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Phoenix’s Greeley Estates have been turning heads as of late. Consisting of vocalist Ryan Zimmerman, guitarists Brandon Hackenson and Dallas Smith, bassist Josh Applebach, and drummer Brian Champ, the band has gathered quite a following over the last few years thanks to their relentless touring and self-promotion. Far from the Lies is the result of all their hard work and experiences and should gain them even more fans and a bigger following.

The thing about Greeley Estates is that they are in no way original. Straight from the beginning I feel like I’ve heard this before, but I just can't label it off and have an urge to listen to it over and over again. And I’m not the only one facing this dilemma. Somehow this band managed to craft a style that isn’t out of the normal, but is still down right listenable and catchy.

Far from the Lies is pretty much a textbook screamo album that manages to be more than what it really is. "The End of All We Know" is pretty much what you’d come to expect from these guys, filled with screaming and sing-alongs, the song manages to be aggressive while still laying down a melodic and sensitive side. "Nothing Good Happens After Dark" lures the listener in with an interesting acoustic opening guitar line before hammering you away with some guitar work before Zimmerman shouts over some rather bare music work.

The true highlight of Far from the Lies is the slower songs. "Life Is a Garden" is easily one of the standout tracks, with a rather catchy chorus and some strong lyrics. "Secret" is easily the best song with the strongest showing of singing by Zimmerman and is aided by Sunny Davis and Jordan Tappis bringing in some strings and keys. The rest of the album goes back and forth between the heavier screamo side and the softer emo side. While it isn’t anything too different, the singing easily brings the album up a notch.

Greeley Estates aren’t anything different and they won’t blow you away with creativity or originality. But for some reason they just don’t go away. Far from the Lies manages to be an enjoyable and memorable listen, when it shouldn’t be more than a once and done listen. These guys from Phoenix have found a way to trick their fans into buying into this music, and at least they now have enough chops to be considered worthy of their accomplishments.






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    Posted by crazytoledo on 2006-09-01 22:38:07

    that I have a shit-filled review

    1. I should proof read more often.

    2. I really wish this site had an edit feature...

    3. I should disown that Finch review. Sure people disagree with my musical opinion (and some of my reviews are sketchy writing wise), but that's the main one that I get crap for...well besides my opinion on Atreyu....

    Posted by crazytoledo on 2006-09-01 22:36:13

    Is someone just pissy that I have shit-filled review to the horrendous Finch album?

    Either way, calling people retarded isn't nice. Especially when you call people that when they're actually really smart. It kind of looks bad on you.

    Posted by treos on 2006-07-29 23:11:50
    My Score:

    Firstly Toledo is basically retarded, this has nothing to do with this review just all the rest of his reviews. Secondly this cd is pretty damn good not great, not that original, yet neither is roses are red or senses fail, but they all got worse reviews. I award all three of these artists a 3.5 stars because they are decent and have songs that allow a variety of emo listening without listening to exactly the same song but not really different songs.

    Posted by SilentStorms on 2006-06-29 18:56:22

    I'm not upset because you don't like Off Minor, I'm upset that you think I'm a doucebag because I like Off Minor. Oh, and Off Minor is fucking amazing.

    Posted by SilentStorms on 2006-06-29 14:01:42

    Holy shit, you dislike me? Eh.

    Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, June 28, 2006 at 8:46 AM (EDT)
    My Score:

    waw that is great

    Posted by sirens on 2006-06-26 11:47:40

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Screamo_groups

    assholes

    Posted by givemeamuseumandillfillit on 2006-06-25 07:25:01

    "Go listen to some Off Minor."

    Well,you're right, you're not a true music elitist.
    You're just a douchebag.

    Well, you're probably not, but i have a huuuge disliking for people who uses off minor in that sense. They're not that good of a band and you would've never heard of them if emo didn't strike big (because then saetia wouldn't been known even in the slightest), kinda funny when the "antidote" becomes worse.

    It works both ways.

    Posted by crazytoledo on 2006-06-24 16:36:06

    Well either way, the genre of screamo isn't as falsely labeled as much as metalcore. Metalcore is a mix of metal and hardcore. Not metal with a sense of fashion, metal with singing, or metal you don't like. But after time it really becomes pointless to argue the point, the people your trying to inform just ignore you.

    Posted by drewcifer on 2006-06-24 16:25:53

    So if enough people are wrong they're actually right? No I don't think so.

    Posted by inagreendase on 2006-06-24 16:13:07

    I would've thrown quotation marks or something around crazy's use of "screamo" here (as I tend to do lately), but when more people have the "false" impression of a genre's definition rather than the "actual," doesn't it sort of change meaning in that sense?

    Posted by drewcifer on 2006-06-24 16:06:17

    Is it so hard to understand why fans of actual screamo would be rather defensive of how the label has been totally mouth fucked unconcious and bleeding out the ears. literally.

    Posted by Big_Guy on 2006-06-24 13:13:55

    I still don't understand why people get upset when someone calls something screamo that isn't screamo and then go on a rant about it and list actual screamo bands.

    does it really matter if someone calls From First To Last screamo?

    Posted by SilentStorms on 2006-06-24 12:20:59

    Holler at the guy above!

    Ampere, June Paik, Louise Cyphre, Llynch, Transistor Transistor, Back When, and Envy!

    Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, June 24, 2006 at 3:36 AM (EDT)

    what a terrible band

    calling bands like this "screamo" is an insult to bands like the kodan armada, city of caterpillar, circle takes the square, pg.99, saetia, you and i, joshuafitforbattle, waifle, majority rule, etc.

    Posted by SilentStorms on 2006-06-24 00:10:50

    So by screamo you mean the neo-mainstream screamo crap, not actual screamo. Ahhhhh ... pass. For shit's ass you gave Atreyu a good score. Pass again. Go listen to some Off Minor.

    P.S. I'm not elitist, this is just crap.

    Posted by tylerdurden8136 on 2006-06-23 17:49:19

    nice coverart, at least.

    and i feel bad for toledo, because his reviews are getting better, it's just that his musical tastes conflict with 95% of the traffic on here.

    Posted by crazytoledo on 2006-06-23 12:51:59

    Aiden causes internal ear bleeding. LoveHateHero does not.

    Posted by givemeamuseumandillfillit on 2006-06-23 12:43:51

    How can you say aiden is horrible and give a band like lovehatehero a 9? Atleast aiden vaugley remotely has a tiny bit of wannabe-earlier afi in them.

    Posted by crazytoledo on 2006-06-23 11:52:22

    Aiden is way worse. Aiden is horrible.

    Posted by HeresLookinAtYou on 2006-06-23 10:22:42

    they ALMOST beat out aiden for worst band of all time

    Posted by Anonymous on Friday, June 23, 2006 at 9:09 AM (EDT)

    this band is unoriginal but the new record from roses are red is something spectacular? christ, this place gets better every single day.
    -TOBB

    Posted by colin on 2006-06-23 05:55:47

    man if crazytoledo gives it a 6 you KNOW it sucks

    Posted by crazytoledo on 2006-06-23 02:57:43

    If anyone's interested:

    http://www.absolutepunk.net/artists/showlink.php?do=showdetai ls&l=2036

    You can listen to the album there.

    Posted by JLJL on 2006-06-23 02:43:07

    why toledo whyyyyy

    Posted by inagreendase on 2006-06-23 01:35:12
    My Score:

    This is devastatingly awful. Every time I hear this band I ask why anyone would STILL want to do this.

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