Saves The Day - Sound the Alarm

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RIYL

The Early November
June
The Starting Line
Brandtson

Tracklist

1. Head For The Hills
2. The End
3. Shattered
4. Eulogy
5. Dying Day
6. 34
7. Say You'll Never Leave
8. Diseased
9. Don't Know Why
10. Sound The Alarm
11. Bones
12. Delusional
13. Hell Is Here

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Now, let me first state, there is absolutely nothing wrong with melodic emo-rock. I dig it. But I don’t dig it when dudes have been in a band for eight years, and there has been absolutely no lyrical progression during that time frame. Frontman Chris Conley formed Saves the Day when he was 13 years old, and now, well over 21, his lyrics still sound like he’s 13. At this point, how could Conley’s lyrics possibly be sincere? If you’re experiencing that much heartbreak, then my friend, writing crappy pop songs are the least of your personal problems.

But onward to the new Saves the Day album titled, Sound the Alarm. It’s been three years since the transitional In Reverie, which wasn’t received well by fans and critics alike. It’s only redeeming factor was that it’s slightly better than Weezer’s Make Believe. So what do you do when your “experimental” album doesn’t work out so well? Revert back to your old shit!

While the lyrics in Sound the Alarm are pretty juvenile, Conley at least gets “dark” on this album with lines like referencing self-mutilation on album opener “Head For the Hills.” And dude, what’s the best way to make your band darker? Emulate Gerard Way of course! Not only does Conley’s voice sound alarmingly (lol) like Way’s, and not only do his lyrics take note from Way’s diary who in turn stole it from Davey Havok, but he also goes the extra mile to emulate Way’s dictation and My Chemical Romance’s harmonies. This noticeable cue is one of many missteps STD takes in Sound the Alarm; and we’re only through the first track!

After the first track, it’s essentially what you’d expect from a spineless power-pop, whiney emo-rock band: more whining, more not doing anything about it, less rocking, less self-esteem. Every song blends right into the next one without much lyrical or musical distinction. On “Head For the Hills” Conley sings, “Drowning in the darkness of my mind,” but on “Eulogy” he sings, “I see your eyes in my mind.” But wait; I thought he already drowned in his mind on the first track. This man is full of mind-bending contradictions. Hmmm… I wonder if mind-bending is on the next track. Ooh! Maybe he’ll sing about being a Jedi! Oh… drag: Conley continues to sing about how he had his heart stomped out on “Dying Day.” I’m convinced this man steals children’s’ Spongebob diaries while they’re out at recess for lyrical content.

I’ve been rough but the album does have its redeeming factors: It’s well produced, and the songs are short. That’s all. Sound the Alarm is an audio venereal disease. Oh wait, that’s synonymous with STD…LOL.

--Kamran Rouzpay

Author

Kamran
Last updated: 09/29/2009 08:54PM

Comments

Jayme Barkdoll
04/24/2006
12:39PM
Location
Tuscaloosa, AL
ahhhh, opinions. haha. Needless to say, I disagree. One thing though, despite our differing opinions, Kam you sure do present your opinions well and they are very thought out. You back your shit up... I love it.
Just out of curiosity (not saying that you don't or anything, i'd just like to know so I can check them out if I haven't) what bands do you like from this genre?
stroke me
04/24/2006
12:43PM
Location
Las Vegas, NV
well this cd is way better than the last one. I've never been a STD fan, but i definately enjoyed this album to an extent.
iamnotyourbroom
04/24/2006
01:03PM
Location
Charleston, SC
wow...this album is a 4/5 for me...the lyrics are everything anyone can expect from saves the day and if you like any of the lyrics on prior releases these shouldn't have been that big of a deal...no mention of the bands sound on this review at all...something that might should have been adressed to justify giving this a 1.5...
SketchesOfSpain
04/24/2006
01:05PM
Location
rhode island
I disagree with your review but at least you gave logical reasons why you disliked it. I must say that I enjoyed In Reverie. In fact, there was only two songs I didn't care for on that album. Going into Sound the Alarm, I had heard negative reviews and such, mostly from long time fans or people that immediately put off anything remotely associated with that three letter word. One reasons for our difference in opinons on this album is because of our perspective on the lyrics. I'm just not a lyrics type of person. I don't put much weight on the lyrics when reviewing the quality of an album. That's just me. I thought Sound the Alarm was pretty good. It received 4 consecutive spins in my car, which doesn't happen often. Although I was startled at first by the change in tone of chris' voice, once I got through the cd I had gotten used to it. Overall I thought all the songs had a different feel to them and most were damn catchy. 'The End, Eulogy, Say You'll Never Leave and Diseased' were some of my favorite tracks. I think this cd will be enjoyed by people that give it a chance instead of passing it off as emo-rock garbage from a band that is passed their prime. Whether STD's hayday has passed, they have made an album that retains the STD sound while sounding different from thier other records.
Jayme Barkdoll
04/24/2006
01:44PM
Location
Tuscaloosa, AL
yeah this would have gotten a 3.0 out of 5.0 for me... sure, we could sit here all day long and harp on this band's lyrical immaturity; however, saves the day has never and will never be a band that writes any other types of lyrics. you know what you are getting with Saves the Day, which in some eyes is great emo-rock and others its simply whiny garbage... all a matter of opinion.
Dante
04/24/2006
02:07PM
Age: 22
Location
Fort Bragg, CA
I thought this was one of their bests
rustycage
04/24/2006
02:27PM
never finish your review with LOL

jesus.
JohnnyL
04/24/2006
02:28PM
Age: 30
Location
Columbus, Ohio
This cd is great. 4/5 for me.

