Welcome to the New Administration-FOB Mixtape

acWith the "recent" release of their DVD featuring a well-done cover of Micheal Jackson's "Beat it", Fall Out Boy fans must have had high hopes for the newly released Fueled By Ramen free sampler "Welcome to the New Administration". Unfortunately, this mixtape, much like the road to Hell, is paved with good intentions and could have been better with a few quick edits.

Featuring four new songs (Only one of which featuring a very long FOBesqe title) this demo is peppered with constant samples of people saying "get familiar"and others of people laughing. It may have seemed like a funny idea in the studio, however, this quickly becomes annoying and I will go as far as to say that it might have ruined the new songs for me entirely. Someone at FBR must have been smoking crack to allow this mixtape to leave the studio.

Having quite possibly the worst name for a song in the entire history of the world, "ALPHAdog and OMEGAlomaniac" has a strong opening in true FOB fashion with a chorus that belongs in a song written by a shitty local band from Buffalo. The only thing that kept me going through this piece was the very catchy melody in the first half of the song; easily one of FOB's most powerful intros for a song. My only advice to the producers is to remove the background and "lower pitch" vocals in this song as they ruin whatever good this song had. This was not a strong way to begin a new offering of songs from one of the most popular bands in America.

"Lake Effect Kid" starts with a very catchy lead guitar riff and goes into a very strong verse. The pre-chorus for this song is fairly weak but is easily made up for by the catchy chorus. The bridge features a catchy 2-guitar solo followed by a "Thanks for the Memories" voice and drums solo of the chorus. Patrick Stump hits some Once again, this song is ruined by the voice of a small girl saying "get familiar" and Clint Sparks constantly introducing himself...consider him on my list.

Travis from the Gym Class Heroes has the tendency to turn any song he is featured on into a hit, or a total piece of crap; "Catch Me if You Can/Proclamation of Emaciation" is the former, not the latter. This song has a strong guitar riff that continues through the intro and all the verses and really sets an upbeat mood through it's entirety. Yet again, the chorus of this song is very catchy and has a rather "Sassy" vocal style that really displays the versatility of Stump's voice. This will be the 2nd or 3rd single of the new album for sure.

The final song (more of a preview of the chorus and part of a verse) has subtle nuances of "Sugar We're Going Down" in the chorus and lyrics that beg to be sung along with. "America's Sweethearts" sounds like it will be a hit and is the only song on the demo that brings the band back to their "From Under the Cork Tree" days; before every rapper on earth had something to do with FOB. No offense to Timbaland.

The offerings from the new FOB CD seem promising and would have been more "listener friendly" had it not been for Clint Sparks and other individuals whose contributions to these tunes made them annoying. The new FOB album hits November 4th. Thanks for the head's up Luda. (If you download the mixtape, you will understand what I mean)

Vocals - 7/10
Lyrics - 8/10
Creativity - 5/10
Replay Value - 9/10

Overall- 72.5%

Download the Mixtape

http://www.falloutboyrock.com/

www.myspace.com/falloutboy

Jaguar Love - Take Me to the Sea

When I first picked up Jaguar Love's EP Jaguar Love EP back in June I can honestly say I didn't know what I was in for. What I got was possibly the oddest combination of pianos / synthesizers / bells / whistles and a screaming [wailing Johnny Whitney of The Blood Brothers fame] singer that I could have possibly imagined, this was some weird but solid music as far as experimental music goes. The band features Jay Clark of Pretty Girls Make Graves and Cody Votolato / Johnny Whitney of The Blood Brothers and does an excellent job of sounding just like The Blood Brothers: Part Two....on acid.

So I guess it goes without saying that two months later when they released their first full-length album Take Me to the Sea I ran to the store in anticipation to see what the band had up their sleeves for their LP. What I got was two of the three tracks featured on the EP as well as eight other songs which were more of the same, but boy were there some hits in that mess.

When the album starts you feel as if you have been cheated and perhaps in a moment of confusion you have just purchased the Jaguar Love EP again by accident [the covers are very similar oh by the way] but not to worry, it is only by the album's design that you are again hearing the opening track "Highways of Gold". This track is just something else, it progresses up and down and up and down again as if you are watching a car go up and down small hills while put to music. This however all changes when it gets to the chorus, Johnny thinks he is back in The Blood Brothers and starts to scream like a crowd of little kids being mauled by a large cat [perhaps a jaguar??]. His voice is something else, but I don't think I would have been able to enjoy the song without it.

For the next song "Bats Over the Pacific Ocean" the band decides to bust out the tambourine for a little old-fashioned time keeping while starting off like an indie rock song: sweet bass and drums, did someone take their synth away?? What are those??? Chimes during the chorus?? This song really sticks out on the album as one of the more traditional ones, you would swear to Hell that they were covering someone else's song. Not bad by ANY means, just not what I was expecting.

