Unless you own some kick ass equipment, you're not going to be pulling this off on your laptop, Johnny.

I guess that's the nice thing about opinions, we all have them, and i must say, i respect yours, but to say mine is wrong is pretty weak. Opinions are not right or wrong, but if your opinion is in sync with mine, you will not enjoy this album.

wow johnnyrocket, you couldn't be more wrong, incredible on record and live. Call it the way you hear it I guess. This was my #1 album of the year when I got it back in June of this year and it remained so til the end of the year.

Unfortunately, to me this is an average album at best. The recording is no good, especially for 2006. I can record something just as good on my computer at home with a couple mics and cakewalk home studio. Regardless, its all about the songs. I just think this band has a very Loved Ones sound to it. And the Loved Ones is one of those bands who is amazing live, but is very boring on album, and that is the same feeling that I get from this CD. They are great musicians, I just don't feel excited to hear the music on this release.

i don't even really like punk and this album rocks. it's got some nice guitar bits... bit like bad religion singer but better and hardcorage. spangley!

There appears to be a bit of Ryan's Hope bandwagon going on here, and I'm jumping on board. I just can't take this CD out of my player. It's becoming a bit of a problem.

They get a fairly large amount of hype on this website, which means their share of scorners increases at the same rate as converted fans, which isn't always the best thing...but anyway this album is worth a listen. Anything with even a metal tinge doesn't normally touch my CD player, but this one made it in, attesting to the powers of Ryan's Hope.

I haven't seen any PN.org records in stores, save the Amoeba $1.99 bargain bin. I found Somerset at the Hollywood branch, and Ryan's Hope at the SF store. SF also had a bunch of Somerset albums for the same price. Does the label get any sort of money back from stores selling the discs this cheaply?

god damn, I'm listening to the record again and this awful bassdrum sound makes my ears bleed, I mean the music is awesome, but I just can't listen to it because of the bassdrum. If there is a god they will reissue the record and do something with the bassdrum.

this cd was just ok at first (sounded like typical pop/skate punk), but after several listens, this thing fucking rocks. this whole album is well written from the lyrics to the music. this young band is fucking killing these older bands that are still putting out records. no emo/screamo bullshit here. highly recommend this. don't burn it, buy it. get the whole package with this one, it's worth every penny.

To the guy "i givem 3 years till they sign to warner". Come'on we all know that major label's dont sign skate punk bands anymore. Maybe if these guys grow hair that hangs in their eyes and use shoe horns to put their pants on they could have a chance for that warner signing.

They're the other band signed to Punk news Records.

and pardon me for not knowing, but who the hell is Somerset and why are they keep getting mentioned here?

To GreenVandal... not entirely absolute truth. I along with some others who are also fans of Strike Anywhere/Wilhelm Scream/melodic punk/etc........ think Ryan's Hope is boring, bland and mediocre. I love this style of music normally, but this band doesn't do it for me at all. Just because you dislike this style of music doesn't mean you can generalize everyone who does.

Terrific cd.

It's like old DBL mixed with A Wilhelm Scream - Mute Print era.

The whole album is like a B12 shot to a punker who wants to hear some honest to goodness punk music. Pretty good.

Ramo

"you guys are all a bunch of jerks that will like any no tallent band as long as they play riseagainst/strikeanywhere/nitrosigning/generic punk bands

fuck you guys

- somerset"

Absolute truth. Somerset sucks too though, so everyone loses.

Weird...good cd and all, but I run a bigger label than PN and our releases never get reviewed, yet this gets done on day of release. Strange.

Mr (or Ms.) Industry person, I'm not sure if anyone told you, but unless I'm mistaken, PNR is run out of an apartment in Toronto. Saying you run a bigger label does not say terribly much.

Oh, and dude/chick? I hesistate to say we're all friends of PNR, but if I was Brian, I can fairly say that the review (whatever the score may be) is worthy of putting up the day it is out, since many in our community wonder just how it sounds. Jordan Baker put it best in his review of Somerset, that it was like everyone seeing if the baby was good looking or not. It's the same way.

you guys are all a bunch of jerks that will like any no tallent band as long as they play riseagainst/strikeanywhere/nitrosigning/generic punk bands

fuck you guys

- somerset

I think this band is a breath of fresh air. Along Much the Same, this is the best band to come out of Chicago. The album is tight from start to finish and I am anxiously awaiting to see them live. I'm still in shock that this is a 3 piece band since the music sounds so full and tight. Everyone should check out the CD and definitely stay tuned for this band.

that first 'they' is referring to ryans hope. that makes it make more cents eh?

i didnt dig somerset at all, and i didnt like the original songs they had on myspace. just when i was starting to think that the org was dropping the ball, new mp3s popped up on myspace and i now see what the hype is about.

these guys really are the hype.

