Singles 02.16.06: Issue #44
Posted by Michael Horvath on 02.16.2006
Will the sophomore jinx destroy Hawthorne Heights and Matchbook Romance? Also a new track from Audioslave!
It's that time of the decade again! It's Olympics time and in my personal opinion, it is the better of the two Olympics. I mean where else are you going to see some fool on two skis fly down this huge freaking ski jump made of ice and try to fly? No where but the winter Olympics! I can see someone run all the time, but I can't see someone with gigantic skates, skate around in an oval for three minutes. And do I need to even mention that the winter Olympics has hockey. Even though we all know who is going to win the Gold medal, Canada. I will be watching every game because it only happens every four years. It's time to soak up the atmosphere and enjoy the next ten days.
Now let's get it on
Hawthorne Heights Saying Sorry
Post-hardcore/emo quintet Hawthorne Heights came to life in the summer of 2001. Originally called A Day in the Life, the Dayton, OH, collective saw numerous lineup changes and shifting music styles before settling on their current formation. The band has built their fan base on a solid demo and a series of self-booked national tours that saw them sharing the stage with the likes of From Autumn to Ashes and the Descendants. In 2003 the group signed with Chicago label Victory Records, resulting in the 2004 release of their powerful full-length debut, The Silence in Black and White. Almost instantly the underground took control of this album at Hawthorne Heights quickly became the "it" post-hardcore band of 2004. With very little mainstream support, the bands debut album eventually would sell over 500 000 copies in the USA and the pressure for a successful follow up album began. The band will be looking to avoid the sophomore jinx with their newest LP If Only You Were Lonely which will enter your favorite music store on February 28, 2006. Leading the charge is Saying Sorry which is an obvious attempt by the band to find some kind of mainstream success as the song is slow, rather gentle, weak on the screaming and rather radio friendly. For a band that sold over 500 000 copies based on word of mouth, making radio friendly tunes isn't necessary. I'm sure that the rest of the CD will be filled with great or at least decent post-hardcore rumblings, but after hearing Saying Sorry I have to say that I'm sorry that I am no longer excited to hear the rest of If Only You Were Lonely. One thing is for sure though, if you were a fan of their debut album, you will apparently enjoy the new one as they have not changed their sound one bit. I do enjoy the harmonies that flow throughout Saying Sorry. I just wish that Hawthorne Heights put more post-hardcore into this song instead of pop-punk. Where's the fun and exciting screaming? It will be very interesting to see how If Only You Were Lonely does for the band. But my guess is that they are going to be hard pressed to meet their previous success. 3/5
Matchbook Romance Monsters
For those of you who don't know the band, here's a quick rundown. Matchbook Romance is a melodic hardcore unit from Poughkeepsie, NY. The band started in 1997 when bassist Ryan Kienle, vocalist/guitarist Andrew Jordan and drummer Aaron Stern's band, Fizzlewink, added guitarist Ryan "Judas" DePaolo and became the Getaway. All computer-savvy, the band members hit the Internet hard, designing their own website and using it for shameless promotion of their wildly emotional take on crashing, mid-tempo hardcore. The band gained exposure through listings on unsigned band sites like MP3.com, and eventually began playing to a growing audience throughout the Northeast. Epitaph honcho Brett Gurewitz heard the Getaway's demo via punknews.org, got in touch with Jordan, and soon the band members found themselves in California, signing a deal with the famous punk rock label. Legal issues encouraged the Getaway to become Matchbook Romance, Gurewitz volunteered to produce their debut EP, tours were arranged, and Joe Barresi (Weezer, Pennywise) was lined up to produce the band's eventual full-length. Not bad for a bunch of guys who had faith in MP3.com. The West for Wishing EP appeared in April of 2003 with their debut full-length, Stories and Alibis, surfacing five months later. Lots of touring and a 2004 split with Motion City Soundtrack satisfied fans until their sophomore album Voices was released on February 14, 2006. Monsters is the lead single from the disc and it is a decent song, but not the song that many expected to put them into the category of say a My Chemical Romance. The clapping in the song is an interesting twist that does help you stomp your feet along to the music. The song is just too bland and boring for a lead single that is suppose to bring the band into stardom. Sure the song is stomping fun, but it lacks melody and passion. If you are a big fan of Jimmy Eat World, you will love this song, but overall, it looks like Matchbook Romance has laid a big egg. 2/5
Audioslave Out of Exile
Here we have Audioslave with their eighteenth single from their latest album also titled "Out of Exile" that was released in the spring of 2005. Ok, so I am over exaggerating a bit, but they guys from Audioslave sure do love to release singles and get as much exposure as they possibly can from one CD. "Out of Exile" hasn't even been released for a year yet and we already have the official fourth single from the band. I really don't have any complaints because I dig Audioslave but just for comparison sakes Nine Inch Nail's last CD "With Teeth" came out just a few weeks after "Out of Exile" and Nine Inch Nails has only released two singles so far. Enough said. Anyways, I thoroughly enjoy the tune Out of Exile as it captures the magic of such tracks like Shadow in the Sun and What You Are which are classics from Audioslave's debut album. The guitar work on Out of Exile is just excellent, but what else do you expect from Tom Morello. Mix in lead singer's Chris Cornell's crooning vocals and Audioslave has yet another top 10 modern rock hit. Don't expect this to be the last single off of "Out of Exile" either, knowing these guys they will release at least on more single, and I guess I don't even care because if they keep producing great tracks, they can do whatever they want. 4/5
And I'm gone
I will leave you with my personal top 5 songs of the moment:
1. Neverending White Lights The Grace (an amazing song from a Canadian artist, nice and soft and mellow featuring vocals from Alexisonfire singer Dallas Green, I highly recommend, an easy 5/5!!!!)
2. Nine Inch Nails Every Day Is Exactly The Same
3. P.O.D. Goodbye For Now
4. Nickelback - Animals
5. Audioslave Out of Exile
Have a great week and I will leave with these inspirational words from the great Homer Simpson "a woman is like beer. They look good, they smell good, and you'd step over your own mother just to get one!
