Genres
Review: The Dangerous Summer – Reach For The Sun
The Dangerous Summer – Reach For The Sun
Released: May 5, 2009
Label: Hopeless
Purchase: iTunes | Insound | Amazon
In any lifetime, there are numerous events that can impact a person greatly, for better or for worse. For The Dangerous Summer’s vocalist, AJ Perdomo, choosing to follow his dream and pursue music was one of those life-changing events. Throughout Reach For The Sun, AJ and the rest of the band prove that choosing to stay in music was a great decision, for themselves and for listeners everywhere.
Reach For The Sun, the Maryland band’s first full-length record, is packed with soaring, layered guitars, pulsing drum beats, and strong, emotional vocals. The Dangerous Summer is ready to prove that they are more than just a pop-punk band—they are a band that is here to stay.
Opening track “Where I Want To Be” kicks off the album on a fast pace, something that is quite normal for the band. Every song on the record is bursting with energy, powered by the talents of Tyler Minsberg on the drums. Standout track “Weathered” opens with the familiar intertwining guitars, before being swept away by the crooning of AJ Perdomo. Well-written lines like, “Well I’m an optimist / But only in a perfect world / I think I’m too stained / With all the negativity / From all the people in my way” are littered throughout the record and are driven home by the superb production of Paul Leavitt and songwriting from the band.
Where the band’s previous EPs have failed, Reach For The Sun picks up the ball and improves. “Surfaced” is reminiscent of the band’s second EP If You Could Only Keep Me Alive, but still matches the quality of Reach For The Sun. The familiar track “The Permanent Rain” (which has been on both of the album’s previous EPs) has been retouched and redone to meet the level of the band’s newer material.
Reach For The Sun’s main strength is its ability to connect with all sorts of listeners. AJ Perdomo’s sharp lyrics and powerful delivery have a sort of universal appeal that allows the band to reach through. Guitarist Cody Payne has said, “[Every song on this album] had their own little story in our lives while we were writing the album and seeing it come together in the studio. The album is overall very positive and about real life. AJ covered a lot of different ground – love, life, death, the past, the future…it’s all there.”
One of the only downfalls of the album is that at times, the band seems to be unwilling to move away from their trusty songwriting formula. The songs on the record sound very similar and the range of styles on the record is lacking. But when there is variety, the change is highly noticeable. The slow, thoughtful “Northern Lights” provides a change of pace that is gladly welcomed.
Reach For The Sun is a record that needs to be experienced and not described through words. The powerful vibes that the album gives off makes the album a genuine venture into the lives of band members AJ Perdomo, Cody Payne, Bryan Czap, and Tyler Minsberg. As far as personal albums go, Reach For The Sun is a memorable listen and is worth every second of the 41-minute album.
And who knows, maybe listening to Reach For The Sun will be a life-changing event for you.
9.2
Standout Tracks: “Weathered”, “The Permanent Rain”, “Never Feel Alone”
Review: The Roots – How I Got Over
The Roots – How I Got Over
Released: June 22, 2010
Label: Def Jam
Purchase: iTunes | Insound | Amazon
How I Got Over, the ninth studio release by Philadelphia-based rap band The Roots, clocks in as their shortest record to date at around 42.5 minutes, but still manages to convey a deep and serious message. The Roots may be the most popular rap band of all time, garnering a massive fan base as the house band for the “Late Night Show with Jimmy Fallon,” but How I Got Over is filled with tales of perseverance, struggle, and despair.
Almost every song on this record is written in a minor key, with samples and features from a number of indie artists such as Conor Oberst’s Monster of Folk and Joanna Newsom. These features on How I Got Overadd to the distinct soul, jazz, and funk vibe that fans have come to expect and adore. Despite the funky grooves and lively beats, How I Got Over is far from being a fun, upbeat record. Deep and moody vibes from the talented producers Richard Nichols, Black Thought, ?uestlove, Dice Raw, and Rick Friedrich emphasize that How I Got Over is a deep, personal affair and delves into the past, present, and future of MC Black Thought and the rest of the band.
Slightly slower and with more gospel influences than past records, the style and lyricism on How I Got Overimpresses from start to finish. Named after Clara Ward’s well-known track of the same name, How I Got Overcaptures some of the quintessential gospel elements popularized by Ward, but also presents personal messages of determination, struggle, and success in modern society. Lines like “If everything is made in China, are we Chinese?” question modern society and all the drastic changes occurring in the world today while lines like “When the sky’s the limit / A second is a minute, every hour’s infinite” provide inspiration and instill hope in the listener.
The record starts out gently, with a melody of simple “doo’s” and “da’s” performed by three female features before the drums kick in, building up right into the opening piano line of the second track, “Walk Alone”. This is where How I Got Over excels best: building up the tension until the beat and Black Thought’s lyricism take over. Conor Oberst’s crooning on “Dear God 2.0 (feat. Monsters Of Folk)” provides a disheartening tone, while Black Thought takes over the mic and really speaks his mind on global issues. At times, it even seems that he takes this idea a little bit too far and actually overstresses his message.
Standout track “How I Got Over (feat. Dice Raw)” features a catchy hook that enthralls the listener, while still incorporating two solid verses about persevering through the difficult life in the streets. “How I Got Over” is one of the best blends of styles on the record, with an up-tempo beat blaring in the background and highlighting Black Thought and Dice Raw’s abilities to keep on beat and tell their stories.
How I Got Over has its fair share of missteps over the course of the entire record. “DillaTude The Flight Of Titus” hardly does the deceased J. Dilla any justice, but rather just serves as a rather meaningless tribute and interlude. Joanna Newsom lends her vocals on “Right On (feat. Joanna Newsom, STS)”, providing an eerie hook, but the verses from Black Thought and STS fail to impress in context with the rest of the album. The album is then able to bounce right back with in-your-face track “Doin’ It Again” and standout “The Fire (feat. John Legend)”. Although the auto-tuned baby cry is a nice touch, bonus track ”Hustla (feat. STS)” proves to be one of the weaker tracks and is best actually left off the album.
How I Got Over is a powerful variety of styles and sounds that mix in gracefully with “good old spitting” from Black Thought. Although the minor tones of the album effectively create a haunting, rather dreary sound, at its core, How I Got Over is an inspiring and very motivational record that traps its listeners and merits multiple listens.
8.2
Standout Tracks: “How I Got Over (feat. Dice Raw)”, “Dear God 2.0 (feat. Monsters Of Folk)”, “The Fire (feat. John Legend)”
The Good Things Are Dangerous
The Dangerous Summer have released their new single entitled “Good Things” on iTunes.
Max Bemis and the Painful Splits
Say Anything‘s Max Bemis will be releasing a full-length album under the name Max Bemis and the Painful Splits. Purchase your exclusive signed copy on Say Anything’s upcoming tour with Motion City Soundtrack.
Connect