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| The DraftIn a Million Pieces2006 Epitaph 
  Review by: Ben_Conoley See others by this writer ![[staff]](/images/icons/staffsticker.gif){kind=icon}
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Published on September 12th 2006
In the chorus of the first song "New Eyes Open" on the Draft’s album, Chris Wollard shouts, “That’s what I like about it, it’s not so complicated.” While he might have been singing about things other than his musical pursuits, the same can be said about what makes their debut album, In a Million Pieces, such a great accomplishment.
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Awesome album, on par with Hot Water Music, and much better than The New What Next. Love this record so much. "New Eyes Open" is a great song. I agree with Jason--my favorite albums aren't the ones I listen to, they're the ones I LIVE with (I haven't heard this album but look forward to it) The ska backdrop on that one song is fucking rad, I also enjoy the use of synth. Cool album. Better than HWM's last. It's like them but more experimental. fags. i was a little skeptical on the album really wondered if i should pick it up. its amazing, really better then anything i could have asked for This is based on the 2 songs I've heard from the album, whenever I get the cash, I will definitely be picking this one up. Yeah, so I didn't realize this was on a scale of one to ten, let me change that =) Well, I've listened to this album several times now, and it's pretty good. I never got into HWM, but I do have all their albums for collector's sake -- The Draft is much more accessible and will stay a part of my playlist for a while. album of the yeaaaaaaaaar yeaaah! i've been disappointed in most albums released this year from my favorite bands (cursive, envy, planes mistaken for stars, owen, haram, the appleseed cast... and the list goes on), BUT THE DRAFT DIDN'T DISAPPOINT. really, a fucking miracle. so thank you. I wrote something but I got distracted for a couple of minutes, went to post my comment and the thing timed out and I lost what I wrote, WTF? I very often wonder--and this is in no way specific to this album or this band or even anything I've been involved with, for that matter--if people take this one very important point into consideration when passing opinions on new records--that they haven't lived with it yet. The first song is brillant. After that the record never lives up to that standard and falls flat. People are convincing themselves that this record is great out of some ode to HWM. It's ok, but certainly not anything spectacular. With that said, i think the boys next album could make that leap. danperrone? more like danperrBONER amirite? having listened to the record for the past day and a half, i must say that the chorus of "New Eyes Open" describes my feelings about this record: The first song is brillant. After that the record never lives up to that standard and falls flat. People are convincing themselves that this record is great out of some ode to HWM. It's ok, but certainly not anything spectacular. With that said, i think the boys next album could make that leap. That Jawbreaker comment is just retarded. hell yeah danperrone quote from lastfm: love it. no HWM, but still great. Jason, you're forgetting your punknews etiquette. The proper way to respond to criticism of your own album is to anonymously call us all fags. Yes definitely feeling the Samiam vibe. I think Jason needs to stop coming here and seeing all the asshole comments, it's solid album, but if you do come back Jason, come to Providence, it's be much appreciated 'Doesn't it ever occur to anyone that they like "Goddamnit" better than "Crimson" because they were 15 and making out--not 25 and going to work--the first time they heard it?' Perfect record. Jason, any chance of a Canadian tour anytime in the next 6 months? Fuck, I wish I hadnt listened to the demos before buying this. It ruins the flow knowingsome songs much better than others. Lol, I always do this. It'll wear off soon though. Solid record. Black, I don't know you, but don't look back on this thread. Just get out and don't look back. If you do, you won't be tempted to post again. Trust me. i loved everything HWM did from finding the rhythms through no division/never ender but was left cold by the last 3 LPs. will i like this? This is a very good cd. I've been a big hot water music fan but I wasn't going to like The Draft just for that reson alone. So after a couple listens its easy for me to say that this CD is great. Yea it has similarities to HWM but what do you expect. I think a job well done on giving this cd an individual sound and being to come up with a new idenity. Im glad these guys do what they do. Okay, last post on this thread. hahahah it's true...i tried as hard as i could to defend that dude Danperrone is just pissed at the title of this album. i had the good fortune to see HWM quite a bit early on, as we were all around the same age and made it to gainesville the same year. at first it was all about the feeling. the moment. the hardback and house shows. but then they grew, as we all do, and a few records down the line, they started writing SONGS. and they haven't stopped. thank god. Chris hit on a friend of mine a while ago and was a total jerk. I like the album, but it's hard to take him seriously now. aaaand fyi, "critic" was used in the context of "i critique some shit", not "THIS IS MY PROFESSION CHECK OUT MY 25K SALARY" oh please, the fact of the matter is that we're all just sitting on our computers arguing about music 'i'm a music listener and critic' wow major props to jason for talking to the fans and critics. I hope this band releases as many records as HWM. hey jason, are you guys doing that festival in dc in october? Good record, i wish everybody would shut up picking out little holes in this record. I fucking love this album, and it fits my mood so perfectly right now. Amazing stuff. mister jason black, why in the world would i try to learn and transcribe the basslines of something i don't even like? to prove to you that my opinion is valid or invalid? i could not give a shit what you thought about my opinion, it's no more valid than is my username was aubin or if i had no username at all...yeah, i'm all down for the fact that you put your heart and soul into this shit, and that's cool and whatever, but where is this relevant? i'm NOT going to put this album