Review:

on 2010-07-30 george3724 Said:

After their breakthrough of signing with Capitol Records, a major record label, the underground band Yellowcard recorded their first breakthrough album with three hit singles with Ocean Avenue and Only One receiving gold statues in the US. Finally, the band had achieved mainstream success.

The album starts with their first single, Way Away. This song is an energetic song with a fast paced drum beat and a catchy intro riff. The rhythm guitar is smooth and clean and the chorus is quite catchy. This song is an excellent example of Yellowcard's punk style.

The next song breathing once again has catchy instrumentals, especially with the unique mix of violin and guitar in Yellowcard. The drums are great, with L.P. doing the job. However, I felt as if the chorus was not as catchy as it could have been. Still a good song of the album.

Now comes the title track of Yellowcard's first mainstream album: Ocean Avenue. This track has great verses and best of all, an incredibly catchy chorus with incredible lyrics and instrumentals combined. L.P. adds great drumming to the band and the violin creates a nice standout effect. Also, the guitar is relieved from the palm muting and gives a nice crescendo.

Number 4, Empty Apartment, is one of the sadder songs. However, I believed that this song was more mundane and lackluster of and lacks some good lyrical songwriting. The instrumentals and lyrics are more relaxed but the the lyrics seems to lack some excitement. At least it doesn't stir your emotions. However, still a great song with good instrumentals.

Life of a Salesman is a perfect song for one to sing to their father. The lyrics are great and so is the guitar and the violin. However, it seems the chorus drums are a bit unfitting and gives an incorrect sense of the beat. The verse lacks a good melody but makes up for it in the lyrics, which indeed will catch your attention.

Now comes the love song. Only One is a perfect ballad of punk rock. The phaser in the guitar and the violin gives this song a smooth and emotionally stirring verse. The crescendo to the chorus is an incredible burst and certainly will reach the heart.

For Miles Apart, it is a fun and happy song, showing a pop side in Yellowcard. The violin here resembles a country style and somehow fits in with the lyrics and other instrumentals.

Twenty-Three here is a creative use of Sean's vocals in the verses and Ryan's vocals in the chorus. The song tells a story by using two vocalists reenacting somewhat of a conversation. However, I believe the drums were not as fitting as they could be.

For the 9th track, View From Heaven, it is a smooth and carefree song, mixing some country-like instrumentals with stand-out pop lyrics and vocal melody. To me, the right word to describe it is simply "wonderful".

Inside Out is definitely on the punk side of Yellowcard. The heavier guitar riffs and vocals give this song a fun and jumpy attitude that perhaps may even make it somewhat of a dance song!

For the song Believe, it was probably meant to be quite a emotional and sad song of the album. The intro gives that sense to the listener. However, as the song progressed, the initially reach to the listener seems lost with mundane lyrics and a pretty much flat melody throughout the song. To me, this is not one of the good songs of the album.

Number 12 on Ocean Avenue is one of the most emotional songs of the album. From the acoustic guitars in the beginning to the end, One Year, Six Months stirred much sadness inside of me, especially bringing back some of my most memorable memories. To me, a good song stirs ones emotions and One Year, Six Months did just that and perhaps more.

The last and final song, Back Home, is a perfect ending to Ocean Avenue. The phrase "back home" will give the listener a sense of ending. Not only that, it stirs up a bit of sadness with the verse and releases it with the chorus.

Yellowcard definitely created a classic album to those who love the music of the pop punk revival. Most of these songs show a work of an artist and will bring out emotions in the listener. Though Yellowcard has currently split up, their music lives on through their old and new fans.
Rating: 9/10

Review:

on 2007-07-24 blueandyellow Said:

1. Way Away (5/5)

2. Breathing (4/5)

3. Ocean Avenue (4/5)

4. Empty Apartment (4/5)

5. Life Of A Salesman (4/5)

6. Only One (5/5)

7. Miles Apart (4/5)

8. Twentythree (3/5)

9. View From Heaven (4/5)

10. Inside Out (2/5)

11. Believe (4/5)

12. One Year, Six Months (4/5)

13. Back Home (4/5)



Total Score: 3.92/5.00
Rating: 8/10