Set Your Goals - This Will Be the Death of Us
Rating
RIYL
New Found GloryLiving With Lions
Daggermouth
Release Date
07/21/2009
Label
EpitaphTracklist
1. This Will Be The Death Of Us2. With Hoffman Lenses We Will See The Truth
3. Look Closer
4. Summer Jam
5. Like You To Me
6. The Fallen
7. The Few That Remain
8. Equals
9. Gaia Bleeds (Make Way For Man)
10. Flawed Methods Of Persecution & Punishment
11. Arrival Notes
12. Our Ethos: A Legacy To Pass On
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Set Your Goals’ 2006 album Mutiny! was a fun musical experience for some and a guilty pleasure for others. Its energetic and hyper mix of late 90’s pop-punk, a la Blink 182 and New Found Glory, and ecstatic hardcore, like a more well adjusted Comeback Kid, was more than just the sum of its parts. While it had some good songs, and even a few sublime moments, Mutiny! became a real treasure when the album was seen as a whole, creating one of the most buzzed about albums of 2006. After touring relentlessly on Mutiny! for three years, the hype machine has started whirring and wheezing for their newest album, This Will Be the Death of Us. Will the detractors get their way and be able to use the new album to prove that Set Your Goals are mere novelty, or will this album prove that they are more than just a flash in the pan who make their impact through bass bombs, ridiculous breakdowns, and songs about pirates?
The short answer is that this album will make the haters keep their mouths shut. Like Wyld Stallyns emerging from their six months of intensive guitar training (with a break for a sweet medieval honeymoon with the princesses) to wow a crowd with a newfound musical skillset, Set Your Goals have stepped up in every conceivable area and are ready to wow all naysayers. The dual vocals have grown more intense and urgent. The guitarists have started playing leads, all of which are more interesting and intricate than most bands in the punk rock spectrum. The rhythm section performs with an energy and precision that makes it impossible to not feel like moving. The songwriting has become much more varied than their previous releases, and through new-to-them dynamics, the band has honed their ability to make a song aesthetically and emotionally moving. All while paying their respect to their obvious influences, This Will Be the Death of Us show us that Set Your Goals are able and willing to blaze their own musical path.
It is a rare find, but even down to the two short interludes, every song on this album is necessary and great. The title track shows us that Set Your Goals have learned to use atmosphere to influence their songs, instead of just hitting the GO! button and blazing through without any restraint. While every song has great lead guitar work, “Look Closer” gives us an honest-to-god guitar solo during the breakdown that isn’t just an opportunity for the guitarists to shine, but instead elevates the song to another level of awesome. With subtle Quicksand influence, “The Few That Remain” keeps it slow and focuses on groove, giving us the feeling that something more is seething beneath the surface. The passion of the vocals in this song (particularly the sublime parts added by Haley Williams of Paramore) leads to an explosive ending complete with chill-inducing harmonies and well-placed gang vocals. The band throws a curveball with “Gaia Bleeds (Make Way For Man)” by giving us a song heavier and darker than anyone would have ever thought the band was capable of. Beginning with huge breakdowns that wouldn’t sound out of place in a Terror song and ending with some Motorhead-esque riffs, the band, with the help of Turmoil vocalist John Gula, again proves themselves to be one of the most widely talented and varied bands in music today.
What might be even more important than the greatness of the music is the reason why Set Your Goals do what they do. Just like in Mutiny!, the band, through vocalists Matt Wilson and Jordan Brown, proclaim that they play music because of its ability to help people break out of whatever it is that holds us down. Whether it is for the ability to wake up from being “braindead, blinded, tuned-out” (from “Look Closer”), to not “buy what they sell you” (“The Fallen), or to take care of the environment before it is too late (“Gaia Bleeds”), This Will Be the Death of Us seriously believes in the power of music and our ability to “score the music to our own lives” (“Summer Jams”) and to turn “these words into something real” (“Our Ethos”).
