|
Review Navigator   FeaturesReviews
 | WakefieldAmerican Made2003 Arista 
 Review by: Joseph See others by this writer Only registered users can post comments 
 Published on June 6th 2003 Wakefield begins their debut album by delcaring themselves sell-outs, in an attempt to sarcastically assert themselves as cooler than everyone that calls them sell-outs. Well, since most people aren't members of a decent sounding pop-punk/emo band, the Wakefield guys are probably cooler than anyone that'll call them sell-outs. LIke me. Wakefield, you're sell-outs. Just about every song on the album is your basic catch-ridden teenage rant about girls. And they didn't write all their songs on their own. Boo. The guitar work is somehow reminiscent of any majorly successful pop-punk bands you could think of. I am reminded of New Found Glory, Sugarcult, and even Simple Plan all over the album. Except for the emo tracks, the guitar work in which could be a cross between Jimmy Eat World and something I can't quite put my finger on. Maybe the biggest saving grace this band has, is that every band-member vocally contributes something to the album. Their single, "Say You Will", has a whole lot of harmonizing, but since this is pop-punk, and not emo it doesn't involve any long drawn out notes, so it's like one big sing-a-long with the whole band. The thing is, after hearing it a few times, you probably will feel like joining in. Unoriginality aside, this album is a fine listen for the average pop-punk and emo fan. It's even littered with emo tracks, like "Heaven's Coming", and with the whole band singing, it's a bit of a different experience. Especially since it's not horrifically off-key, like Taking Back Sunday tends to be. Since this album is a bit of a hybrid between pop-punk and emo, switching between the genres at every other track at times, it's hard to judge. The emo is a lot better than the pop-punk. The pop-punk is a bit generic for my tastes. But overall the album is a solid listen, without any tracks sounding bad enough to flat out skip over.
Definitely check it out.
People who liked this also liked:   Please login or register to post comments. What are the benefits of having a Punknews.org account?
They actually did write every song on "American Made." Not that I am a huge fan. Call it intuition, call it personal knowledge of the band. Either way the record was written primarily Jd with a lot of melodic input from Ryan; musical input from Mike and Aaron. Reguardless of the mundane redundant theme, the record was produced by Matt Wallace. That gave them one more point, for me at least, on their Album Score. okay steve sparks sucks. tim wakefield used to be an infielder in the minor leagues, until one of the coaches saw him fucking around with the knuckler. the rest is history. i give many props, i am so sick of this terrible music and the ass pounding sailors that listen to this shit. Give the guy below me props for being right on..... yes Joseph you are a fag and Wakefield should die. Another band that breaks the mould and pushes the boundaries of punk even further! this cd is so shitty, these guys are such pussies-i can't believe they tried to tour with river city rebels this review jumped more between stuff than i bet this band does on stage. I think you guys missed the point of the review. this cd was a piece of crap at best... if you like really awful manufactured pop-punk... please by all means buy this crap, because it's for you! HEY! don't be talkin' shit about the former mets southpaw. C.J.'s a cool guy, he has talent but knows his limitations. I talked to him a few seasons ago about whether he thought he was going to make the Mets' rotation at all, he basically told me "not a chance." He's almost past his prime, but once he hits his early 30s, if you put the guy on the rotatin of a mediocre team, 3rd or 4th starter, with the other 4 SPs young'uns, he'd probably notch an ERA somewhere between 4 and 5 and still be a good veteran leader for the others, giving the mediocre team a good chance to finish above .500 and thus build for a soon-future playoff run. this of course only goes well if the offense was good to start with. not atlanta good, but good enough to keep the team in games. jee im such a goo writer that i will critisize a persons review. that makes me cool......i wish i was an english teacher Who else is a knuckleballer other than Sparks and Wakefield? Sparks hasn't won a game yet this season working out of the bullpen. He's a nobody; Scott Radinsky