A Day To Remember - Homesick
Rating
RIYL
Timeless!Senses Fail
Haste The Day
Eudora
Release Date
02/03/2009
Label
Victory RecordsTracklist
1. The Downfall Of Us All2. My Life For Hire
3. I'm Made Of Wax, Larry, What Are You Made Of?
4. NJ Legion Iced Tea
5. Mr. Highway's Thinking About The End
6. Have Faith In Me
7. Welcome To The Family
8. Homesick
9. Holdin' It Down For The Underground
10. You Already Know What You Are
11. Another Song About The Weekend
12. If It Means A Lot To You
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When Homesick starts up, the first seven seconds seem a bit confusing. Initially, I didn’t think I was listening to Ocala, Florida’s A Day To Remember, but then the double bass kicks-in, along with the band's song-opening breakdown, and the first song, “The Downfall of Us All” was on its way. Waiting almost a year until they finished touring, ADTR recorded their third album in their hometown behind producer Chad Gilbert. Chad seems to have helped give ADTR more direction on this record compared to their previous two records, which adds some meaning to their fun pop hooks and hardcore growls.
Homesick reflects the anxiety surrounding a group of guys who don’t spend much time in their comfort zones. This compilation of songs they created pays respect to their town, revealing every backstreet and alleyway they've traveled down. The sound on each song of Homesick is slightly different on every track. Unlike their previous releases, this album sounds like it was produced and mixed with a lot of care and has a generally uplifting sound throughout the disc.
Their last record, For Those Who Have Heart, was pretty simple and generic when it came to the music, but their ability to be super catchy while bringing fluid breakdowns into the mix snagged them a lot of fans. On their new record they’ve mastered how to now add sincerity to the equation. This newly found ability is best shown in “Have Faith in Me”. It’s light at first but then picks up during the chorus and carries on an upbeat melody until the end of the track.
ADTR still managed to keep their textbook pop-hardcore tools honed. The breakdown at the end of "I'm Made Of Wax, Larry, What Are You Made Of?", the sing-scream exchanges, and the “tit-tat” of the drums on the track “Homesick” -- they're patented ADTR moments. ADTR has a magic touch that allows them to pull off this seemingly generic form of music where the average band coming up in the music scene would most likely flop.
On Homesick, there are instantly 3 or 4 singles or possible singles that could easily make radio play. “The Downfall of Us All”, “I'm Made Of Wax, Larry, What Are You Made Of?”, “NJ Legion Iced Tea”, and “Have Faith In Me,” to name a few, are instantly catchy and poppy. The only things that would probably need to be toned down for mass consumption would be some of the screaming, but overall the album seems to be ready for mainstream superstardom.
ADTR has greatly improved the delivery of their music, but the overall sound is pretty much the same. With better production and newer content in their lyrics, Homesick is a step up from their last release. However, if you disliked For Those Who Have Heart, don’t expect to enjoy Homesick without a little effort. Cliché song structures aside, Homesick really is a good album. ADTR is improving as a group, and it shows on this album.
--Jose Terrero
Comments
Lehigh Valley, PA
This is a great album. I'm not really sure how the RIYL relates to this band/album though.
Leeds, England
Loved their last, but I was kinda dissapointed in this. Its no way as catchy.
Manchester, England
i absolutely adore this album, and this band puts on one of the most fun live shows touring right now.
Minnesota
Guilty pleasure. I've always enjoyed ADTR, and I don't necessarily know why. Their stuff is so generic, but they pull it off so well. I guess that's the key.
Find me EVERYWHERE:
New York
So I googled Timeless! and it came up with this weird metal band. That isn't the Timeless! I'm talking about lol. The group is from Weymouth, Massachusetts if that means anything. Good band though, I recommend you check them out.
Rich, I'm suprised I found someone who liked the last record compared to this one. I thought this album would've scooped up all the last albums fans and then some.
Rick, come to the dark (poppy) side.. :)
Cold Showers for Stereology
http://coldshowersforstereology.blogspot.com/
Alabama
Same here.
