ALBUM REVIEW
The Story So Far-Under Soil And Dirt
Good morning everyone (or good afternoon/evening depending on when you're reading this). As I write this journal post, it's 8:30 am in my neck of the woods, which is funny because I didn't even go to bed until 4:30 last night (4 hours of sleep is the new cool, ladies and gentlemen). Usually, in my summer state I don't really get up until about eleven o'clock (more like 2:30), but today is different, special even. You see....
I've been completely slacking off on homework for my summer class and it's due tomorrow.....hehehe.
So yeah, what better music to have for the big rush than some good, high energy pop punk?
Well there's metal, hard rock, drum 'n' bass, hot jazz, swing and the little-know genre of thrash-samba, but that's not the point. This is an album that I wanted to review for a while and I'm gonna do it now, to help me get into the writing mood for the more serious paper stuff that I'll inevitably have to do.
The Story So Far is a pop punk band from Walnut Creek, California. With a name from a New Found Glory song, these guys are an unabashed pop-punk band, with alot of the best elements of the genre; there's choruses and song elements that immediately grab you, but the way that they are done don't feel formulaic or forced; the composition manages to be tight and at the same time interesting and complex, and the songs themselves are uplifting as well as genuine about what they are and what they want you to feel.
Now, when you press play, you should get a good feel as to whether you would like this album or not with the first song,
States and Minds, with a very familiar sounding guitar tone for the genre and the singer just belting out the lyrics with tons of emotion to spare. While it is one of my favorites on here and the song that got me into the band(I found this near the end of a Gmod video, Team Fabulous 2, that I liked),The only negative I have to give it is that at 53 seconds it feels all too brief. The ending chord then starts off the next song,
Roam which further exemplifies the singer's emotion and singing ability with a riff to ride through the whole thing and a nice break in the middle. What I also love about this song(and the rest of the album) is the dual harmonies with the backup lending a distinctly different voice but equal ability. After this,
Quicksand injects more energy with some hardworking drums that jump into a really uplifting chorus. The rest of the song has some cool melodies as well, but that was the part that I found the most awesome.
Swords and Pens starts off with a pounding riff that bursts into some spastic drums and once again the chorus delivers by being instantly pleasing but distinct as well as some multiple harmonies that call for repeat listening. This is a song that just wants to get up and feel the music and I want to do just that. The song then fades out into
High Regard, which brings more of the guitars to the forefront with the vocals. This isn't the most dynamic song on here, but the vocals help to keep it afloat with alot of different melodies stuffed into one song, showing just how much creativity can be put into a melody. Still, it doesn't grab you as much as previous songs.
Daughters is also a song that helps to show how into it the singer is, as he's practically screaming with earnesty. At first this seems like something that may not grab you like High Regard, but the vocals and the guitars can keep you interested. Afterwards,
Mt. Diablo takes you with intro drums, and just how unified the music and the singing can be. Stinging with anger in the lyrics, it still manages to keep you full of energy and good feeling throughout. The chorus isn't as strong this time around, but other vocal melodies do much to work best together.
Four Years breaks in and for the first time the instrumentation takes center stage, but that doesn't mean the vocals are slacking, as more dual harmonies are present here than any other song on the album, and it works. Next up is my favorite song on the album and a song that I just have to listen to at least once a day now,
Rally Cap. If I had to say why I love this song, I would say that it's just great as a whole. The vocal melodies, while not as numerous as previous songs, are all great and immediately stick with you. The dual harmonies work well with this and highlight just how awesome the melodies are, and while I'm not big on them usually, the lyrics here are something that grab me and work so well. The composition and instrumentation keeps you in it and catches you by surprise, especially with the drums which really charge through this. Hell, I just put it on repeat for the third time now, so that should tell you something.
Placeholder follows up as an acoustic number and shows how these guys even have the energy on an acoustic track, with the singer putting out barrels of emotion and the drums and guitars going crazy in the background. Definitely a surprise, but not something that's jarring.
Closure is the song at the end and is more of the same that you've heard throughout the album, which is fine by me, but I can see how it might be kind of meh for other people. Still, it goes by quickly and doesn't overstay it's welcome.
Best Songs-
States and Minds, Roam, Quicksand, Four Years, Rally Cap, Placeholder
Worst Songs-
High Regard, Daughters, Mt. Diablo
What I like the most about this album is the amount of energy and emotion that comes at you. It's an album that you would have to really get into, blasting it in your car at 11 at night while jumping around and singing every word. This is the kind of energy that being at a local show where the band can just stop singing and the audience could recite whole songs from memory. That being said, if you're not a fan of pop punk then this is won't change your mind or convert you, but if you love bands like New Found Glory and like your music equal parts catchy but rocking, then this is for you.
To make long things short(heh heh) I'm going to give this a
7 out of 10. If you asked me personally what i feel it is I would say a solid 8, but I know that this is more for someone with a specific taste for this type of music.
But yeah, here's some songs, and if you like what you hear, there's plenty more where that came from.