. Org core!. Org core!

Weird...good cd and all, but I run a bigger label than PN and our releases never get reviewed, yet this gets done on day of release. Strange.

Let me guess....The Militia Group?

-Chinatown

I wouldn't worry about it too much Adam. Whoever this anonymous poster is, they have to know there is no real agenda here. It sounds to me more like he/she is pissed off the not more people are digging their bands.

Its kinda like the shit I get for always covering Fat bands in my videos. Anyone really want to know why? Besides the fact that they have many of my favorite bands, they are also very easy to work with. Never a problem to interview, film or do photos or their bands at shows. You'd be suprised how much shit some labels make me go through, even though they can clearly see that my videos are nothing more than free publicity for them. I don't upload full shows, or sell them on ebay.

"Weird...good cd and all, but I run a bigger label than PN and our releases never get reviewed, yet this gets done on day of release. Strange."

Every single Punknews reviewer is a volunteer and they write because they want to. It's hard sometimes to insist on deadlines and coverage when the only controlling factor is a person's own motivation to write. That said, contact Brian and he can sort out if we're getting your records and who he's sending them to.

-adam

Yeah, if your records aren't getting reviewed by this site, maybe you should make some fans out of the commenters here. That's why this got reviewed. Sickboi is staff, but he's also a very regular commenter, and we all really like this stuff.

Dear Mr. Anonymous Bigger Record Label Person Below Me,
How do you know the site is getting your records for review? Also, why should your releases get precedence over any others? Not every single cd that comes out gets reviewed on this site.

On another note, I must say that this review contains some of the dumbest comments ever posted on this site. If you have frequented this site at all you would know that the guys running this site (and label) are genuine people and wouldn't resort to biased news or reviews (nor would they need to). It seems as if you people have nothing better to do than start shit.

Weird...good cd and all, but I run a bigger label than PN and our releases never get reviewed, yet this gets done on day of release. Strange.

Well, I was gonna buy this anyway when I have money, but the comparison in the banner ad to Millencolin makes me want it now.

how old are you dev?

really doesn't do it for me...

Great record guys. Congrats. Hope you got RH locked up for one more album.

"Those of you who grew up listening to the melodic skatepunk of bands like Down by Law, Pulley"...
...are much, much younger than I if this is what you GREW UP listening to.
Fuck I feel old now...

wonder showzen is one of the best things to air on television. ever.
milonakis is whack, though.

i like wondershowzen, man.

Somerset was awful.

This is very good.

Enjoyed it on the first listen, keep up the streaming of albums.

-Strewtho.

i'd say that the andy milinokais show, and wondershowzen are two increments of the apcolypse.

Score!

almost sickboi!

Yeah, and mark my words, if another website started their own label, you'd could be sure they would be plugging the hell out of that fucker in news stories every week.

Holy shit, this record is awesome!

For the record, I hated Somerset.

I bought the Sommerset album and absolutely hated it. Over-produced metal-pop with horrendous vocals. The layout was terrible and unreadable. I hope the layout your fawning over on this CD is much better.

Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice...
--Cos

i have know idea what this guy was listening to, but it wasnt pandora

and why would staffers on this site need to pleas A,A,&S? to keep those fat checks rolling in? hahaha

More like "Apocalypse in Excrement."

Jason Tate

Great stuff, you know, at the end of the day, melodic skatepunk just hits the switch.

Waaaaay too label focused. I don't want to read the review, I don't to ever hear this album, congrats for a lost sale. You bitches.

Old Dave Man Gloom Norman

i give em 3 years before they sign to warner

Simply amazing record and makes me proud to be affiliated with this site. I'm so glad I'm gonna be in town Saturday for the release show! Hells yeah.
-Greg

I enjoy this album.

As far as a possible 'bias' on this site, I would have to say that this site is as un-biased as you are going to find. Take a look at Pitchfork or AbsolutePunk and it is clear that Punknews.org writers have way less of an agenda, if any, when they write.

Everyone who reviews anything is human, and a review is an opinion piece. Inherently, there is going to be bias. A good writer can overcome that. I do trust a review of a PNR record on here, because of the track record of this site, and both the Somerset and this review were well done.

Congratulations guys on getting a good band. I look forward to seeing them in the D.

like their other work, this is going to be in my regular rotation for a long time.

Damn, I really fucked that up. It was pretty funny too.

