haha shannons voice gets really annoying after a while.

while i have to admit,
she makes some of the songs what they are,

This review is so far off the mark, I've been really into this album lately and this review does not do it justice at all!

Shannon's vocals are great and this is a very solid album except for one song in the middle. Good braid-esque vibes, with promise ring esque male vocals at times. Good fucking stuff! This band is way underrated! The old album isn't as good as this one from what I have heard, though. This album is fucking awesome though.

If you like the first Anniversary record, Braid or Hey Mercedes, early Promise Ring and later Hot Water Music, this kindof mixes them all together and it rules! I was skeptical because it was on victory, but it was in a local used shop for $2.50 and I am so glad I decided to give it a try!

I loved this album. I saw them when they began touring around Illinois and I thought they needed a lot of work, but when I heard this album I immediately fell in love with it. It's such a great improvement from Late Night Conversations!

I think this record is great. I really enjoy Shannon's vocals. I have no idea what some of you are talking about. It's ok though. We don't all have to agree.

Atreyu on the other hand. Yuck.

I don't necessarily think it's a matter of if shannon has a crappy voice or not, it's a matter of the passion in which she uses it. I think it's beautiful, not in a world famous opera singing type beautiful, but a pleading, artistic voice speaking what her heart probably feels. Have you ever met her? She's like a rail almost, mostly short too. Just not the type of girl you would picture blasting out those vocals. And the lyrics she's projecting are all about wanting to escape Peoria and the midwst in general. That just strikes me as awesome, being a victim of the MW myself. This whole album is about the struggle it took them to make it big and gain fans. They're also doing something many other indie bands aren't doing, breaking down musical barriers. I understand that everyone's ear for music is different in some way, kind of like some metal guys can scream and it sounds good, and others not so much. Like someone said earlier, "No music or band has universal appeal" and I agree entirely. All in all, I will say that their first victory release had a more laid back, less intense feel to it and better, creative fills, but this is still an amazing work by one of my favorite bands that I would recommend to anyone.

Personally I love the Forecast, I love Illinois because the amazing bands, i.e. The JV , june, theAudition, and the forecast. You core fags are just pissed because there's no screaming and pinch harmonics. I would like to see them pull off the shit these guys do. Most critics don't even understand what goes into music and songwriting. Maybe if they knew they would be able to appreciate good music.

Truly, this is an amazing indie rock album. It combines more than one genre which is clever and unseen in many of today's artists. The baritone/soprano medley of Burns and Addis is a great contrast adding another element to this nice ass work. Maybe it's just the fact that my I have followed them from their beginning when they played in small bars. I am glad to see that their style hasn't changed through their signing with Victory. Overall, I think this album deserves much appreciation and I know is one of many great future albums.

I think that Burns' vocal style is definately a defining atribute of the album. It's no suprise that it is not to everyone's liking, as nothing distinctive has universal appeal. If Burns' vocal style does not appeal to you than it is no suprise that the album's beauty is compromised to your ear. Personally, I find Burns' vocals compelling. They are not well placed. They are messy, imperfect, pleading and desperate. I find them consistent, however, with the overall tone of the album - daring to dream of escaping life in middle America. Daring to raise your voice, albeit imperfectly. Love it or hate it, Burns' vocal delivery of this message is, at the very least, fearless and unapologetic.

sup the 4cast rox.

crazy, not one band even in a sub genre the forecast could be in. if you look around on other sites, the type of kids who already like this kind of music are liking this record. it wasnt made for kids who listen to ferret bands.

Here's a little something to the people who call out my music.

The first 6 'Top Rated Albums' on my profile are:

'Hot Damn!' Every Time I Die
'Pennybridge Pioneers' Millencolin
'Kingwood' Millencolin
'The Shape of Punk to Come' Refused
'The Bronx' The Bronx
'A City by the Light Divided' Thursday

this band loses me before i can finish either CD. unfortunate too, because i really like a few tracks in the earlier part of each. i might be off the mark having not listened to them in a while, but i remember the songs i wasn't partial to seeming formulaic, leaving the album as a whole ultimately forgettable. ...maybe they should only make 4 song ep's and forget the filler. i'm going to give this another chance though because they do the midwest thing very well at times.

