The Starting Line - Direction

Rating

single starsingle starsingle starsingle star

RIYL

Cartel
Mae
New Found Glory
Relient K

Label

Virgin Records

Tracklist

1. Direction
2. 21
3. Are You Alone
4. Island
5. Hurry
6. Something Left To Give
7. Birds
8. Way With Words
9. I Could Be Wrong
10. Somebody's Gonna Miss Us
11. Need To Love
12. What You Want

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It’s rare to see a pop/punk band last more than 5 years, but there are a few who still remain “relevant” these days. The Starting Line formed 8 years ago and are still cranking out pop/punk gems that got them their start in the first place. The band’s first full-length, Say It Like You Mean It, was the epitome of a pop/punk record. Plus, being on Drive-Thru Records helped since DTR was probably the hottest label at the time, boasting such acts as Finch, New Found Glory, The Movielife, Midtown, and many more. Even so, their first album launched them into the mainstream and with their major label debut, Based on a True Story, the guys tried to “mature” things up a bit, and while the album did sell, it wasn’t enough.



So after two years of writing, the guys headed back into the studio with mega-producer Howard Benson and pumped out Direction, an album that proved you can grow up and still have fun. While the band is known for their songs about girls and falling in love, Kenny decided to write more than a “love” album, so to speak. On tracks like “Direction”, the band puts a little more rock into the guitars and a little more tenacity in Kenny’s vocals. While this song definitely starts off the album well, it can be misleading since this is probably the only song on the album that has a “rock” feel to it.



Even so, throughout Direction, Kenny and the guys play some of their best tunes to date. “21”, a song about hitting the golden age of 21 and boasting an insatiable melody is simply stellar. And then there’s “Something Left to Give”, a track that was a shocker to hear on a Starting Line record since it has a somewhat alt-country vibe. While most of the time songs like this would come off as forced or cheesy, “Something Left to Give” is Kenny’s best lyrical song to date. Lastly, if you were looking for that song about love don’t fret because “Need to Love” is sincere enough to even make that mean Harley guy want to give the person next to him a hug.



Direction is an album made for the summer and brings back the fun that has been missing in music. These days, too many people think you have to be so creative in your music that if you play a song with a melody that sticks, you are a no talent hack. Well, to each his own, but there’s nothing wrong with a catchy song, nor will there ever be. Bring on the melody!



--Chris Conlan

Author

Chris Conlan
Last updated: 09/29/2009 08:59PM

Comments

theDrivingSnow
08/13/2007
07:01AM
I don't really listen to this genre any more, but I decided to give the record a listen for nostalgia's sake. It's weird to hear Kenny with a little more angst in his voice. Still, the only songs that I thought were that catchy were "21" and the single, "Island." The title track was weird; like TSL imitating Every Time I Die or something.

It's blowin' cool outside today...

lpshinobi
08/13/2007
11:35AM
Age: 23
Location
VT
My girl got me to listen to the new album a couple weeks ago in hopes of persuading me to take her to see them live next month. I felt the album was really solid, in comparison to the previous two albums these guys put out. Sure, it's got its generic moments, but the overall album was worth the listen.

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

AndyY9587
08/13/2007
12:03PM
Age: 24
Location
Cincinnati, OH
I can't stop listening to this one, it's so catchy. So much better than anything else they've done

andrewking
08/13/2007
01:38PM
This album is surprisingly solid, and while I think there are 'catchier' songs in their back catalogue, it sure is the most consistent record to date, and will likely have the most staying power.

And I'll be damned if "Something Left to Give" isn't one of the nicest little ditties I've heard in awhile.
Composing
08/13/2007
03:06PM
Age: 25
Location
Waterloo, Ontario
This is a great album - And they played an amazingly solid set at Warped Tour in Barrie and Montreal. This disk is right up there with Riot! for album of the summer. Kenny even added a little bit of "That's What You Get" to a song on their live set.

Top Ten of 2009 http://www.decoymusic.com/users/3747/top_tens/2009

Dave Spak
08/13/2007
05:24PM
Location
Boston, MA
I remembered hating this band but the review and the comments made me want to check it out anyway. I listened to the songs on their myspace and to my surprise, I ended up really liking this. Nice review

Stereo Typing

Tweet at me, bro

Chris Conlan
08/13/2007
08:35PM
Age: 27
Location
Dubuque
Ha, I'm honestly surprised at some of the comments on the review. Back in the day any review for a pop/punk band that got a good review had mainly bashing in it.

I'm about to do my write-up for The Rocket Summer. That album definitely grew on me.

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andrewking
08/13/2007
08:41PM
ChrisC
Ha, I'm honestly surprised at some of the comments on the review. Back in the day any review for a pop/punk band that got a good review had mainly bashing in it.

I'm about to do my write-up for The Rocket Summer. That album definitely grew on me.


That Yellowcard review, as decent a CD as it may be, was whack. This one is fairly well defended, and well deserved.
Chris Conlan
08/13/2007
09:00PM
Age: 27
Location
Dubuque
I don't know. I really liked the Yellowcard album more than this. But to each his own.

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Denizen
08/13/2007
10:16PM
Location
Bedford, OH
I think he was saying he wasn't a fan of the Yellowcard review.

I need to check this out.

rasta

rustycage
08/14/2007
11:37AM
Nice ending. I like your review endings haha.
Denizen
08/14/2007
09:50PM
Location
Bedford, OH
EDIT again:

I'm completely infatuated with "Something Left To Give."

rasta

rustycage
08/24/2007
10:57PM
After 10 days listening to this album (your review sold it to me) I gotta say it's fun, simple and catchy. Something Left To Give may come out as over the top and cheesy but (especially after some events this week) I'm enjoying it more than ever. This is a beautiful record, and sorry that I'm allowing myself to say beautiful and pop-punk in the same sentence. Island is the definition of catchy, Need To Love actually made me want to go and hug someone but that could be mistaken as sexual harassment (the girl is damn beautiful)

As someone already tired of pop punk bands and way past the age of following those bands, this is a complete breath of fresh air, and I gotta say, Something Left To Give will always remember
me of my father.

Note to Alex Davies:
This is good pop.