Yeah, and mark my words, if another website started their o< i>wn label, you'd could be sure they would be plugging the hell out of that fucker in news stories every week.

i still think it is extremely sketchy to review an album by punknews records on this website, even if it is not by a staff member. it is one thing to post news of the band on here, but it is quite another to post reviews. even if the reviewer has nothing to do with the production of said record, there are so many ways that bias could affect it and frankly it looks really unprofessional on that part of the site/label.
Thanks for that Tate.
Look at the Somerset review if you think they're being biased. Fact is there would be equal ammounts of speculation and trash talking if they didn't review the album at all. At least this way there is an educated opinion of the album posted.
As far as professionalism, I've always been quite impressed at how unbiased this site is in regards to news stories and reviews. I know a few stories and reviews have been put up that the editors don't always like. But since a lot of content is provided by the reads/fans, they allow it.
People need to relax. When it makes the number one slot on albums of 2006, then you can start questioning the bias.
-Dante
P.S. If you feel differently about the album you can always write your own review.

I'm semi-illiterate. Just pretend I can speak somewhat intelligently.

I don't see why people are complaining about this review getting such a positive review. It has gotten similar reviews from other sites, even APnet. Besides, this site has advertised multiple times where you can stream THE ENTIRE ALBUM. How about instead of complaining on principle, you give the album a listen. If you like any of the other bands that are popular around here, chances are you'll dig this.

sickboi - consider it dropped

also Aubin, Adam, Justin, or Brian -- i've always wondered this. how come the comments section in reviews is done differently than the comment section in news stories? personally i prefer the way you do it in the news section, its much less difficult to navigate. my two cents, whether you wanted them or didn't.

i still think it is extremely sketchy to review an album by punknews records on this website, even if it is not by a staff member. it is one thing to post news of the band on here, but it is quite another to post reviews. even if the reviewer has nothing to do with the production of said record, there are so many ways that bias could affect it and frankly it looks really unprofessional on that part of the site/label.

I think the kickdrum sounds absolutely obnoxious on this record, the music is absolutely awesome, but the kickdrum is really disturbing.

socrates.

I didn't think you were talking shit. But I see the point you were making. Sorry if it came out that way.

sickboi, i think you didn't quite understand what i wrote. i wasn't talking shit about your review, i was talking shit about the current state of mainstream punk that requires you to write something like that.

4.5 stars ... why not 5 ? why not 4 ... where was it lacking in .5 of a star.

The closing track. I explained it.

still i think it sucks that band's now are praised in reviews for not wearing make-up and stupid outfits. wtf? that was like during the big popstar/boyband craze when a band was legitimate just for wriring their own music.

No its not. I'm simply stating a fact about the face of punk music in the mainstream, and right now its all about that look.

i'll pick this up soon probably (despite the obnoxiously large ad posted on my myspace page, ahem, scott)

still i think it sucks that band's now are praised in reviews for not wearing make-up and stupid outfits. wtf? that was like during the big popstar/boyband craze when a band was legitimate just for wriring their own music.

4.5 stars ... why not 5 ? why not 4 ... where was it lacking in .5 of a star.

I can't find this anywhere in Pittsburgh, ugh.

- Kirby

great review sickboi. congratulations aubin, adam, and scott. this rules.

these guys sound nothing like belvedere...did you even listen to ryan's hope or are you just slamming what other people like behind the safety of your keyboard at the sake of sound like you know what you are talking about?

I need to buy myself a copy of this.

Chinatown, we are addressing this situation and you should have a few other options very soon.

-adam

I hope the store has this one at a reasonable price, because I'm not going to hunt this one down like a madman.

I think it's time for you guys to incorporate some kind of webstore or Paypal account on the PNR website. Kind of sad to think that a Canadian-based indie label's products have better distro/pricing in the US...

-Chinatown

"That's exactly what I emphasized this review on.m If you haven't already, give it a chance."

I did, but it just sounded like 5th rate belevedere.

Oh, and to the people who are talking about how this is unbalanced, look where this review is.
It's placed firmly in the number six slot. Under two live show reviews, a reissue review and a Saves The Day review. The editors (and owners of the label) are clearly not ramming this band down your throat, so ease up homie.
-Dante

I like what I've heard from this album and with Sickboi's stamp on it I can promise I'll look into buying it.
From what I've heard (and this is just my simple view) I think Somerset was a more progressive and interesting band musically. I think Ryan's Hope is probably a little more standard and easier to digest for the Org crowd. That's not a bad thing mind you. I just think this album was probably more what readers were expecting from the label. And what's wrong with giving people what they want (esspecially if the band rips)?
-Dante

Well, i like most of the older bands like this, but i find it hard to generate any interest these days when another comes out. Whatever, who cares anyhow.

