The Living End

The Living End: State of EmergencyState of Emergency (2006)
Adeline Records

Reviewer Rating: 4.5

User Rating:

Contributed by: Sir_TamSir_Tam
(others by this writer | submit your own)
Published on July 11th 2006The Living End is simply a band that can do no wrong; even their disappointing last album was still good fun. But the guys are back and bloody excited to be making an album with Roll On producer Nick Launay. The production is top notch, having the passion of a live show, but all the instruments soun.

The Living End is simply a band that can do no wrong; even their disappointing last album was still good fun. But the guys are back and bloody excited to be making an album with Roll On producer Nick Launay. The production is top notch, having the passion of a live show, but all the instruments sound great, the drums booming accordingly, the guitar crunchy and the double bass shining through.

After allegedly being disappointed with their previous effort, the guys in the band really wanted to step up for this one -- and step up they have. The passion and energy is present through every song on the album and the vocals are best that Chris has ever done. Current single "Wake Up" is one of the finest songs they have ever written, with a catchy drum beat, thumping bass and almost haunting guitar and lyrics describing the state of the nation. The track closes with the chorus being sung by a group of kids, which is a perfect ending. The song is a perfect example of the fantastic vocals and the rest of the band's excellent musicianship.

The band has pretty much abandoned their punkier side in favour of their more rockabilly pop/rock sound. This is not a disappointment when you realize how brilliant some of the songs are. "Black Cat" works incredibly well, the drums carrying along an awesome bass and guitar line that works in its sheer simplicity. The stop-start guitar of the chorus blends perfectly with the verses.

Every song in the album is at least good, with the majority of them being great. The fast everyday lyrics of "Long Live the Weekend" to the slow, almost country-sounding "Nothing Lasts Forever" sound like the band the Living End have been trying to be for years.

Of course, the guitar is brilliant as always, with some great solos, as seen on the opening track "'Till the End," as well as the closing track "Into the Red," although every song on the album is filled with sweet technical guitar.

This is the Living End's best work yet, full of so much energy it is infectious. It sounds like a new beginning for them, destroying the shadow their self-titled effort initially put over them. It looks like it is the start of a new chapter in their careers, and if they continue to carry on like this, then you should come along for the ride.

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Fine Print: The following comments are owned by whoever posted them. We are not respon sible for them in any way. Seriously.

neffernin (June 6, 2007)

I think their first release was by far their best, never really got into anything beyond roll on myself

Wastachuck (March 3, 2007)

"This is the Living End’s best work yet"

No. It definatley is not.....
the self titled album was. Nothing will ever surpass it

But i don't think anyone would object if i said chris cheney = best punk geetarist eever

Anonymous (July 16, 2006)

Modern Artillery was way better.

longshot (July 13, 2006)

not like sugarcult.

chris from the living end can actually hold a note.
and he back it up at shows.

Anonymous (July 13, 2006)

sugarcult called and wants their band back

kamatacci (July 13, 2006)

The Living End is my favorite band and there other albums kick ass. But this album is just kidda weird. Not only does it not sound like them, but sounds way too much like everyone else. One song is identical to Green Day, another has the same music as Switchfoot, one could pass as a lighter System of a Down, and I think I even heard some Moody Blues.

The album does grow on you a bit, but Modern ARTillery kills this, as does Roll On, the s/t, and even Hellbound and Its For Your Own Good.

Anonymous (July 12, 2006)

All I have to say about them is that seeing them on warped makes every other band that played seem like a band in a high school talent show.

eastern_waste (July 12, 2006)

its a rock cd, not punk, not even close. but some of the songs are really catchy

Anonymous (July 12, 2006)

double bass my ass

telegraphrocks (July 12, 2006)

At was at my friend's house about a month or so ago, and he was playing this while I was doing something else stupid. About 10 minutes into this, I disgustedly asked "what the fuck are you listening to?". "The new Living End" was his reply.

Sorry, I like their first two albums, but I think this is complete crap.

