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Valencia

This Could Be a Possibility
2005
I Surrender

Valencia - This Could Be a Possibility (Cover Artwork)

Review by: Anchors
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I Surrender Records (link)

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Published on January 6th 2006

Somewhere between the Starting Line and Fall Out Boy, Valencia reside.

Now that only two people are reading this review...I kid. But seriously, if you want originality, I’d advise you look far, far away from This Could Be a Possibility, as this album encompasses everything already done by the genre hundreds of times, and brings nothing new whatsoever to the table. But judging them at nothing more than face value, I can’t say this is an entirely worthless effort.

The rhythms are tight, the production fresh, and the songwriting shows a relative maturity that shouldn’t have to be brought into question. Again, it’s only hitching a ride on a train that’s long since left the station, but it’s still got a tight grip on that car. Aside from a track or two, it’s all mid-paced pop-rock with infectious hooks galore, and relatively basic melodic guitar work, and it establishes itself early on. All is well until the fourth track, “Tenth Street,” causes a break in the momentum, with a slower, relatively boring song. There’s nothing wrong with breaking up the monotony to put a song with a different style in there, but the song simply isn’t “good.” The jangly guitar work and uninspired vocals just don’t sit well with me, and neither do the junior high lyrics. “The Closest I Am to Living Life on the Edge” speeds things back up, but the lyrics don’t stray far, with lines like “The heart will break but it does not bend." At this point, I’d say that it’s better to not even listen closely enough to hear the lyrics, and instead focus on the singer's voice. It’s strong, crystal clear, and he can carry some great melodies that frankly just makes the rest of the song sound better. “Will We Ever Know How?” resides about halfway through the album, and is really the highlight of things, as the guitar work is able to really shine, and the vocals finally sound sincere enough to really believe. But when it comes down to it, it’s too little, way too late.

There’s a great track here and there, but this is nothing to see, nothing to stop and look at. Valencia's brand of pop-rock is nothing more than a flash in the pan.

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Posted by m-oo on 2006-11-28 13:06:26
My Score:

Good Album.

Posted by Soleil on 2006-09-14 14:24:43

i take an insult at those of you who call this band pop-rock...let's first get their genre straight shall we; we are not talking about the killers here. This album is great and you should def (if you hvn't already) check out their new video for "the space between". I enjoyed this album.
www.purevolume.com/videos/valencia/thespacebetween

Posted by Anonymous on Friday, April 21, 2006 at 2:14 AM (EDT)
My Score:

Holy Crap these guys finally made an album?!?!?! I remember when they played in my back yard a few summers ago! I realy liked them then and I am sure I will like them now! Hey what everhappened to the suicide pact? they were here with them... I never got my cd from them... hmmmm.

Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, February 4, 2006 at 4:22 PM (EST)

some good music here others should def. check it out

Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, February 1, 2006 at 11:28 AM (EST)
My Score:

Valencia rox

Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, January 29, 2006 at 9:02 PM (EST)
My Score:

I agree with the comment below me. Valencia has made it to number 4 on smartpunk.com. They deserve much more credit than you give them.

-Kenny

Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, January 29, 2006 at 8:57 PM (EST)
My Score:

wow somebodys brain is screwed up cause valencia is awesome. ive seen them live and they pretty much own.

yea im giving ur horrible review a horrible review.

Posted by justinius23 on 2006-01-16 05:30:14
My Score:

at the minute this album is still growing on me - the score could go higher.

i think it's a catchy pop punk album. what's wrong with that?

Posted by Anonymous on Monday, January 9, 2006 at 12:01 AM (EST)

These guys play all over Philly. I'm not very impressed, but they seem like cool guys, not that it has anything to do with music at all.

-benz

Posted by TheMarc on 2006-01-07 17:57:06

Why is there always someone who digs on Superdude? Shut the fuck up!

Posted by hein on 2006-01-07 16:26:11
My Score:

I thought this album was indeed one of those pop-punk albums that we've heard too many times by now, BUT it definitely was one of the best of the last 2 years in that category. I really enjoyed it.

Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, January 7, 2006 at 12:59 PM (EST)

Superdude: Just give it up, seriously ben, i love you with all my heart, but when you can't even get your own schtick right you should just give it a rest and come up with a new character.