Continuing on a few of the songs really stick out as just amazing both vocally and instrumentally. The first song to really pop out for me was "Jaguar Pirates", a very repetitive but very catchy tune that just seems to pick up the mood of the whole album right before the soulful and somber ballad of "Georgia". There is not one part of this song that I didn't like....except for the ending. I remember bobbing my head to the entire track and then wondering what had happened to the sick ending that I had already written in my head....it just ends so weak for a song that is so upbeat.

The next song to draw my attention was "Humans Evolve Into Skyscrapers" which is more on the rock side and less about dancing which is a welcome change for the album. The best part of the song however is that about two minutes and twenty seconds in it features a Jackson Five breakdown [primal scream]. Now why doesn't every song do that?

As far as songs that grabbed my attention the last one [ironically enough the last track on the album as well] was "My Organ Sounds Like...". This song makes the popiness of "Jaguar Pirates" seem weak in comparison and it does an even better job at ending as well: a piano break down, chorus and a quick progression out of the song as opposed to the long and drawn out conclusion to "Jaguar Pirates". A flawless track that has already racked up a good twenty plus plays on my iTunes player.

As the album finished I seemed to recall moments when I found myself thinking "Why am I listening to this CD?" It is true that the first time that anyone hears the sounds of Jaguar Love [even those of us that loved the EP] that it might come off as a tad overwhelming, but after a few plays through your CD player you almost find yourself understanding and maybe even singing along to the songs. The best way to really enjoy the album is by first getting an understanding of what the member's previous bands sounded like. Myself being a Blood Brothers fan I found it very easy to jump right into most of the record, but some of the tracks such as "Georgia" and "Bats Over the Pacific Ocean" were wonderful songs...but only after I really listened to them and got myself out of the synth-dance mindset.

While Jaguar Love might not be for everyone fans of the genre will find something; if only a track or two, to take away from this one. They seem to have a sound that some would say does not have a place outside of a dance club, or a Jaguar Love concert for that matter but others will find themselves really enjoying this album. Regardless of where you stand I can guarantee that you have never heard anything like Jaguar Love. With a strong dance-rock sound and creeping hints of indie and glam rock Take Me to the Sea was just what I expected from the trio and I can't wait to see what they have in store for us next time.

Vocals - 9/10
Lyrics - 4/10
Creativity - 10/10
Replay Value - 7/10

Overall- 75%

www.matadorrecords.com/jaguar_love

www.myspace.com/jaguarloveband

Rockstar Mayhem Fest-Dragonforce

Our world would be a much nicer place if there were no such thing as Juggalos, 103.3 Edgers, eyeliner-wearing hard-rockers and the like; I'm clearly not a a big fan of them or their music. Then why pay thirty-one of my hard-earned dollars to attend WNY's largest congregation of these aforementioned individuals? One word my friends, DRAGONFORCE!

Sadly, I am one of the many people who got "addicted" to Guitar Hero 3 and, due only to the ridiculous complexity of "Through the Fire and the Flames", fell in love with "The Force". So it should go without saying that I would have jumped at any opportunity to attend a show featuring them. And on Tuesday, August 19th....I did.

Being a boy that listens primarily to pop and indie rock music, I prepared myself to face the truth that Dragonforce would not be the only band I would be seeing that night. Unfortunately, I discovered that not only was Dragonforce not headlining this show, they were opening it for two of my most hated bands of all time: Disturbed and Slipknot. This was going to be a rough night.

After arriving at Darien Lake Amusement Park, my small group of friends and I parked our car and decided to enjoy "a drink or two," which turned into three straight hours of drinking, mainly to numb the pain of the other acts we'd have to sit through to justify to ourselves that we got our money's worth. At around 7PM we entered the gates to a night we would never forget.

We got a good seat on the lawn right as Dragonforce took the stage and began their intro. The voice of guitar phenom Herman Lee came over the loud speaker announcing that they were, in fact, Dragonforce; cue the main theme from Donkey Kong Country, add in two topless girls jumping up and down and subtract any and all classiness=Drangonforce's Intro. Let the battle begin.

Taking into consideration that I know one and only one Dragonforce song, 99% of their set was a total blur to me. I guess this article should have been titled Rockstar Mayhem Fest-Only one Dragonforce Song Reviewed. All kidding aside, it was on this occasion that I realized that all Dragonforce songs sound the same with the same words and catchy choruses (reference diagram). Dragonforce put on a great set for being given so little time to perform and was very energetic and crowd friendly having an army of fans only there to see one song.

