I am doing another request this week, and it is very different from my previous two. I am vaguely familiar with The Strokes and I like what I have heard of their music, and I also like Julian Casablancas's voice and single "11th Dimension" so this should be an interesting experience. Please understand I am not going to compare this album to The Strokes as I feel the styles are very different.
Title: Phrazes For The Young
Year: 2009
Genre: Pop, Alternative
Artist(s): Julian Casablancas
Copyright: © 2009 RCA/Jive Label Group, a unit of SONY Music Company.
Songs:
1. Out of The Blue-
This song starts off very oddly with techno synth playing, until it fades away and gets replaced with guitars and Casablancas comes in shortly after with the lyrics.I believe that in this song the singer is talking to his current girlfriend about his past actions, saying how revenge twisted him to become careless and that he knows he is going to hell for hurting people that didn't deserve his actions and now lives an empty life with his girlfriend being a stripper. He also muses that the people who deserved the revenge would not have understood it and that when people's roles are reversed so are their opinions. The verses sound very careless and happy to offset the lyrics nicely. The chorus is much brighter sounding representing the character's love for his girlfriend. Throughout the song we get little solos and melodies played alongside Casablancas to help emphasize his point. This song has a nice balance and trade-off in emotions and sounds. Overall, a bit of a long song to analyze but definitely a nice song to listen to. 5 out of 5 stars.
2. Left & Right in The Dark-
This song starts off very mellow and happy with a synthesizer and drums, and even breathing noises for the intro. Eventually the lyrics come in with a matter of fact but calm emotion and tonality. I believe in this song Casablancas is saying it doesn't matter where you are from or what background you have, time catches up to all of us eventually, meaning we are all mortal so you might as well live life to the fullest instead of wasting it. The verses are pretty calm with little embellishments from the guitar. When the choruses come in things get much faster and heavier with a more exciting sound to emphasize living life to the fullest which comes out best when Casablancas sings "wake up". Through out the song the synth and lead guitar trade off playing between Casablancas to help bring greater movement to the song, and Casablancas himself delivers the climax with his voice alongside the guitars. At the end there is a sudden volume swell that is slightly abrupt but is a welcome surprise. Overall, a fun little piece to listen to with a nice message to it. 5 out of 5 stars.
3. 11th Dimension-
This is the only single off this album, and we will try to see why. The song opens up on a catchy bass line with a very 80s style synth playing the rhythm track. The emotion in this song that comes to my mind is mellow but serious. In this song Casablancas is telling us that it isn't right to try and find yourself in other people, and that doing so will only end up hurting you. Instead, believe in yourself and try to have patience and forgiveness for your enemies. The chorus is much more exciting with Casablancas letting people know how they should treat their enemies and be happy with who they are. What makes this song interesting is how the synth takes over in place of the guitar, how the guitar adds extra feel to the music at parts, and the amazing synth solo that is nicely built up to and is followed by an equally good bridge with a very serious emotion to it. Overall, the song has a lot of replay value and is very catchy with a great message to it, even if Casablancas is somewhat nasally. It also acts as a nice 80s throwback. 5 out of 5 stars.
4. 4 Chords of the Apocalypse-
This song starts off very much like an old Gospel song, very mellow and calming which contrasts nicely with the meaning of the lyrics. I believe that in this song Casablancas is telling the story of a couple who argue often and aren't right for each other, so they agree to break up. One partner is happy to be free but the other misses their ex. There are also references to John Lennon and Rocky Horror respectively with the lyrics "war is over" and "time Warp." In the verse things remain calm, but in the chorus things get heavier with distorted guitars and turn funnier and more aggressive. What makes this song special is how quickly things change between calm and angry, Casablancas emoting with his singing, and the first true guitar solo on the album so far. Overall, this piece starts off calm and becomes more intense over time and has good emoting behind it. 5 out of 5 stars.
5. Ludlow Street-
This song starts off with what I believe to be traditional native American instruments playing with what sounds like the experience of being drunk and depressed. The song quickly changes to a more western sounding song followed by the lyrics. This song is a commentary on how European settlers stole away Native American lands, on how much they party and happy they are with the land along with many other cultures they got while most Natives are depressed and drink to forget about how horribly their land was stolen. Casablancas drinks heavily because he knows that the issue over the land will never be solved. The verses are steady and bare drunken anger from Casablancas, the choruses are a little bit happier with louder drums and louder singing. There is also a banjo solo that sounds pretty nice. What makes this song special is the solo, how nicely Casablancas can sound like an angry drunk, albeit with better singing, the banjo solo along with the louder bass and drums, and the overall feel of the song delivering the message. Overall, a very enjoyable song with yet another good message. 5 out of 5 stars.
6. River of Brakelights-
This song starts off like a heavy angry techno song. After a lot of thought it seems this song again plays on the mortality theme, but also seems to imply that life in a city can crush people's dreams from when they were young, turning them old before they can reach their goals. The verses sound like the intro, the pre-choruses are much calmer but repetitive, followed by a climatic chorus. What makes this song special is how easily Casablancas managed to switch all the part together, the interesting dissonant synth solo, the catchy pre-chorus, the emoting Casablancas has here, and how the climax first builds up and then breaks down randomly twice and then stops suddenly. Overall, a very abstract but fun song to listen to with an overall nice sound to it. 5 out of 5 stars.
7. Glass-
This song starts off very oddly with synth sounds and a chorus of whistles, and then Casablancas comes in with very happy sounding music that turns tragic rather quickly. From what I can gather a married couple are talking to each other, and let's say the mafia is coming to kill the husband and he is telling his wife she will be safe behind bulletproof glass. In the later verses it seems the couple are talking. The wife knows secrets that the mafia doesn't want to know, and it is later revealed that the mob boss who sent out his goons wants the wife for himself. The verses get progressively sadder, and the choruses get even more dramatic. What makes this song special is the interesting whistling melodies, Casablancas' very sad vocals where he shows off his higher range, and the most fittingly dramatic guitar solo on the album. Overall, this piece is very powerful but also still happy, and serves as an interesting contrast. 5 out of 5 stars.
8. Tourist-
This song starts off serious, reminiscent of a late Johny Cash song in terms of the guitar playing. In this song Casablancas is talking to a love interest commenting that he feels like a tourist everywhere and that the world will soon be nothing but cities, but when he is with his lover he always feels at home. The verses are serious and very Cash like, but the choruses sound happier with more playing from the synth changing the texture to being happier representing Casablancas love for his partner. What makes this song special is the overall sad feel and switch to happiness, the dual solo from the guitars that changes to a heavier dual solo, and the trumpet used for the climax at the end. Overall, a good song with nice switch of emotion, but tends to drag a lot being the second longest song on the album at 5:03 and not as interesting as "River of Brakelights". 3 out of 5 stars.
9. Old Hollywood-
This song starts off in a very techno style with the emotion of wonderment behind it. After careful deliberation with the I believe the lyrics tell of how often people argue and are influenced by things like television. Casablancas is also commenting that men settle arguments with violence, while women settle them with venom and backstabbing, which is very true. The song is asking for people to stop arguing with each other over what they believe. The verses are slow and laid back but pick up in pace, while the choruses have more layers but keep the same pace as the verses. What makes this song special is the guitar and keyboard duet panned in the left and right speakers, the interesting texture of darkness throughout the song, and how this song uses a little to accomplish a lot. Overall, a nice break from the previous song and very thought provoking and somewhat reminiscent of Depeche Mode's "Stripped". 5 out of 5 stars.
10. 30 Minute Boyfriend-
The song starts off yet again like a Depeche Mode song, very sleazy and like something wrong is going on. The lyrics in this song tell of a girl who had a one night stand with her friend hence cheating on her boyfriend. The girl talks with her boyfriend and he is afraid that she will become what other people think of her, which I assume means that they think she is a whore. The boyfriend wants to spend time with her, but she doesn't want to be with him anymore so she dumps him. The verses are sleazy, but the choruses have a sense of longing like the boyfriend is talking to the girlfriend. What makes this song interesting is the synth solo that puts out the emotion of the song well, Casablancas's emoting, and the overall sound of the song that captures the better elements of dark techno music. Overall, a pretty solid techno song. 5 out of 5 stars.
11. I Wish it Was Christmas Today-
This song is pretty much made of most Christmas music standards, vaguely reminiscent of the Beach Boys "The Baron" except more New Wave and enjoyable. The lyrics in this song are pretty much what the title suggests, and I am not going to bother going into them because this is a joke song from Saturday Night Live. The verses are calmer, while the choruses show how excited Casablancas is in his wish. What makes this song special is how enjoyable the twin guitar solo is again being in both speakers, the jam session after the solo, and the loud bass in the climax to the sound of sleigh bells. Overall, a quick and very enjoyable little Christmas style song. 5 out of 5 stars.
Audio Mixing:
The mixing on this album is pretty good in how well most instruments can be heard. There is nothing immensely over-powering. My only complaints are that the bass is underpowered in most parts, and for a while I wasn't sure if it was there. It is in the mix, it's just very quiet and is replaced by the synth often and Casablancas voice can be hard to hear at times in certain songs because of how low he sings, like "11th Dimension" and "Ludlow Street". Otherwise the mixing is good, just not as good as "The Wall."
Singing:
Casabalncas has a fairly wide range, being able to sing Baritone, Tenor, and Bass parts without the cursed program auto tune. His singing is nasally and his words are hard to hear at parts, but I liken this to the fact that he has a very noticeable Spanish accent. Casablancas is also very good at emoting for what he sings. His best vocals were in "Glass", "Ludlow Street", "Out of the Blue", "Tourist", and "11th Dimension." Casablancas has a good voice and knows how to use it pretty well.
