Punknews.orgPunknews.org Logo
Black Box Recordings -- Living With Lions
Black Box Recordings
Review Navigator

BackForward

Features

 

Contests

 




Reviews

Bad Religion - New Maps of Hell (Deluxe)

Progressive. Experimental. Indie. These are a few of the titles attributed to the Lawrence, Kansas group, the Appleseed Cast. Coming out of a hiatus after 2003’s Two Conversations and signing with the popular indie label The Militia Group, the Appleseed Cast have returned with new focus and a fresh sound. After their acclaimed albums, Low Level Owl Volumes 1 and 2, in which the band created their signature ambient rock sound, they released Two Conversations, which was seen as a disappointment, as it strayed away from the previous unorthodox sound and adopted a “pop song” structure. Blending elements from these releases, Peregrine proves to be the equilibrium.

True to form, the Cast continues to push boundaries and experiment with new sounds and song production. Peregrine blurs individual track separation letting the album instead speak as one continuous story. This continuity is aided by the live atmosphere, where singer Chris Crisci’s emotional vocals reverberate in a soundscape of distortion (as in “Here We Are (Family in the Hallways)”) or fight against heavy percussion (as in “Mountain Halo”). Accompanying the eerie vocals, the pounding bass of Marc Young progresses and shapes the story, while the guitars of Aaron Pillar and Crisci create the pathos in Peregrine. “Ceremony,” “An Orange and a Blue,” and “The Clock and the Storm” are instrumental tracks that serve to introduce, separate, and conclude the Peregrine tale by telling a story in their own right.

Fans of both Low Levels will be glad to hear these songs, as well as songs such as “Song 3,” while those of Two Conversations will enjoy “February” and “Sunlit Ascending.” Peregrine proves to be a well-balanced, experimental album in the face of the commercialized and uniform world of modern rock.



People who liked this also liked:
Brand New - The Devil and God Are Raging Inside MeLatterman - No Matter Where We Go..!Set Your Goals - Mutiny!Refused - The Shape of Punk to ComeLatterman - ...We Are Still AliveThe Fall Of Troy - DoppelgängerAlkaline Trio - GoddamnitTexas Is The Reason - Do You Know Who You Are?Get Up Kids - Something To Write Home AboutAlkaline Trio - From Here To Infirmary



Please login or register to post comments.
What are the benefits of having a Punknews.org account?
  • Share your opinion by posting comments on the stories that interest you
  • Rate music and bands and help shape the weekly top ten
  • Let Punknews.org use your ratings to help you find bands and albums you might like
  • Customize features on the site to get the news the way you want.

    Posted by sirens on 2006-11-27 09:44:14

    this album was just... weak. I really couldnt dig it.

    Posted by Anonymous on Monday, November 27, 2006 at 6:41 AM (EST)

    ...kelibguscua, giant moth-robot?!

    Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, November 26, 2006 at 8:28 PM (EST)

    They never fail to disappoint? Hm...

    Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, November 26, 2006 at 10:57 AM (EST)
    My Score:

    Great record, the cast never fail to disappoint

    Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, November 26, 2006 at 2:52 AM (EST)

    more like the crapholeseed ass.... wayo0o0o0o

    Posted by leezdeez on 2006-11-26 01:24:05

    i saw this band in baltimore with the anniversary and burning brides when i was 16. does that make me cool, or lame?

    Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, November 25, 2006 at 10:44 PM (EST)

    MV>LLO>tEotRW>etc.

    ring wars is pretty much a straight emo album, and somewhat derivative of sunny day real estate certainly, but its still very enjoyable I think.

    Posted by ManuelLabor13 on 2006-11-25 19:22:50
    My Score:

    Great record. Sounds like LLO part 1.5

    Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, November 25, 2006 at 5:37 AM (EST)
    My Score:

    to the guy that rated End Of The Ring Wars a 10/10..

    how could that be? seriously End of the Ring Wars sounds like a Sunny Day Real Estate ripoff... full on full out.. i consider Mare Vitalis their best album, and the first one they actually started finding their own sound.

    this one would be good but too much filler.

    Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, November 25, 2006 at 12:58 AM (EST)

    I have.

    -Joe

    Posted by Anonymous on Friday, November 24, 2006 at 7:45 PM (EST)

    To the "Joe" below me:

    Have you even heard the low level owl albums??? Judging by your comment, I would think not.

    Posted by wearestillalive on 2006-11-24 14:11:20

    this album is fucking great. just like every other release.

    two conversations is pretty much one of the best indie pop albums ever made so i don't get why it get's so much criticism.

    Posted by danperrone on 2006-11-24 11:06:48
    My Score:

    bad cd, unfortunately

    Posted by Anonymous on Friday, November 24, 2006 at 8:59 AM (EST)

    End of Ring Wars-10/10
    Mare Vitalis-9/10
    Everything else-too inconsistent to even rate.

    This cd is weak.

    -Joe

    Posted by insinceredave on 2006-11-24 07:07:11
    My Score:

    Great record, one of my fav's of 2006.

    Woodland Hunter part 1 harks back to the days of End of Ring Wars. Good stuff.

    I think it worth mentioning that they had a new drummer for this record and that it really helped to shape the faster paced songs.

    Posted by Anonymous on Friday, November 24, 2006 at 3:14 AM (EST)

    appleseed cast=one of my favorite bands.

    strangely enough i've yet to buy the Low Level Owls......

    and Two Conversations was the first album i ever got from them.... an impulse buy.

    Posted by miker on 2006-11-24 01:29:00

    It has it's moments, but it still doesn't live up to Mare Vitalis. Still better than almost everything out there, though.

    Posted by Anonymous on Friday, November 24, 2006 at 1:00 AM (EST)

    more like 4monthlatereviewnews.org, amirite?

    Posted by Anonymous on Friday, November 24, 2006 at 12:54 AM (EST)

    2 conversations is a sac of shit.

    mare vitalis is where it's at. this record is alright, i haven't listened enough.

    Posted by Anonymous on Friday, November 24, 2006 at 12:33 AM (EST)
    My Score:

    Definitely reminds me of the Low Level Owls albums. I really like the second track "Woodland Hunter Prt.1". Two Conversations was a disapointment? I thought it was one of their best.

    Posted by Anonymous on Friday, November 24, 2006 at 12:30 AM (EST)

    Hasnt this album been out for a really long time already? I know its on my hard drive and has been for months

    Posted by kvzuky on 2006-11-24 00:23:47
    My Score:

    Great Great Album

    Posted by GlassPipeMurder on 2006-11-24 00:20:30

    up tha punx?

    Posted by Anonymous on Friday, November 24, 2006 at 12:13 AM (EST)

    zZZzzZZzzZZzzzz

    © 1999-2006 Punknews.org • Terms of Use • Privacy • FAQ • About • ISSN 1710-5366 • RSS RSS Icon