Straylight Run

Straylight Run: Straylight RunStraylight Run (2004)
Victory Records

Reviewer Rating: 2.5

User Rating:

Contributed by: colincolin
(others by this writer | submit your own)
Published on October 12th 2004When last we met, I was reviewing Taking Back Sunday's new album, Where You Want To Be, and basically said that the breakup of the group provided at least one forgettable album. Well, make that two. Almost, at least. Don't believe the hype, folks. Although not nearly as close to the definition.

When last we met, I was reviewing Taking Back Sunday's new album, Where You Want To Be, and basically said that the breakup of the group provided at least one forgettable album.

Well, make that two. Almost, at least.

Don't believe the hype, folks. Although not nearly as close to the definition of mediocrity as the 'rival' band, Straylight Run has created a disc filled with awkward pseduo-pop, piano driven dual vocals and rather poor writing, with a few exceptions that are just fantastic. I guess it's in the same vein as Ben Folds, but I've never been a fan of his.

The album does start off very unexpected. The piano ballad "The Perfect Ending" is actually quite a nice song in a sing-me-to-sleep kind of way. Soothing vocals and ambient background noise is in. However, the thing that really hit me was the writing; I had figured since the songwriting of Taking Back Sunday took such a downfall that John Nolan had done most of it. Unfortunately, if it was that way, this album sure doesn't showcase it. The lyrics are see obvious, easy, and not seemingly fit for this genre of midtempo pop rock. I mean, I might not enjoy Ben Folds, but from what I've listened to him, the guy can write a decent set of lyrics.

"Existentialism on Prom Night" and "Another Word for Desperate" are probably two of the three very strong tracks on the album. "Existentialism..." showcases the strong points of what this band offers; the piano is excellent, the constant rolling drums are good, even the writing is strong in that 'if I was still in high school I could relate' kind of way. By the time when all the music stops except John and his piano, you really just can't complain. "Desperate" follows up with a slow and harrowingly beautiful narrative sung both by John and sister Michelle Nolan. Again, this is a song that highlights all the strongpoints of the band. The ending and breakdown seem like they could have been structured better, perhaps a little more originally, but overall it is a very strong track. It's the first real glimpse into the power of Michelle's voice, which would be fully unleased later on.

"Mistakes We Knew We Were Making" is another track that is decent, but nothing that will stand out in your memory after the CD stops in your player. It's not a bad tune, not outstanding, just a good song. "Dignity and Money" however, is not. It seems like a schizophrenic song; there's the rolling bass drum intro with a seeming looming aura of destruction, but then when the bridge comes in, the song turns into an MTV hit, and when the chorus hits it just doesn't sound like the same song. It's not really coherent, and that really turned me away.

"Your Name Here (Sunrise Highway)" is long. It's long, nice, but can get boring. At this point in the album I'm really missing Nolan's screaming voice from Taking Back Sunday. His gritty vocals are far superior to the boyish tones he produces on this CD. When I first heard this song, it was one of my favorites on the album. After awhile, it just faded away as 'just another track.' Too bad, because right after it is "Tool Sheds and Hot Tubs," a song that intros with an electronic beat and is just god awful. Although it is finally nice to hear the female vocals, this is a horrible song that I just can't stand listening to. The writing is elementary, and the structure and even the simple sound of the song are just bad. "It's For The Best" comes up next, with probably my favorite lyrics of the album about drinking too much, and much like "Mistakes..." it's a good song, not outstanding, but not bad.

"Now It's Done" is an outstanding song. The lyrics are a beautiful narrative, with the introduction painting an amazing picture; "Moving in slow like the smoke from your cigarette / Every step closer is a step that we both will regret." Michelle Nolan's voice is incredible, and there's a point 2:56 into the song where she sings at the same note as the introduction to the guitar solo, and it's probably the single greatest moment on the album, and as far as music goes, stuff like that is just great. It's just an amazing song and really is worth checking out. Very slow, very well put together and produced.

Is this album punk rock? No. In the least bit? No, except for the connection to Victory Records, and the fact this thing will get labeled as 'emo' by people who don't know any better. Should this album even be reviewed on this site? Probably not. But, everyone should still enjoy trying new music every now and then, and if you have a spare few minutes, check this album out, or at least "Now It's Done." It's not the greatest album of the year, surely not the worst, and will probably be forgotten in a few months. Plus, being the graphic designer I am, I must say that Jason Oda of StarvingEyes did a damn fine job on the album artwork, and that is always a plus.

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Fine Print: The following comments are owned by whoever posted them. We are not respon sible for them in any way. Seriously.

telephonewire (June 13, 2007)

i love this cd so much. i was disappointed when john nolan left taking back sunday, but i think that he's better with straylight run. i think that lyrically it's really great, and the sound is so different from what i was expecting from him.

and the comments about michelle?
how fucking old are you guys? the last time i heard shit like that was from middle schoolers that think they're bad ass.