I mean, your whole thing was that you were going to suggest stuff, but instead just asked a bunch of questions which you answered yourself anyways.

Posted by hobojew on 2006-01-07 11:06:14
My Score:

I do not like this band. I do, however, think they're okay guys and have a lot of hot fans.

Posted by formerly-blade-runner on 2006-01-07 05:27:24

That cover photo is pretty hilarious

Posted by stevejonestherealbones on 2006-01-06 17:28:49

yeah but, thats still pretty fucking cool dontya think?

- jones the bones

- stevejones8770@yahoo.com

Posted by AlmostPunkEnough on 2006-01-06 17:21:40

yea, everyone is gonna write it off because of the vocals. i completely understand if you do, it takes alot to get past that sort of thing. good thing you added them as friends though. they definitley are that sort of band.

Posted by stevejonestherealbones on 2006-01-06 16:57:57

i dont know if this is going to make sense, but i just checked this band out and they just have this total absolutepunk.net vocal style that i just cant listen to.

and thats pretty fucking cool dontya think?

- jones the bones

- stevejones8770@yahoo.com

- needless to say, i just added them as friends

Posted by AlmostPunkEnough on 2006-01-06 16:53:39

you gave Flashlight Arcade a SEVEN!!!???!?! dude.... just.... dude....

Posted by AlmostPunkEnough on 2006-01-06 16:49:51
My Score:

haha, not my favorite jones, but this shit is definitley deserving of more than a 3, Anchors, you gave Vanilla Sky a 4 for christsake.

anyway, this shit isn't deep or groundbreaking or even particularly 'manly' or anything, and that cover art leaves something to be desiered; it is, however, better than almost any other pop-rock band out there right now. the guitar work here is top notch, like Anchors said. i don't think the vocals ever really fade or sound like he's not giving it his all. and above all else, this shit is just fucking catchy as hell. it actually reminds me of the way Jimmey Eat World bores itself into my skull.

make fun of my all you want, but this album is fun as shit.

Posted by sallyjesse on 2006-01-06 15:33:09

10 bucks says these guys drive their mom's suburbans to their shows.

the youth in this country are seriously confused. black flag we're all teenagers when they started. and that shit still rules.

attention everyone under 18: DONT START BANDS

Posted by stevejonestherealbones on 2006-01-06 15:01:25

what about when Johnny Cock and the Nuts changed their name to Johnny Cock and Balls Version 2.Analsex

thats pretty fuckin cool dontya think?

- jones the bones

- stevejones8770@yahoo.com

Posted by superdude on 2006-01-06 13:11:35

This review was pretty good, but I have some questions:

1. All these bands live on the same street?

Posted by Anonymous on Friday, January 6, 2006 at 8:59 AM (EST)

This band used to be called Cap Gun Heros.. right?

That was a good band name... not trying to be a fuckin "more than they are" band because they started listening to bands like Bright Eyes. Everytime a band changes their name, it's only to seem more serious.

I have no idea about this band besides the fact I knew a girl who fucked one of them and he has a pornstar cum shot fetish aka he likes to jizz on girls... not just the face, he wants to do it everywhere. I think it was a guy named George. I always found that amusing.

Posted by Anonymous on Friday, January 6, 2006 at 8:28 AM (EST)
My Score:

One of my fave CD's of 2005, infectious pop-punk that its up there with the best around.

Andrew @ No Order Records

Posted by thefirstfive on 2006-01-06 03:19:21

I dug this album. Really good pop punk and their drummer is tops.

Posted by branden on 2006-01-06 01:39:49

my brain is experiencing an anchors overload

Posted by Anonymous on Friday, January 6, 2006 at 12:40 AM (EST)

oohhh...ouch. this is almostpunkenoughs fave band

- jones the bones

- stevejones8770@yahoo.com

Posted by Anonymous on Friday, January 6, 2006 at 12:28 AM (EST)
My Score:

I love this cd!!! This band has major talent!! This was my fourth best cd of 2005. Here's my top 30 myspace.com/kpy85.

There's a much better review of this cd over at punkupdates.com.