Acceptance

Acceptance: PhantomsPhantoms (2005)
Sony Music Entertainment

Reviewer Rating: 2

Contributed by: InaGreendaseBrian
(others by this writer | submit your own)
Published on April 26th 2005The major label transfer can be a harsh adjustment for many devoted fans. But when you have someone like Acceptance, there isn't really a need for a spoonful of sugar to make the medicine go down, because as a fan of the band, it's what you've already been spoon-fed since the act's inception. Acc.

The major label transfer can be a harsh adjustment for many devoted fans. But when you have someone like Acceptance, there isn't really a need for a spoonful of sugar to make the medicine go down, because as a fan of the band, it's what you've already been spoon-fed since the act's inception.

Acceptance's 2003 EP Black Lines To Battlefields was either a splendid array of catchy, driving, light alt-rock or lame, derisive pop antics, depending on how you looked at it. Essentially, the same can be said for their first full-length, Phantoms.

The band is still treading the rocked-out alternative pop territory that Jimmy Eat World have already more or less staked claim to, but the sound also seems to more greatly incorporate shades of their peers like the Juliana Theory or Anberlin (reference "The Letter" for strong proof), probably due to production choices by Aaron Sprinkle (responsible for the latter's Blueprints For The Black Market as well as Acceptance's aforementioned take on alliterate titles). Oddly enough, the album's first single, the mid-paced "Different," should get the college kids in a frenzy, as it has lead vocalist Jason Vena hitting pitches in the chorus that wouldn't seem out of place on one of Coldplay's radio staples; this isn't to mention the gentle piano usage as well in opener "Take Cover," either. So while the band are certainly still in touch with their earlier roots, they also seem to be vaguely branching out to other acclaimed acts, perhaps in a dual bid to achieve mainstream acceptance and critical praise. However, fans should be pleased to know that with said style growth, the band is still at their core, derivative and cautious pop-rock. Granted, the band knows how to write a radio-friendly hook and melody, but with every harmony and guitar stroke, it just seems inherently done.

Though the technical problems are few and far between, the ones that are obvious are quite disruptive to the record's flow. "Permanent," which prior to Phantoms was likely the "the" song for the band, appears here in a re-recorded format as the second-to-last track. The sequencing of a deathly familiar song for even non-fans makes for a really awkward lapse in the disc, even after repeated listens. It's apparent Phantoms could get by without it just the same at 11 tracks.

While far from horrible and incompetent, Phantoms is as opaque as its title suggests. On the surface, the record may seem to be a chorus-driven parade of gentle pop-rock hooks well in touch with their emotions, when what it relies on is simply thin and trapped by its own hereditary shortcomings.

STREAM
Take Cover
Different
This Conversation Is Over
Breathless
So Contagious

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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.

dumhed01 (July 14, 2006)

I didn't really like this album. I do really enjoy blacklines to battlefields though. But for some reason this album just lacked any feeling for me, too well produced or something. Good review.

IAMTHEMIRROR (May 25, 2006)

This only proves you are a giant asshole, Brian.

Go eat your grandma, mother, and sister out. Fag.

Anonymous (April 8, 2006)

Acceptance es lo mejor en música, son realmente buenos... me gusta muchísimo ... como dicen Ud. son re cool!
ecresronoel@hotmail.com

Anonymous (March 10, 2006)

I love this BAND!!!!
This Band Is Very Cool!!!

Anonymous (March 10, 2006)

I LOVE THIS BAND!!!!!

Anonymous (December 30, 2005)

I think that this band had come a long way considering how hard it is to break out in the music world, but this CD is one of the CDS to keep and its really good

Anonymous (December 1, 2005)

lets see all you bashers make better music

falloutboy_fan42 (October 5, 2005)

The only song I know off this album is "different," and I love it...its great.

Anonymous (May 2, 2005)

good cd....but not too much of it is memorable

Anonymous (April 28, 2005)

this band is on a major? how exactly do bands get on majors before they even really headline decent sized shows?
i saw them with jonah a few years back...it wasn't horrible, just nothing memorable.

Anonymous (April 28, 2005)

Where did all the street teamers go?

Anonymous (April 28, 2005)

these guys have definately gotten a lot better since thier last cd but the cd as a whole is totally like drinking a glass of water, great at the moment but you don't remember anything about it 10 seconds later. i seriously couldn't tell you anything about the cd other than it was decent driving music.

Anonymous (April 28, 2005)

this shit sucks.

Anonymous (April 28, 2005)

very cool cd. Why do people think that a band that can actually write hooks are "bad" or "uninspiring"? Being able to write a good hook that people can remember is far more difficult than just chugging chords for 4minutes. Big ups to Acceptance and I hope they get to where they want to be in the business.

Anonymous (April 27, 2005)

remember, if it isn't lawrence arms, dillinger 4, none more black, or against me, it will get trashed.

Anonymous (April 27, 2005)

Great Album but you can only play the CD on your computer with the build in program... and you have to use the software that comes on the CD to upload it to your computer. It wont let you upload any of the songs on to Itunes or Musicmatch jukebox which is where I like to upload all my CDs and play them on a master playlist.... now I cant.

Great album though!

Anonymous (April 27, 2005)

relevant to what? being gay?

Anonymous (April 27, 2005)

this record rules. much more relavant than half the PUNK RAWK shit you fags listen to

inagreendase (April 27, 2005)

It's really amazing how much some people on this site bash everything that isn't obscure or tough.

I think most people on the site bash anything that can be primarily described as "tough."

Anonymous (April 27, 2005)

It's really amazing how much some people on this site bash everything that isn't obscure or tough.

it's pathetic really.

tristan (April 27, 2005)

"Over You" would have been one the best songs on Futures, and I like that record. A good record, but shit's gonna fly when the reel punkkk rawk kid hear "Different" at their soda-company sponsored proms.

Ollywood (April 26, 2005)

We dont need a review to know that this band sucks
-Oli
"If you cant swim, upon the water then I will see you on the ocean floor"