BooFace (November 18, 2005)

very original and i like it alot
but im not going out to buy their new album

Anonymous (February 9, 2005)

Finally, after searching and searching for this album I have it in my hot little hands (I live in Australia it is hard to find music here). And I have to say that I disagree with your review here...
This album is pretty fantastic. While some of the points made in the review are valid (some of the songs Dignity & Money etc. miss the mark a little) this album is thoroughly enjoyable. Songs such as 'Its For the Best', 'Existentialism on Prom Night' , 'The Tension and The Terror' are all fantasitc!
It is a credit to Nolan that he (with Shaun Cooper( bass), Will Noon (drums) and his sister Michelle) have had the courage to go out and do something new. THis album could be described as soft rock or even low-fi at times... And is a total about turn from Nolan's work in Taking Back Sunday.. This is a quality album for fans of bands like Jimmy Eat World etc.
This album may have not been given a chance by fans that were expecting a 'TBS/Brand New esque' band, however is a fantastic listen and promises to be in my favourie list for a long time hence forth.

nuthinbutdisastor (January 11, 2005)

although it does not fall under any genre i have ever heard of, it is still great music from a very talented nolan, even though some of the songs were to" pop" for my taste, i really enjoyed :another word for desperate", existenalism on prom night", "your name here", and "now its done", i also like jjohns sisters awesome vocal, perfict pitch and tone, in every verse, i also downloaded some of there songs from the demo i think i might have liked them a lil bit more

emo?, no
punk?, no
something new?, yes

Anonymous (December 28, 2004)

This is real art. Nice work on this one. I seriously can't believe some of the sexist comments people are making about Michelle. Does it not sink in that she is human? Fucking unreal that scum like that gets away with it. But, then again they are posting it from home on a computer.

Anonymous (November 28, 2004)

i am an idiot
I never bought this cd, i just burned it.
I never understood why everyone thought "toolsheds" was so terrible.
Today (almost 2 months later) I realized i've had the acoustic version........the original version, well....it does blow hard.
download the acoustic version if you care, cause it's about 5 times better

Anonymous (October 24, 2004)

john nolan should have stayed with taking back sunday.
both bands suck.

Anonymous (October 24, 2004)

When i downloaded the demos of straylightrun.com, i didn't like this band much. Johns voice was kinda out of tune and a little too crackly/raspy for my taste, but the actual album is a little bit better in that sense, johns voice sings perfectly in tune. i'd say its an okay album overall.

Anonymous (October 21, 2004)

This is not a punk, emo or any-sort-of-core album. People who write that SR and bands alike will destroy the punk scene, need to consider what punk-rock "was" before Refused's "The shape of punk to come", what EMO "was" before Bob Tilton's first full-length and essentially why we're still not only listening to Beethoven or drumming on pieces of logs. If you are trying to save music, make that music, your opinions will not change fuck-o. But then, what does in this world where everything and nothing changes every day?
In any event, the album is really good and I suggest you check it out. This band is still only a child and so even better things ought to be expected!

Anonymous (October 21, 2004)

Great songs, great art-work, great album. Listen to existentialism, dignity and money and now it’s done.

Anonymous (October 19, 2004)

Why all the woman hating? Steer clear of the kids who will suggest you turn to old No Doubt, Save Ferris, Juliette and the Licks, The Distillers, and Pretty Girls Make Graves

Clearly you need to check out The Cranberries!!!

Yes!!!

But that's if you want a band.... if you want THE ROCK.... just stick with Hilary Duff. So much power. So much pop. She brings the rock.

Anonymous (October 19, 2004)

call me the gay guy but i like her first song. i know it is probably for the chicks but i think it is pretty good. music misses a real good female singer. i own say 200 CD's or so and not one is a woman fronted band. i am ashamed. get with it women.

Anonymous (October 19, 2004)

I am the God of Punk Rock!
My site, and my site alone, decided what Punk Rock Albumz sell and don't sell! My in-depth staff memberz post news articles on all the biggest happeningz in Punk Rock, like what kindz of shoez Yellowcard wearz!