Recommending: Anberlin, Interpol, Chamberlain, House of Heroes

Dante
04/24/2006
02:37PM
Age: 22
Location
Fort Bragg, CA
JohnnyL
This cd is great. 4/5 for me.



that's about what I would give it
Dave Spak
04/24/2006
02:39PM
Location
Boston, MA
I never got into them so I probably won't even check out this album. I do agree that LOL has no place in a music review.

Stereo Typing

Tweet at me, bro

Roncag
04/24/2006
02:47PM
Age: 32
Location
Anytown USA
Amen to this review. I wish music like this would cease to infiltrate pop culture.

You play to win the game.

Chris Conlan
04/24/2006
02:48PM
Age: 27
Location
Dubuque
I was always iffy on Saves The Day. I'd give the CD a 2.5/5.

Facebook / MySpace

View Chris Conlan's profile on LinkedIn

jakeradical
04/24/2006
04:07PM
In their defense, the self-mutilating lyrics aren't anything new that they copied from MCR. They were doing that way before anyone knew who the fuck MCR was.

I haven't actually heard the album though, so I can't give any real opinion here.
M.J.Austin
04/24/2006
04:17PM
Location
Dallas, Texas
Saves the Day sucks. That song I've been hearing by them is awful.

EDIT: Unintentionally funny lyrics
AndyY9587
04/24/2006
04:30PM
Age: 25
Location
Cincinnati, OH
I got this from a friend and I really cant get into it, its kinda bland and the songs sound too similar

Jayme Barkdoll
04/24/2006
04:53PM
Location
Tuscaloosa, AL
jakeradical
In their defense, the self-mutilating lyrics aren't anything new that they copied from MCR. They were doing that way before anyone knew who the fuck MCR was.

very true.
JohnnyL
04/24/2006
05:05PM
Age: 30
Location
Columbus, Ohio
[QUOTE=jakeradical]In their defense, the self-mutilating lyrics aren't anything new that they copied from MCR. They were doing that way before anyone knew who the fuck MCR was.QUOTE]

Yep.

Recommending: Anberlin, Interpol, Chamberlain, House of Heroes

iamnotyourbroom
04/24/2006
05:13PM
Location
Charleston, SC
jakeradical
In their defense, the self-mutilating lyrics aren't anything new that they copied from MCR. They were doing that way before anyone knew who the fuck MCR was.

i'm going to have to "fourth" this
ChaosResolved
04/24/2006
05:22PM
Location
NY/PA
1.5 was probably generous.
Jayme Barkdoll
04/24/2006
05:34PM
Location
Tuscaloosa, AL
definitely see a divide based on genre preference... Saves the Day isn't ever going to appeal to someone that doesn't like this type of music though, because they are kind of the quintessential emo-rock band. Everything they have ever done has been like this, especially lyrically.
Kamran
04/24/2006
05:37PM
Location
The Great North Woods
Shakedown2Nite
definitely see a divide based on genre preference... Saves the Day isn't ever going to appeal to someone that doesn't like this type of music though, because they are kind of the quintessential emo-rock band. Everything they have ever done has been like this, especially lyrically.

this i fully disagree with. i interpret Saves the Day as the definitive downfall of quality emo-rock.

the lol at the end of the review was a crude attempt at cynicism, which was clearly not recieved well via the Internet.

Darla Farmer
RIYL:
the Beatles
Tom Waits
Murder By Death
A Whisper in the Noise
the Blood Brothers

iliveinbreakdwns
04/24/2006
05:41PM
Location
Richmond, VA
well as someone that has always liked saves the day and evne liked in reverie, i still think this album is shit. i can't stand it. its like the worst of in reverie trying to sound like can't slow down, their other album i dislike. so i would say genre divide isn't necessarily the problem so much as them having run out of good ideas and/or talent.

Jayme Barkdoll
04/24/2006
05:44PM
Location
Tuscaloosa, AL
alright, i can buy that they might not be THE quintessential emo-rock band; however, what bands would you say fall under quality emo-rock? I'm not saying this band is the best emo-rock band ever; however, I definitely don't see them as a downfall. Also, I agree that this album is not their best ever, and a 2.5 or 3.0 seems appropriate IMO.
Kamran
04/24/2006
05:49PM
Location
The Great North Woods
if we're talking current bands, the list of quality emo-rock bands is pretty scarce in my book. i think the highest quality bands making cuurent emo-rock are Thursday and Brand New. but even those pale in comparison to the classics like SDRE, Mineral, Gloria Record, Last Days of April, Fireside, Christie Front Drive, Braid, etc.

Darla Farmer
RIYL:
the Beatles
Tom Waits
Murder By Death
A Whisper in the Noise
the Blood Brothers

tim
04/24/2006
06:29PM
Age: 28
Location
Green Brook, NJ
i really like tracks 2,4,7,10. the others i can do without, but they're not bad.