sleepy jack

Straylight Run "The Needles, The Space"

Label: Universal Records
Release Date: June 19, 2007
Genre: Pop-rock
Tracklist:
1. The Words We Say
2. The Miracle That Never Came
3. Soon We'll Be Living In The Future
4. How Do I Fix My Head
5. Who Will Save Us Now
6. Cover Your Eyes
7. We'll Never Leave Again
8. Take It To Manhattan
9. Still Alone
10. This Is The End
11. Buttoned Down
12. Track #12
13. The First Of The Century

I was encouraged to try this out because my friend insisted it was so different from their other stuff and a huge step up for them. I was skeptical because having heard their earlier work it was basically like a weaker version of Taking Back Sunday trying to be an "indie" band with an also weak female vocalist but yeah here it goes.

The opener track made it quickly apparent it was different, they aren't trying to be slow and piano driven, it's more upbeat. However Nolan's bland vocals are too hard to get into for me, he doesn't sound any different from when he was the back up vocalist in TBS. Michelle's vocals however have improved though it sounds like shes trying too hard to be Jenny Lewis or that chick from Eisley most of the time, but when she takes over vocals on songs like "The Miracle That Never Came" is a step up from the rather bland opening track. The annoying slow wannabe circus sounding breakdown towards the end was a tumor on the song, and it doesn't work when they repeat that same vibe in "Still Alone" where the horns seem way too out of place. They also throw in an out of place instrumental filler "Track #12" at the end that doesn't even sound like anything on the album or serve any purpose, thats cool. Songs like "How Do I Fix My Head" which sadly make up most of the album are a terrible combo of borrowed radiohead electronic sounds and an acoustic guitar. When done right it can sound beautiful, however in this case each instrument sounds oddly placed with eachother and when coupled with lyrics like "I'm listening / What they say / Feeling less and less okay/ But it's the same old story / How do I fix my head?" its just awful. Now you'd think a song where they take away one of those elements would be better, but the one track "We'll Never Leave Again" where they return to their sappy piano slowly building up while repeating a phrase over and over roots without any electronics sounds like a song that was cut off their last album for sounding too much like Coldplay.

The better parts of this album are the songs in which Michelle takes over vocals and Nolan sticks to what he does best, being a backup vocalist but since she isn't much more of a captivating vocalist it doesn't help much too much. All in all, the album is different but it still seems like an mtv "emo" trying to make an "indie" album but failing. I'd much prefer to them going back to slow piano driven songs like Existentialism On Prom Night that are at least okay for the 3 minutes they shout the slightly above average line chorus over and over. The only positive note is they moved on from bitching about how much they hate Taking Back Sunday in every song. I would've enjoyed the album more if there went misleading song titles like This Is The End, because thats what I was waiting just after listening to 30 seconds of the first song.

Rating: 2/10

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lucylamppost

I have to disagree with most of your review.
There new album eis anything but upbeat. They experiment and dive into using different instruments to create a fuller, richer sound than ever before but there lyrics are really depressing.

You can really tell the Straylight run has finally found there sound and are doing what they want. It seems like in all the albums leading up this one was them just struggling to find there voice and sound. You can really see that with “Soon We’ll Be Living In The Future.”

I really enjoyed Track 12 , it builds up to the last song “First Of The Century.” It really complements and makes the two songs really a set.
.

Who will Save us now is a personal favourite I really enjoy the lyrics in this song. Its really well written. John Nolan makes some really good points in this song.
As for John Nolan singing. I personally think he is a good singer him and his sister really harmonize. His voice is really strong in “How do I fix My head”

What I really like about this album it makes me question myself a lot and question the world as well as being really relatable strangely.

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sleepy jack

Too bad their sound is bad "scene indie" mediocre garbage.

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lucylamppost

lol thats a low blow Crowquill and with out anything to back up that statement too......


I think great things are going to come from Straylight Run

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sleepy jack

I have a whole review backing up my statement, its bland and dull music. They're taking back sunday-lite pop with a Jenny Lewis wannabe thrown in.

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lucylamppost

Like really Crowquill did you really listen this this album like really listen? because your review iseems like you put in on once for the sake of writing a review.

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sleepy jack

Aww is someone upset because I called their new favorite band mediocre?

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lucylamppost

lol there not my "new favorite band" I like them but would not say there my favorite and I have like them for a a few years now.




I think your the one upset because I was write about your review

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jesus

ethan is right everyone else is wrong end of thread

sleepy jack

they're* right* you're*

Good job, you're not smarter than a fifth grader your comebacks are about as good too. This album is bland, they make Coldplay look innovative and exciting. John Nolan isn't a good lyricist (I'm gonna hide out all night / Close my curtains / Dim my lights / I'm gonna lay here alone/ Close my eyes / And wish for home" Seriously?), he's still second to Adam Lazarra (which is really sad) there's no interesting ideas introduced here. It's upbeat compared to their last release but one things for sure they stuck with the same formula they've been using since their last album. They're slow building psedo-indie-rock is dull and there are other bands that do it better with much more elegance (Death Cab for Cutie for one, they destroy Straylight Run's entire discography with just the song Transatlanticism) but you can ignore good bands doing this but better in favor of this trash, ignorance is a bliss I suppose.

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