Instrumentation:
Three words, fitting and diverse. The Instrumentation borrows from a lot of standards and different artists but is performed uniquely. He often solos two instruments at once, and has the synth and guitar trade places for different songs. The instrumentation also reflects the emotions of the lyrics well in most cases and has a very enjoyable sound to them.
What I didn't like:
I disliked how much "Tourist" dragged on, which especially didn't help as I had a headache while reviewing that song.
What I did like:
The album has a nice sound to it and is fun to listen to over time. It has a nice pace and has some very enjoyable songs.
Who would enjoy this album:
Fans of Depeche Mode, Gospel, Johnny Cash, New Wave, and possibly the Beach Boys as the surfer rock vibe is still there from The Strokes. I think fans of The Strokes could go either way on this album as it is very different from The Strokes music.
Overall:
This is a solid first album, with good songs, fairly good lyrics, and songs with wide range of influences. Only one song really drags on, otherwise this album is very solid and enjoyable. Next week I am going to finally resume my other blog and review Ke$ha's first album.
Rating: ****
11th Dimension Official Video:
Showing posts with label Review.. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Review.. Show all posts
Sunday, June 12, 2011
Tuesday, May 31, 2011
Sunday, April 3, 2011
A Link to my Requested review of Led Zeppelin IV.
I have launched my special requests blog today, and you can find it here.
Tuesday, March 15, 2011
Breaking Benjamin- Dear Agony
2009 was a very hard year for me, the summer in particular held a series of painful events that made me mature and shattered the remaining hopes from my childhood (like thinking the world revolves around me. lol). 2009 is also the year Dear Agony came out. Kind of funny how fate (and target audiences) work some times, eh? This album represented my emotions down to a T. However at the time I was hoping for this album to lift my spirits, not cast me down. Today I am looking at the latest installment in the Breaking Benjamin discography: Dear Agony.
Note: I can't give the names of the people who helped produce and mix the album because Breaking Benjamin never added this album to their discography for some reason on their website, Shallowbay.com
Title: Dear Agony
Year: 2009
Genre: Emotional Metal, Techno Rock
Artist(s): Breaking Benjamin
Copyright: © 2009 Holly Wood Records
Songs:
1. Fade Away
This track pretty much sets the mood of the album. The lyrics subjectively are similar to Next to Nothing, in that it tells of a broken up relationship from the perspective of both partners. It ends with the heart broken person saying they will fade away from this life, rather than the person moving on like in Next to Nothing. It is dramatic and very whiny in tone and emotion, which fits the lyrics. There is a slight guitar solo, but it doesn't really impress me or carry me anywhere. This song sounds pretty standard in terms of modern rock music with nothing truly noteworthy, and it tends to drag on. 1 out of 5 stars.
2. I Will Not Bow
This is the main single of the album, and it is also the song that set my expectations high for the album (what better way to follow Phobia than to write a hard rock album with awesome songs like this?). It is a very intense hard rock song that grabs your attention and puts you in a triumphant mood, like you could beat Ninja Gaiden without cheats. The lyrics tell of a man in a struggle who wishes to become victorious and forsake the world to live life on his own terms, one of my favorite songs off the album. My only complaint is that the contrast between this song and the rest of the album it barely fits in. 5 out of 5 stars.
3. Crawl
A very angst driven song, but not exactly like Topless. The lyrics tell of a couple in an abusive relationship, with lyrics from the perspectives of both people. The lyrics end with the victim becoming as evil as the abuser. The mood of the instruments fits the emotion of the lyrics well, but I get the feeling the instruments are being there purely for support to just let Ben's voice do all of the emotional styling. Better than Fade Away, but still nothing special. 3 out of 5 stars.
4. Give Me a Sign
This is the second single on the album. Somewhat slow, and very minimalistic, this song has a very whiny tonality to it as well. The lyrics tell of someone who is near death and feels no hope anymore, and someone else who is a loved one who wants to save the dying person. I recognize that the rhythm guitar is trying to make the same hypnotic echo effect like it did in Phobia, but it just comes off as mellow dramatic. The only real thing I like about this song are the lyrics in the "God help me I've come undone" and "There's something buried in the words" parts (the latter of which is the climax.) Somewhat enjoyable, but fails to be enjoyable as a whole. 3 out of 5 stars
5. Hopeless
It starts off with a slow and somewhat promising intro, but breaks into generic guitar riffs. The emotion goes from feeling somewhat lively, then to the person realizing his fate. The lyrics tell of someone who drowned themselves out of guilt and their spirit is starting their descent into hell. The instrumentation bothers me at parts, but I really like Ben's singing in this song, I can tell he actually cared about this one, plus there is a good balance between the screaming and clean vocals. Overall a decently enjoyable song 4 out of 5 stars.
6. What Lies Beneath
The tonality of this song is very fight filled, you can tell they wrote this about a struggle. The meaning of this song is yet again about an abusive relationship from both perspectives, except the victim is calling their partner the devil. This song is the closest I can hear to Phobia and We Are Not Alone, albeit a tiny bit whiny. This is the best hard rock song on the album next to I Will Not Bow. Overall a very enjoyable piece. 4 out of 5 stars.
7. Anthem of the Angels
This song starts off low key with a violin and a cello playing together, then breaks into heavy guitars. It returns to the classic style of Breaking Benjamin of soft and hard parts, and building up to a climax. The lyrics tell of someone who is near a dying loved one, and at the start of the song the caring person says they wish to join to the dying person, but later in the song the caring person accepts that their loved one is going to die. I like how clearly the bass comes through and how good the string section sounds, along with how good Ben's singing is. Overall this track is probably the best on the album so far. 5 out of 5 stars.
8. Lights Out
This is the third single on the album. The emotion and sound in this album are very angst driven and very threatening. The lyrics in this song tell of the Devil commenting on how is going to kill someone by corrupting their life then poisoning their body while saying he can't afford to care for the person because it would make him stop trying to kill the person. The opening of the song is a little weak, though they do switch between heavy and soft. I think they do a good job of painting the picture of the lyrics, and the song becomes highly repetitive. The only really enjoyable part of this song is the short guitar solo. Overall an annoyingly repetitive song. 2 out of 5 stars.
9. Dear Agony
This song reminds a little of Here We Are, but a bit heavier. The emotion is very sincere and passionate. The lyrics describe the singers struggle with a lung infection in how he wishes to fight it but he feels highly threatened by death. The song is beautiful sounding, but perhaps too beautiful, as one might expect the song to be more desperate then going into triumph and hope. Instead it goes from passion into triumph, and then desperation in the chorus, which doesn't make much sense to me. The song is repetitive and has no climax, but is overall enjoyable, albeit somewhat confusing. 4 out of 5 stars.
10. Into the Nothing
Yet another very angst driven song, the song goes from heavy to soft. From what I can gather of the lyrics the song is about a couple where one of the partners is evil, and the other partner is trying to redeem the other partner as they are trying to escape something evil coming into their lives. I like how the bass manages to be prominent but not overpowering (the bass is a bit reminiscent of Iron Maiden in sound.) The song remains interesting and actually caries me like their older songs do, so this song is effective at creating a good mood and picture. Overall very enjoyable, albeit a bit whiny. 3.5 out of stars.
11. Without You
This song has a very desperate and hopeful sound to it. The lyrics in this song tell of a partner in an abusive relationship who wants to make their partner see the error of their ways, but as the song ends the person realizes it is best to let the abusive one go. In the end the victim forgives the abuser. There is a slight hypnotic sense to this piece, and you can really tell Ben is emoting well in this song. Also the last chorus is very convincing, the climax is great and it leads into a very well written string section. My favorite song off the album, it is a great choice to close the album with. It's only shortcoming is that it doesn't really feel solid to me, just like all of the songs on this album. 5 out of 5 stars.
Audio Mixing:
The mixing in this album is a bit traditional and generic, but it works. The instruments come through very clearly, and the bass in songs like in Anthem of the Angels and Into the Nothing is very prominent but not overpowering. The guitars go from a kind of muddy distortion to a crystal clear reverberation, which is a strange contrast. The drums remain consistent in volume, but the volume is turned down at parts to bring the guitars and string sections (which works, but it is still unfortunate for the drummer.) From what I can tell the instruments remain in both speakers, and they only bring up volume for dramatic effect. I'm pleasantly surprised at parts by the mixing, though I feel the mixing on Phobia was a bit better.
Singing:
The singing is a bit lacking on this album. Ben's scream sounds more tired now rather than filled with energy like it used too. I guess this is bound to happen after so many years of touring and screaming at the top of his lungs (probably with out protecting his voice), I mean just look at Robert Plant and James Hetfield these days. That and his voice is bound to change as he gets older. My other issue is that Ben doesn't really emote as well as he did in Phobia, though he did a good job with With Out You. Ben's natural tone is good, but you can tell he's been smoking and that he is struggling with a lung infection. He does manage to sound good on songs like Hopeless and Anthem of the Angels. Lastly, Ben has finally enunciated his words well enough to create understandable phrases that don't sound awkward or out of time.
Instrumentation:
This is where the album truly suffers. I feel like in every song the instruments were only there for support of the vocals (which are lacking in there own way.) Plus the only solos are for guitar, no bass or drums. The structure is generally the same with their previous albums with the soft and heavy verse to chorus and building to a climax, but without many memorable climaxes. The tonality is generally miserable and very canned in.
What I didn't like:
The songs feel incomplete and canned with unconvincing singing. Plus there was an overall generic feeling to the album.
What I did like:
The string arrangements were very beautiful, and a couple of the songs are worth hearing.
Who would enjoy this album:
Fans of music about personal suffering, and people who like music with implied themes of Christianity.