Quakertown, PA
Yeah, the RIYL looks like it's for another album haha. I gave this a few listens but couldn't get into it, but I'm not a big fan of this style - they do play it well though.
Same here
Manchester, England
rick dont come to the poppy side. its fucking shit.
listen to new vanna.
Minnesota
Gross. Vanna are so shittacular.
Find me EVERYWHERE:
Manchester, England
you heard the new cd? its delicious!
Kansas
top cd this year so far for me
http://rateyourmusic.com/~benny06
Lakewood, OH
CD of '09. The ending is by far perfect, and Mr. Highway is really good as well. They got a lot better at blending the metal and pop too, last album I felt like they just threw breakdowns in at random.
http://www.last.fm/user/nicklovesohio
Atascadero, CA
im waiting for all the copy-cat bands to start up now that ADTR is getting big.
Decoymusic.com (CEO/Founder)
Blue Reef Design Studios (Web Development)
http://aarontroy.tumblr.com
Atascadero, CA
where is the talk about all the heavy tracks "Mr. Highway's Thinking About The End" is solid as well as "You Already Know What You Are" and are two of my favorites off the record along with "Welcome To The Family." Just enough pop to keep me interested and just enough heaviness to leave me satisfied.
Decoymusic.com (CEO/Founder)
Blue Reef Design Studios (Web Development)
http://aarontroy.tumblr.com
Lehigh Valley, PA
Aaron, in my neck of the woods it is happening and its fucking horrible. There is a ridiculous amount of bands around here that are trying to do it and I can't stand it. ADTR is not my first choice of bands, they aren't even my second or third but they do what they do well. I seriously think this album is great. It is well produced and mixes the perfect blend of pop punk and hardcore.
PA
This band is now being added to my top 3 least favorite bands of all time. An abomination. I really cannot believe humanity can listen and fall for this embarrassment. I honestly am so disgusted at the idea that people enjoy this that I think I have to literally look down upon someones intelligence if they say they like this band. That's fucked up but I'm serious.
Think about it. If you just meet someone and you're getting into a conversation with them, here are a few things I like to ask people:
What are you religious beliefs?
Politics?
Life/death?
What kind of music do you like?
---
Now no matter what anyone will say, I will never judge anyone for their beliefs.
But when I ask them if they like this shitdick A Day To Remember bullfuck and they say yes I will instantly determine the level of this person's knowledge, assume I of all people are smarter than them, and I will probably laugh in their face and request we never talk about music ever again.
You cannot be serious with this band, people. Just stop.
Music Blog.
Depths blog. (my band)
Minnesota
Methinks he doth protest too much.
Find me EVERYWHERE:
Las Vegas/Los Angeles/San Diego
sounds to me like someone is jealous that his band will never be this good.
Cincinnati, OH
I share Chris's viewpoint when it comes to like Millionaires or Jeffree Star or the like. But ADTR isn't THAT bad by any stretch of the imagination.
www.myspace.com/andy9587
Manchester, England
gimme that alcohol!
PA
Haha, I can understand you thinking that.
Though I will never be jealous of any band for being better or more popular. Heck, this band may have done a shitload of hardwork to get what they are.
That's not my point.
Music Blog.
Depths blog. (my band)
Olympia, Washington
people take music to seriously sometimes.
Minneapolis, MN
This record is gold. Anyone from the metal crowd should be shitting all over this, but I think I speak for a large number of us when I say we have our guilty pleasures. As Aaron said, there's plenty of both sides here and I think that's why this record will do well. It's going to get a lot of people who wouldn't normally listen to a pop punk record or a hardcore record. Just tell the punk kids that it's a little bit heavier version of New Found Glory.
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Infinitely Inwards
haha to that.
And Chris.....I think you need to lighten up man. Yes these guys aren't anything special (comparatively) but they can't possibly be in the top 3 worst bands of all time. What about that bastard who sang "Mambo #5" or The New Kids on the Block. There are so many others that could be on the Shit list. For me, this album is like every other pop/punk/core album that i hear because It loses it's luster after a very short amount of time in my playlist. I like this album, but only in the vaguest way.
Also Good review Jose.
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