album review: senses fail - life is not a waiting room (2008)

Artist: Senses Fail
Album: Life is Not a Waiting Room
Record Label: Vagrant Records
Release Date: Oct 7, 2008



It's completely understandable that Senses Fail follows the formula that garnered it recognition and praise in the past two years. Regardless of preference, it's hard to deny the progression the group made from its debut LP Let in Enfold You to Still Searching. However, if the formula wasn't that extraordinary to begin with, there will continue to be detractors, and for a band as contrived and generic as Senses Fail, it's no surprise that Still Searching sold more than 750,000 albums.

Life is Not a Waiting Room is the New Jersey quintet's third full-length album and second on Vagrant Records. Like every band that is on the brink of releasing a new album, this is the group's "best music to date." Singer Buddy Nielson described the songs as "having a real sense of urgency" and having a lot of "grit and power." Guess you could say most of us are still searching for that. Bad puns aside, on to the album.

Waiting Room kicks off with "Fireworks at Dawn," which is more or less the album's best song. The drumming intro sets a cadence that is hard to ignore, but the band fails to follow through after this. The rest of the album is uninspired and cliché, as it is song after song of dark and haunting themes over melodic and moderately heavy music.

The main strengths in Senses Fail are the musicians, namely the guitarists. Heath Saraceno and Garrett Zablocki do a pristine job at handling the guitar duties, with tip-top solos in "Lungs Like Gallows" and "Wolves at the Door." The drummer, Dan Trapp, is talented as well, albeit generic. The group even teamed up with producer Brian McTernan, whose work behind the boards is definitely something to write home about, and the production on Waiting Room is equally glossy.

Since the release of its 2002 EP From the Depths of Dreams Senses Fail has yet to progress lyrically. Nielson still writes with the same childish metaphors and imagery that has graced every past release in Senses Fail's discography. In "Garden State," the lyrics "There will be a riot in my heart soon / It wants to beat beneath the open sky" seem to be derived from a 15-year-old's LiveJournal.

Vocally, Nielson is proof that anyone can become a singer. As a 24-year-old, his vocals lack the depth and range that would validate a good singer. Because talent is generally lost with Nielson, it would be in the group's best interest to find a frontman who doesn't hold the band back from reaching its potential.

In short, if you can manage to make it through Life is Not a Waiting Room without a cringe or even mild to heavy laughter, then this is the album for you. Senses Fail brings absolutely nothing new to the table. Yes, they managed to progress once in their career, but the end product is still contrived and lacks any real substance. Overall, Senses Fail epitomizes what you should not be listening to.


Grade: F

yeaaaah. only reason a review for this exists is because of school.

-grizzly

movie recap: eagle eye (2008)

caught this flick last night. to clear up: i'm a sucker for governmental/cia/crime/terrorist/whatever movies, regardless of how shitty they looked. i mean i rented the sentinel for the sole reason that kiefer sutherland was in it. (24 REPRESENT!) but seriously, what the fuck was this?

this was one of the most disconnected, unrealistic and downright ridiculous movies i've ever seen in my life. visually speaking, the movie's incredible. cgi just keeps getting more and more realistic. but getting framed and being able to escape from a maximum security prison in less than 8 minutes of film time among COUNTLESS other things are just ridiculous. in my time, i've let the most outlandish things slide in the name of entertainment. first thing that comes to mind is jack bauer landing a fucking plane on a los angeles freeway.

several people told me that this movie was "great," "awesome" or "badass." but if i had to describe the movie in three words, they would be "shitty," "shit" and "shit."

shia laBUFF [sic] is a great actor. i mean, he's come a long way since even stevens, which was still awesome. even though this movie is a tanker, he's great in it.

so if you like completely unrealistic action movies, and can suspend disbelief for around two hours, then this is the movie of the year. otherwise, save your 8 bucks. stream it from a website or something.

grade: NO.

-grizzly's eye

album review: lloyd - lessons in love (2008)

Artist: Lloyd
Album: Lessons in Love
Record Label: Universal Records
Release Date: August 5, 2008

Although it hasn’t been very long since we had our last offering from Lloyd, one of the South’s more well-known crooners hopped back into the studio after his platinum selling sophomore album, Street Love, to release his latest collection of clichéd anthem of sex and love balladry, Lessons in Love.

Following the album’s title as a loose concept, Lloyd jumps into “Sex Education,” a light-hearted and upbeat number with live instrumentation. Very literally, he turns this song into the step-by-step program about sex, making it known that he “wants to make an A,” and will show you his if you show him yours.

The biggest problem with this album is the monotony in subject matter. The realization of this being Lloyd’s style and the genre he’s pinned himself to comes to mind, but it wouldn’t hurt to switch it up. It also wouldn’t hurt if he attempted to write better lyrics than “Please have my baby/Yeah, I’m talking to you/If you wanna have my baby/Here’s what you do/Take your clothes off,” found on “Please Have My Baby.”

There are a couple of enjoyable songs on Lessons in Love. “Girls Around The World,” the album’s first single, samples Eric B and Rakim and features a Lil’ Wayne cameo, and “Love Making 101” features a guitar solo, easily one of the album’s highlights. However, taking these songs at face value is recommended, as the subject matter remains cliché and continues to fall flat.

The production on Lessons in Love is another one of the few things keeping this album afloat. With the aid from Big Reese, Jasper Cameron and Polow da Don, Lloyd manages to have an album full of probable hits. The live instrumentation in “Sex Education” and “Love Making 101” switches up the vibe, while Polow’s synth-heavy production on “Party All Over Your Body” is just well-produced.

With Lessons in Love, Lloyd makes a valiant effort at attempting to join the ranks of the Ushers and Babyfaces of contemporary R&B, but pales in comparison. Considering all of the underrated talent that lies within hip-hop’s borders, the fact that Lloyd has a record deal and the amenities to be able to hire top shelf producers to make him sound good is a mind-bender. But the fact of the matter remains; the man sells records, and is obviously doing something right. I’m just not signing off on it.

Grade: F

lloyd on myspace.

note: this review was for allhiphop.com, but they haven't gotten around to posting it, so i'm posting it here.

-grizzly

i hate nicholas cage

for today, i recommend you take several minutes out of your day to reflect on how big of a douche nicholas cage is. dude sucks. he makes every movie the visual equivalent of chinese water torture.

now, you might ask, "hey roshan, why do you hate such an awesome actor? he was in rad movies like face/off and gone in 60 seconds!"

i'll give you the fact that they were entertaining movies (and the only tolerable movies in his reportoire), but would have been infinitely better had mr. cage not been in them.

you may also ask, "hey roshan, what brought on this onslaught of hatred towards nick cage?"

well, i happened to see a commercial for his new movie, national treasure 2, and i remembered how shitty of a person and an actor he was.

have a nice day!

-roshan