Overall:
I know I may be sounding a little harsh here, but the album has managed to surprise me with a few of the songs being enjoyable to listen too (I was intending to give the album only one star). I think the album sounds the way it does is because of the singer being at risk of dying from a lung infection and the band almost breaking up (no pun intended). Breaking Benjamin is now on hiatus due to Ben being sick. I would rather have a mediocre album than the group splitting up, but that is what happened with Metallica's St. Anger (though this album is much similar to Re-Load), which shows that change isn't always a good thing. The events behind the writing doesn't excuse the song writing when comparing this album to Phobia because its like we went straight from Master of Puppets to Re-Load (a big unwanted change that feels incomplete and has a lot of filler). Overall the album is okay on its own that may grow on you eventually, but a let down when compared to Phobia because of the incomplete and generic sound. Next time I will start my requests blog by reviewing Led Zeppelin IV by Led Zeppelin.
Rating: ***
I Will Not Bow music video:
Give me a Sign music video:
Lights Out unofficial video:
Note: I can't give the names of the people who helped produce and mix the album because Breaking Benjamin never added this album to their discography for some reason on their website, Shallowbay.com
Title: Dear Agony
Year: 2009
Genre: Emotional Metal, Techno Rock
Artist(s): Breaking Benjamin
Copyright: © 2009 Holly Wood Records
Songs:
1. Fade Away
This track pretty much sets the mood of the album. The lyrics subjectively are similar to Next to Nothing, in that it tells of a broken up relationship from the perspective of both partners. It ends with the heart broken person saying they will fade away from this life, rather than the person moving on like in Next to Nothing. It is dramatic and very whiny in tone and emotion, which fits the lyrics. There is a slight guitar solo, but it doesn't really impress me or carry me anywhere. This song sounds pretty standard in terms of modern rock music with nothing truly noteworthy, and it tends to drag on. 1 out of 5 stars.
2. I Will Not Bow
This is the main single of the album, and it is also the song that set my expectations high for the album (what better way to follow Phobia than to write a hard rock album with awesome songs like this?). It is a very intense hard rock song that grabs your attention and puts you in a triumphant mood, like you could beat Ninja Gaiden without cheats. The lyrics tell of a man in a struggle who wishes to become victorious and forsake the world to live life on his own terms, one of my favorite songs off the album. My only complaint is that the contrast between this song and the rest of the album it barely fits in. 5 out of 5 stars.
3. Crawl
A very angst driven song, but not exactly like Topless. The lyrics tell of a couple in an abusive relationship, with lyrics from the perspectives of both people. The lyrics end with the victim becoming as evil as the abuser. The mood of the instruments fits the emotion of the lyrics well, but I get the feeling the instruments are being there purely for support to just let Ben's voice do all of the emotional styling. Better than Fade Away, but still nothing special. 3 out of 5 stars.
4. Give Me a Sign
This is the second single on the album. Somewhat slow, and very minimalistic, this song has a very whiny tonality to it as well. The lyrics tell of someone who is near death and feels no hope anymore, and someone else who is a loved one who wants to save the dying person. I recognize that the rhythm guitar is trying to make the same hypnotic echo effect like it did in Phobia, but it just comes off as mellow dramatic. The only real thing I like about this song are the lyrics in the "God help me I've come undone" and "There's something buried in the words" parts (the latter of which is the climax.) Somewhat enjoyable, but fails to be enjoyable as a whole. 3 out of 5 stars
5. Hopeless
It starts off with a slow and somewhat promising intro, but breaks into generic guitar riffs. The emotion goes from feeling somewhat lively, then to the person realizing his fate. The lyrics tell of someone who drowned themselves out of guilt and their spirit is starting their descent into hell. The instrumentation bothers me at parts, but I really like Ben's singing in this song, I can tell he actually cared about this one, plus there is a good balance between the screaming and clean vocals. Overall a decently enjoyable song 4 out of 5 stars.
6. What Lies Beneath
The tonality of this song is very fight filled, you can tell they wrote this about a struggle. The meaning of this song is yet again about an abusive relationship from both perspectives, except the victim is calling their partner the devil. This song is the closest I can hear to Phobia and We Are Not Alone, albeit a tiny bit whiny. This is the best hard rock song on the album next to I Will Not Bow. Overall a very enjoyable piece. 4 out of 5 stars.
7. Anthem of the Angels
This song starts off low key with a violin and a cello playing together, then breaks into heavy guitars. It returns to the classic style of Breaking Benjamin of soft and hard parts, and building up to a climax. The lyrics tell of someone who is near a dying loved one, and at the start of the song the caring person says they wish to join to the dying person, but later in the song the caring person accepts that their loved one is going to die. I like how clearly the bass comes through and how good the string section sounds, along with how good Ben's singing is. Overall this track is probably the best on the album so far. 5 out of 5 stars.
8. Lights Out
This is the third single on the album. The emotion and sound in this album are very angst driven and very threatening. The lyrics in this song tell of the Devil commenting on how is going to kill someone by corrupting their life then poisoning their body while saying he can't afford to care for the person because it would make him stop trying to kill the person. The opening of the song is a little weak, though they do switch between heavy and soft. I think they do a good job of painting the picture of the lyrics, and the song becomes highly repetitive. The only really enjoyable part of this song is the short guitar solo. Overall an annoyingly repetitive song. 2 out of 5 stars.
9. Dear Agony
This song reminds a little of Here We Are, but a bit heavier. The emotion is very sincere and passionate. The lyrics describe the singers struggle with a lung infection in how he wishes to fight it but he feels highly threatened by death. The song is beautiful sounding, but perhaps too beautiful, as one might expect the song to be more desperate then going into triumph and hope. Instead it goes from passion into triumph, and then desperation in the chorus, which doesn't make much sense to me. The song is repetitive and has no climax, but is overall enjoyable, albeit somewhat confusing. 4 out of 5 stars.
10. Into the Nothing
Yet another very angst driven song, the song goes from heavy to soft. From what I can gather of the lyrics the song is about a couple where one of the partners is evil, and the other partner is trying to redeem the other partner as they are trying to escape something evil coming into their lives. I like how the bass manages to be prominent but not overpowering (the bass is a bit reminiscent of Iron Maiden in sound.) The song remains interesting and actually caries me like their older songs do, so this song is effective at creating a good mood and picture. Overall very enjoyable, albeit a bit whiny. 3.5 out of stars.
11. Without You
This song has a very desperate and hopeful sound to it. The lyrics in this song tell of a partner in an abusive relationship who wants to make their partner see the error of their ways, but as the song ends the person realizes it is best to let the abusive one go. In the end the victim forgives the abuser. There is a slight hypnotic sense to this piece, and you can really tell Ben is emoting well in this song. Also the last chorus is very convincing, the climax is great and it leads into a very well written string section. My favorite song off the album, it is a great choice to close the album with. It's only shortcoming is that it doesn't really feel solid to me, just like all of the songs on this album. 5 out of 5 stars.
Audio Mixing:
The mixing in this album is a bit traditional and generic, but it works. The instruments come through very clearly, and the bass in songs like in Anthem of the Angels and Into the Nothing is very prominent but not overpowering. The guitars go from a kind of muddy distortion to a crystal clear reverberation, which is a strange contrast. The drums remain consistent in volume, but the volume is turned down at parts to bring the guitars and string sections (which works, but it is still unfortunate for the drummer.) From what I can tell the instruments remain in both speakers, and they only bring up volume for dramatic effect. I'm pleasantly surprised at parts by the mixing, though I feel the mixing on Phobia was a bit better.
Singing:
The singing is a bit lacking on this album. Ben's scream sounds more tired now rather than filled with energy like it used too. I guess this is bound to happen after so many years of touring and screaming at the top of his lungs (probably with out protecting his voice), I mean just look at Robert Plant and James Hetfield these days. That and his voice is bound to change as he gets older. My other issue is that Ben doesn't really emote as well as he did in Phobia, though he did a good job with With Out You. Ben's natural tone is good, but you can tell he's been smoking and that he is struggling with a lung infection. He does manage to sound good on songs like Hopeless and Anthem of the Angels. Lastly, Ben has finally enunciated his words well enough to create understandable phrases that don't sound awkward or out of time.
Instrumentation:
This is where the album truly suffers. I feel like in every song the instruments were only there for support of the vocals (which are lacking in there own way.) Plus the only solos are for guitar, no bass or drums. The structure is generally the same with their previous albums with the soft and heavy verse to chorus and building to a climax, but without many memorable climaxes. The tonality is generally miserable and very canned in.
What I didn't like:
The songs feel incomplete and canned with unconvincing singing. Plus there was an overall generic feeling to the album.
What I did like:
The string arrangements were very beautiful, and a couple of the songs are worth hearing.
Who would enjoy this album:
Fans of music about personal suffering, and people who like music with implied themes of Christianity.
Overall:
I know I may be sounding a little harsh here, but the album has managed to surprise me with a few of the songs being enjoyable to listen too (I was intending to give the album only one star). I think the album sounds the way it does is because of the singer being at risk of dying from a lung infection and the band almost breaking up (no pun intended). Breaking Benjamin is now on hiatus due to Ben being sick. I would rather have a mediocre album than the group splitting up, but that is what happened with Metallica's St. Anger (though this album is much similar to Re-Load), which shows that change isn't always a good thing. The events behind the writing doesn't excuse the song writing when comparing this album to Phobia because its like we went straight from Master of Puppets to Re-Load (a big unwanted change that feels incomplete and has a lot of filler). Overall the album is okay on its own that may grow on you eventually, but a let down when compared to Phobia because of the incomplete and generic sound. Next time I will start my requests blog by reviewing Led Zeppelin IV by Led Zeppelin.
