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The Reason

Ravenna (2004)
Smallman Records

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

Published on June 16th 2006

I really didn’t want to like this album. I’m sick of a million emo bands that scream popping up from every corner of the suburbs. I’m sick of substance-free music full of breakup anthems and predictability. I’m sick of the major labels taking every band comprised of skinny guys with dyed black hair and handing them a record deal and a tour with Brand New.

I really wanted to hate this album, but I don’t.

If you’re a fan of bands like Boys Night Out or Taking Back Sunday, then you’ll be down with Ravenna, the first full-length from this Toronto area five-piece composed of ex-members of Sewing with Nancy, who were a staple of the Toronto all-ages punk scene in the mid-nineties. Their previous effort, the Running with Scissors EP, sounds like it was made by a different band all together than this new venture. Ravenna sees that band evolving to a more aggressive state, while keeping their melodic base. That’s why I didn’t want to like the album; I was dreading having to describe another album with the “singing-screaming-singing” cliché. But again I regress, I like the Reason, and I’ve been enjoying their album. Ravenna is a well-crafted, well-written, and nicely produced effort.

Ravenna isn’t anything new -- there are no surprises here. The lyrics have moments, but for the most part their self-described “vengecore” won’t stick in your head any longer than the CD sticks around in your stereo, but even then, that’s more than most bands earn.

I can’t help it if I’m into bands like this, at least the Reason make it easier to sort out the good from the bad and the ugly. If you’re into this whole emo meets hardcore thing, then this album is well worth your money.

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blake88 (July 6, 2006)

This album is great and everything you should expect from a post hardcore/ screamo band. They are great live and have very well written songs that aren't all about cutting yourself and your girlfriend breaking up with you. Not to mention Adam's voice is far from the whiny squeal most of the bands have that this band is lumped in with.

Anonymous (June 25, 2006)

This album is a work of art. When i first heard it was a whole new sound to be something i had never heard before. And it was also somerthing to got me into punk rock music which is killer

Anonymous (June 19, 2006)

These guys put on a great live show...they're cool as fuck as well. I chilled with them when they toured with Brazil last year, and I'd have to say they may have done better than Brazil.

moneenerd (June 18, 2006)

Reclaiming The Throne = For The Workplace, Drowning

Check it out. SOund exactly the same.

Anonymous (June 18, 2006)

these guys were sort of a shitty rip off of the used. i prefered sewing myself. i miss the days when we would have both them and ruth's hat playing detroit about once every couple of weeks

Anonymous (June 17, 2006)

Great Album! Also a great Live Band

drewcifer (June 16, 2006)

yeah the live show is pretty awesome except fot the fact that the singer cant sing or play his keyboard properly, the songs are terrible and oh yeah he dances around like some autistic girl throwing a temper tantrum.

Trauma16 (June 16, 2006)

EP was called "Problems Associated With Running"
I like this band, catchy and great live show.

Anonymous (June 16, 2006)

Not emo.

But the author definitely did a great job on describing how awful this record is.