Can we please declare a moratorium on talking shit about 'toledo's taste in music? If all you're gonna say is "you like Atreyu and Victory so therefore you suck" then allow me to say "Amen!" on behalf of the choir. Let's try and elevate the debate a bit here. Hell, I don't agree with the guy most of the time, but I'm glad someone around here has the guts to come out take a stance different from 80% of the folks on this site. Having said that, this review's wrong and this album sounds pretty cool.

but does everything have to have "core" at the end now?

I like medioxcore.

If you're going to give the atreyu CD nine to ten stars, then I'm going to have to infer that this CD is God's proof of existence.

Well first off, Atreyu is metalcore.

nope it's just shitcore.

but does everything have to have "core" at the end now? can't we just say it's metal or is that image not badass enough for you?

...does anyone get a Flight and a Crash era Hot Water Music vibe from "Fistfight For Our Fathers"?

The intro, totally. After that it just really changes direction and loses my interest.

she doesnt sing on about half the songs.

harsh

i like her voice

Are there any tracks on this album where that dumb bitch doesn't sing?

I like her vocals and I think this is a solid album.

bdmj

crazy, i bet if you listened to it more than once it will grow on you. i can see how you're already in the mindset to hate this band though because they're on victory.

I like Victory Records...

wait, what in the fuck are you doing reviewing this record to begin with? you're giving 9 stars to nu metal bands. you're not this bands target audience AT ALL.

Well first off, Atreyu is metalcore. Second, I do have the bands previous album and if it werent for Burns vocals, I'd like this release.

score is for your shitty taste in music.

i did like the song these guys had on MVP 06

wait, what in the fuck are you doing reviewing this record to begin with? you're giving 9 stars to nu metal bands. you're not this bands target audience AT ALL.

second half of the album has 3 of the fastest songs of the record on it.

crazy, i bet if you listened to it more than once it will grow on you. i can see how you're already in the mindset to hate this band though because they're on victory.

"some things never change" and "west coast" are truly great songs no matter what label the bands on.

Easy, I put in the CD, and press play.

Listen. Enjoy. Repeat as neccessary

then the same goes for these vocals, thats all i'm saying

Solid. I dig Ms. Burns' vocals. Also, does anyone get a Flight and a Crash era Hot Water Music vibe from "Fistfight For Our Fathers"? That song alone is probably gonna get me to pick this up. Bands who like westerns are almost uniformly good.

The album cover rules, and I thought the band would be cool but I don't like it.

There should be more cowboy punk / hardcore bands.

I really don't have a problem with her vocals; I think this is a pretty solid record, and the dual vocal stuff is a nice touch.

i like that chick's vocals somehow.

Easy, I put in the CD, and press play.

Listen. Enjoy. Repeat as neccessary.

How can you stand Burns vocals?

how can you stand atreyu?

This band is horrid.

Posted by maverick on 2006-05-30 09:42:11
My Score:

This record's great, minus the last track. Perfect mid-90s Midwestern emo. The second song's the best rock song of the year thus far.

-Scott

How can you stand Burns vocals?

"almost comparable to the earlier days of the Foo Fighters"

is that supposed to make me not want to listen to this?
early Foo Fighters rocks.

This record's great, minus the last track. Perfect mid-90s Midwestern emo. The second song's the best rock song of the year thus far.

-Scott

Score is for the album cover.

I usually dont flame bands like alot of hipsters around here but this band is shit. weak debut and this is weak to as you say. and ya the female vocalist is ugly and sucks shit at singing.

what is with all these crap records getting reviewed? talk about your pieces of crap.