Emotionalpunk.com
Media Review
Music Quality: 9.5
Production: 10.0
Originality: 7.0
Tracklisting
2. Lights And Sounds
3. Down On My Head
4. Sure Thing Falling
5. City Of Devils
6. Rough Landing, Holly
7. Two Weeks From Twenty
8. Waiting Game
9. Martin Sheen Or JFK
10. Space Travel
11. Grey
12. Words, Hands, Hearts
13. How I Go
14. Holly Wood Died
After reading a review already of this record, it's hard to believe that people are thinking what they are thinking about the new Yellowcard record. Personally, I was into "Ocean Avenue" the instant it hit, but eventually my infatuation with the album dissolved. Rather, it quickly disappeared and I grew to dislike most of the album, aside from a few catchy anthems.
With the arrival of "Lights And Sounds," the same instant gratification was there. I loved the hooks, the blasting guitars, and while I wasn't a fan of the single the album derived its name from, I found myself instantly falling in love with all the tracks on this album. From the punky, blasting "Sure Thing Falling," with the characteristic Yellowcard punch to the introspective "Two Weeks From Twenty," a song revealing the tender nature of a young man sent to war, this album is filled with catchy, brilliant anthems. The band has found their niche with "Lights And Sounds," moving past the quiet, undiscovered talent whose key sell factor was the fact that they had a violin. No longer is this band a pop-punk band, or even a pop-punk band with a violin. This band is a mature, radio-rock band, with powerful hooks and melodies and blasting, high-octane guitars. Their diversity is truly exposed on this record as well, as "Sure Thing Falling" has some of the loudest, crunchiest guitar sounds I have ever heard this band record while "City Of Devils" and "Two Weeks From Twenty" bring back the country twang the band explored on older tracks like "View From Heaven," but with so much more maturity and less "country-fun." The countless bridges on this album expose the band's ability for fluidity; to name one, the "Martin Sheen Or JFK" outro brings on Sean's brilliant violins and orchestral backing with Ryan crooning "then I can fall..in this bottle with all my mistakes." It's moments like this that I really appreciate and love the band for growing up, and growing into a truly mature, thoughtful, and passionate band who have remained true to their roots while taking advantage of their major label support.
"Lights & Sounds" was an album I didn't expect to blow my mind, but it did. A combination of incredibly produced guitars, limitless energy, and powerful, generous vocal melodies make this album truly easy on the ears. The songs weren't written in an obvious method to generate one-hit singles, much like I felt "Ocean Avenue" was compiled; I was truly suprised to find people were lacking in ambition and love for this album, and ignoring all the "drama" with Ben Harper, they simply fail to realize that this record is a fulfilling pop gem, filled with the anthems and choruses this band has always wanted to write. Finally, the band has written a record that I can genuinely say, from start to finish, is compelling and fluid. Sing along, like you know you want to.