Rating: ***
I Will Not Bow music video:
Give me a Sign music video:
Lights Out unofficial video:
Thursday, March 3, 2011
Breaking Benjamin- Phobia
I apologize for how long it has taken for me to write a follow up to We Are Not Alone, school has been hectic as of late. This is by far my favorite Breaking Benjamin Album in their discography. It has remained in my heart, soul, and mind since it came out in 2006 (has it really been five years already? Jeez, I'm getting old. lol) This is their third studio album and it has many fan favorite songs. This album is different from the previous two in the way it sounds, and today we will see if that change truly was for the better.
Title: Phobia
Year: 2006
Genre: Alternative Metal, Hard Rock, Alternative Blues, and Techno Rock
Artist(s): Breaking Benjamin
Copyright: © 2006 Holly Wood Records
Songs:
1. Phobia (Intro)
Truly something that sets this album apart from the previous two is the instrumental opening. We get to hear the band jamming out on their instruments to sounds like planes moving buy and flight stewardesses speaking in numerous languages (though that is ironic if we remember the meaning of Break my Fall.) We hear the noise of a door opening to signify the start of the album. A unique way to start an album that shows they can be very experimental. 5 out of 5 stars.
2. The Diary of Jane
This is one of Breaking Benjamin's most popular songs. This song fits well in the alternative metal genre because it is heavy, but isn't angry, rather it sounds very exciting. The lyrics tell of a man who is trying to win the heart of a woman he loves but she isn't paying attention to him, he eventually becomes so devoted he realizes just how much of his life has been ruined by the unrequited love. This song has a slow build up and a heavy introduction, it switches from light to heavy in verse and chorus from with the chorus being the heaviest. In this song he screams when appropriate, and the climax is right at the last chorus with the backing vocals making a quiet but interesting melody with Ben until we get a soft outro. A very enjoyable piece that sounds unique and builds nicely to a climax. 5 out of 5 stars.
3. Breath
The second single off the album, this song is more low key than The Diary of Jane. This song has a very dark and serious feel to it. The lyrics tell of an ex couple who fight with each other very often and the singer is saying it is better if they stay apart. It starts with a slow build up in the intro and then goes to a heavy intro, followed by a soft verse heavy chorus pattern. The climax comes in on the "I'm waiting" lyrics. This piece is more relaxed than the previous song, but it remains just as enjoyable. 5 out of 5 stars.
4. You
This song is very low key with a soft verse and heavy chorus. It has kind of a depressing but mysterious feel to it. The lyrics are hard for me to decipher, but from what I can understand the singer feels like he has hit rock bottom but does not want to drag his lover down with him. This song is different from the previous two in the sense that in the sense that the climax is at the very end and even that is pretty low key. Musically simple, but still very enjoyable and very haunting. 5 out of 5 stars.
5. Evil Angel
This song has a very hopeful sound to it, which makes sense since the song is about the singer wishing for a savior to take him to a happier place. The song goes from soft to hard, and has an interesting guitar solo as the climax. This song is very exciting to listen too, and Ben's singing is very enjoyable in it. 5 out of 5 stars.
6. Until the End
This is the third single off this album. This song's emotion fits the tittle perfectly in that it is very triumphant against harsh odds. The lyrics tell of two people who fight very often, but the singer wants to win no matter what. This song manages to pull off being very hard rock oriented but also sounding happy at the same time, and it also has the first time I have heard this band swear on tempo so perfectly. A truly enjoyable and inspiring song. 5 out of 5 stars.
7. Dance With the Devil
This song is very different from the previous song. It is very low key but heavily dramatic at the same time. The lyrics tell of a man who is with a bad girlfriend and he is dancing with the devil by giving her another chance, at the end of the song he gives up on her and moves on. I used to dislike this song, but it has really grown on me. I like how hypnotic the guitars sound on the chorus, and how perfectly the entire band sets the mood musically. 5 out of 5 stars.
8. Topless
This song is very angst sounding, like if your stomach ulcer had a theme song. It is down tempo but still heavy. This all makes perfect sense considering the song is about a rapist and his victim talking to each other. This is the only song off the album that I don't really like, the instrumentation and the oddly harmonized singing I feel could have been a lot better if it were performed differently. That being said I do have to give them credit for making the music match the concept so nicely, that and I enjoy the instrumentation in the chorus. 3 out of 5 stars.
9. Here we Are
This song is another strong contrast to the previous one. This song is much more ballad like, meaning it is melodic and beautiful. The lyrics tell of an ex boyfriend who is talking to his former girlfriend about how pathetic he feels and how much of a drama queen she is. He wishes they could stop fighting and move on with their life. Well it uses the typical Breaking Benjamin song formula (soft to hard, build up to climax) it manages to really entrance me in the emotion of the song and feel for the character in it, it achieves this by again being very hypnotic. 5 out of 5 stars.
10. Unknown Soldier
This song is very triumphant, but not in a cheesy or typical way. Kudos to them for using a helicopter sound effectively. The lyrics tell of a soldier who is going to sacrifice him self to save someone he cares about, and that he looks forward to it. I like the overall feel of this song, the echo the guitar makes really helps to set the mood here. 5 out of 5 stars.
11. Had Enough
This is the angriest song Breaking Benjamin has ever written. Heavy and intense, the instrumentation lets you know that the singer is pissed. The lyrics tell of the singer being tired of fighting with an abusive con artist and that the singer will forever pity and hate the thief. I love this song because everything about it impresses from start to finish, with Ben screaming very convincingly "Heaven help you!" with the guitar solo in the background for the climax. If someone ever stole money from you, or if you had a greedy ex lover who broke your heart, this is the perfect song to dedicate to them. 6 out 5 stars
12. You Fight Me
This song is more down tempo and relaxed from Had Enough, but still very angst driven. The lyrics tell of two people, with one fighter loosing and the other dominating in a very menacing manner. This is where Breaking Benjamin got really experimental, it seems to me they wanted to do their own spin of combining rapping, techno, and hard rock. Or in other words their own original spin on Nu Metal, which makes me think Linkin Park served as an inspiration on this song. Some might say the lyrics are a little week and rushed during writing, but it flows nicely in the song so it doesn't matter to me. A very thought provoking piece. 5 out of 5 stars.
13. Phobia (Outro)
Similar yet different from the opening, this one plays more like a finishing climax in the sense that it is heavier as opposed to a slow build up with a very long guitar solo. It is similar in that there are noises and voices. The song ends with a an electric violin playing (the only time you would hear a bowed instrument if you have the Itunes version of this CD) and the door from the intro fittingly closing.
14. Diary of Jane Acoustic
If you have the hard copy CD or one of the early releases then you have this wonderful rendition of an otherwise great song. Featuring Sebastian Davin of Dropping Daylight on piano and David Eggar on cello, this piece is their most emotional and beautiful ballad to date as the combination of piano and cello along with Ben's heartfelt singing really help bring out the emotional nature of the unrequited love in this piece. The lyrics are the same as before, and the song is still very familiar sounding but different in a good way. 5 out of 5 stars.
Audio Mixing:
The band uses similar tricks as on their previous album, just with more noises and people talking this time around to help set moods and signify the beginning and end of the album. The sound quality is the best I have ever heard so far from this band. Again the audio quality changes to fit the mood of the song as it did in We Are Not Alone, but it retains a strong sense of consistency as well. I wouldn't say it sounds clear exactly, I would actually use the words shiny and warm to describe the sound because of the echo effects the guitars used along with the somewhat muddy and deep bass really makes me think of a crystal being held in front of a fire. I tip my hat off to audio engineers Ben Grosse and Paul Pavao for the job they did here.
Singing:
The singing on this album has improved greatly over the previous album. Ben emotes every line perfectly, and the swearing no longer comes off as awkward or off tempo. His singing on tracks like Evil Angel shows just how beautiful a voice Ben Burnely has, while every other song shows how proper emoting can make a voice very versatile. My only real complaint is that Ben still isn't pronouncing some of his words clearly which create moments similar to the swearing from We Are Not Alone in that they are somewhat off timing and sound strange. Otherwise the singing is top notch.
Instrumentation:
Four words this time: Versatile, emotional, hypnotic, and complex. Most of the songs follow the pattern of a soft verse and heavy chorus, but the band does change it up in a few songs. What really amazes me about the instrumentation is how in every song the instruments create the mood and picture of the lyrics so perfectly (I have yet to hear a song as angry as Had Enough, though to be fair I am going to review the Tool discography someday. lol) even in the song Topless. Another thing that is nice is that solos start to make a comeback in this album, though you need to know where to look (like the bass in You, or the Drums in the "Hold on" section in Dance with the Devil, and the guitar solo in the Outro.) The instrumentation is top notch and the best I've heard from this band.
What I didn't like:
The song Topless was not really my style.
What I did like:
To quote my self from my Saturate review, everything else especially since the lyrics are a a lot less vague now.
Who would enjoy this album:
Lyrics about rape and sex aside, I truly think this is an album everyone should have a chance to listen too.
Overall:
This album is radically different from their previous two albums (though some similarities remain), as such Breaking Benjamin is saying good bye to their Grunge roots. Also, after going over the album it is safe for me to say that in my eyes this is Breaking Benjamin's musical opus; their masterpiece. With beautiful singing, versatile and mood setting music, and great audio production Phobia is truly a wonderful album that everyone should have the chance to hear. Next time I will close their discography with their latest album, Dear Agony. Expect it to be less positive than the previous reviews and also shorter in style.
