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American Steel

Jagged Thoughts (2001)
Lookout Records

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Contributed by: Kip Doyle
(others by this writer | submit your own)

Published on July 28th 2001

Wow, what an amazing record. To be honest, I have not been listening to that much straight up punk rock lately. I am a big fan of the last two American Steel full lengths, and I was hoping this would be the album that would remind me what good things could still be done in the punk genre.

To my suprise, this is not a very "punk" record. This is a very different A.S. record. Much slower tempo generally, which caught me off guard on the first listen. But after a few more spins, I realized that this disc is pure gold. American Steel used to have a rough Choking Victim/Rancid ska-punk sound, but this album is a lot slower and really, really.....pretty?! Yes, it is pretty. The first two songs, "Shrapnel" and "New Religion" are mid tempo sensitive songs, with bursts of guitar crunch letting you know that these guys arent trying to be another sissy weepy rock band. They are simply expanding their sound, and it really works. The next track is called "Rainy Day" and it is very slow and dreamy, with a fazing chorus hook that will give you chills. Goddamn, this entire record is so good. I've heard critizism that this album is too pop, but that is fucking garbage. They haven't gone pop. I'm sure American Steel knew that some people would have trouble adjusting to their new sound, but they had the balls to follow through and make something beautiful.

Don't worry though, "Jagged Thoughts" still has some classic raw American Steel sound to it. Songs like, "There's A New Life", "Maria" and "Turn It Out" would fit on "The Rogue's March" easily. If you are looking for a record that is diverse, well composed and written maturely do yourself a favor and get, "Jagged Thoughts". One of my top picks for 2001.

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mikexdude (November 11, 2008)

This album has some of the most beautiful songs I've ever heard; pure emotion or full on rock.

Anonymous (August 25, 2007)

Why is this the only American Steel album reviewed? ..

Anonymous (August 25, 2007)

This is definitely a much different cd than Rogues March or their s/t album. I honestly didnt care for it much when i first listened to it-most songs are much slower, and sound more like an indie rock album than their previous releases. However after listening to it a couple times it has really grown on me-so much in fact that i daresay it's one of the my favorite cd's!
Don't listen to anyone bashing this album for not being punk. Listen to it yourself and you'll probably come to a different conclusion.

Anonymous (September 9, 2004)

I just bought this Jagged Thoughts used at my local record store for $0.99 and I was hoping it was going to be like their last record (I haven't heard their first one), and mid-way through the first track I was wondering "when the fuck is this going to pick up?", but as the next tracks would reveal, this album isn't going to be like previous American Steel. Not in sound anyway. It has the same passion they've always had, but this time around I think they expanded their musical horizons (I always fucking hate saying that, makes me sound like some hippie [not that that's nessecarily bad though I suppose]). Plain and simple, this is a post-hardcore record. A really good one, at that. If you like Fugazi, you'll fucking love this new American Steel album. It's really is very very good. It makes me happy to know there's more music released to this world instead of homogenized (whether it's by them or their record label) shite that wants no change in this world. I don't think you have to be politcal, but if you are writing 'music' that gets you nowhere, then I don't really respect that. Death to cryers, death to liars, death to users, but not the tryers.

coldjuly (July 29, 2001)

Its cool....sometimes its good for bands to expand their sound and expieriment

Anonymous (July 29, 2001)

THIS WAS THE WORST FUCKING ALBUM IVE EVER HEARD..it sonded more like american woman than american steel..it made mye wanna vomit...check out http://www.hardlycool.com more more of my excellent musical reviews.