Would all of the emo kids in the room please stand up? Is there nobody there? I thought not. In this day and age, we live in a world that brandishes this particular music genre’s followers with stigmas such as whiners, cry babies, and losers. These scene kids are outcasts, forced to huddle in groups at their local Hot Topic trying to avoid the metal heads out there that are ready to smudge their man-scara with spiked Doc Martins.
Now don’t get me wrong, I’m not a fan of the hair, the fashion, or the people this culture commonly possesses. I do, however, admit that emo music is somewhat of a guilty pleasure of mine. I’m sure not many are surprised, because I do listen to a lot of mainstream music; and most emo comes out of the gates into the mainstream. Why is that? Because it sells, and I promise you that emo kids are not the only consumers supporting this genre. So many nameless faces out there just like me have at least one or two emo bands on their iPod, and get down to the slit-wrist serenading of music they are ashamed to admit in public that they sing along with. Don’t be scared to like it if it’s good, people. I’m certainly not. And one band that you have to appreciate in this particular genre is definitely The Almost.
I have followed Aaron Gillespie for some time now, and have really learned to appreciate his talent. As the drummer and singer for one of my favorite bands, Underoath, it’s safe to say I’ve spent more time listening to his music in the past four or five years than I have any other band. When he started The Almost as a side project, I was a little standoffish because I didn’t really see him doing emo music well. I was quickly proven wrong as their first album Southern Weather was a hit and still frequents my playlist. When I heard the EP for Monster Monster, I wasn’t too sure I’d feel the same about their sophomore release. I was wrong, though. For the full length, they left off three songs from the EP that I hated, and replaced them with some great songs which made this record a hit in my eyes.
One thing you can be sure you’ll always get out of these guys is an arsenal of catchy songs. There is not one song on this CD that won’t get stuck in your head. The album opens on “Monster, Monster” which sets the record off on the right foot. Track two, “Lonely Wheel,” was the first single they released for this record. And what a hook! I dare you not to tap your foot along to this song.
Track three, “No I Don’t,” keeps the flow strong, and is such a great song. This song is powerful and captivating – the kind of song that you listen to over and over. If you only listen to one song on this record, make it “No I Don’t.” It has uplifting vocals, and carries a message of redemption. Easily my favorite song on the CD! Song four, “Hands,” is another great song. It’s an anthemic ballad that is sure make you want to throw your hands up and sing along.
Track by track, this CD is one hit after another. “Hand Grenade” is an acoustic, folksy ballad (a love song, if you will), and a good one at that. “Want To” is sure to get your toes tapping. And the album’s closer, “Monster,” is another acoustic ballad that will make you question yourself and search your soul for the answer to one of life’s most important questions, what is my monster?
From start to finish, the powerful music, uplifting messages, and soulful serenading from Aaron will ignite your soul and leave you in a state of emo-bliss. I can’t think of a better word to describe this album other than “great!” Close your blinds, turn off your phone, and spend a little time with this record. Nobody will know you took out your Slayer CD to listen to The Almost, and I am sure that you will like what you hear. It’s only fair to state, if you unaware, that this is a Christian band, which might help you to better understand the theme of this record. Do not miss out on this record because of its genre. I believe The Almost to have a sound that speaks to so many different musical tastes, and if given the chance, it just might speak to you. Buy this album. You will not regret it!
Surprise! Surprise!
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5 Comments
November 9th, 2009 at 3:40 pm
I love this cd and I love you Ryan…and I love this website. I love lamp.
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November 9th, 2009 at 4:44 pm
Thanks Ronnie….we appreciate it!
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November 9th, 2009 at 7:46 pm
I like how you tagged Slayer! lol
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November 11th, 2009 at 2:36 am
Ryan,
Awesome review. Well said, I couldn’t agree more on the great messages he’s delivering. During the show that we just recently went to, he stopped playing to speak and give props to JC for being his guiding light through all this…the crowd erupted, it was special. Looking forward to Underoath. See you soon bro.
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November 25th, 2009 at 10:16 pm
I bought Southern Weather since I’m a fan of Underoath myself (they’re from my town) and I thought it was pretty good. Dirty and Left Out is my favorite song on the entire album. I’m now listening to it. I dig the fact that they occasionally intertwine their songs with hints of folk. They’re unique. I also admire Aaron’s passion for music and the messages that drive his lyrics. I’m not an avidly religious person, but I own a lot of albums with Christian lyrics and appreciate a positive message. I’ll definitely check this out.
Nice work on the review. I read a lot of the ones you post. My musical taste is all over the map and it seems like everyone here is the same way. I’ve based the majority of my recent album purchases on the reviews on here.
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