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| Have HeartThe Things We Carry2006 Bridge 9 
  Review by: Meg See others by this writer Have Heart (link) Only registered users can post comments 
 
Published on October 24th 2006
I can’t wait to see what Have Heart will do with more album time and a bigger production budget.The wait between Have Heart's EP What Counts and debut full-length The Things We Carry was long and full of impatience on my part, but as anticipated, the band have gone above and beyond my expectations. With undeniably earnest lyrics and a blistering, relentless pace, The Things We Carry sets the standards high for what modern day straight-edge hardcore albums should sound like. For a seasoned Have Heart fan, two of the most important aspects that have changed during the two years between the band's EP What Counts and The Things We Carry are the clean production and lyrical improvement, though neither were enough of an issue in the first place to keep What Counts from being a solid EP. The Things We Carry is the product of a band who are wise beyond their years. While What Counts offered songs mostly discussing traditional hardcore material, The Things We Carry provides lyrics you don't have to claim edge or be passionate about the hardcore scene to appreciate. Hell, even a quote from E.E Cummings manages to appropriately fit into the album ("of a world that's doing its best, night and day, to make you (me) everybody else" in "Watch Me Sink"). The Things We Carry won't give you the chance to prepare for its intensity with how immediately hard-hitting the first track, "Life Is Hard Enough," is. You'll be given an opportunity to rest during the intro for "Watch Me Sink," but not for long as the track soon features stern, memorable shouts of "A breaking in spirit / a breaking in promise / a breaking in me." Another standout track soon follows with the powerful "Armed with a Mind." Lyrically the song shows off how mature the band has become through lyrics like "True beauty can't be seen with the eyes" and "Boy, your true strength sleeps behind your eyes." The words themselves don't sound overly eloquent, yet through the genuine passion and conviction in their delivery, a strong message is relayed. Following the re-recorded, straight-edge anthem "Something More Than Ink" (originally from What Counts) is "The Machinist," featuring guest vocals from Sean Murphy of Verse which lend to the track's powerful appeal. Have Heart ends The Things We Carry at the strongest point possible with "Watch Me Rise." When you think the track is over it returns in full force to complete the message "I'd rather die on my feet than live on my knees." The sheer presentation of the vocals is nothing short of incredible, forceful and uplifting, while the track itself is exceptionally unique in melody. It's impossible for words to do this album justice. The Things We Carry? Powerful, dynamic, and hard-hitting. Get into it. People who liked this also liked:           Please login or register to post comments. What are the benefits of having a Punknews.org account?
best band, best cd end of story this album is so great and awsome the best album i have ever heard i listen to this album every day the whole way through gets my spirits up I was going to give this album a 8-9 because I think they can do better, but considering that it makes me feel so good, things like musical progression are secondary. Just pure energy. PURE, as in: I just cant stop smiling and tapping on my leg like crazy when I listen to this on my headphones while walking outside. Fuck if people look at my funny. Maybe then they want to know why I do it... I dont even listen to that much HC. I maybe own 5albums. I just love good music regardless of genre. This album is absolutely essensh Have Heart's lyrics cliche and cheesy? hardcore doesn't get any better than this. truly amazing. truly flawless. Those lyrics are just pathetic, so cliche and cheesy. Just not my cup of tea. This album blew me the fuck away. Best hardcore band out right now. album fuckiung rules this album is PRETTY good but not worth 4 and a half. brilliant, this is what hardcore should be "WAAAAY to posi for me. And straight-edge anthems = no listen" What Counts definitely was a pretty crappy release, IMO, agreed with the person below. I liked Have Heart from their original demo, but hated What Counts so much that I stopped liking the band after that. After hearing this, it may just make me a fan again. Very, very good album. just calling it as i see it Sure, a 9... more african than aids...darker and faster extremely predictable review I listened to this tonight. Solid album, I really enjoyed it. What, Anchors was busy? Best hardcore LP of 2006. I have impeccable taste, so you know it's true. WAAAAY to posi for me. And straight-edge anthems = no listen. I'm very dissapointed by new verse, the first step AND this record.. Dude wants to act like he knows shit all the time, but always ends up sounding like a clown. danperrone, when you start actually writing your own reviews, then you can comment on others without looking like a joke. i dont have to listen to this to know 4 1/2 stars is way too much. Flawless album, Have Heart fucking rules, if you think otherwise you're probably a terrorist. This is probably my favorite release of '06. The end of "watch me rise" is incredible, it builds up, then it explodes. it would be rad to see live. Very solid album, review doesn't get to the point, comments are asinine The album is good, but it hasn't stuck with me I don't get it. bane also use an EE cummings quote on ne of their albums A damn good band, they are gonna be going places with their music great cd but the most essential modern hardcore cd to own is final fight- under attack naw looking at davey havok actually does disgust me So I assume that with all the posts by Jones the Bones that he likes Davey Havok. Ya fucking unoriginal bastard ... you copied yourself. Jokes, this band is kinda ... uhhhh crappy. Yeah, that works. Its a pretty good cd. Not 9.5 though. More like 7. "What Counts" was garbage. Crap production - the guitars sounded so bad (like they were being played through fender combo amps) and weak tempos. extremely predictable review this single, with the "oooohhhhh we're gonna have a female write our review because they can do what boys can do but better, not really, da na na, na na na" |
