Review: Avail - Front Porch Stories

artist: avail album: front porch stories label: fat wreck chords released: 11/5/02 by: rob tatum I know you are thinking, Avail? Fat Wreck Chords? Punk? Yep. Avail is one of the most energetic and fun bands I have ever seen live and that energy tends to carry over to their releases. A lot of people felt that Avail might change when they left Lookout! Records for Fat Wreck two years ago, but I can assure that they haven’t lost sight of what they are good at. Combining elements of just about everything, Avail has a unique sound that is usually referred to as punk, but there are aspects of hardcore, and the occasional melodies stray away from punk or hardcore. Vocalist Tim Barry pounds out each of the twelve songs on this record with heart and passion. Musically the record stays right where one would expect it based on Avail’s previous five full lengths. Driving guitars, fast beats, occasional solos and heavy parts, but typical, “get the crowd moving” rock. My biggest complaint about this album, as with most releases lately, is that it clocks in around half an hour. Averaging less than three minutes a song, I wish that there were more than twelve tracks. The fifth track Gravel to Dirt shows the melodic side of Avail as it is both slower and mellower than the other tracks on the CD. The best song is Subdued and Arrested which speaks about standing up for what you believe. Barry’s lyrics continue to be motivational and with good intentions. Overall, the album is nothing special. I love Avail and don’t get me wrong, this album will be in my regular rotation for quite some time, but it’s not an album that everyone should get. If you like Avail, melodic punk, or you need have never heard of them before, check this out. If none of those apply to you, then you won’t be missing anything. favorite song: subdued and arrested rating: 74%/100% listen to avail

Review: Eighteen Visions - Vanity

artist:eighteen visions album: vanity label:trustkill records released: 5/14/02 by: rob tatum For those of you who have heard Until the Ink Runs Out, you know that Eighteen Visions is known for their “in your face” metalcore. Nothing really separated them from any other band in their genre or any band from the Orange County scene. To be quite honest, I didn’t think that they would ever get very far in the direction they appeared to be heading. They were a decent band, but didn’t seem to have anything to offer besides breakdowns and metal. Then comes Vanity. 13 songs ranging from acoustic ballads to a little techno (yes, I said techno) to the typical “in your face” brutal hardcore kids have come to expect from 18V. The album starts with the title track, Vanity, and it hits with the usual intensity of an 18V song, then the verse comes in with singing and melody. This change of pace caught me off guard, but it flows really well. This first track is the “appetizer” for the rest of the album, as it has a little bit of acoustic guitar behind the singing, then it builds into a brutal build with James barking his vocals angrily. The next two songs are in typical 18V fashion. Heavy-hitting. Chugga-Chugga guitar. Passionate vocals. The second song, Fashion Show, has one of the hardest breakdowns I have ever heard, and it could definitely get a crowd going. The fourth song is completely out of the ordinary. It sounds like it could be played on the radio. It doesn’t sound like 18V until about half way through and even then, it doesn’t seem to fit. The next “song” The Notes of My Reflection is an instrumental with acoustic guitar and drum and bass techno in the background. Yep, like I said, techno. The next two songs show more maturity and creativity in song writing for 18V. A little bit of melody mixed with heartfelt lyrics… add a little 18V and you get something new, different, and in my eyes, good. Some lyrics from the sixth song, A short walk down a long hallway, “You’re still the one that opened my eyes. Let me be the one to breath. How did you find me?” My biggest complaint with the album overall is that it changes pace a lot. I like the new direction and experimentation, but every second or third song is acoustic or techno, and it throws things out of wack. Another acoustic track follows on the 8th song, and then the 9th track comes back with a fast-paced, angry attack on the senses. It’s hard to describe. Two more songs follow in the direction of the title track, and then another instrumental, which is more background noise than a song. The last track, which is one of my favorites, is another ballad, but it is the best track lyrically and musically. Love in Autumn shows that the band has grown since their last release and that they are not just a one dimensional hardcore band. It ends the album well. This album is really good, but there are times when it is hard to listen to, as it jumps around so much. It is much better than any of the previous releases from 18V, at least in my eyes, but I’m not sure, even to this day, if I like the way it was pieced together. favorite song: "fashion show" / "love in autumn" (tie, they show both sides of the band) rating: 86%/100% listen to eighteen visions

Spotlight: My Chemical Romance

bst spotlight band. Having only been around for about a year, My Chemical Romance burst into the punk/emo scene with their first release, I Brought You My Bullets, You Brought Me Your Love, on Eyeball Records. This is the same label that released Thursday’s first album, Waiting. MCR combines fast-paced melodies with heartfelt vocals, creating a distinct sound all their own. Lyrically the band writes somewhat twisted love songs encompassing lyrics such as “These hands stained red, from the times I’ve killed you and then we can wash down this engagement ring with poison and kerosene.” Musically, the band combines everything from simple punk melodies to intricate harmonies and even the occasional sing-along. All in all, the band is nice change of pace from typical emo and hardcore bands and doesn’t bore the listener like a generic punk band. Check them out at: http://www.mychemicalromance.com. my chemical romance official website listen to my chemical romance