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| SomersetPandora2005 Punknews 
  Review by: Brian See others by this writer ![[staff]](/images/icons/staffsticker.gif){kind=icon}
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Published on August 9th 2005
You could probably write circles around the word "bias" concerning this. This is a review for Somerset's debut full-length, Pandora. Released on Punknews Records. Reviewed for Punknews.org. By someone who's enjoyed and followed the band for nearly 2 years.
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interesting, no mention of Tripwire Desire, the only really good song on the album. These guys are the most hard working guys you will ever meet. Obviously none of you have seen them live or really listened to their music...yes the songs are catchy but what song isnt catchy now a days.they put on a damn good show and are always energentic...matt's always bouncing around the damn stage and claudio beats the hell out of his drums. I take my hat off to these guys and want to say thank you. i feel we need more bands like somerset..who are hard worker and enjoy what they do..no matter how many bad critics you have you will always have your loyal and true fans....you guys are the sweetest and most down to earth guys and you guys rock the fucking house down i give you a ten "One reviewer's scores have nothing to do with another's, but if you're referring to my reviews exclusively, let me know who exactly this sounds like, because I can't think of one single band to best compare them to and that's sort of a feat in itself." I haven't heard all of this album yet, but their two previous releases were mind blowing and have set such high expectations as they were so good. score is for these dudes writing solid catchy songs. I guess i was the only one lucky/bored enough to click on the PV link Jones put up. You can't really understand what the fuck hes talking about until you hear the song. Damn good musicians. I think people often confuse the idea of what is good with what fits their personal tastes. This cd may not fit with what I normally listen to and enjoy, but I can appreciate that it features well crafted, quality songs, and I often find myself humming along and tapping my foot. It may not seem entirely original, but nothing ever truly is anymore. You can't reinvent the wheel, only improve on it. Somerset takes a base of good ol' rock, and fuses it with various subgenres and influences, resulting in an overall impressive debut album that I think will appeal to a wide audience if given a chance. the drummer is kinda typical chubby american kid... but the guy sitting next to him is just so emo ! can't stand that. i mean apart from those legs crossed, and the dark nails, the haircut... sorry dude but you're a pose(u)r. (however you spell that) Jones The Pwns. shitballs. my sentence is cut off "sounds exactly like all the stuff you guys give 1 or 2 stars.... i dont get it, yall talk shit ona ll these other bands that sound the exact same , but i guess it gets a good score bc its on this sites record label.... gay" sounds exactly like all the stuff you guys give 1 or 2 stars.... i dont get it, yall talk shit ona ll these other bands that sound the exact same this is cool how you can post here and the band members will reply directly to you Out of all the gripes to have, you pick the design on the labels website? Come on. You know damn well there's nothing wrong with it. Simple, effective, and stylish. I like it. the navigation on the PNR page looks very poorly done. it has no relevance to the rest of the site and is just blah... bad design work makes me cry That cover looks like it belongs on a FSF release. i have to roll up my jeans because i'm SHORT... i'm 5'7" and 190 pounds, meaning that leg length on pants my size (34-36) tend to be long, as most 190lb men tend to be taller... sure, i could just let the bottoms touch the floor and get all gnarly, but i'm too broke to be buying pants all the time, so i do my best to preserve the ones i have... sounds exactly like all the stuff you guys give 1 or 2 stars.... i dont get it, yall talk shit ona ll these other bands that sound the exact same , but i guess it gets a good score bc its on this sites record label.... gay Shit band. Shittier label. Cool dudes. Claudio happens to be one of the biggest nerds I know. I was in a band with claudio for 5 years before somerset. He has worn the same black T/black rimmed glasses/jeans since I've known him. Dude Claudio is far from a scene kid. He is possibly the most picky person about what music he will listen that I have ever known. Trust me. He ain't into scene music. He ain't a scene kid. I live in Minneapolis and have seen this band a bunch and they are really tight live. They have a good sound. Their drummer Claudio is phenomenal, but i can't get by the fact that he just looks like an asshole. Think of everything trendy, black