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Staff IconAmber Pacific - Fading Days (Cover Artwork)

Amber Pacific

Fading Days (2004)
Hopeless Records

Reviewer Rating:


Contributed by: Brian
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Published on August 3rd 2004


If you were going to pick any band to rip off, why would it be The Early November?

Amber Pacific plays the ol’ emotional pop-punk card like it wins a hand every time. Sure, they’ve got some nice (very) minor tempo changes, perfect singing harmonies, a deathly catchy lead single (possibly) in “Thoughts Before Me,” and a front vocalist in Matt Young who tries a deeper key than most singers in the genre, but this is still one heck of a cardboard cutout of an album. Look at it this way – if this EP had come out on Drive-Thru, no one would be shocked.

I’ll use the Scott Heisel argument to illustrate the point further: My twelve-year-old sister got in my car after school with this playing on my stereo and immediately stated, “FINALLY, you’re listening to good music! Not like that other crap…” “That other crap” was a reference to her last time in the car having to ‘endure’ several tracks of The Lawrence Arms’ Greatest Story Ever Told. Her other comment was “You know what this reminds me of…? New Found Glory.”

It’s almost funny how calculated this really is though. “Open wounds / broken hearts / please stay tonighhhht!” Are they serious? I’m sure Amber Pacific will blow up in nuclear proportions, but when it comes down to actual originality, execution, style, et al, this band is hopeless.

MP3
Always You



People who liked this also liked:
Amber Pacific - The Possibility And The Promise

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    Anonymous (April 1, 2006)

    i fell in love with amber pacific the moment i started listening to them, they are a great band and they're awesome live

    Anonymous (August 21, 2004)

    By the way-they are on hopeless records..and promoting 1-800-suicide...dont u think its a good cause? i do!

    Anonymous (August 21, 2004)

    dude why didnt it show up as 8?

    Anonymous (August 21, 2004)

    Ya i know u guys probably think i'm one of the dumbest people for givin them a 8 but i really like them! they have talent, and a bright future. I met them on Warped Tour and they were wicked cool guys. They are real down to earth and are trying to succede if u dont like them, dont listen to them.. its that simple but dont dis people who like them

    Anonymous (August 19, 2004)

    I personally like Amber Pacific. I was hooked as soon as I heard "Thoughts Before Me"

    Anonymous (August 14, 2004)

    I also saw these guys at the Hershey Warped Tour and i thought these guys were pretty good. I thought they had decent stage presence and it also seemes like they had a lot of ppl watching them there that bought this cd. This cd is pretty good and i agree with who ever said they have a bright future

    Anonymous (August 9, 2004)

    i actually enjoyed this a little bit and im not a big TEN fan, but they are extremely unoriginal, and the vocalist voice gets annoying at times

    Anonymous (August 6, 2004)

    i got this for free, and still felt ripped off. jeez.

    lostinthecrowd13 (August 5, 2004)

    I heard their song that they contributed to the Warped Comp this year. It reminded me of Matchbook Romance but not as good and much more cliche. If that is possible.

    Anonymous (August 5, 2004)

    sorry wrong review, my bad

    Anonymous (August 4, 2004)

    "One listen to any cut from Lines in My Face will be enough to convince any listener of the band's collective genius"
    from the official bio, they think they are pretty good apparently

    Marlon (August 4, 2004)

    "He never compared this to the Lawrence Arms, he just said someone didn't like "the Greatest Story Ever Told" (which is a crime in a few states, i believe)"

    Illinois, Missouri, Ohio, and Maine.

    thriceequalsgod (August 4, 2004)

    "Instead of reviewing albums hoping it will sound like boring and annoying lawrence arms or hoping it would be something totally original, how bout review it based on what it is (like you said) emotional pop-punk early november sounding. I wanna know if it's a good emotional pop-punk album I don't wanna read how you're into the lawrence arms.

    This score is for the review, what a waste of time"

    You sir, are a fucking idiot. He never compared this to the Lawrence Arms, he just said someone didn't like "the Greatest Story Ever Told" (which is a crime in a few states, i believe) and did like this.

    Anonymous (August 4, 2004)

    The problem isn't that they're unoriginal. It's that otherwise, the reviewer likes this band.

    -BSD

    Anonymous (August 4, 2004)

    I saw these play in a tent at the Warped Tour. They weren't bad. They reminded me of a watered down, early Saves The Day. Early Saves The Day sounds sorta like a watered down Lifetime. These guys sound nothing like Lifetime though. So, yeah...

    Anonymous (August 3, 2004)

    I completely disagree with this review. I think Amber Pacific is a great band with a bright future. I saw them on warped tour and they were really good. I also got the chance to meet them and they were all great guys. I wish them the best of luck!

    Anonymous (August 3, 2004)

    I hated this band before it was cool.

    CrankWillDestroy (August 3, 2004)

    'isn't that a clothing brand?'

    I though I drank a beer called 'Amber Pacific' once.

    Anonymous (August 3, 2004)

    i used to only wear OP when i was a kid...back when it was like osh kosh b'gosh. i was wearing OP when you were wearing Gerbaud's.

    -Costanza

    Anonymous (August 3, 2004)

    isn't that a clothing brand?"

    thatz ocean pacific bro

    Marlon (August 3, 2004)

    I don't think you guys get it... Why would you want to listen to an The Early November rip off band? Even if it is a "good" TEN rip off band (and I can't possiblly see how good you can be if you're ripping them off)? You're doing this in the reverse way it should be done... Why don't you listen to some people The Early November is inspired by like Hey Mercedes? It makes a lot more sense...

    Anonymous (August 3, 2004)

    "Instead of reviewing albums hoping it will sound like boring and annoying lawrence arms or hoping it would be something totally original, how bout review it based on what it is (like you said) emotional pop-punk early november sounding. I wanna know if it's a good emotional pop-punk album I don't wanna read how you're into the lawrence arms.

    This score is for the review, what a waste of time"

    no, all you need to know is that this blows, and if you're really interested in what this pop punk early november ripoff sounds like, go kill yourself.

    -Costanza

    mykindofmurder (August 3, 2004)

    isn't that a clothing brand?

    Anonymous (August 3, 2004)

    Instead of reviewing albums hoping it will sound like boring and annoying lawrence arms or hoping it would be something totally original, how bout review it based on what it is (like you said) emotional pop-punk early november sounding. I wanna know if it's a good emotional pop-punk album I don't wanna read how you're into the lawrence arms.

    This score is for the review, what a waste of time

    Anonymous (August 3, 2004)

    wow this band blows donkey dick.

    -Costanza

    slippy (August 3, 2004)

    The score is for the Lawrence Arms last night in Detroit. It would be a 10 but they only played one song off the Present Day Memories split. :(

    Marlon (August 3, 2004)

    I think I hate Scott's sister.

    Anonymous (August 3, 2004)

    scores for 'his head looks like a pee pee'

    this band has a song on the new warped comp. standard pop punk stuff. whatever, not offensive, but nothing worth hearing.

    score is also for 'teh greatest story ever told' and brenden

    Anonymous (August 3, 2004)

    The drummer for Amber Pacific was apparently a good studio drummer who moved out to CA to play drums for...Amber Pacific. He has his own website & t-shirts. His head looks like a peepee.

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