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We Are Lions

Eight Arms Made This (2005)
At One

Reviewer Rating:

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

Published on December 18th 2005

Yet another band that no one knows about. Yet another band that everyone should know about.

>We Are Lions are a rock quartet with an edge and sound all their own, hailing from Los Angeles, California. Since I stumbled upon their music, I’ve wanted to hear more and more from these guys. The thing that sets them apart from other emo-type post-punk rockers, apart from their electrifying live shows, is how earnest and catchy their tunes are. While the influences they claim from U2 to Radiohead to Brand New are noticeable, We Are Lions maintain a unique sound. They have some serious potential, and that shines through on their debut release Eight Arms Made This.

Things start off with a kick from “Lovers and Fighters” and carries through into their radio-ready song “La Vendetta Dulce.” They employ the somewhat clichéd overlaying vocals here, however pulling this off without weakening the sheer passion behind Adam Whitman’s vocals. “If Humans Had Scorpion Tails” features more of their fascination with the keyboard sound and flying guitar lines which ring with a bit of that `80s influence. After the interlude track comes the ballad, “The Greco Roman Goodbye,” which is one of the most heartfelt and downright irresistible tunes I’ve heard in quite some time. Whitman’s voice comes across as pleading in the opening lines:

Cause we both know as we get older our tastes will improve, but for tonight let’s pretend we’ve got something to lose.

The rest is sheer magic.

The album picks back up with “Mrs. Modern Home” and the somewhat forgettable “The Handsomest Drowned in the World,” heading into the love-heavy nostalgic “January.” “Suicide Note Circa 1982” picks up some of the same sound as the beginning of the album and drops into the catchy “Coma Casino.” We Are Lions wrap things up the bare vocals and instrumentation of “Songs of Flightless Birds.”

Chances are by the disc’s end you’ll be playing it up again and singing along. I cannot wait to hear what these guys come out with next.

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Anonymous (January 6, 2006)

I saw them live and there new stuff is amazing. They have some hit or misses on the cd. But overall it's pretty good.

Anonymous (January 4, 2006)

These guys r awesome

cherrycolarain (December 23, 2005)

Loser? Please expand on this.

Anonymous (December 21, 2005)

"Score is for Brand New. One of the most amazing band to ever hit the music scene."

loser

Anonymous (December 20, 2005)

I think this band can safely be filed under "at least it's not screamo"

darkstarm (December 20, 2005)

wait a minute. on the front page of their website it's like "fuck scene hair cuts, fuck boy jeans, fuck androgynous people, fuck fuck fuck fuck everything is more fun when you say fuck" then you go to their purevolume page and it is four of the biggest looking scenesters i've ever seen. holy shit man. one of 'em is wearing all black and holding an umbrella. what the fuck. fuck this shit.

we are lions? more like we are the biggest lames ever.

Anonymous (December 19, 2005)

We Are Lions? Yeah, like DETROIT Lions.

Anonymous (December 19, 2005)

couldn't it also just be 4 members, not missing any arms

cherrycolarain (December 18, 2005)

Score is for Brand New. One of the most amazing band to ever hit the music scene.

Anonymous (December 18, 2005)

holy shit.
the crap on their purevolume page is fucking terrible

gratt (December 18, 2005)

Worst review ever.....sounds like a press release for the band

Nap (December 18, 2005)

Excellent album
Gonna wait more for them

Anonymous (December 18, 2005)

Eight arms made this??? So that means 5 members..two of which are missing an arm? Seriously, eight arms together could be a hell of a lot more constructive than this. And any band that claims brand new as an influence is probably going to be grade F horrible. The major labels are probably jizzing their shorts over this one already.

---Trav.

lol_omg_wtf_nambla (December 18, 2005)

Wow, I can now say I've read a review by someone who, in all likelyhood, had his dick out for the entire process. Thanks for that. Also, this music is average, and their website is pompous.

Anonymous (December 18, 2005)

Nice review, Streety Mcteamer. Are you in the band or are you just on the payroll?