Rating: *****
Diary of Jane Music Video:
Breath Music Video:
Unofficial Unknown Soldier Music Video:
Title: Phobia
Year: 2006
Genre: Alternative Metal, Hard Rock, Alternative Blues, and Techno Rock
Artist(s): Breaking Benjamin
Copyright: © 2006 Holly Wood Records
Songs:
1. Phobia (Intro)
Truly something that sets this album apart from the previous two is the instrumental opening. We get to hear the band jamming out on their instruments to sounds like planes moving buy and flight stewardesses speaking in numerous languages (though that is ironic if we remember the meaning of Break my Fall.) We hear the noise of a door opening to signify the start of the album. A unique way to start an album that shows they can be very experimental. 5 out of 5 stars.
2. The Diary of Jane
This is one of Breaking Benjamin's most popular songs. This song fits well in the alternative metal genre because it is heavy, but isn't angry, rather it sounds very exciting. The lyrics tell of a man who is trying to win the heart of a woman he loves but she isn't paying attention to him, he eventually becomes so devoted he realizes just how much of his life has been ruined by the unrequited love. This song has a slow build up and a heavy introduction, it switches from light to heavy in verse and chorus from with the chorus being the heaviest. In this song he screams when appropriate, and the climax is right at the last chorus with the backing vocals making a quiet but interesting melody with Ben until we get a soft outro. A very enjoyable piece that sounds unique and builds nicely to a climax. 5 out of 5 stars.
3. Breath
The second single off the album, this song is more low key than The Diary of Jane. This song has a very dark and serious feel to it. The lyrics tell of an ex couple who fight with each other very often and the singer is saying it is better if they stay apart. It starts with a slow build up in the intro and then goes to a heavy intro, followed by a soft verse heavy chorus pattern. The climax comes in on the "I'm waiting" lyrics. This piece is more relaxed than the previous song, but it remains just as enjoyable. 5 out of 5 stars.
4. You
This song is very low key with a soft verse and heavy chorus. It has kind of a depressing but mysterious feel to it. The lyrics are hard for me to decipher, but from what I can understand the singer feels like he has hit rock bottom but does not want to drag his lover down with him. This song is different from the previous two in the sense that in the sense that the climax is at the very end and even that is pretty low key. Musically simple, but still very enjoyable and very haunting. 5 out of 5 stars.
5. Evil Angel
This song has a very hopeful sound to it, which makes sense since the song is about the singer wishing for a savior to take him to a happier place. The song goes from soft to hard, and has an interesting guitar solo as the climax. This song is very exciting to listen too, and Ben's singing is very enjoyable in it. 5 out of 5 stars.
6. Until the End
This is the third single off this album. This song's emotion fits the tittle perfectly in that it is very triumphant against harsh odds. The lyrics tell of two people who fight very often, but the singer wants to win no matter what. This song manages to pull off being very hard rock oriented but also sounding happy at the same time, and it also has the first time I have heard this band swear on tempo so perfectly. A truly enjoyable and inspiring song. 5 out of 5 stars.
7. Dance With the Devil
This song is very different from the previous song. It is very low key but heavily dramatic at the same time. The lyrics tell of a man who is with a bad girlfriend and he is dancing with the devil by giving her another chance, at the end of the song he gives up on her and moves on. I used to dislike this song, but it has really grown on me. I like how hypnotic the guitars sound on the chorus, and how perfectly the entire band sets the mood musically. 5 out of 5 stars.
8. Topless
This song is very angst sounding, like if your stomach ulcer had a theme song. It is down tempo but still heavy. This all makes perfect sense considering the song is about a rapist and his victim talking to each other. This is the only song off the album that I don't really like, the instrumentation and the oddly harmonized singing I feel could have been a lot better if it were performed differently. That being said I do have to give them credit for making the music match the concept so nicely, that and I enjoy the instrumentation in the chorus. 3 out of 5 stars.
9. Here we Are
This song is another strong contrast to the previous one. This song is much more ballad like, meaning it is melodic and beautiful. The lyrics tell of an ex boyfriend who is talking to his former girlfriend about how pathetic he feels and how much of a drama queen she is. He wishes they could stop fighting and move on with their life. Well it uses the typical Breaking Benjamin song formula (soft to hard, build up to climax) it manages to really entrance me in the emotion of the song and feel for the character in it, it achieves this by again being very hypnotic. 5 out of 5 stars.
10. Unknown Soldier
This song is very triumphant, but not in a cheesy or typical way. Kudos to them for using a helicopter sound effectively. The lyrics tell of a soldier who is going to sacrifice him self to save someone he cares about, and that he looks forward to it. I like the overall feel of this song, the echo the guitar makes really helps to set the mood here. 5 out of 5 stars.
11. Had Enough
This is the angriest song Breaking Benjamin has ever written. Heavy and intense, the instrumentation lets you know that the singer is pissed. The lyrics tell of the singer being tired of fighting with an abusive con artist and that the singer will forever pity and hate the thief. I love this song because everything about it impresses from start to finish, with Ben screaming very convincingly "Heaven help you!" with the guitar solo in the background for the climax. If someone ever stole money from you, or if you had a greedy ex lover who broke your heart, this is the perfect song to dedicate to them. 6 out 5 stars
12. You Fight Me
This song is more down tempo and relaxed from Had Enough, but still very angst driven. The lyrics tell of two people, with one fighter loosing and the other dominating in a very menacing manner. This is where Breaking Benjamin got really experimental, it seems to me they wanted to do their own spin of combining rapping, techno, and hard rock. Or in other words their own original spin on Nu Metal, which makes me think Linkin Park served as an inspiration on this song. Some might say the lyrics are a little week and rushed during writing, but it flows nicely in the song so it doesn't matter to me. A very thought provoking piece. 5 out of 5 stars.
13. Phobia (Outro)
Similar yet different from the opening, this one plays more like a finishing climax in the sense that it is heavier as opposed to a slow build up with a very long guitar solo. It is similar in that there are noises and voices. The song ends with a an electric violin playing (the only time you would hear a bowed instrument if you have the Itunes version of this CD) and the door from the intro fittingly closing.
14. Diary of Jane Acoustic
If you have the hard copy CD or one of the early releases then you have this wonderful rendition of an otherwise great song. Featuring Sebastian Davin of Dropping Daylight on piano and David Eggar on cello, this piece is their most emotional and beautiful ballad to date as the combination of piano and cello along with Ben's heartfelt singing really help bring out the emotional nature of the unrequited love in this piece. The lyrics are the same as before, and the song is still very familiar sounding but different in a good way. 5 out of 5 stars.
Audio Mixing:
The band uses similar tricks as on their previous album, just with more noises and people talking this time around to help set moods and signify the beginning and end of the album. The sound quality is the best I have ever heard so far from this band. Again the audio quality changes to fit the mood of the song as it did in We Are Not Alone, but it retains a strong sense of consistency as well. I wouldn't say it sounds clear exactly, I would actually use the words shiny and warm to describe the sound because of the echo effects the guitars used along with the somewhat muddy and deep bass really makes me think of a crystal being held in front of a fire. I tip my hat off to audio engineers Ben Grosse and Paul Pavao for the job they did here.
Singing:
The singing on this album has improved greatly over the previous album. Ben emotes every line perfectly, and the swearing no longer comes off as awkward or off tempo. His singing on tracks like Evil Angel shows just how beautiful a voice Ben Burnely has, while every other song shows how proper emoting can make a voice very versatile. My only real complaint is that Ben still isn't pronouncing some of his words clearly which create moments similar to the swearing from We Are Not Alone in that they are somewhat off timing and sound strange. Otherwise the singing is top notch.
Instrumentation:
Four words this time: Versatile, emotional, hypnotic, and complex. Most of the songs follow the pattern of a soft verse and heavy chorus, but the band does change it up in a few songs. What really amazes me about the instrumentation is how in every song the instruments create the mood and picture of the lyrics so perfectly (I have yet to hear a song as angry as Had Enough, though to be fair I am going to review the Tool discography someday. lol) even in the song Topless. Another thing that is nice is that solos start to make a comeback in this album, though you need to know where to look (like the bass in You, or the Drums in the "Hold on" section in Dance with the Devil, and the guitar solo in the Outro.) The instrumentation is top notch and the best I've heard from this band.
What I didn't like:
The song Topless was not really my style.
What I did like:
To quote my self from my Saturate review, everything else especially since the lyrics are a a lot less vague now.
Who would enjoy this album:
Lyrics about rape and sex aside, I truly think this is an album everyone should have a chance to listen too.
Overall:
This album is radically different from their previous two albums (though some similarities remain), as such Breaking Benjamin is saying good bye to their Grunge roots. Also, after going over the album it is safe for me to say that in my eyes this is Breaking Benjamin's musical opus; their masterpiece. With beautiful singing, versatile and mood setting music, and great audio production Phobia is truly a wonderful album that everyone should have the chance to hear. Next time I will close their discography with their latest album, Dear Agony. Expect it to be less positive than the previous reviews and also shorter in style.
Rating: *****
Diary of Jane Music Video:
Breath Music Video:
Unofficial Unknown Soldier Music Video:
Monday, January 31, 2011
Breaking Benjamin- We Are Not Alone
Breaking Benjamin's second studio album is very different from their first one. The album is much heavier and more serious, but does still retain a few similarities to Saturate. We Are Not Alone is what got me to like this group back in late 2005 when I got it as a birthday present from a friend, and now six years later I am going to revisit it and review it officially. Also, since my last review was so lengthy I have reformed my style to be more straight to the point.
Title: We Are Not Alone
Year: 2004
Genre: Alternative Metal, Post Grunge
Artist(s): Breaking Benjamin
Copyright: © Hollywood Records 2004
Songs:
1. So Cold-
The first song on this album is definitely one of the heaviest and angry of the album. The song is written about an extremely cold individual who the singer wishes who would change their ways. This is the the main single of the album and displays how well the band can play heavy metal. 5 out of 5 stars.