Anonymous (July 12, 2006)

and my opinion on modern artillery? utter crap -oldpunker-

Anonymous (July 12, 2006)

after listening to this for a a few spins, i am changing my tune a little on this, its actually sounding much more complete as opposed to a cd with a few singles, while i do miss the rockabilly these guys are so good at, this is really growing on me and sounding better each time. -oldpunker-

Sir_Tam (July 12, 2006)

"Everyone saying that Modern ARTtilery was their best album is an idiot. It was just so perfect and production killed most of the songs, although yes, the room is very very good."

I may be shooting myself in the foot with this due to the fact that I used the word perfect in my review alot but that was not reffering to the production.

What I meant was the production was too perfect, it was just glossy and there were no little imperfections. It was good but it was not special. The production made the band sound too poppy and took away the energy that the production in this album gives them. The band themselves have claimed this and said how dissapointed they were with Modern ARTilery but its not to say its a bad album; it was just their worst one.

TahoeJeff (July 12, 2006)

Everyone saying that Modern ARTtilery was their best album is an idiot. It was just so perfect and production killed most of the songs, although yes, the room is very very good.

So you are saying that it was perfect but was flawed with production?? How does that even make sense? Perfect. Correct me if I'm wrong, but doesnt perfect still mean without any flaws? The name calling really backs up your point though. Cheers!

Sir_Tam (July 12, 2006)

Everyone saying that Modern ARTtilery was their best album is an idiot. It was just so perfect and production killed most of the songs, although yes, the room is very very good. The rest of it was just boring and much more pop than this is.
Reading over my review now I realised I didn't critic the album at all, woops, but I still stand by the score even though I wrote this review like 3 months. But yeah I probably should have pointed out some faults but come to think of it I can't really think of any.

BTW Wake Up is a really really good song. Great live.

historypeats (July 12, 2006)

"Posted by TahoeJeff on 2006-07-11 17:11:38

I don't understand why everyone always shits on Modern ARTillery. I thought it was a fantastic album. "The Room" single handedly destroys any song on this new album"

Thank you. Finally, somebody says it. The album had shityy singles, but as an entire album, it was the best thing they've ever released.

Anonymous (July 11, 2006)

this whole fucking cd is good i've had it for like 3 months now and i cant stop listening to it

R3venge_Therapy (July 11, 2006)

I hate this band and their make up

Probably the stupidest comment you could ever make about the Living End. Idiots, I tells ya.

crazyjoedevola (July 11, 2006)

Didn't their guitarist/singer get in a really bad car accident? Good to know he can still play well.

Anonymous (July 11, 2006)

I hate this band and their make up.

theOneTrueBill (July 11, 2006)

"Into The Red" and "What's on your Radio" are my two favorites after first listen. Into the Red should've been the first song on the album, it would've kicked some serious ass right at the front.

feeeding5000 (July 11, 2006)

This sounds like a press release. Maybe it is.

TahoeJeff (July 11, 2006)

I don't understand why everyone always shits on Modern ARTillery. I thought it was a fantastic album. "The Room" single handedly destroys any song on this new album.

Anonymous (July 11, 2006)

i cap niggas in the dead end

-black andre

Anonymous (July 11, 2006)

I won't judge it yet, i've only listned to the first half one time, and what I heard I liked, but not as much as modern artillery.

and speaking of which, Modern ARTillery was a dissapointment for the band and their fans? Granted it didn't have much rockabilly, but I personally thought it was their best work yet.

still solid. that new single is the shit.

paul

drewcifer (July 11, 2006)

Jesus christ, you guys have got to start carding these reviewers or something.

inagreendase (July 11, 2006)

Yeah, I forgot to mention the energy thing as Tahoe mentioned down there. The thing I said about Against Me! last year, about them just feeling complacent on Searching, it's the same way I feel here; there's just no urgency and barely any energy.

beaarthur (July 11, 2006)

I don't understand why these guys keep putting out pop rock albums. They were heads above most other bands at the rockabilly-ish thing they were doing on their first couple of albums, and then they decided to go play the same boring generic pop crap that so many other bands play. Why give up the one thing that madse you better than everyone else?

