First off, let me say that if you're not familiar with the band it's ok to say "every song sounds the same". If you are familiar with Gatsbys, you'll know that this means that they're still using the same awesome formula, and the new album has recurring themes as all of their albums do. The newest album feels like Volcano pt. 2 to me.
The albums' theme this time around is people talking shit about the band/ how formulated music is becoming. I'm mostly focussing on the lyrics in my review, mostly because they're probably the best ever written, so I'll say that the basslines are fucking amazing on this. The guitar is same ole', same with the drums. There is also a new background singer, to add to Bobby's backups. I think his name's Kyle.
Anyways...
1. You All Everybody (9/10)
This song is such a good way to start the album. Nic owns the lyrics, like he always does. It sets the tone for what the album's about. The only thing that annoys me is the voicemail towards the end of the song. I can't hear it too well, but from the keywords I can hear I think it may be their old manager leaving the message. "I hate this place and all these guys and all their fancy clothes, it doesn't seem like music at all....... I know you really want to believe, you really want to but it's much easier to look the same and sound the same."
2. We Can Remember It For You Wholesale (10/10)
Right now this is my favorite song on the album, I think it may be their first single too. There's dueling triple vocals, Nic, Bobby, and Kyle in one part of the song. If I'm not mistaken, I swear this is about being a bee lol. But that may be a metaphor for the album's theme, going along with what's popular. It's just a fun ass song, with funny ass lyrics such as "We're working hard, one hundred and fifty four trips to shit out just a few teaspoons of our delicious excrement."
3. Badd Beat (10/10)
This song has been waiting in the wings for like 10 years, someone needed to write it and Gatsbys was the band to do it. It's all about how management and booking agencies fuck over bands with the stronghold they have, from thier point of view. Here's most of the song so you understand what I mean.
"Because we gotta get ours somehow
It would be too easy making 10% off the tours we book for you
So we figure we'll take as much as we can because it's not up to you
The music the bands provide brings the kids to the shows
But you know we just don't care
Because there are a lot of other bands we can use if you don't want this tour
And the point is
Even though everyone knows we treat the bands like shit
Nobody has the guts to speak out
Because they're afraid that they won't get the tours at the end of the day"
4. My Name Is Ozymandias (8/10)
Another song that need to be made. It's about record labels snatching up anything they think is "emo" and how fucking lame the "scene" has become. I'm wondering if the albums' got no hype because of the message they put out on this. Nic and Bobby shared the writing, but this shit is amazing.
"See, we're all a little mad here
What a joy it is to kill my hunger in 3 minutes and 30 seconds.........
Our bodies longing for the aches to escape
And the filth they'll accept is the filth that I'm dragging my body through
'Cuz we're being drowned out in our own fucking sound
And the teenage brigade has an opinions
'Cuz I'm not at the bar
Now the teenage brigade has opinions"
5. Margaritas & Cock (8/10)
Funniest song title ever. It's about how people are always saying Gatsbys is the band that can make "pop punk" acceptable, but they don't understand why. Same ole' Gatsbys. Nothing special about this song, but it has my favorite quote of the album.
"We stepped into a ring with a matador
There is no way to win
But we can try to gore gore gore gore
The shit out of this motherfucker
And leave a scar
So he'll remember who we are now, baby
So he'll remember who we are are are are"
6. Station 5: The Pearl (9/10)
This was the first leak from the album. Great song, all about how much Gatsbys puts into everything they do. It's the band talking to their fans. Also adressed the critics who flip flop about every album they do.
"You're falling in love!
Wait, ya like it?
Wait, ya don't?
Oh wait, you like it again?
'They're big fucking stars, I swear to god they are'
For all the money that you spend, we will earn it
Hold us all respinsible, we're good for it
Got a bad feeling that you won't
At least now you can't say I didn't ask"
7. Shadow of the Colossus (7/10)
Sounds like a leftover from Volcano. I'm pretty sure it's making fun of all of the "hXc" bands popping up out of nowhere these days. It IS pretty fucking funny is that's the case.
"See you in hell!
We'll pick you up by your ankles
and shake you down for a record or two
Til' all the money is spilling out of your pockets
And any beauty we create, we will sell it
We've got your contrast, we've got your art
And you can strum as fast as you like
Can you feel it?
The hint of rot right beneath the music?
We never believed"
8. Filthy Beasts (10/10)
Fuck ya!!!! Part, like, 100 of the whole "filthy beasts" saga. I guess it explains what they've always been talking about, but only applies to the Volcano references (Jurassic Park/ dinosaurs). There's a piano in this song, there's no credit to it so I'm guessing it's either Nic (the time I talked to him online he was saying something about playing the piano) or the new guy, Kyle. The theme they've always had throughout all their albums may be that the "filthy beasts" are the music industry.