on when i'm happy, sad, gloomy, having sex, listening to forever and counting, posting on the internet, etc. etc. etc. because i do not want to, because after a multitude of listens your new album does not appeal to me...at all. i DON'T know what it was like to make this record, and i don't care to...i'm a music listener and critic, i'm not making a fucking a&e biography of you! this shit doesn't appeal to me for the reasons i so plainly listed Yo Jason if you want some sunshine, just join Chuck out here in Los Angeles. It's a beautiful cloudless mid-80's day here for us. Though.. with all the smog I can't really be all that sure if there are clouds up there or not! This sounded a whole lot like HWM to me. I like it "The Mars Volta get 3.5 stars yet this gets almost a perfect score? I question the opinions of the reviewers on this site a lot." "The Mars Volta get 3.5 stars yet this gets almost a perfect score? I question the opinions of the reviewers on this site a lot." Jason Black the best bassist in punk, both talented and a nice guy good See score. I need to get on track and check this record out. I forgot to score it. An absolutely amazing album! Although I would have loved to see Devil In The Shade on the album. Luckily I ordered the vinyl which comes with a 7" with that on it. Definitely in my top 5 of 2006. Hey, all. I just want to clear up that I in no way expect everyone to like this record and I more than welcome pertinent, thoughful crticism. Don't piss off Black, you ever see the way he plays bass? Swings that shit like a baseball bat. Am I the only one getting a later day Samiam feel? I really like this record a lot, not as much as I liked Fuel when I first heard that but it is up there, I really enjoy the melodies. The Mars Volta get 3.5 stars yet this gets almost a perfect score? I question the opinions of the reviewers on this site a lot. This album is mediocre at best. 4 decent tracks. I dunno, Jason. I came into HWM when they first started releasing records on Epitaph. Now way back then I thought "Jack of all Trades" and "Paper Thin" were two of the best songs I'd heard in a long time (still definitely two of my favorites from HWM), but when I started listening to the older records like No Division and Fuel... I sort of stopped listening to the new stuff a lot. I often find I am favorable towards the first album I hear from a band. In the case of HWM, it's No Division. In the case of Alk 3, it's From Here to Infermary. it always happens when i get a hwm cd, i think this'll be exactly the same. first i like it, then i hate it, dont listen to it for a month or two, and then love it Ha ha, yes! Let it Go is an amazing song. It has great vocals, and an addictive bass line I keep repeating in my head. Record is oustanding. I very often wonder--and this is in no way specific to this album or this band or even anything I've been involved with, for that matter--if people take this one very important point into consideration when passing opinions on new records--that they haven't lived with it yet. Black thanks me? No way. I thank Black. Thanks Black. Simple southern punk rock music. If you don't get it, then you're trying to fit the Draft into Hot Water Music, and that ain't happening. I got a promotional copy of this so I've been listening to it for a couple months. Honestly, I can't get enough. I love this CD. Just saw them in Iowa City and they were great: so tight, so intense. Black's got my back, hell yeah... decent album; it just makes me miss hwm that much more The last HWM album sounded better than this.... When I saw "mellow overtones" I mean having a southern rock/folkish feel. It's hard to explain, but the song "Out Of Tune" is a perfect example. The organ really does it. This is a ridiculously huge step down from Epitaph-era HWM, which in itself was a step down from No Idea-era HWM. Pass. This is great driving music. Makes me miss HWM even more, though. I've been listening to this album for over a month now, but obviously i'll be buying it now that it's out. I agree with Brendan. "Danperrone" is one negative son of a bitch, huh? Hey, bud, since these songs are "so rediculously simple," I'll give you $10 for each of my basslines you learn and/or transcibe and send to me, k? Is this available on iTunes yet? sickboi, i think you think that the people that don't like this feel that way ONLY because it's not hwm alive or dead = song of the year i've ordered the lp from no idea without hearing a thing. now i've heard the demo and it sounds a lot like the new what next. that's the only thing i can say. surely it will be not like fuel for the hate game, but i guess it will be way better than the demo i've heard, and it could be a solid release. I like this album. It's not spectacular but it does have it's moments. I'm thinking there's room for improvement if they release a sophomore effort. definitley not bad. just... lacking somehow. i wanted to love this, and when i listen i jam along, but then afterwards, nothing. it takes a few listens... A few songs are amazing... but most of the album seems like filler... all the tracks are on their purevolume... it's streaming* Oh, and Dante- Maybe it's because it's not what I wanted from ex-members of HWM or maybe it's because it bores me. I'm not even a HWM worshipper like most, this just...doesn't do it for me. well good. i'm 23 and you're what, 28? i'm totally way ahead of the game. I had really high expectations for this one, and it actually lives up to them. Great record. Colin - I'm waiting for the bad part... Justin, I'm totally telling Jason what you said when they play with the Larry Arms. Sounds like the dudes from HWM playing more straight-ahead rock songs. Entirely unimpressed with this. It's nothing horrible, but nothing great either. Sounds like the dudes from HWM playing more straight-ahead rock songs. i'm picking this up tomorrow, even though i just spent 30 bucks on solillaquists of sound cds, that'll be the next good release on epitaph/anti/etc, the great epitaph/antii release before this? Rogue's motherfuckin Gallery, someone review that This is awesome. I love this. Best Epitaph release I've heard in awhile. Yeah, it reeks of Hot Water Music, but that's not a bad thing. I love "Not What I Wanna Do".... really really really really let down by this one this got old pretty fast. it was good at first but i lost track of it. a few strong songs, but nothing that would make me insist on something other than HWM. . |