Anonymous (July 11, 2006)

Didn't like this album the first time I heard it, but it definitely grew on me. It sure beats the hell out of Modern Artillery.

ChokingVictim (July 11, 2006)

I haven't decided if I should pick this up. I really enjoyed the S/T, "Roll On" was good too, I heard the single from Modern Artillery and didn't think it was anything special. Should I get this?

chickswithdicks (July 11, 2006)

i've been mp3'ing this album for too long, its about time it gets released over here.

William_David (July 11, 2006)

This album is really really good. Good point in the review about it's brilliance. I found that it doesn't seem as impressive on the surface, but if you really listen to this one, the composition of it is amazing.

R3venge_Therapy (July 11, 2006)

This album is good, but like everyone else has said, it's FAR from their best work. Modern ARTillery is better than this. Excellent excellent band though. Especially live.

Nap (July 11, 2006)

Maybe it's not their best, but it's really really great
I just don't like "No Way Out".

baseball (July 11, 2006)

yes, it was kind of strange hearing them on the radio all the time

danperrone (July 11, 2006)

remember when this band had a song that was actually pretty big

weird

Anonymous (July 11, 2006)

I have to say while i like this, it seems to be missing something, its a shame cause these guys seem to have so much potential, yet for some reason, each cd just comes up short. Looking back at songs like prisoner of society, second solution ( sick ass song), monday, trapped.. They have yet to duplicate those gems. -oldpunker-

TahoeJeff (July 11, 2006)

"The passion and energy is present through every song on the album and the vocals are best that Chris has ever done."

What album were you reviewing? Don't get me wrong, this is really not that bad of an album, but there is really nothing very impressive on it. Every other album they've put out has at least one or two moments of awesome guitar work on them. This one didn't. This one really seemed to lack the energy of the older albums. I love The Living End, but if I were reviewing this, I would try to put the fan boy in me aside. Right now, reading this review is like watching Fox News give a fair and balanced report on President Bush. I give this one a 5.

jimbojones (July 11, 2006)

Their self titled will always be my favourite. I just think that their records have lost the energy they used to have. Roll on and Self titled own all their other efforts

chipsahoycookie (July 11, 2006)

good. nothing great at all.

murray627 (July 11, 2006)

It never ceases to amaze me how many reviews start with "this band can do know wrong." I can't think of a better was to announce the fact that your review is totally biased and anything but credible.

ozmanx (July 11, 2006)

Always have a blast at their shows, great band.

historypeats (July 11, 2006)

Some great moments ("We Want More," "What's on Your Radio?", "Wake Up," and even "Nothing Lasts Forever"), but way, way too much filler to be called their best. I still like Modern ARTillery best, then S/T, then this one. Looking forward to finally seeing them at Slims on the 19th of August, too!

joeg (July 11, 2006)

this isn't their best album by a long shot. i'll echo brian's thoughts, with the exception of we want more, what's on your radio and the 2 tracks at the end that they should have placed near the front, the songs are pretty forgettable. chris does a good job with vocals as always but not enough to save this one. i'll split the difference.

MrStylson (July 11, 2006)

This is album is just really fun for me.

american_666_jesus (July 11, 2006)

No no no. not their best album by a long shot. Nothing can touch the brilliance that was Roll On. This record has been over run with mainstream sounds. There are a few good tracks, mainly "Whats on your Radio?" but the rest is so weak. I liked Modern Artillery. It was a different sound, but any band that can write a song like "The Room" is brilliant. Unfortunately, it just doesnt show through as well here. I was disappointed with this record, but Roll On will always maintain this band as one of my all time favorites.

Anonymous (July 11, 2006)

This album is incredibly disappointing

inagreendase (July 11, 2006)

Eh, this is pretty disappointing. There's a couple good songs but mostly clunkers, so many tracks I just can't help but skip over.

There just isn't much of a dynamic, and the guitar work isn't as impressive. I like the fact they retread on their early Police-styled reggae moments at some points, but that's about it.

More fodder for my disappointments list.

Dante3000 (July 11, 2006)

This album is the fucking shit. Plus I got to interview them at Warped Tour and they're super nice.
Double whammy.
-Dante