Finally, after 30 minutes of frost covered brows and epic battles, Dragonforce was ready to tell their final tale of the night; their journey "Through the Fire and the Flames". It didn't occur to me until now that the name of that song is redundant. What makes a fire? Isn't it the presence of flames? I digress. It has become common knowledge thanks to Youtube that no one can complete Dragonforce's flagship song in Guitar Hero 3 on expert without the use of anabolic steroids or crack-cocaine. So how were these mere mortals going to pull this song off? By the power of Odin, Dragonforce played this song, including all solos, to a "T". In the end, it was $30 and an hour drive to see a song from a video game played live. But it was worth it.

www.Dragonforce.com

www.myspace.com/dragonforce

The Faint - Fasciinatiion

Scientists, Alchemists, Physicists and other nerds rejoice! Nearly four years after the release of Wet From Birth The Faint is back to take us through another romp into the twisted world of indie dance-rock; and yes, Todd still sings like a robot.

Fasciinatiion marks the sixth [eighth if you count the epic remix LPs] put out by the Nebraskan quintet and the first album to be self-released on their own label [blank.wav] after their split with Saddle Creek. It features more of the same robotic beats and strange lyrics and like every other release they have had since their creation it fails to bring anything particularly different or new to the table.

Immediately after starting the record you can hear that little has changed musically or content-wise with the band....which is a good thing. The opening track "Get Seduced" starts things off with some bizarre lyrics about the down-sides of celebrity and an awesome synth hook that seems to be the trademark of The Faint.

Continuing with the album, "The Geeks Were Right" and "Machine In The Ghost" provide some top-notch dance tunes, even though the lyrics are beyond geeky and the chorus from "Machine In The Ghost" does get just a tad annoying ["let's ask: -insert random title or thing-"].

"Fulcrum And Lever" sounds less like The Faint and more like a B-side off of an Atmosphere record that maybe never saw the light of day; you know, the one with the really weak beats. Although it does sound like Todd Fink is trying to rap here, the lyrics are entertaining enough to keep you interested in the song and the picture it is painting. One thing is for sure though, Fink is NO Slug and should stick to the singing.

Toward the end of the album it becomes a bit of a mixed bag featuring six tracks split down the middle, with a great song placed every other track. The tracks "Psycho", "I Treat You Wrong" and "Fish In A Womb" seem to fall by the wayside while "Mirror Error", "Forever Growing Centipedes" and "A Battle Hymn For Children" will have you hitting the replay button again and again.

As far as picking a best song "Mirror Error" definitely stands out as the best track on the album. From the second the feedback starts to fade and the beat begins to play on this catchy tune you can't help but feel the urge to dance. The bass tones put to the lyrics add an extra sense of eeriness to Todd's already haunting voice giving the song a much deeper sound then the other tracks. On that same note this song also features one of the best choruses on the record: a chorus featuring no words at all but only a long held out "ohhhhhh". Even though it lacks any catchy hook during it the chorus is hard not to sing along to.

Keeping with the same formula as Wet From Birth and Danse Macabre The Faint again shows that even kids from Omaha can create some of the most infectious dance music this side of the Prime Meridian. While there are still a few ho-hum songs on the album, it is not enough to take away from the solid tracks which are spread evenly throughout the record. Again, nothing new here but Fasciinatiion is an awesome disc for any fan of the band, and if you're anything like me you may find that your glasses are just thick enough to dance to and enjoy the Hell out of it.

Vocals - 8/10
Lyrics - 7/10
Creativity - 6/10
Replay Value - 7/10

Overall- 70%

www.thefaint.com

www.myspace.com/thefaint

The Academy Is... - Fast Times at Barrington High

From Almost Here to Santi, The Academy Is... relinquished their signature pop sound for a matured, alienating movement that failed to capture any real connection with their fans.

With their fourth studio release, the Chicagoans decided to mix together some of the best parts of their previous releases, although the same problems that plagued Santi affect lead singer William Beckett and company again.

From the opening track, "About a Girl," listeners will notice Beckett's voice has a slightly lower pitched range this go-round. Featuring a steady drum beat backing it solid chorus, the track provides a solid opening for the album.

Whereas the song provides a solid backbone for the album, the next two tracks follow in its footsteps so as much that any deviation from one another is inexistent. "His Girl Friday" features a chorus that unfortunately repeats itself far too often for any replayed listens.

"Crowded Room" is one of the closest tracks to Santi, which means it features an incredibly obnoxious opening 30 seconds and a lack of cohesion.

The back-end of the album features some of the strongest tracks on the album, including the ballad "After the Last Midtown Show" and the closer "One More Weekend." While neither track features lyrics worth mentioning, both feature Beckett's grandiose vocals at their very best.

While this album is a solid mix of their previous releases, the large problem is that after quite a few spins, it all blends together. Many of the tracks just plain don't stand out from one another. Almost Here mixed together great pop music with clever lyrics, yet this album just fails at creating anything special.

Vocals - 8/10
Lyrics - 5/10
Creativity - 5/10
Replay Value - 5/10

Overall- 76%

www.theacademyis.com

www.myspace.com/theacademyis