"Consuming every little thing we get our claws around
I do subscribe to the thought that we are the dinosaurs
With pebbled skin, sharp teeth, a wicker tail and stinking breath
We are to say the least a pack of filthy beasts
All we want is dinner
We stalk the landscape in an endless search for easy prey
The days are very long but hunger keeps our sleep at bay
With hopes of finding weak or wounded that have run astray"
9. Looks Like the Real Thing (7/10)
They rock out pretty hard on this. Nic's wailing vocals become dominant. Nothing too special, the Gatsbys special. Sweet guitars, breakdown, sweet guitars with sweet drums and Nic's sweet ass voice, harder riff with awesome bass and Nic wailing.
"If I bounce you bounce too
It's all connected
The sun carries the hanging moon from its shoulders and says
'If I don't shine, then you don't shine'
And if I fail and you succeed, what does it mean?
Their eyes are sunken. Come on look at them
These kids have needs"
10. Me and Ed Loyce (8/10)
Ya Boi, Gatsbys at its' finest. Same drum patterns as "Wholesale" so it's fun to listen to. I think this song's about all the cookie cutter bands coming out of the east coast these days. Lines like "Ain't this such a grand new dark age!Why shouldn't they believe that their homes just an Asbury park!" led me to believe this. Kyle gets some lead lines in this for the bridge. The end alludes to the machines, which is what the album cover is, and what the next song is about.
11. The White Mountains (9/10)
Sounds like yet another leftover from Volcano, but it ties into the albums' non-existing theme so much. It's pretty epic, for the band. It's the space they found to be able to make this album without facing all the things they talk about through the album. The song talks about "tri-pods" and "machines", yes, War of the Worlds tri-pods. I'm guessing that's the metaphor for the music industry.
"From the heights we'll wage this war for all the things we long for
So we can think the way we like
This could be something to believe
A place where we can live the music that we breathe
Our lungs are strong as is our song
Up in the mountains where we can still believe
From the heights we'll wage this war for all the things we long for
So we can sing the way we like"
I give the album a 9/10, same as I did Volcano. This is one of my favorite albums to come out this year. If you're a fan of pop-punk, post hardcore, or anything not too heavy, check this album (and all of their others) out.
Thanks to www.snickerattheswine.com for the lyrics
The albums' theme this time around is people talking shit about the band/ how formulated music is becoming. I'm mostly focussing on the lyrics in my review, mostly because they're probably the best ever written, so I'll say that the basslines are fucking amazing on this. The guitar is same ole', same with the drums. There is also a new background singer, to add to Bobby's backups. I think his name's Kyle.
Anyways...
1. You All Everybody (9/10)
This song is such a good way to start the album. Nic owns the lyrics, like he always does. It sets the tone for what the album's about. The only thing that annoys me is the voicemail towards the end of the song. I can't hear it too well, but from the keywords I can hear I think it may be their old manager leaving the message. "I hate this place and all these guys and all their fancy clothes, it doesn't seem like music at all....... I know you really want to believe, you really want to but it's much easier to look the same and sound the same."
2. We Can Remember It For You Wholesale (10/10)
Right now this is my favorite song on the album, I think it may be their first single too. There's dueling triple vocals, Nic, Bobby, and Kyle in one part of the song. If I'm not mistaken, I swear this is about being a bee lol. But that may be a metaphor for the album's theme, going along with what's popular. It's just a fun ass song, with funny ass lyrics such as "We're working hard, one hundred and fifty four trips to shit out just a few teaspoons of our delicious excrement."
3. Badd Beat (10/10)
This song has been waiting in the wings for like 10 years, someone needed to write it and Gatsbys was the band to do it. It's all about how management and booking agencies fuck over bands with the stronghold they have, from thier point of view. Here's most of the song so you understand what I mean.
"Because we gotta get ours somehow
It would be too easy making 10% off the tours we book for you
So we figure we'll take as much as we can because it's not up to you
The music the bands provide brings the kids to the shows
But you know we just don't care
Because there are a lot of other bands we can use if you don't want this tour
And the point is
Even though everyone knows we treat the bands like shit
Nobody has the guts to speak out
Because they're afraid that they won't get the tours at the end of the day"
4. My Name Is Ozymandias (8/10)
Another song that need to be made. It's about record labels snatching up anything they think is "emo" and how fucking lame the "scene" has become. I'm wondering if the albums' got no hype because of the message they put out on this. Nic and Bobby shared the writing, but this shit is amazing.