2. Simple Design-
This song is very happy sounding, yet serious. The song is written about the singer being out of a slightly troubled relationship that his girlfriend called off. He is saying that he will be a better boyfriend when the time comes. Truly an interesting combination of Alternative, Grunge, and Metal that creates a very nice sound with interesting embellishments from the instruments. 5 out of 5 stars.
3. Follow-
This song is neither happy nor angry, it's more like desperation crawling at hope. Definitely a more alternative metal piece it is heavy but not as heavy as So Cold. The lyrics are vague (what a surprise), but from what I can tell he is hoping to become close a girl but she doesn't want to acknowledge he exists. Definitely an enjoyable song with a healthy amount of alterations. 5 out of 5 stars.
4. Firefly-
This song somehow manages to sound happy yet angry at the same time. The lyrics are vague, but from what I can gather the song is written about the singer having a friend who is using him, though the singer catches the friend in the act but continues to do favors for the friend, eventually the singer looses interest because the friend is copying him too much and leaves him behind (somewhat reminiscent of Wish I May from Saturate) This one is fun to sing along too, the only part of the song that doesn't really fit in is when Ben uses the F word because it seems really rushed and goes against the tempo. 4 out of 5 stars.
5. Break My Fall-
Heavy and beautiful with a down tempo feel, this song was written about the singer's fear of flying and him asking for help in conquering that fear. The song is very enjoyable and has an interesting section towards the end where you can hear a pilot saying his plane is crashing. 5 out of 5 stars.
6. Forget It-
This song is even more beautiful and down temp than the previous song, in fact it is a ballad like Forever except slightly faster paced. The lyrics are about the singer talking to an ex-girlfriend and asking her to forget about something very embarrassing to him and for them to stop fighting, seeing as the song ends on a happy note with the singer saying "I can live forever here" he probably gets his wish granted. Breaking Benjamin wrote this song with help from Billy Corgan of The Smashing Pumpkins, and it shows in how relaxing and pleasant to the ear it is. 5 out of 5 stars.
7. Sooner or Later-
This is the second single on the album, this is the song that got me into Breaking Benjamin (a person's first break up is always the hardest). Far from your ordinary breakup song, the music conveys very well the emotions of frustration, betrayal, and tired of breaking up. Towards the end of the song we get to hear Ben's extra high singing, which is just beautiful. 5 out of 5 stars.
8. Breakdown-
This song is serious, angry, yet fun all at the same time. We open with an interesting piano setting the mood nicely for the frustrated lyrics. The song is again somewhat vague as the only thing I can gather is that he intends to hire a prostitute, but he stops from going through with it because he feels cripplingly guilty about hiring her. This would explain the dry and heavy sound of the guitars. An enjoyable song with creepy imagery behind it. 5 out of 5 stars.
9. Away-
The emotions in this song are fact telling mixed with a sense of worried longing in the choruses. The lyrics tell of a lover arguing with the singer where it becomes so bad that she is at risk of being taken away to what I am assuming is a mental hospital. This song is very heavy yet light, an interesting combination but the song eventually drags on. 3 out of 5 stars.
10. Believe-
The angriest and heaviest song on the album, it is about the singer arguing with someone he really doesn't like and that he is forced to choose sides and "wrong rights." This song opens up a very aggressive and deep sounding bass intro that sets the mood perfectly for the song, Ben switches a lot between his screaming vocals and his clean vocals to show just how good he at both singing styles (You can actually understand the screaming vocals.) There is a little breakdown, then it builds back up
to the verse and closes on an amazing climax. A very intense song that is fun to sing along with (provided you don't throw out your voice.) 5 out of 5 stars.
11. Rain-
The most low key and beautiful ballad on the album, it is all acoustic instruments along with a string quartet and rain sound effects. The song is written about the lead singer staying in a relationship just so he won't have to be alone (A sad thing, but it does happen to people who hate being alone). The song is low key and lets off to a soft climax at the end. A very enjoyable piece. 5 out of 5 stars.
Audio Mixing:
The mixing on this album is very well done, while at a first listen you may not think so because of how dry the instruments sound sometimes. They do this on purpose. The point of making the sound different on each song is to give the song new life and better reflect the emotions the band is giving out in their music. On the down side the bass is hard to hear in some songs, and the drums are often put out in the back burner, but in some songs the drums and bass really come full forwards along with the singing. They also do things like putting some instruments in the right or left speaker, and add sound effects like they did in Rain and Break my Fall (which is common in Rock bands ever since the Beatles did back in the 60s.) Overall this album is more compressed than Saturate, but it is done very effectively.
The Singing:
The singing is beautiful, with Ben's voice being a bit easier to hear than the previous album. Ben's voice is not the same but is still good, for instance the scream has more depth to it now. The singing is also well balanced between the clean and screaming vocals (even in Believe), and the backup singers don't overpower the main voice. I especially like that we get to hear Ben's higher register at the end of Sooner or Later.
Instrumentation:
One word: complex. The guitars play separate melodies while the bass plays it's own supporting melodies, and the drums add interesting and well paced rhythm. The sound also varies by song, yet the songs still transfer very well to the next one. Unlike Saturate, the guitar solos were put in together with the singing, meaning technically there are very few solos in the album. Also, the playing of each instrument perfectly captures the emotions of the lyrics.
What I didn't like:
My only real complaints are the that audio mixing is dry on some songs, which works well conceptually but not everyone can pick up on that, especially on their first listen through. Plus the swearing didn't work as well it did in the last album. The lyrics were vague again, though not as bad as in Saturate. Also, Away tended to be a tad repetitive. Lastly, the sense of fun that Saturate had was traded in for a more serious feel.
What I did like:
I liked the overall sound of the album with the instruments, singing, mixing, and effects they used. It is an album with many colors to it (variety and versatility are important aspects of any musician.) I also like that some of the lyrics bring up good points about relationships and friendships and how they can end easily. I think in a way they pay homage to their influences of Tool by making songs that are complex but also considered catchy by many people.
Who would enjoy this album:
Fans of numerous Metal, Rock, and Alternative styles.
Overall:
This album is a far cry from Saturate, with a more somber and serious air to it. In fact this change alienated a fair number of their early fans. However, they pull off the change successfully and not obnoxiously like some other artists do when they radically change their style. Also, looking back at it now I am glad to say it is a solid rock album. This album is not their best work, but it is definitely not their worst. It is worth checking out for some very interesting and enjoyable songs.
Rating: ****
So Cold Music Video:
Sooner or Later Music Video:
Title: We Are Not Alone
Year: 2004
Genre: Alternative Metal, Post Grunge
Artist(s): Breaking Benjamin
Copyright: © Hollywood Records 2004
Songs:
1. So Cold-
The first song on this album is definitely one of the heaviest and angry of the album. The song is written about an extremely cold individual who the singer wishes who would change their ways. This is the the main single of the album and displays how well the band can play heavy metal. 5 out of 5 stars.
2. Simple Design-
This song is very happy sounding, yet serious. The song is written about the singer being out of a slightly troubled relationship that his girlfriend called off. He is saying that he will be a better boyfriend when the time comes. Truly an interesting combination of Alternative, Grunge, and Metal that creates a very nice sound with interesting embellishments from the instruments. 5 out of 5 stars.
3. Follow-
This song is neither happy nor angry, it's more like desperation crawling at hope. Definitely a more alternative metal piece it is heavy but not as heavy as So Cold. The lyrics are vague (what a surprise), but from what I can tell he is hoping to become close a girl but she doesn't want to acknowledge he exists. Definitely an enjoyable song with a healthy amount of alterations. 5 out of 5 stars.
4. Firefly-
This song somehow manages to sound happy yet angry at the same time. The lyrics are vague, but from what I can gather the song is written about the singer having a friend who is using him, though the singer catches the friend in the act but continues to do favors for the friend, eventually the singer looses interest because the friend is copying him too much and leaves him behind (somewhat reminiscent of Wish I May from Saturate) This one is fun to sing along too, the only part of the song that doesn't really fit in is when Ben uses the F word because it seems really rushed and goes against the tempo. 4 out of 5 stars.
5. Break My Fall-
Heavy and beautiful with a down tempo feel, this song was written about the singer's fear of flying and him asking for help in conquering that fear. The song is very enjoyable and has an interesting section towards the end where you can hear a pilot saying his plane is crashing. 5 out of 5 stars.
6. Forget It-
This song is even more beautiful and down temp than the previous song, in fact it is a ballad like Forever except slightly faster paced. The lyrics are about the singer talking to an ex-girlfriend and asking her to forget about something very embarrassing to him and for them to stop fighting, seeing as the song ends on a happy note with the singer saying "I can live forever here" he probably gets his wish granted. Breaking Benjamin wrote this song with help from Billy Corgan of The Smashing Pumpkins, and it shows in how relaxing and pleasant to the ear it is. 5 out of 5 stars.
7. Sooner or Later-
This is the second single on the album, this is the song that got me into Breaking Benjamin (a person's first break up is always the hardest). Far from your ordinary breakup song, the music conveys very well the emotions of frustration, betrayal, and tired of breaking up. Towards the end of the song we get to hear Ben's extra high singing, which is just beautiful. 5 out of 5 stars.
8. Breakdown-
This song is serious, angry, yet fun all at the same time. We open with an interesting piano setting the mood nicely for the frustrated lyrics. The song is again somewhat vague as the only thing I can gather is that he intends to hire a prostitute, but he stops from going through with it because he feels cripplingly guilty about hiring her. This would explain the dry and heavy sound of the guitars. An enjoyable song with creepy imagery behind it. 5 out of 5 stars.
