Atreyu - Lead Sails Paper Anchor
Rating
RIYL
From Autumn To AshesNorma Jean
Velvet Revolver
Release Date
08/28/2007
Label
Hollywood RecordsTracklist
1. Doomsday2. Honor
3. Falling Down
4. Becoming the Bull
5. When Two Are One
6. Lose It
7. No One Cares
8. Can't Happen Here
9. Slow Burn
10. Blow
11. Lead Sails (And a Paper Anchor)
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Atreyu hasn’t done anything we couldn’t anticipate. Even if they try to cover new ground, we wouldn’t be surprised that they did so. We know that for whatever they do, they’ll still get fists pumping. Lead Sails Paper Anchor, like all of its predecessors, is just the same.
First, we take a look at their first single, “Becoming the Bull”. Like their previous singles, they aim to be as hardcore as their glam-guitars could take them. The screaming has been kept to a minimum throughout the album, which works to their advantage because the vocals are still rough. The song with the most screaming is “Becoming the Bull”. Well, that’s good because god forbid Atreyu changes anything about them. Talk about a lot of tattoo-removal surgery for fans. “Becoming the Bull” and a few other songs are kept along the same lines of what Atreyu usually does. The whole heavy introduction, riffs, a catchy chorus, the same chorus with screaming, the riffs again, the chorus, a wimpy solo, and more riffs. It’s no different from “Bleeding Mascara”, “Right Side of the Bed”, “Ex’s and Oh’s”, “Lipgloss and Black”, and whatever other singles that have carried them this far.
For a band that already has a greatest hits album out, they ought to learn how to make a full album work. Once again, though Atreyu has put together a pretty good single, they have several tracks that just choke the band of any ability to build a completely good album. “When Two are One” is a combination of abrasive slow to heavy parts, women with ghostly wailing, and a terrible penchant for using rudimentary chords. The lyrics are corny to the point of ridiculousness. Another corny attribute of Atreyu is their willingness to make a few songs relating to the platitudes of the military. The tracks aren’t all too bad but it’s just tacit for one to be in camo while listening to “Can’t Happen Here” and “Doomsday”.
But, of course, Atreyu tried to push their limits. Just like their very successful “Theft” on A Death Grip on Yesterday, the guys put together another emotionally enticing softy. “Lead Sail and A Paper Anchor” is the final track but a beautiful finishing track with a sorrowful, tropical tune. The album isn’t very cohesive, so the track sticks out and doesn’t do a good job of wrapping up the album, but it ultimately leaves listeners on a good note.
Immediately after the final track hides the “Untitled Bonus Track” which is a poorly covered Faith No More’s “Epic”. The whole track is what might be called “screaming” but it’s really nothing more than someone barfing up a lung. Unlike Atreyu’s past popular cover for Bon Jovi’s “You Give Love a Bad Name”, the original song is much, much better than Atreyu’s version. Right now, it’s no question that Atreyu has a liking for 80’s metal. After listening to Lead Sails Paper Anchor, it’s also no question they tried to infuse as much 80’s vibe as they could into several songs, from the militant “Honor” to the obviously unoriginal “Blow”.
Again, Atreyu is Atreyu. They put out an album with a few great songs, a few horrible songs, and the rest would only evoke indifference. The next time Atreyu says they’ll push the envelope, like how they said they would for this album, the truth is they can’t part from their past. Atreyu fans, keep your tattoo because the band remains immutable.
--Fiona Lee
Comments
Pennsylvannia
because you take it, want it, need it forever
the more you take the effect gets better
which makes you need it to survive
killing yourself no need for knives
Minnesota
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Minneapolis, MN
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Claremont, CA
Cincinnati, OH
This album should get a -2. This is the most blatant attempt at selling out ever. It sucks that people will probably eat this shit up.
Deanne the arsonist needs to burn these mother truckers to ashes.
Green Brook, NJ
VT
My Top Songs of '09
The Appleseed Cast//as the little things go
Caspian//sycamore
Sunwrae//Chinook Winds
Dredg//down to the seller
If These Trees Could Talk//the sun is in the north
From Monument to Masses//an ounce of prevention
Straylight Run//i'm through with the past
LpShinobi's Post-Rock and Shoegazing Recommendation, via YouTube
Lpshinobi's Post-Rock Band, New Song Posted
Pennsylvannia
for the most part, yeah...my one friend listens to Avenged...but they have that sort of vibe where you think theyre supposed to be amazing...but theyre really not. And a lot of them are mostly into hard music for the hardness of it, not for the musical aspect of it, so that may be why they were interested in it.
because you take it, want it, need it forever
the more you take the effect gets better
which makes you need it to survive
killing yourself no need for knives
DeKalb, Illinois