Banned From The Back Porch
This could quite possibly be one of the best CDs ever, and I don't lie. It took more than 2 years for me to find out about these guys, and I regret that. They are obviously very young (19 or so) and have matured a lot from their previous album "Can't Slow Down", I also had the honor of seeing them in concert, and they were amazing. I can't describe their sound, because they sound so original. If you like A New Found Glory then you will most likely enjoy this CD because it sounds kinda similar. They are kinda soft, with no yelling or really heavy guitars(excluding Banned From The Back Porch) but not emo or pop. Listen to the songs, Chris(the singer) has an incredible voice that makes you want to sing along all the time. There is not one sub par song on the album, they all fuckin rule. They also have a video for Shoulder To The Wheel on www.blanktv.com. This CD pretty much never leaves my Discman.
This gets a well earned 99/100
Best Songs(Banned From The Back Porch, Holly Hox Forget Me Nots, and The Last Lie I Told)
Review By Dave Norman
CD Review for Saves The Day-I'm Sorry I'm Leaving
Who would have ever thought I'd thoroughly dig an acoustic EP put out by a punk band. I heard these mp3s from Napster and Punkband's Saves The Day site. I mean, come on, this is Saves The Day so it has to be good...right? DAMN RIGHT!!! This is an incredible CD that displays Saves The Day's talents in a new light. The acoustic guitars can be slow and relaxing (as in Hold) but can pick up and sound almost like a punk song (Take Our Cars Now!). This is by far my favorite band with Bigwig and Propagandhi. Yet again Chris has totally knocked me off my feet with his lyrics; insightful, inspiring, and poetic. I can't really say anything else about this CD except if you are a Saves The Day fan, go get this right now. Actually, if there is one minor thing I could complain about it is I Melt With You, which I find kind of weak compared with the rest of the CD, but that's just me. Anyway, if you see these guys live hopefully they'll play Hold live with electric guitars...it sounds absolutely incredible.
This gets a sweet booby 93/100
Best Songs(Jessie and My Whetstone, Take Our Cars Now! and Hold)
Review by Dave Norman
CD Review For Saves The Day- Can't Slow Down
TAKE NO HEED TO THE REVIEW BELOW, I HAVE SINCE REALIZED THIS ALBUM FOR WHAT IT TRULY IS...EARLY AND AMAZING SAVES THE DAY, IT MIGHT TAKE SOME GETTING USED TO, BUT IT IS AN INCREDIBLE ALBUM!!!
After buying Through Being Cool, I thought I should get this because they were so good, if this was even remotely as good as the other CD, I would be happy. I now don't know what I feel about the album. Its...Okay I guess. If I hadn't heard Through Being Cool first, I would probably like this CD a lot better. It has its moments, but Chris' voice hadn't totally matured and it sounds good in some songs, and kind of annoying on other songs. The lyrics are still as good as Through Being Cool, possibly even better. Many songs got to me, as if I could feel what Chris was going through at the time he wrote them. The guitars are okay, but again, they seem too inconsistent. If you are big into Saves The Day, you should pick it up, otherwise just get Trhough Being Cool and see what you think, just don't expect too much from this album.(UPDATED SCORE FOR THIS CD CAUSE I LIKE IT MORE NOW)
This gets 88/100
Best Songs(Jodie, Nebraska Bricks and The Choke)
Review By Dave Norman
Saves the Day is a band that very few people know of but everyone that hears them instantly likes their sound. A few of our friends that don�t even like punk heard this CD in Dave�s car and all wanted copies for themselves. This CD is perfect for blasting in your car, it�s a great summer CD. I have mixed feelings about this CD, when I hear it in a car I think it sounds amazing but when I listen to it on my walkman it is disappointing. I think that the lead vocals are a little too twangy, but you can only notice it if you listen to it through headphones. The guitars in all of the songs are outstanding. Also the chorus of most of the songs are really catchy, but sometimes too repetitive. This CD is not as deep as I would have liked and it seems that they could have spent a little more time in the recording studios before they released the CD. Hopefully they will combine their unique sound with a more solid writing approach on the next CD. I recommend this CD to anyone who wants a good driving soundtrack.
I give this CD a 85 out of 100. Catchy and fun but it�s very simple and needed some more thought.
Review By Mike Case
CD Review for Saves The Day- Can't Slow Down
This is the debut album for Saves the Day and for guys that look like their
only about seventeen they did an excellent job. The thing that impressed me
most about this CD is that the lyrics are really good throughout the CD. The
melodies aren't bad but not nearly as good as Through Being Cool. The lead
vocals are kind of catchy and annoying at the same time. He's got a sort of
twang that can be very annoying at times but fit nicely in some songs. These
guys are wise beyond their years and they are going to be amazing within their
next couple CDs. If you want to know what their sound is like just check out
the mp3s because they are pretty consistent with this sound and if you like the
mp3s you will really like this CD and love Through Being Cool. I'm trying to
keep my reviews short so I can try to catch up to all of the CDs Dave has
already done.
I give this CD a 78 out of 100. Not bad and if I hadn't heard Through Being
Cool I would have given a little better. For a young band they are extremely
impressive.
Review by Mike Case
The Last Lie I Told
Shoulder To The Wheel
Jessie & My Whetstone
Jodie
Handsome Boy
Deciding
First of all, I think I should let everyone know that I'm not a huge punk fan...I like the occasional stuff. Anyway, this CD is one of the best albums, punk or not, I've heard in a while. Sure a lot of people will write it off as typical punk and say it all sounds the same. They're dead wrong. The songs are fairly unique and damn catchy (especially the choruses of You Vandal and Vast Spoils of America). The lyrical content is something any teen can relate to (girls, relationships,hatred,angst) and they are written in an almost story-telling way. Some of my fav tracks are All-Star Me, You Vandal, Shoulder to the Wheel, Rocks Tonic Juice Magic, Vast Spoils of America and Through Being Cool. The wrost track in my opinion is Do You Know What I Love the Most......it's not crap it just sounds weak and rushed when compared to the others. This makes no differance as the CD is top-quality punk/rock/pop music. In fact it's quite similar to Dookie by Green Day in its appeal (hard songs with a slight pop appeal).
Overall I'd give this CD a 97 out of 100.
Review by Rasheed Serrao.