9. Away-
The emotions in this song are fact telling mixed with a sense of worried longing in the choruses. The lyrics tell of a lover arguing with the singer where it becomes so bad that she is at risk of being taken away to what I am assuming is a mental hospital. This song is very heavy yet light, an interesting combination but the song eventually drags on. 3 out of 5 stars.
10. Believe-
The angriest and heaviest song on the album, it is about the singer arguing with someone he really doesn't like and that he is forced to choose sides and "wrong rights." This song opens up a very aggressive and deep sounding bass intro that sets the mood perfectly for the song, Ben switches a lot between his screaming vocals and his clean vocals to show just how good he at both singing styles (You can actually understand the screaming vocals.) There is a little breakdown, then it builds back up
to the verse and closes on an amazing climax. A very intense song that is fun to sing along with (provided you don't throw out your voice.) 5 out of 5 stars.
11. Rain-
The most low key and beautiful ballad on the album, it is all acoustic instruments along with a string quartet and rain sound effects. The song is written about the lead singer staying in a relationship just so he won't have to be alone (A sad thing, but it does happen to people who hate being alone). The song is low key and lets off to a soft climax at the end. A very enjoyable piece. 5 out of 5 stars.
Audio Mixing:
The mixing on this album is very well done, while at a first listen you may not think so because of how dry the instruments sound sometimes. They do this on purpose. The point of making the sound different on each song is to give the song new life and better reflect the emotions the band is giving out in their music. On the down side the bass is hard to hear in some songs, and the drums are often put out in the back burner, but in some songs the drums and bass really come full forwards along with the singing. They also do things like putting some instruments in the right or left speaker, and add sound effects like they did in Rain and Break my Fall (which is common in Rock bands ever since the Beatles did back in the 60s.) Overall this album is more compressed than Saturate, but it is done very effectively.
The Singing:
The singing is beautiful, with Ben's voice being a bit easier to hear than the previous album. Ben's voice is not the same but is still good, for instance the scream has more depth to it now. The singing is also well balanced between the clean and screaming vocals (even in Believe), and the backup singers don't overpower the main voice. I especially like that we get to hear Ben's higher register at the end of Sooner or Later.
Instrumentation:
One word: complex. The guitars play separate melodies while the bass plays it's own supporting melodies, and the drums add interesting and well paced rhythm. The sound also varies by song, yet the songs still transfer very well to the next one. Unlike Saturate, the guitar solos were put in together with the singing, meaning technically there are very few solos in the album. Also, the playing of each instrument perfectly captures the emotions of the lyrics.
What I didn't like:
My only real complaints are the that audio mixing is dry on some songs, which works well conceptually but not everyone can pick up on that, especially on their first listen through. Plus the swearing didn't work as well it did in the last album. The lyrics were vague again, though not as bad as in Saturate. Also, Away tended to be a tad repetitive. Lastly, the sense of fun that Saturate had was traded in for a more serious feel.
What I did like:
I liked the overall sound of the album with the instruments, singing, mixing, and effects they used. It is an album with many colors to it (variety and versatility are important aspects of any musician.) I also like that some of the lyrics bring up good points about relationships and friendships and how they can end easily. I think in a way they pay homage to their influences of Tool by making songs that are complex but also considered catchy by many people.
Who would enjoy this album:
Fans of numerous Metal, Rock, and Alternative styles.
Overall:
This album is a far cry from Saturate, with a more somber and serious air to it. In fact this change alienated a fair number of their early fans. However, they pull off the change successfully and not obnoxiously like some other artists do when they radically change their style. Also, looking back at it now I am glad to say it is a solid rock album. This album is not their best work, but it is definitely not their worst. It is worth checking out for some very interesting and enjoyable songs.
Rating: ****
So Cold Music Video:
Sooner or Later Music Video:
Friday, December 31, 2010
Fred Benedtti & Peter Pupping- Here Comes the Sun
On a starting note, I am reviewing an older version of the CD, it only has 12 songs as opposed to the one you can buy online that has more.
Title: Here Comes the Sun
Year: 1997
Genre: Easy Listening- Acoustic Music
Artist(s): Fred Benedetti and Peter Pupping
Record label: Guitar Sounds
Copyright: © Copyright-Petrus Productins Inc., dba GuitarSounds
Songs:
1. Here Comes the Sun- The Beatles
The first thing I notice is that the audio mixing on the CD is very loud. Also compared to the original the speed of the song is faster, and 58 seconds shorter. This cover is more of a summary of the original, with the guitars taking over the guitar tracks and the vocals. I also can't help but notice the song is more inclined to being excited and joyful as opposed to feeling relief from depression. It seems like they wanted to try and make the song a little catchier than it already is. Despite it's short comings the song is still very enjoyable. 3 out of 5 Stars.
2. Dust in the Wind- Kansas cover
The tempo of the song is slowed down, seeming to convey how haunting this song sounds. The emotion of the song is captured perfectly, it's almost as thought provoking as the original, except it is just purely an emotional song. Instrumentally they nailed this cover with 100% accuracy, but the slowing the tempo down helped ensure it wouldn't just be a carbon copy. 5 out of 5 stars.
3. Scarborough Fair- Simon and Garfunkel cover
This is a very short cover of the Simon and Garfunkel version of thing song (nearly four minutes shorter), but it retains the mystical atmosphere of the original. It is at the same speed as the original. Where this one differs is that instead of having two guitars play together on the vocal line like Simon and Garfunkel did,they harmonize the guitar tracks to create this odd yet cool echo effect. During the chorus they have one guitar play while the second guitar plays independently, then the second guitar plays independently, then the main guitar returns to play the main melody with an echo effect behind it. Unfortunately they don't put in the flute interlude, but the song is still pretty enjoyable despite that and being short. 4 out of 5 stars.
4. In My Life- The Beatles cover
This is one of my favorite Beetles songs, and I enjoyed their version of it. The tempo is faster than the original. This version opens with a slightly modified version of the Harpsichord solo rather than the slight build up the original had. After the intro the voice part comes in and it sounds very pleasant with the guitar part. The playing for both guitarists is very emotional and captured the spirit of the original perfectly. They also did a very good job with the Harpsichord solo. The song closes softly with the main guitar part. This is another great example of a cover that stays true to the original but also safely manages to put it's own spin on the song. 5 out 5 stars.
5. Father and Son- Cat Stevens cover
This version is a very touching cover of the original. The music is almost identical aside form the vocal part being higher than Cat's baritone voice. They do play the voice part lower, but not until later in the song. The natural sound of the of the guitars themselves is so close to Cat's guitar its almost scary. They play an accurate and good version of the solo, even if it is sped up a little too much. They made the song shorter than the original, but they managed to capture the feel of Cat's version very well. The only real difference is that the original was sincere but also somewhat sad, this is just purely sincere. However, I am going to attribute that to them not being able to use words to affect the emotion of the song. 5 out of 5 stars.
6. El Condor Pasa- Traditional Peruvian Melody cover (and Possibly Simon and Garfunkel)
This song is set faster than normal, and it is also very haunting. It is a very good rendition of the song, and the guitars do some cool stuff like trading the melody at parts playing two melodies at once. Other times the guitars play of each other with little riffs that add on and echoing of the other parts on different notes. It ends with the guitars echoing off each other in different octaves (same notes but higher and/or lower.) This song to me shows just how good Benedetti and Pupping are as guitar players because it shows both skill and soul on their parts. 5 out of 5 stars.
7. Tears in Heaven- Eric Clapton cover
This song is at the same tempo of the original, and the emotion is also accurate to the original. The guitars are very accurate, the second guitar even imitates the bass part pretty well. While listening to this cover I can tell two things 1) They really are Clapton fans and 2) they do the song so much justice as if they are paying respect to one of their favorite players for the loss of his son. I find this to be a very good cover that is a little different, but similar in a healthy way to the original. 5 out of 5 stars.
8. You've Got a Friend- James Taylor cover
I quite enjoyed this cover. It opens at a slightly slower tempo than the original, but it still has the spirit of the original. The guitar playing is very simple, the second guitar doing the rhythm guitar line and the bass line and the vocal part. The vocal part is changed a little bit, but that is because a guitar can't sustain a note like the human voice can. While listening to this it is very easy to imagine hearing James Taylor singing and playing this song. It is about 23 seconds shorter and ends on a fade away, but it works well. A very touching cover of the James Taylor version. 5 out of 5 stars.
9. And I Love Her- The Beatles Cover
This version is set slower and bit more haunting than the original. It has the guitars playing the rhythm guitar line, lead guitar line, and vocal line. Their playing is accurate, except they put their own interesting spin on the solo and they had a little outro solo that was different from the original version. Overall I would say it a good cover, even if it manages to somehow be more haunting than the original which I am guessing they just wanted to make it sound more haunting. 5 out of 5 stars.
10. Bridge Over Troubled Water- Simon and Garfunkel cover
This version has a very long instrumental opening, which is the guitarists adding in their own lines. When the vocals come in you do immediately recognize it as Bridge Over Troubled Water. The guitar parts double each other with a slight bass line to fill in the piano part. There are no extra instruments for the string orchestra. I've noticed the song doesn't build to climax like the original does, almost like they were intending for the song to be good background music. It's also possible they wanted to emphasize the calming nature of the song (as was the song's original purpose.) It's a nice cover, but it disappointments me they left it at the same pace rather than build up to a climax. 3.5 out of 5 stars
11. Black Bird- Beatles Cover
This version is a perfect cover of the original, the only difference is that the guitars are doubled all of the time, and the vocal part only has a single guitar and doesn't double it's self like Paul did in the studio. I love this rendition, it's so full of energy, you can really tell Benedetti and Pupping had fun while playing this song. This to me again shows just how good they are at guitar playing and how they can be almost 100% accurate and still make it their own song. 5 out of 5 stars
12. Fire and Rain- James Taylor Cover
This version is an interesting cover. The guitar parts are very intricate with parts echoing each other, a bass line, and two melodies with the voice line and a guitar part adding embellishments going on. The lead guitar switches between play the vocal part and doing solos quite often. The emotion that comes to mind when hearing this is sincerity. I'm not sure why they changed the emotion since the original was about James Taylor's friend Susan killing her self after having a horrible time in an asylum, but it strangely works. 5 out of 5 stars.