That's exactly what I emphasized this review on.m If you haven't already, give it a chance.

Great band. We here in the mother-fuckin' Chi are proud.

Well, i like most of the older bands like this, but i find it hard to generate any interest these days when another comes out. Whatever, who cares anyhow.

"Because while i don't really like much of what you listen to, you're above bland, dime-a-dozen melodic punk bands. I really don't know how people listen to this stuff more than once. This really might as well be belvedere or any other band like that."

You're wrong. I may spend a lot of hours sitting around rocking out to Sleater-Kinney or the Constantines or old Neil Young records these days, but melodic punk rock is where I came from. Bad Religion, Bouncing Souls, NOFX, etc... this stuff got me into this genre. It's my roots, and I'll always love it.

-adam

"How do you figure?

-adam"

Because while i don't really like much of what you listen to, you're above bland, dime-a-dozen melodic punk bands. I really don't know how people listen to this stuff more than once. This really might as well be belvedere or any other band like that.

Hopefully you get to pick the next band.

Pissing Scott off is the new black.

It didn't post my score. Damn message boards...

This album is absolutely amazing. It's predictable for obvious reason that people are going to start shit about a Punknews Record band being reviewed on Punknews.org I asked a month ago if they were going to review their own release, and they said somebody would be reviewing it. Whether it's odd to do so or not, the album is amazing, and people should be focusing on that rather than who reviewed it, who is kissing whose ass, and all that other crap. It's a damn good album, and for the people that asked, they put on a hell of a show live, although a majority of their shows take place in Joliet where they're from, so hopefully they'll get a big tour going.

Score is for the album. One of the best this year.

score is for the carpathian, great song/great cd. are they good live?

Looks like the same cover art as the new Moneen album.

This album really is a blast to listent too. The first time I heard it I thought: "Oh my God; it's like No Use For A Name grew balls!"

How do you figure?

-adam

I bet Adam dosen't like this. Definetly an Aubin band.

1. There's nothing "bogus" about this. I really love this album, its full of energy and very mature for such a young band.
2. I'm not trying to kiss anyone's ass. I've openly told Aubin, Adam and Scott that I don't care for the Somerset album, at all.
3. Why shouldn't this album be reviewed here? We should penalize the band because of the label they are on?
4. This album isn't for everyone. But if you're like me, and think back to the early-mid 90's and loved all the melodic skatepunk and hardcore, you'll find this album to be a kinda like your own personal Delorean.

Wow thanks Sickboi, we're so proud of these guys.

Just to clear anything up Sickboi, and most of the staffers in fact, have no interest in the label end of things. It's myself, Aubin and Scott who own / operate Punknews Records. While I certainly won't argue with Sickboi's review, I can say we didn't put him up to it and he has nothing to gain by it.

That said, we've always acknowledged that it's slightly awkward to talk about our own bands on our news site, but I believe we've proven we can take a cautious approach to it and we will continue to do so. Of course, anyone with any concerns can feel free to contact us and we'll happily address them.

Cheers.

-adam

not bad, leaves a little to be desired. get over yourselves

Another in a growing list of great melodicore albums released this year. "Suspiciously popular" for good reason.

Having a "staff" member do the review is bogus. In fact reviewing your own album at all is bogus.

ditto on the bad artwork.

I'm not enjoying this at all. Horrible vocals.

the artwork is real ugly.

i've listened to this album every day for the past 2 months, i really fucking love it. you guys really picked a great band.

Realy enjoying this. As the reviewer said it reminds me of Down By Law.

Just bought this off iTunes and listening to it now. Sounds pretty solid.

You guys did a great job picking up this band... a very solid album.

selloutzzzzzzzzz

i like this album a LOT, but i feel like it's top heavy

i never feel like listening to it after seven or eight songs

I've pissed Scott off more times than I can count.

I bought the Sommerset album and absolutely hated it. Over-produced metal-pop with horrendous vocals. The layout was terrible and unreadable. I hope the layout your fawning over on this CD is much better.

Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice...
--Cos

But you don't want to piss Scott, Aubin, and Adam off, now do ya?

I should probably mention that the only people involved with the label are Scott, Aubin, and Adam. That's it. All us staffers are just that – staffers. Purely objective.

Are there any instances of appropriate growling on this album?

I think that the album art on this is kinda bland. But it's such a goddamned good record. I didn't like Somerset all that much, but this is...this is fucking orgcore.

what a horrible album cover.

Who would have thought this would get a near perfect score on this website.....

i probably would have given it half a star less, regardless of who put it out. this is a killer record.

Who would have thought this would get a near perfect score on this website......