Husky McDump

Emsanders reivew #2

He is Legend - I am Hollywood



Official release date: November 02, 2004

Label : Solid Sate (partnered with Tooth n' Nail just a little fyi)


1. "Act 1, Scene 1: The Seduction"
3. "Act 1, Scene 3: The Creature Walks (End Scene)"
4. "Act 2, Scene 1: The Greatest Actor Alive... (Enters Stage Right)"
5. "Act 2, Scene 2: China White (End Scene)"
6. "Act 3, Scene 1: ...Best In Mexico"
7. "Act 3, Scene 2: The Walls Have Teeth (End Scene)"
8. "Act 4, Scene 1: Do You Think I'm Pretty?"
9. "Act 4, Scene 2: Dinner With A Gypsy (End Scene)"
10. "Finale: I Am Hollywood (Fin)"


Band Members:
Schuylar Croom (vocals)
Adam Tanbouz (guitar)
Matt Williams (bass)
Steven Bache (drums)
Mitch Marlow (ex-guitarist, on I Am Hollywood & Suck Out the Poison

I learned a lot after my first review, gonna mellow it out a little bit but still do my best at analyzing it.

The Seduction

And off we go! Quick start to the freshmen release from He is Legend, great varitey of guitar licks and vocal styles in this song.

Eating a Book
This album shows Steven Bache's great sense of style with his drum play. Great vocals with different phases throughout the duration of this track, He is Legend really hit the nail on the head for guitar licks on this album.

The Creature Walks
This track shows Schulyar's range in vocal talent. Jazzy bass lines give this song a great since of style, along with giving you tasteful solo's. As I said before amazing guitar licks throughout this album.

The Greatest Actor Alive
Again poking at the lighter side vocal wise, He is Legend still has you headbanging for this pop-like vocal driven track. Smooth harmonies with both guitars born from 80's metal show yet another side from this genre-less musical powerhouse group.

China White
Hypnotic intro with very unique rhythm, breaks into a slower paced ballad with moments of darkness. Great balance of singing/screaming by Schyluar.

...Best in Mexico
Heavy intro minor based chord progression, but yet it reveals light tone vocals with smooth guitar lines. At the midpoint of this cd, He is Legend shows a broad range of genre balance.

The Walls Have Teeth
Slow moving bass intro, with jazzy smooth guitar lines and head banging guitar riffs put you on a roller coaster.

Do You Think I'm Pretty
This song seems to have a few flaws, vocals are a little off key and it just doesn't seem as though the band has its natural harmony that have on other tracks. Still plays a roll in the overall progression of this cd, with its greatest part at the end of this track with more face melting guitar lines.

Dinner With a Gypsy
Jazz/Blues instrumental intro, guitar lines are at their very best at this point in the album. Overall song writing for these guys is truly at its purest on this track. Note: Incredible outro

I Am Hollywood

The finally for this intriguing, genre blending album. Extremely heavy song showing some southern metal roots established down in the mucky soil of North Carolina. I have a little love/hate with this closer. A part of me thinks that an album as complex as this should have had some 70's style closer. On the contrary, my heart pounds when I listen to this song...every time. He is Legend making full out hardcore music is heaven on the ears.


This album was built around stage productions like "Goldilocks", and "Romeo and Juliet" overall the lyricisum is pretty good as it is, but it was very interesting how they delivered it relating songs to plays.

Lyric Captions
The Seduction



I've been jumping over buildings,
I've been sleeping in the street
"Mr. Jones" will be right with you
if you would just have a seat
Well I'll meet you at the river
where we both can clear our heads
I think we would look great dead.

I've got to find
To find the princess,
she's in another castle
And I'm dancing with the Capulet
We're so "crazy in love"

Juliet!
You know you want it [x4]
Oh!




Overall:
Genre-changing album delivered by a Christian band. This may not be everyone's favorite, but very, very interesting album to say the least. He is Legend took a very bold stance with this album and they came close to perfection.


Verdict: 9/10

Thanks for reading!


-Ems-

__________________
not everyone can make it to the pros,
some rise to the top, others down low.

Alfred

Just saw this in the reviews indez. Album is pretty awesome, one of my favorites. The vocal work is incredible.

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ChiliColdBlood

I've listened to this album so many times. Really fun band to see live, too.

Mr. McJones

I reviewed your review and I give it a 4/10. Guitar is not the only instrument in the world, "...Best In Mexico" is weak, and "Do You Think I'm Pretty?" is among the best on the album. And you are not very descriptive. I could go on and on but we'd all get bored. Just wanted to offer my superior opinion real quick.

Alfred

Wow... you judged his review because you have a different opinion of the album than him?

gtfo

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Mr. McJones

And I wish someone would acknowledge how goofy the screamo factor is on this album. These guys are intelligent writers and you can tell all the growls and shrieks are almost sarcastic, just for something catchy for playing live and getting outsiders hooked (I do not condemn this strategy at all). "And their new stuff on "It Hates You" is a reflection of their progression, as they seem quite averse to falling into the emocore stereotype.

Mr. McJones

Not really, Alf, I was judging his review's ability to draw a picture of what the album's really like, it's just if I explained why no one would care. But "Do You Think I'm Pretty?" is truly an amazingly constructed song, and those who call it inconsistent or whatnot are just a little nervous about a band not fitting their schema.

Alfred

You should write your own review.

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Mr. McJones

I'm pretty much a genius at writing and English and such, and I'm an actual composer who still retains the ability to use layman's terms when discussing contemporary rock, so I fit the bill perfectly to be a real music critic. But my friend, there's a reason music critics rarely make enough greenbacks to live on. It's a nonsense occupation; it shouldn't exist. People should be able to make their own conclusions without some pretentious prick telling them otherwise.

Oh, wait, what did I just do?

Mr. McJones

I hope we're all understanding that there's some irony in my posts here. Logging out.