shirts, tight dark jeans(folded up) new converse all stars, black rimmed glasses, and the perfectly gelled messy hair, on a chubby south american. I hate scene kids. I'm not really into the singer's voice but the songs are very well put together and enjoyable you guys gonna let us know how it sells if we ask? the singers voice ruins it for me. the music & songs are amazing. i'm not really into the generic whining pop voice over the top. Front page on interpunk, ladz. See the PunknewsRecords page, we have links to online retailers on there. So uh, can you actually buy this anywhere? I went to their band webpage and they announced that it was officially released, but they didn't even have a link to where you could get it online. You guys might sell more copies of it if people know where to buy it. if these guys are as boring as Somerset, Pennsylvania they better invest in some cocaine. I'm not going to lie. I am biased. I wouldn't normally listen to a band that plays similar style music. But what most people fail to see about Somerset is that their music comes from much deeper wells than what you'd expect. Calling it pop-punk or emo is just a cop-out. That's like saying Gang of Four was a disco band. The thing with these songs is that they're really, really intricate. Take a listen to the two second breakdowns in 'Rhyme Over Reason." Tell me that those bass lines and that drum fill aren't genius. I like the art, BSD... I think claims of unoriginality are always on a reviewer's tongue as an easy attack, so it probably shows up all the time in negative reviews. I think the problem is that if a band is unoriginal and good, the unoriginality is overlooked. If the band is unoriginal and bad, then the it's all the more striking. I donno, we're just weird that way I guess. Maybe it's just a reviewer thing. True... I am not that on the ball. It was supposed to sound like something to the effect of "congrats on starting a new label and getting a release out". "I think it's always great for new labels to release stuff." Hey Adam, Nothing is original enough for BSD. The kid has heard everything. I could play a trumpet with my ass, while humming and stomping my foot and he'd be like: "that's so played out and unoriginal". Not bad at all. Actually I just picked up Carpark North's album "All Things To All People" and the song "Human" is in the proces of removing my socks.... See Brian? That wasn't so hard. Now here's your puppy back, safe and sound, just like we promised. Yeah, really. I don't know about this. I'm not going to say anything insulting Punknews, and this band is probably made up of "the nicest guys you could ever meet", but their music is blandy mcbland bland to me. It just goes to show how random it is what reviewers choose to jock. so jesse writes off any other generic release, but now that he's friends with the band he suddenly praises them, even if it is bland and generic. solid stuff... congrats on your first release. scott, Love the site, hate the band. It's not a terrible first release (especially from a commercial standpoint), but I mean this really doesn't stand out from any other mall punk band. Meh, but congrats on your first release boyz. I bought this at hot topic and rocked out with my cock out. i had to tuck it back in cause MJ had this look in his eyes... yikes This did nothing for me AT ALL. However, I will ALWAYS be a loyal supporter of this amazing and always relevant site. Punknews records would be doing the world a great service by signing EXPLOSIVE BEAR. this definetly doesn't suck Scott, I just may have a band for you guys to check out; the cover of this bring life back to he scene I had high fears of bias on this band...However I must say it is a fairly even handed review. Perhaps so even handed for fear of backlash if the review tilted too far one way or the other. That is, however, niether here nor there or there or even there. But what is here and there is The Cliftons. I had this before all of you. Being good friends with the band since their conception, I have to say this is the big payoff. I've spent years listening to demos in basements, watching show after show, swooning while Forrest sings lusciously to me – I have to say that this is their strongest effort yet. While some songs ("Clockwork," "Peppermint Gunpowder") don't really touch me in ways that I want to be touched, I can't help singing along with "More Than Answers" or reveling the ultra-catchy hook of "I'd Rather Die Standing." "House of Knives" rips shit up. For serious. I try oh so hard to like this album. It's good but doesnt meet the hype. This site has introduced me to countless bands, but I have never been able to get into this. What do I need to listen for to make this better. The Suicide Machines album kicks major ass, but this just seems to be run of the mill pop punk done by countless other bands. Jones- I had this before Brian! score is the house of knives song "Dandelion Wine" |
