label let them have some space and they took it and ran."Actions and Motives" will likely be the track to follow "Beautiful" at radio and deservedly so with a solid, spirited performance from the band and a gutsy vocal from Jesse Hasek. Rick Parashar produced and avoided making the band sound like they were living in the 90's, but there was major friction between him and Hasek as Rick kept changing Jesse's lyrics. Hasek is on record in calling him a "drunken a-hole". But the band was split in their opinion of Parashar and some of the friction between the members actually added texture and brought out the best in them, especially in Matt and Tater's guitar work. There were "Divisions" within the band. Some of the heavier guitar was actually removed to achieve a bit more palatable sound and it made "All Your Lies" sound dramatically different from the My Space version. The passion in "Proud of You" is because the song is about Hasek's fallen cousin, actor Brad Renfro to whom the album is dedicated. The song was written before Brad died, but the vocal was recorded after and the angst and sense of loss rings true and honestly in its raw emotion. You can hear Jesse's mourning and it is a fitting conclusion to a journey that was well worth taking. 10 Years is the real deal and much more than "Wasteland", the standout song that wouldn't die from the previous album, "The Autumn Effect". Keep listening, it continues to get better and better. This is a band that has what it takes to be around for awhile and make a valid contribution. Rare these days, as you know.
Posted By: Bob C (Guest) on May 17, 2008 at 01:46 AM
This is one of my favorite cds and I love the vocal styling and lyrics of these tracks. I mostly agree with the review. I however belive that beautiful is a very powerful song and describes the state of society. What really annoys me though is that this isn't their 2nd cd its the 4th one.
Posted By: Dalton (Guest) on May 19, 2008 at 10:46 AM
No band touches the progress the American Princes have made in the last several years.
Posted By: Guest#0500 (Guest) on May 20, 2008 at 03:31 PM
There is no doubt in my mind, 10 Years is the best band yet to come out in this decade. The messages and observations they make in their lyrics demand a listen all by itself. But stack on top of that a powerfully melodic, forceful sound that refuses to die at any point of "Division", and you've really got something special.
I'll admit it. I've always been one to say TOOL is and has been the best band in the land. Well move over and make some room TOOL. With the entry of "Division", you've got company.
I bought "Division" seven days ago, and am STILL exploring its intricacies and arrangements. And I'm sure I'll continue doing this for quite some time to come.
I like "The Autumn Effect". I thought is was a great effort by a band that obviously had a lot of talent and potential. And boy, did they ever live up to that potential with "Division".
Great Work!!!
Posted By: J. Scott (Guest) on May 31, 2008 at 01:49 PM
Dalton,
This is their 2nd big label release. Their first two albums are near impossible to find. They made a limited number of copies. The one that was released prior to Autumn Effect, a good number of the tracks appeared on Autumn Effect. I don't really count independent releases as albums. Atreyu would have released more albums than three if you counted everything prior to their big label debut.
Posted By: David R. (Guest) on June 03, 2008 at 06:18 PM