"See, we're all a little mad here
What a joy it is to kill my hunger in 3 minutes and 30 seconds.........
Our bodies longing for the aches to escape
And the filth they'll accept is the filth that I'm dragging my body through
'Cuz we're being drowned out in our own fucking sound
And the teenage brigade has an opinions
'Cuz I'm not at the bar
Now the teenage brigade has opinions"
5. Margaritas & Cock (8/10)
Funniest song title ever. It's about how people are always saying Gatsbys is the band that can make "pop punk" acceptable, but they don't understand why. Same ole' Gatsbys. Nothing special about this song, but it has my favorite quote of the album.
"We stepped into a ring with a matador
There is no way to win
But we can try to gore gore gore gore
The shit out of this motherfucker
And leave a scar
So he'll remember who we are now, baby
So he'll remember who we are are are are"
6. Station 5: The Pearl (9/10)
This was the first leak from the album. Great song, all about how much Gatsbys puts into everything they do. It's the band talking to their fans. Also adressed the critics who flip flop about every album they do.
"You're falling in love!
Wait, ya like it?
Wait, ya don't?
Oh wait, you like it again?
'They're big fucking stars, I swear to god they are'
For all the money that you spend, we will earn it
Hold us all respinsible, we're good for it
Got a bad feeling that you won't
At least now you can't say I didn't ask"
7. Shadow of the Colossus (7/10)
Sounds like a leftover from Volcano. I'm pretty sure it's making fun of all of the "hXc" bands popping up out of nowhere these days. It IS pretty fucking funny is that's the case.
"See you in hell!
We'll pick you up by your ankles
and shake you down for a record or two
Til' all the money is spilling out of your pockets
And any beauty we create, we will sell it
We've got your contrast, we've got your art
And you can strum as fast as you like
Can you feel it?
The hint of rot right beneath the music?
We never believed"
8. Filthy Beasts (10/10)
Fuck ya!!!! Part, like, 100 of the whole "filthy beasts" saga. I guess it explains what they've always been talking about, but only applies to the Volcano references (Jurassic Park/ dinosaurs). There's a piano in this song, there's no credit to it so I'm guessing it's either Nic (the time I talked to him online he was saying something about playing the piano) or the new guy, Kyle. The theme they've always had throughout all their albums may be that the "filthy beasts" are the music industry.
"Consuming every little thing we get our claws around
I do subscribe to the thought that we are the dinosaurs
With pebbled skin, sharp teeth, a wicker tail and stinking breath
We are to say the least a pack of filthy beasts
All we want is dinner
We stalk the landscape in an endless search for easy prey
The days are very long but hunger keeps our sleep at bay
With hopes of finding weak or wounded that have run astray"
9. Looks Like the Real Thing (7/10)
They rock out pretty hard on this. Nic's wailing vocals become dominant. Nothing too special, the Gatsbys special. Sweet guitars, breakdown, sweet guitars with sweet drums and Nic's sweet ass voice, harder riff with awesome bass and Nic wailing.
"If I bounce you bounce too
It's all connected
The sun carries the hanging moon from its shoulders and says
'If I don't shine, then you don't shine'
And if I fail and you succeed, what does it mean?
Their eyes are sunken. Come on look at them
These kids have needs"
10. Me and Ed Loyce (8/10)
Ya Boi, Gatsbys at its' finest. Same drum patterns as "Wholesale" so it's fun to listen to. I think this song's about all the cookie cutter bands coming out of the east coast these days. Lines like "Ain't this such a grand new dark age!Why shouldn't they believe that their homes just an Asbury park!" led me to believe this. Kyle gets some lead lines in this for the bridge. The end alludes to the machines, which is what the album cover is, and what the next song is about.
11. The White Mountains (9/10)
Sounds like yet another leftover from Volcano, but it ties into the albums' non-existing theme so much. It's pretty epic, for the band. It's the space they found to be able to make this album without facing all the things they talk about through the album. The song talks about "tri-pods" and "machines", yes, War of the Worlds tri-pods. I'm guessing that's the metaphor for the music industry.
"From the heights we'll wage this war for all the things we long for
So we can think the way we like
This could be something to believe
A place where we can live the music that we breathe
Our lungs are strong as is our song
Up in the mountains where we can still believe
From the heights we'll wage this war for all the things we long for
So we can sing the way we like"
I give the album a 9/10, same as I did Volcano. This is one of my favorite albums to come out this year. If you're a fan of pop-punk, post hardcore, or anything not too heavy, check this album (and all of their others) out.
Thanks to www.snickerattheswine.com for the lyrics
