Boston Manor
Be Nothing.


3.5
great

Review

by chris. USER (51 Reviews)
October 1st, 2016 | 24 replies


Release Date: 2016 | Tracklist

Review Summary: Anything but nothing

If you weren't told beforehand that this is Boston Manor's first full-length, you would've never guessed it by listening to it. Seriously, this is one of the most well-crafted and thought-out debuts I've heard in a while. Boston Manor nearly perfectly walks down the line between emo-rock and pop punk. In a scene dominated by those who've been playing for much longer than Boston Manor, Be Nothing gives most of them a run for their money.

Be Nothing opens with pure emotion, starting with the track "Burn You Up". The song starts with a distorted voice that sounds like a radio breaking up and suddenly shifts into a cacophony of guitar and drums, mellowing out at the point where vocalist Henry Cox belts "Swallow your words & maybe some teeth as well". The song is energetic all the way through until it ends on a somber note where Cox sings "You’d better get used to this". The track then fades into "Lead Feet", a song about regret and going in different directions.

The lyrics throughout the album are impeccably written, with each track containing honest and relatable lyrics and a hook that finds a way to get stuck in your head. The instrumentation is another high point; the drums and guitar come in strong on each track, coexisting beautifully with the vocals. Not all of it is as remarkable however, as tracks such as "Stop Trying, Be Nothing" and "Broken Glass" aren't as intriguing or memorable as the other tracks on the record.

Boston Manor is by no means revolutionary nor are they overly amazing. However, Be Nothing is the most well-produced, well-crafted and well-performed debut of pop-punk/emo-rock this year. Make no mistake, the potential for this band to become something more than what anyone else is doing right now is clear to see from this debut. Be Nothing is at the very least worth a listen, as it is one of the best records in it's genre to come out this year so far.



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user ratings (129)
3.6
great


Comments:Add a Comment 
Soupy
October 1st 2016


46 Comments

Album Rating: 4.5 | Sound Off

Well written review. Wouldn't agree with "Broken Glass" and "Stop Trying, Be Nothing" being unremarkable, think they're both decent tracks, for me it was "Forget Me Not" and "This Song Is Dedicated To Nobody" that I felt didn't really add all that much.

McTime50
October 1st 2016


1021 Comments

Album Rating: 3.5

It's all down to opinion really.

dmp3131
October 1st 2016


1361 Comments

Album Rating: 3.0

This review is well written, so pos'd. Though I would say it seems a little bit short, and kind of broken up at parts. The last sentence of the second paragraph seems out of place, or it seems like it should lead into more of a description of that song or the following songs even. Either way, good review, this band is really good, and hasn't gotten too much attention. So far I'm only three tracks in, but it's on par with Driftwood, which has been my favorite release by them so far.

Scoot
October 2nd 2016


22205 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0

good stuff

Artuma
October 2nd 2016


32773 Comments

Album Rating: 2.0 | Sound Off

such a disappointing album. they have officially dropped to the grey mass of boring, plastic-sounding pop punk bands

Soupy
October 6th 2016


46 Comments

Album Rating: 4.5 | Sound Off

They don't sound like a pop-punk band on this record at all

Artuma
October 6th 2016


32773 Comments

Album Rating: 2.0 | Sound Off

no they sound 100% pop punk here

Soupy
October 6th 2016


46 Comments

Album Rating: 4.5 | Sound Off

I can see why people wouldn't go for this kind of sound, but find it utterly baffling that someone would like their previous EPs then lambast this album for sounding boring and like other pop punk bands? This is way less of a pop punk sound than their previous EPs, especially what they were doing on Driftwood. This is an obvious progression from Sauadade for me. Again, I can completely see why someone wouldn't go for this kind of thing, can even see why people find this kind of stuff boring, but I don't understand how anyone who liked Saudade could listen to this and think it wasn't as good or was actually worse.

Artuma
October 6th 2016


32773 Comments

Album Rating: 2.0 | Sound Off

don't get me wrong, they have always been pop punk. it's just that here they come with a fuller and softer sound which kinda loses the charm they used to have. this is so often the reason for me to despise a pop punk (or generally any punk) band, they just don't have any 'punch' here

Observer
Emeritus
March 26th 2017


9405 Comments


enjoying this

DurzoBlint
June 26th 2017


1396 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0

Eh it is softer than their previous ep but it's still really good.

Storm In A Teacup
April 21st 2018


45783 Comments

Album Rating: 3.5

Really need to check this band

McTime50
April 21st 2018


1021 Comments

Album Rating: 3.5

yes you really do

Storm In A Teacup
June 29th 2018


45783 Comments

Album Rating: 3.5

Halo is a great new song

Storm In A Teacup
July 29th 2018


45783 Comments

Album Rating: 3.5

Halo and Drowned In Gold are both god tier songs and are conoletely different. This band is poised to blow up big if they keep pushing and just stay at the same quality of those two outstanding songs.

Storm In A Teacup
August 14th 2018


45783 Comments

Album Rating: 3.5

Wow...three for three. This new album is going to be insane

McTime50
August 14th 2018


1021 Comments

Album Rating: 3.5

Looking back, this feels like such an amateurish review. I mean, it is, but it’s so direct; it’s not exactly how I’d write it now.

dmp3131
August 14th 2018


1361 Comments

Album Rating: 3.0

New songs rip, this band and Trash Boat progressed so much from their last album and its really working in their favor.

Storm In A Teacup
August 16th 2018


45783 Comments

Album Rating: 3.5

yeah i had never heard this band until Drowned in Gold and I'm so impressed with these three 2018 songs. this new album is them learning to turn super saiyan for the first time.

elry2k
September 28th 2018


184 Comments

Album Rating: 3.5

'Hello'.ljust(20, '-')



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