Track 4 - The Other Shoe
"We're dying on the inside."
Why did it take me this long to review this? Well, it's rather simple - this is more than just another punk rock album. This is more than a hardcore record written by a bunch of angry teenagers. This is something we haven't seen all too often, if at all, come from a 'hardcore' (too rigid a term to use for these guys, really) band.
'David Comes To Life' is a love story about a boy named David (duh) who falls in love with a girl, Veronica. A true tragic romance story for the ages, one for historians in years to come to remember. One that matters, makes sense, and shows a beautiful side of a band we have only caught a glimpse of on their latest efforts.
The songs are magnificent arrangements of punk aggression, strange yet catchy melody (similar to that of... well, Fucked Up), and a chaotic noisy 3-layers of guitar. This album isn't for kids with short-attention spans who are used to 1 minute blasts of fury (unless you're willing-and able-to try something new). I feel that, to get the full effect, you need to listen to the album in its entirety, which is over an hour in duration (again, willing and able).
I have to say, the lyrical content and well-executed musical arrangement really stands out from anything these guys have done before (as if everything they already do doesn't stand out from the rest). In fact, it stands aside from most music in general. The mashing of guitars battling over a steady bass rhythm and crashing drums as Damian growls out songs of love and despair makes for a record beyond much of our wildest musical imaginations.
If I was on a rating scale, this album would get a 20 out of 10, because its so good that I had to listen to the whole thing twice in a row to actually be able to review it. Like 2 consecutive times in a row, not on different days or anything. It's that diverse, talented, and fucking beautiful. Seriously. Soooo good.
Potential best album of 2011? It's up there.
Fucked Up - David Comes To Life - Matador Records
