| Track by Track Review
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12.15.10
Driving acoustic guitar brings this cut into being. The vocals rock out over the top. This is catchy and meaty. |
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Can't Hardly Wait
While this is acoustic based, there is a punky energy and vitality to it. It has some solid hooks, too. This number earns a definite parental advisory. |
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My Hotel Year
While not a huge change, this is another strong number. It's more of an alternative rocker. |
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How I Spent My Summer Vacation
Again, this comes across as more of the same. Taken by itself it's a good tune. It just gets a bit lost in terms of identity here. |
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The Graveyard of the Atlantic
There isn't a big change here, but this manages to stand pretty tall among the sea of similar music. |
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Your Boyfriend Sucks
More of the same, this works pretty well. |
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Eight of Nine
While the formula is wearing thin by this point, there is an angry energy here, and the short mellower moment is a nice touch. The powerhouse fast paced guitar late also helps this tune to stand tall. |
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Broken Promise Ring
Somehow, this seems to eek out its own identity by combining punk and folk rock into an energized alternative rocker. |
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The Hero Dies in This One
Another in more of an alternative rock vein, this has some solid vocal hooks. It does suffer a bit from the monolithic nature of the set, though. |
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All Souls' Day
Taken by itself, this is strong. As part of the set, it suffers a bit. It does have some real anger in it and earns a parental advisory. |
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In This Diary
A rocking number, this manages to feel a bit more melodic than some of the others, gaining a bit of its own identity in the process. |
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Skulls
Somehow this feels a bit rawer than some of the rest. It manages to stand pretty tall because of it. |
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Unopened Letter to the World
This one definitely gets lost in the sea of sameness. |
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San Dimas
Another that lands in the "too samey" category, this would be one I would have left off the set. |
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Oh, Kansas City
Now, this is a real change. There is a sense of country music brought by some of the guitar fills. The whole vibe and energy seems different, too. The variety this brings really allows it to shine. |
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Soul and Fire
This one feels a lot different, too. It has some cool raw texture to it. |
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From a Tower
A more melodic and developed song structure is on display here. This is another with a real sense of uniqueness. It's also another highlight and has a much fuller arrangement.
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