would be better than him. Wakefield is solid, but did anyone see him get nailed in the shin by a fastball the other night against Milwaukee? Haw haw! Steve Sparks is the top knuckleballer in the majors right now. I don't know Scott. I think Wakefield was in his prime with the Pirates. He's still an effective pitcher but lately he and the rest of the Bosox pitching have been getting shit in the way of help from their hitters. This review has the id 1984. This review jumped around all over the place, first kinda bashing them, then boofing them by the end. warf. AMERICAN Made?!? HAHAHAHAHA!............how pathetic. Patriotic bands are painfully idiotic already........adding in really horrible, tepid pop emo trash isn't gonna make it any better. Is anyone else totally and completely lost? I clicked on the review to read some high-quality bashing of the newest "sell-outs," which the review was at the beginning (although I wouldn't call it high-quality). All of a sudden, it's like Joseph turned on his/her MTV and was brainwashed by the oh-so-cute, pogo-ing quartet. sounds craptacullar Tim Wakefield was the man on the Pirates...Then he got better. yeah right. tell that to elliot and further seems forever Um, they don't play emo. FOR THE LAST TIME, EMO IS NOT SLOW TO MID-TEMPO, SAD SOUNDING MUSIC WITH HIGH OR SOFT VOCALS AND TWINKLY GUITAR PARTS. Get it right. Go listen to Indian Summer to get your emo fill. i saw them with the bosstones once. the lead singer was like, "let's turn this whole place into a mosh pit" and people responded with the middle finger salute. not a good band. How could they be sell-outs if this is a debut? Don't you have to change to be considered a sell-out? Since they started out as complete dog shit, when they actually sell out does that mean they will make good music? I'm confused..... As a (self-proclaimed) English major, I am obliged to fill you in with my opinion on Wakefield. Craaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaap. you just insulted the whole album and then at the end you say it's solid and a good listen...fuck horrible review, go DIE. "I am reminded of New Found Glory, Sugarcult, and even Simple Plan " haha that's funny, you just sounded like now the term sell out is cool so you're not gonna call this band sell outs Joseph, pleaseeee stop making reviews. Enough pop-punkers have entered the building. Also, not all of us are happy little suburbanites who have 15 bucks to blow on a CD we don't know why we should buy. WHAT SETS THIS APART FROM THE REST OF THE NEW, SHITTY, POP ROCK TREND? So, basically, here's the review: Reel Big Fish still ARE better than these "sell outs" well, maybe other people like it. its just funnier and less confusing when you dont misinterpret recent history. but that's just my opinion. no hard feelings. i was figuring wakefield could use the knuckleball for people who deserve it more like good charlotte, mest, or carrot top. i didn't know my misreferences to pop-culture seems to bother you. i thought that was the part the people love about me. oh yeah, and reel big fish also placed "sell out" as the opening track on their majors debut. Of course, more people can agree that the fish are actually good, or were, etc. Ramo shut the fuck up. If you're gonna join in an unrelated correlated discussion to this band, at least get your attempt at a pop cultural mention right! A FUCKIN KNUCKLEBALL BETWEEN THE EYES!!! TIM FUCKING WAKEFIELD IS KNOWN FOR HIS KNUCKLEBALL. don't talk if you can't get your facual attempts straight. he could throw a curveball; but why wouldn't he just throw his signature pitch? This album is called American Made. This album is why people dont buy American. Even proclaiming themselves sellouts isnt original...Didnt Reel Big Fish do that way back in like'96? A curveball right between the eyes. Bean those sons of bitches. Tim Wakefield should sue these guys. to me this review made the cd out to be decent, but it got 4 stars. why oh why. i havent heard this but my guess is that nothing too original is going on here. to me they sound like mest and i fuckin hate mest....with a passion. They hosted some Nickelodeon show one Saturday night. It's like their new SNICK where they get different people to host...well they did, and that's all I have to say about them hey I seen these guys. Well, not really, I seen there name on a mesh hat though and that was enough for me. Hahaha, Wakefield. This is the first review of this I've read that didn't mention the Good Charlotte link. Huzzah. |