What I didn't like:
The only real things I didn't like was that sometimes their experimentation destroyed the original feel of the song as was the case with Bridge Over Troubled Water, and damaging the sound of the song as was the case with Here Comes the Sun.
What I did Like:
The playing was solid, they had very good expression of the songs messages and feel, and they managed to change things around expertly enough to keep it fresh without destroying most of the songs. Even with Bridge over Troubled Water and Here Comes the Sun they were still nice to listen to.
Who would enjoy this album:
Guitarists, fans of the artists who were covered, fans of easy listening, any one needing good study/working/tax paying music. Pretty much anyone except for fans of percussion music.
Overall:
I feel Benedetti and Pupping did an amazing job on the album, with great skill, experimentation, and emotion. Not to mention just how much fun they had sometimes as well. I also liked how interestingly they used the guitars on the other instrumental parts of the song with things like the echoing and the embellishments. The only downfall is that they sometimes experiment to much and spoil the broth so to speak. This is a solid album and I definitely recommend buying it, especially the newer version since it has many more songs.
Rating: ****
Next week I am going to start my review of the Breaking Benjamin Discography. Also, Happy New Year!!! :)
A video of Benedetti and Pupping's cover of Dust in the Wind by Kansas:
A video of Black Bird and Here Comes the Sun in Memory of Princess Diana:
Title: Here Comes the Sun
Year: 1997
Genre: Easy Listening- Acoustic Music
Artist(s): Fred Benedetti and Peter Pupping
Record label: Guitar Sounds
Copyright: © Copyright-Petrus Productins Inc., dba GuitarSounds
Songs:
1. Here Comes the Sun- The Beatles
The first thing I notice is that the audio mixing on the CD is very loud. Also compared to the original the speed of the song is faster, and 58 seconds shorter. This cover is more of a summary of the original, with the guitars taking over the guitar tracks and the vocals. I also can't help but notice the song is more inclined to being excited and joyful as opposed to feeling relief from depression. It seems like they wanted to try and make the song a little catchier than it already is. Despite it's short comings the song is still very enjoyable. 3 out of 5 Stars.
2. Dust in the Wind- Kansas cover
The tempo of the song is slowed down, seeming to convey how haunting this song sounds. The emotion of the song is captured perfectly, it's almost as thought provoking as the original, except it is just purely an emotional song. Instrumentally they nailed this cover with 100% accuracy, but the slowing the tempo down helped ensure it wouldn't just be a carbon copy. 5 out of 5 stars.
3. Scarborough Fair- Simon and Garfunkel cover
This is a very short cover of the Simon and Garfunkel version of thing song (nearly four minutes shorter), but it retains the mystical atmosphere of the original. It is at the same speed as the original. Where this one differs is that instead of having two guitars play together on the vocal line like Simon and Garfunkel did,they harmonize the guitar tracks to create this odd yet cool echo effect. During the chorus they have one guitar play while the second guitar plays independently, then the second guitar plays independently, then the main guitar returns to play the main melody with an echo effect behind it. Unfortunately they don't put in the flute interlude, but the song is still pretty enjoyable despite that and being short. 4 out of 5 stars.
4. In My Life- The Beatles cover
This is one of my favorite Beetles songs, and I enjoyed their version of it. The tempo is faster than the original. This version opens with a slightly modified version of the Harpsichord solo rather than the slight build up the original had. After the intro the voice part comes in and it sounds very pleasant with the guitar part. The playing for both guitarists is very emotional and captured the spirit of the original perfectly. They also did a very good job with the Harpsichord solo. The song closes softly with the main guitar part. This is another great example of a cover that stays true to the original but also safely manages to put it's own spin on the song. 5 out 5 stars.
5. Father and Son- Cat Stevens cover
This version is a very touching cover of the original. The music is almost identical aside form the vocal part being higher than Cat's baritone voice. They do play the voice part lower, but not until later in the song. The natural sound of the of the guitars themselves is so close to Cat's guitar its almost scary. They play an accurate and good version of the solo, even if it is sped up a little too much. They made the song shorter than the original, but they managed to capture the feel of Cat's version very well. The only real difference is that the original was sincere but also somewhat sad, this is just purely sincere. However, I am going to attribute that to them not being able to use words to affect the emotion of the song. 5 out of 5 stars.
6. El Condor Pasa- Traditional Peruvian Melody cover (and Possibly Simon and Garfunkel)
This song is set faster than normal, and it is also very haunting. It is a very good rendition of the song, and the guitars do some cool stuff like trading the melody at parts playing two melodies at once. Other times the guitars play of each other with little riffs that add on and echoing of the other parts on different notes. It ends with the guitars echoing off each other in different octaves (same notes but higher and/or lower.) This song to me shows just how good Benedetti and Pupping are as guitar players because it shows both skill and soul on their parts. 5 out of 5 stars.
7. Tears in Heaven- Eric Clapton cover
This song is at the same tempo of the original, and the emotion is also accurate to the original. The guitars are very accurate, the second guitar even imitates the bass part pretty well. While listening to this cover I can tell two things 1) They really are Clapton fans and 2) they do the song so much justice as if they are paying respect to one of their favorite players for the loss of his son. I find this to be a very good cover that is a little different, but similar in a healthy way to the original. 5 out of 5 stars.
8. You've Got a Friend- James Taylor cover
I quite enjoyed this cover. It opens at a slightly slower tempo than the original, but it still has the spirit of the original. The guitar playing is very simple, the second guitar doing the rhythm guitar line and the bass line and the vocal part. The vocal part is changed a little bit, but that is because a guitar can't sustain a note like the human voice can. While listening to this it is very easy to imagine hearing James Taylor singing and playing this song. It is about 23 seconds shorter and ends on a fade away, but it works well. A very touching cover of the James Taylor version. 5 out of 5 stars.
9. And I Love Her- The Beatles Cover
This version is set slower and bit more haunting than the original. It has the guitars playing the rhythm guitar line, lead guitar line, and vocal line. Their playing is accurate, except they put their own interesting spin on the solo and they had a little outro solo that was different from the original version. Overall I would say it a good cover, even if it manages to somehow be more haunting than the original which I am guessing they just wanted to make it sound more haunting. 5 out of 5 stars.
10. Bridge Over Troubled Water- Simon and Garfunkel cover
This version has a very long instrumental opening, which is the guitarists adding in their own lines. When the vocals come in you do immediately recognize it as Bridge Over Troubled Water. The guitar parts double each other with a slight bass line to fill in the piano part. There are no extra instruments for the string orchestra. I've noticed the song doesn't build to climax like the original does, almost like they were intending for the song to be good background music. It's also possible they wanted to emphasize the calming nature of the song (as was the song's original purpose.) It's a nice cover, but it disappointments me they left it at the same pace rather than build up to a climax. 3.5 out of 5 stars
11. Black Bird- Beatles Cover
This version is a perfect cover of the original, the only difference is that the guitars are doubled all of the time, and the vocal part only has a single guitar and doesn't double it's self like Paul did in the studio. I love this rendition, it's so full of energy, you can really tell Benedetti and Pupping had fun while playing this song. This to me again shows just how good they are at guitar playing and how they can be almost 100% accurate and still make it their own song. 5 out of 5 stars
12. Fire and Rain- James Taylor Cover
This version is an interesting cover. The guitar parts are very intricate with parts echoing each other, a bass line, and two melodies with the voice line and a guitar part adding embellishments going on. The lead guitar switches between play the vocal part and doing solos quite often. The emotion that comes to mind when hearing this is sincerity. I'm not sure why they changed the emotion since the original was about James Taylor's friend Susan killing her self after having a horrible time in an asylum, but it strangely works. 5 out of 5 stars.
What I didn't like:
The only real things I didn't like was that sometimes their experimentation destroyed the original feel of the song as was the case with Bridge Over Troubled Water, and damaging the sound of the song as was the case with Here Comes the Sun.
What I did Like:
The playing was solid, they had very good expression of the songs messages and feel, and they managed to change things around expertly enough to keep it fresh without destroying most of the songs. Even with Bridge over Troubled Water and Here Comes the Sun they were still nice to listen to.
Who would enjoy this album:
Guitarists, fans of the artists who were covered, fans of easy listening, any one needing good study/working/tax paying music. Pretty much anyone except for fans of percussion music.
Overall:
I feel Benedetti and Pupping did an amazing job on the album, with great skill, experimentation, and emotion. Not to mention just how much fun they had sometimes as well. I also liked how interestingly they used the guitars on the other instrumental parts of the song with things like the echoing and the embellishments. The only downfall is that they sometimes experiment to much and spoil the broth so to speak. This is a solid album and I definitely recommend buying it, especially the newer version since it has many more songs.
Rating: ****
Next week I am going to start my review of the Breaking Benjamin Discography. Also, Happy New Year!!! :)
A video of Benedetti and Pupping's cover of Dust in the Wind by Kansas:
A video of Black Bird and Here Comes the Sun in Memory of Princess Diana:
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