-Jason Tate, Joe (or is it "John" Strumer's replacement!!! :) ! )

Anonymous (October 18, 2004)

You folks make it seem like Jason Tate is a remarkably powerful man.

colin (October 18, 2004)

milestogo:

the reason there are taking back sunday / thursday clones out there is because there are certain websites out there who promote such bands to such an ungodly and quite biased extent that the kids these days just (somehow) can't see through that they're almost destined to get popular. straylight run, as much as i had hoped out of nolan, is just not a good band. but they'll sell a ton of albums, and simply because of being promoted the right way.

unfortunately, the seemingly most absolute punk way to do things is to just get an endorsement through the internet and have a ton of 17 year old 'rebels' who 'see through corporate radio' and 'all of mtvs bullshit' really 'connect' to your album. it's pathetic, it's destroying punk rock, and i truly believe that the possiblities of the internet are being wasted on livejournals and myspace accounts and jason tate's ego.

milestogo (October 17, 2004)

I love this album. I like how calm this whole album is. It's different and it's about time there is something different to listen to. Great music is to be heard on this album by this band. Everyone whould at least check it out and judge it for themselves before they make any opinions about this band. I bet you many kids will try and copy this band now. Just watch and see what happens. Soon there won't be many TBS clones.

Anonymous (October 17, 2004)

How To Clean Your Toilet - The Fun Way
Instructions on how to clean your toilet

. Put both lids of the toilet up and add 1/8 cup of pet
shampoo to the water in the bowl.

2. Pick up the cat and soothe him while you carry him
towards the bathroom.

3. In one smooth movement, put the cat in the toilet and
close both lids. You may need to stand on the lid.

4. The cat will self agitate and make ample suds. Never
mind the noises that come from the toilet, the cat is actually
enjoying this.

5. Flush the toilet three or four times. This provides a
pot;.
6. Have someone open the front door of your home. Be sure
that there are no people between the bathroom and the front
door.

7. Stand behind the toilet as far as you can, and quickly
lift both lids.

8. The cat will rocket out of the toilet, streak through
the bathroom, and run outside where he will dry himself off.

9. Both the commode and the cat will be sparkling clean.

Sincerely,
The Dog

Anonymous (October 17, 2004)

"you guys dont realize how easy she is do you?

she's a bad lay, and hairy down below."

Dude, what is your fucking problem? I love if when a girl's got a jungle down there. It's a lot more fun, as the pubes tickle your nostrils and stuff.

-sickboi

Anonymous (October 17, 2004)

is this band what you guys call "Tatecore?"
Fuck you, buddy. Fuck you.
-Jason Tate "

It's true. Add it to the list of bands that you hype time and time again. It doesn't even have to be good for you to hype this kind of bullshit. It's all a fucking fashion trend on your site.. citing the latest gossip... it's fucked man. Stick to the news, and everyone wins. Your hype trickles down to all your reviewers who can't even construct proper scentences... just shut down your site, please.

Anonymous (October 17, 2004)

this band needs to get run over in the face about 500 times in a row.

Anonymous (October 16, 2004)

This review is totally on the right track. And he's right, starving eyes did a wonderful number on the layout. I want to have sex with everyone at that company so I can take their skill.

Anonymous (October 16, 2004)

OK, I'm going to be honest...after reading all the reviews I came into this CD completing expecting to hate "Tool Sheds and Hot Tubs," being as it's slightly electronic and has female lead vocals. I find it entirely listenable and pretty decent even in the context of the rest of the album.

Anonymous (October 15, 2004)

Tate... stop praising a band that stinks up the joint when compared the he power of Hilary Duff.

Anonymous (October 15, 2004)

you guys are tasteless assholes. Treat her like a lady for christ sake

-Jason Tate
Jasontate@absolutepunk.net
AIM: Twenty8FootFall

Anonymous (October 15, 2004)

you guys dont realize how easy she is do you?

she's a bad lay, and hairy down below.

Anonymous (October 15, 2004)

the michelle nolan comment was very immature and sexist.

score is for the comment about her cooch. well done.

Anonymous (October 15, 2004)

i turned down the chance to see straylight in new york tonight and i didn't even do anything with the evening... forgot to poop.

Anonymous (October 14, 2004)

i love the duff chatter. i'm a huge duff fan, but i think i favor the first album, becuase its more simple. i liked the powerpop stuff. anyway straylight is decent, i saw em right after they got together. nolan's voice isn't so hot, but michelle is hot. i like slow descent.

swingline (October 14, 2004)

score is for the comment:

"Duff's songs are infectious like Michelle Nolan's cooch"

Anonymous (October 14, 2004)

Hilary Duff's new album DESTROYS these peppy pop pooper ballads.

Duff's songs are more complex and inspired.

And Duff, at least (as opposed to John Nolan) hasn't lost her pop sensibilities with her new material, while increasing her rockability factor. Nolan has gone soft since leaving TBS, while Duff is climbing the mountain of rock idolotry. Some of her new songs seem like Greg Ginn wrote the chorus for.

Duff's songs are infectious like Michelle Nolan's cooch.

Allular (October 14, 2004)

Uh. The Starlite Desperation are fucking TERRIBLE. One of the worst, pretentious bands I've ever seen live.

Anonymous (October 14, 2004)

good review, took the words straight out of my mouth (and spelled them correctly) :)