I'll say right now that you should pick up this album if you like nay sort of punk or alternative or if you like a song from "Watch Out!" etc. This album was definately less publically renouned than Watch Out but is definately the for creative and talented out of the two as opposed to what most people think, so here's the review:
01 - .44 CALIBER LOVE LETTER
Definately a good way to kick off the album with a cleverly put together 3-part intro consisting of neat riffs and palm muted chords, which then breaksdown nicely into the actual song. It kicks off with George screaming overtop of background riffs and rythmic chords for balance, in which both other vocalists Wade and Dallas sing together for a good self introduction. The song then breaks down with quick talking, leading to screaming then building up to a break where George says the big line..."This is a .44 caliber love letter straight from my heart" which instatly kicks it back to originally when the vocals started and breaksdown with paced guitar, drums and screaming again. Where the song ends with all instruments and vocals going in unison. A great opener, arouses interest, it gets 4/5.
02 - COUNTERPARTS AND NUMBER THEM
Ah, the big single form thisalbum. This is an insane song, starting off with extremely tricky and fast riffs leading into a greatly timed verse with punk chords and a clever riff, leading to Dallas singing in a really cool tone along with guitar changes which ulitmately leads to a breakdown of George saying "sweater" and a catchy palm muted pattern. We then get to hear both guitars playing great melodic acoustic riffs which goes back to punk chords and riffs under screaming, which finishes the song instantly. Great song, never get tired of it, 5/5.
03 - ADELLEDA
Here's where Dallas truely makes his big debut. Starting off with slow guitar fills and riffs then going right into George screaming overtop of Dallas's singing, leading to the slowing down of the song, where George talks briefly again then going back to both vocalists going at it until the song speeds up and George gets the mic to himself again only for the song to slow back down to its original pace, Dallas then comes back in to finish the song until the outro with clever guitar fills and Dallas showing his piano skills which flow nicely with the rest of the song. Great song, great spot for it in the album. 4.5/5
04 - A DAGGER THROUGH THE EHART OF ST. ANGELES
Here we get another taste of lyrical abilities, where George tells a story of a knife fight at an all girls school (hencethe cover art). The song starts off with alterations being metal palm mutes and riffs then quickly fades to harmonics and background chords overlaid by screaming. It then picks up pace witht he instruments again in a more metal style and is nicely timed, then switches to quick punk palm mutes overlayed with really well-timed screams which is a nice interlude to one of my favourite parts of the album. The song then slows right down and flows greatly into an acoustic riff bit where George tells the story in the background, but instantly he screams 'GO!' and we're back-to-pace, when the song slows down we hear from Dallas for the first time in this song until the end of the song soon after. This song is good, especially the acoustic bit, it gets 4.5/5.
05 - POLAROIDS OF POLAR BEARS
Here we start off with a really nice sounding intro consisting of simply effected guitar and continues as the drums pick up, where the intro ends and the punk power chords come in with Goerge's screams. This continues with alterations until Dallas comes in at the chorus and then the song changes into a cool riff overlayed with screams which lead to the breakdown of the song. The song completely slows down with little fills and then palm mutes come in with appropiately timed chords and fills, which ultimately build up (including more fast talking from George) to an outro that steadily becomes more and more distorted as the instruments and vocals are all going, which ends the song right there instantly. I give it 5/5, greatly put together, awesome intro.
06 - WATERWINGS
The song starts right away with a drum fill and punk chords with George screaming about a drug dealer's misfortune. The guitar then completely changes to more punk chords put interlaced with riffs from both guitars undermore screams. The drums then speed up and Wade comes in with his line and then Dallas does the same. The song then goes back to how it started, but then goes to an instrumental break with cool sounding riffs, leading to a final part with Dallas's vocals doubled, then we hear Wade scream with George during a background riff until the end. I give it 4.5/5, cool song.
07 - WHERE NO ONE KNOWS
The song starts off with great riffs from both guitars, then goes to a chord set with George screaming but then goesback again to riffs continuing the screaming. The riff style then changes as Dallas comes in to sing with George. Where we eventually go back to the chord set but with Dallas singing, then going to the second riff set again, then to a breakdown of effected clean guitar and background vocals. We then hear the main chords with George overtop and the song ends just like that. Really cool riffs, catchy verse, good balance, I give it a 4 though.
08 - KENNEDY CURSE
Here is the most metal song on the album, it starts off with a quick Metallica-style acoustic bit, then metal chords quickly come in backed by a really cool riff, leading right into thrashing drums and agressive screams backed by an insane riff. This continues until it slows down and Dallas comes in, and after we hear another sweet riff with more agressive screaming, which breaks down into the softest part on the album with George talking over Dallas's sorrowed and very well done singing. The song then really starts to pick up again with agressive and loud screaming back by a riff and power chords which goes right into real deep death metal screams, backed by Wade's higher screams. Then jumps right into another riff interlude and back to power chords under agressive screams until the end. I give it a 4.5/5, very different.
09 - JUBELLA
It starts off right away with both Dallas and George backed by awkward guitar, then breaks into the verse with both vocalists and some power chords, which leads into a guitar a screaming break. We then hear a really cool melodic part with dallas singing over drowned screams. The song then goes into an awkward guitar break with screaming consisting of single palm mutes and quick notes, which builds up again to a part that resembles the begining and then ends. This song has it's good parts but also it's alittle wierd, I give it 3.5/5.
10 - LITTLE GIRLS POINTING AND LAUGHING
Definately one of the best, starts off with an acoustic intro leading to Dallas and George singing and screaming melodically over the rythm until riffs come in with George's screaming. The song then completely breaks down with clever palm mutes and fills with no vocals until the chorus with great singing backed by power chords until the song breaks down again but with harmonics then with riffs and fills until the build up starts with more talking from George, which ultimately leads tot he final chorus much like the first where the song ends. I give this song 5/5. amazing song.
11 - PULMONARY ARCHERY
The song starts off with a slow delayed clean intro, then quickly comes a riff with power chords, which leads to a quick fill with an insane riff by Dallas leading you to the verse, where George gets the song going by screaming "LET'S GO!" and then screaming over paced past drums and a central riff, until the guitar changes riffs, right up until the chorus where Dallas comes in for a bit. The song then goes right back to George scraming over power chords until a breakdown happens, with difficulty timed chords and screams in between, which lead to the final chorus, like the first except sporting the central riff, the song then fades away, as does the album. I give this song 4.5/5, very good album closer.
Overall I give this album a 5/5, definately pick it up or at least give it a try, you won't regret it, especially those of you who own watch Out but not this one.
