Search - Thorn for Every Heart :: Things Aren't So Beautiful Now

A very fresh and original take on the genre

Nathan A. Webster | Maine-the "Deep South of the North" | 04/07/2006

(4 out of 5 stars)

"After hearing the 30-second sample of "February," I immediately went and downloaded all the songs from this album. But then, I ordered a copy from Amazon because I felt that A Thorn For Every Heart certainly deserved my $10 for this excellent album.



On this album, the band sets themselves apart from the typical screamo pack, a scene that's not exactly brimming with talent or originality. They are very adept at blending emo, post-hardcore and even a smattering of thrash. To me, they sound up the alley of Armor for Sleep and Thursday (both of whom I love). There's not much punk influence here, which I think is a good thing -- the lyrics are more mature and thoughtful than pop-punk, and as far as I can tell there are no references to high school. The songs also have tempo changes, which is not seen often enough in screamo, but is welcome here.



What drew me in so strongly to "February" (which is the best song on the album and is simply brilliant) was the dual-vocal harmony in the chorus -- it's just amazing. Writing one set of lyrics with melody is hard enough, but these guys can double it up with great results, which shows how skilled they are as songwriters despite their young age. This song is so full of energy and genuine emotion (without screaming!), it's practically impossible for me to not hit "back" on my CD player and hear it again -- it's that good.



"99 With An Anchor" is a fantastic opener, really setting the tone for the rest of the album. Usually singing/screaming combos in this genre get a little grating, but in this case it works like a charm. My favorite part of the song is when the boys sing, "We all have, we all have someone..." The melody is just awesome.



"Streetcar" (with its great lyrics of "After what you did, why should I care?") and the final track (which features some great synth) are also standouts. There is no track on here that I skip, although I agree with the other reviewer that there is too often a single-mindedness in their approach to the songs -- which is apparently to beat the crap out of every track. Hopefully the band will progress and write songs that lull and meander in spots and build anticipation -- something that doesn't happen in any of these songs, which are generally full of full-tilt energy. Although, the energy is certainly infectious.



And one reviewer remarked that the production is terrible -- it definitely isn't. The vocals (which sound awesome) were given so much attention that the guitars specifically suffer on the album. The guitars are mixed pretty weakly, which is a shame and a big no-no in my opinion. The guitars rest mostly in the background when they should have been huge in the mix with the gain cranked. The album would've sounded a lot different (and better) with the guitars sharp and chunky, but instead they're just warm and a bit muted. On a side note, the violins used on the album seem out of place and unnecessary -- the four instruments quite nicely stand on their own feet; anything extra is more or less a distraction.



And I also wonder why the drummer on this album isn't a regular member in the band (they still don't have a regular drummer) -- he's very talented, and it's a shame they don't keep him around. Revolving drummers in a band doesn't usually help its sound solidify or progress.



Despite a few flaws, this album definitely rocks and I would recommend it without hesitation. It's different, and that counts for a lot in my book."

It's great.. but...

Relite | 11/29/2005

(3 out of 5 stars)

"ATFEH is a great band, don't get me wrong, but the only complaint I had about this CD was sometimes the constantly chaotic pace just sort of made me have nervous breakdowns. This band is talented, the singing double time is good, and they're good part writers. It's just it's so chaotic sometimes it ruins the rest of the CD at times. The choas works 2/3's of the time though, it's funny, because on their last song which is my favorite, it's supposed to be that "epic and dynamic/mellow epic" ending and it has that feel, yet it's still at a super fast pace. It works sometimes. Frankly though, alot of people rate the CDs they "love" (more like "like") to be 4 or 5 stars, some are actually worthy of such a rating, but a ton aren't. This CD has it's moments, but in the end it's not a 4 or a 5. If the pace was more... planned and went in between fast and slower more epic at times it needed to be it'd be a 4 for sure. The mellow parts on the CD are not very good though, so maybe they're just not made for that sort of pace. A 30 minute jog seems like eternity when it's sprinting pace the whole time, so is this CD hard to bear at such a fast timing for the 1/2 hour it lasts. I'm sad, because a lot of die hard ATFEH fans are probably going to mark this review as not helpful, which is a shame because I'm just trying to warn true rock/epic music lovers that this cd isn't top notch. Oh well, at least I still have my voice. Buy it "used" is what I'm basically saying.

Peace,

Ty"

Things are Very Beautiful

Jacob Roggero | Lakewood, Colorado United States | 06/03/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"For a first release this Cd is just excellent. If you are looking for a similar sound you might not find it, but that doesn't mean you have never heard this style before. People that have listened to ATFEH have told me they hear everything from taking back sunday, and new found glory, to dashboard. This guys are very versatile. And what I love most is how there is never just one vocal line. There is always something going on like multiple vocals, screaming, harmonizing. If you like emo/screamo you should definitely pick up this cd. The first song is very good, and the last song, "Things aren't so Beautiful now Pt. II" is just a great song. The story is good and end is to die for. Just pick up this cd and be entertained."