To put it bluntly, this is an amazing, incredible, passionate, energetic, urgent, competent, important and inspiring album. Without having to rely on the various gimmicks and superfluity that marred an otherwise great Mutiny!, Set Your Goals has created a masterpiece. While This Will Be the Death of Us is an album that will get people moving in the pit, it is much more than that. Set Your Goals have created an album that will not only be in the running for album of the year, but will undoubtedly be remembered as an instant classic in the world of punk rock.
--Stephen Harris
Comments
"Set Your Goals have created an album that will not only be in the
running for album of the year, but will undoubtedly be remembered as an
instant classic in the world of punk rock."
Something tells me it won't be, but I'll give it a listen anyway.
Lehigh Valley, PA
Wow 5/5...this album better be good. Good review Stephen, I'm really interested in hearing it.
Washington, DC
Yeah - after writing my honest opinion of the CD, I realized that I am going to get flamed to no end. But I honestly think it is that great, so bring the griping!
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Lehigh Valley, PA
I'll trust ya man. Set Your Goals are a great band. Plus, if you have Gula on your album, you gotta be doing something right.
I just don't understand this kind of music and still think that the whole pop punk hardcore thing will be looked upon as the next screamo eventually. That being said, I'm willing to give everything a shot, so I'll give this a spin before I say any more.
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Fishers, Indiana
Just listened to Gaia Bleeds on their Myspace. Not a bad track. Sounds like it would be a good CD to run to.
I really can't pass judgment till I can get my grubby pirate mitts on this though.
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Coopersburg, PA
I never could get into this band, mainly because I don't like the one singer's vocals. The newer stuff on the myspace is pretty good though so I may give this a shot.
Atascadero, CA
while I think this album is great. hense the avatar I have now. it's not perfect. a four out of five would be a good score. I'll admit I wasn't and am still not that big a fan of Mutiny! i hated how much everyone gushed over that one since I found it more mediocre at best. but there's something about their approach and delivery of this new one, maybe it's the more gritty punk rock that I feel makes this less a pop-hardcore album than the old one.. and more accessible to a wider audience I think. And yea Hayley's vocals on that one song really fit well, it's a snotty girl punk part that fits beautifully into the middle of the album.
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Dubuque
I'm going to have to say this is probably going to be my album of the year. Like Aaron, I was never a big fan of Mutiny! It had some memorable tracks, but nothing like the new effort. Epitaph made a very smart move by picking these guys up.
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Lehigh Valley, PA
Why is there nothing mentioned about Vinnie from I am The Avalanche being in the title track?
California
I made Aaron play this for me when I passed through his town the other day. Think I have a new #1 album of the year. "Summer Jam" is such a fun track.
Atascadero, CA
hands down my favorite album of 2009. going to be hard to top this now.. should have played this out by now but it's just too good.
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Lehigh Valley, PA
HOLY SHIT! This album is fantastic. i got it at about 6am this morning and I just keep playing it over and over. I wish I was not at work so I could fucking crank the shit out of it. "Summer Jam" is my jam so far. OH and the song with Hayley is awesome as well. Def. album of the year so far for me, well it's tied with Maylene in my book.
Ontario
AC13
California
Summer Jam is the best track.. lyrics are soo good
Raleigh, NC
Not finished with it, but I think the first half is weak so far. Enjoyed Hayley's song, though- That's awesome.
Atascadero, CA
weak? i guess it did take me about 5 listens to really start loving it but i didnt think it was weak right off the bat so u may not like it.
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PA
Digging this so far, but I doubt I'll jam this as much as Mutiny.
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Ontario
who sings that great part in Our Ethos?
AC13
California
chad gilbert - new found glory
Dubuque
I think this blows Mutiny out of the water.
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Lehigh Valley, PA
AGREED!
Coopersburg, PA
I never really liked this band, but I must admit this is good stuff. I doubt I'll be spinning this too much because I'm not a big fan of the style in general but I do like the heavier songs, reminds me of Stretch Arm Strong.
Raleigh, NC
Better on second, third, fourth, fifth, sixth, and seventh listens. Haha. Awesome stuff.
Minnesota
I think you guys all built my hopes up too high. I just listened to this today and was severely underwhelmed. It was good (3.5-ish material), but not uber-rad-fan-pancake-tastic like you all made it out to be.
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