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Boys Night Out

Fifty Million People Can't Be Wrong (2007)
Ferret Records

Reviewer Rating:

Contributed by: Nhoj
(others by this writer | submit your own)

Published on March 23rd 2007

When I heard that Boys Night Out were going to be releasing a digital-only EP this February, I had mixed feelings. On one hand, I love Boys Night Out. Make Yourself Sick was one of, in my opinion, the best emocore records ever released. The singing/screaming dynamic was amazing, jumbling everything together into one frenetic mess. Then Trainwreck came out and took everything to another level entirely. On the other hand, it's a digital release, which is lame. Suffice to say, the BNO-loving side of me won out and I bought this EP on iTunes.

Fifty Million People Can't Be Wrong opens up with two new songs, "Reasons Ain't Our Long Suit" and "Hey, Thanks." The former has a solid rock groove. There's no screaming like on MYS, nor subtle vibes that slowly creep out like on Trainwreck. Although they still sound technical, it's much more straightforward, yet still very Boys Night Out. They also seem damn cheery, singing "and we're better / we're better than ever." And it's damn good, too.

The latter, "Hey, Thanks" furthers the departing from their original niche with just solid driven rock. It's not as good as the previous song but still extremely enjoyable. It's also worth noting there is still keys on this song, even though their keys department in Kara Dupuy is no longer in the band.

They finish off the EP with three re-recorded songs from their debut EP Broken Bones and Bloody Kisses: "The Only Honest Love Song," "Sketch Artist Composite" and "Victor Versus the Victim." This is where the release starts to become iffy. Anyone who has heard the originals knows that they were very heavy, scream-laden tracks. "Were" is really the key word there. Connor Lovat-Fraser barely rises above an empassioned croon, nowhere near as brutal as the shrill shouts like before. Not only are almost all of the vocals here sung, the songs are significantly slowed down to accompany the slower vocals. Granted, this gives us some additional fills and a clearer concept of what these songs are about, not to mention the slick production making them very audible, but it's not quite the same.

"Sketch Artist Compostie" comes out on the bright side, actually pulling me into it. The vocals shine and the additonal guitar bits soar. However, both "Love Song" and "Victor" both suffer. "Victor," the most pop-punk-inspired of their orignal tracks, just feels slow and long. Some of the new parts, again, are pretty cool, but it's just too weighted down. "Love Song" is worse off, losing almost all of its passion. The metalcore opening even sounds weak in comparison.

As a whole, much like with any digital release, I'd only suggest it to hardcore fans, but it does set the standards pretty high for their upcoming self-titled record -- as long as they don't plan on further new old songs.

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SilentStorms (March 29, 2007)

The fact that music is subjective doesn't escape me in the least. I just happen to like Orchid. I've never liked Good Riddance though, I always thought they were overrated. As for Fugazi ... sweeeeeet.

rkl (March 28, 2007)

Posted by SilentStorms on 2007-03-27 01:22:13

"Posted by Archangel on 2007-03-24 00:09:48

"Orchid and Boys Night Out are NOT in the same genre."

"sure they are, if you consider "crap" a genre."

Are you fucking kidding me, Orchid blows any band you like out of the water. In fact, name one band that is better than Orchid (there actually are quite a few, but you wouldn't know them ... obviously

since this is all a matter of subjective taste(something that generally fails to escape you..)
lets start with the list.

Fugazi
Good Riddance
The Frogs
Marginal Man
Gorilla Biscuits

Or were you just talking about the screamodeathemocore genre?
Sorry, I don't know any of that shit. I like my metal sans tampons.

darwingivingin (March 27, 2007)

meh. i hate how many botched genres you can make with "emo" and "core" although i'd have to say if there ever was one i suppose bno would fall into that alley. rites of spring had you posers stuck from the start.

orchid is amazing but i don't see how they fit with this. as for the this day forward thing... ugh.

SilentStorms (March 27, 2007)

"Posted by Archangel on 2007-03-24 00:09:48

"Orchid and Boys Night Out are NOT in the same genre."

"sure they are, if you consider "crap" a genre."

Are you fucking kidding me, Orchid blows any band you like out of the water. In fact, name one band that is better than Orchid (there actually are quite a few, but you wouldn't know them ... obviously)

But my main point after reading this review was, and still is, that This Day Forward's Kairos EP was the best metal/emo core album ever, and it's only a fucking EP. In my opinion after BNO's initial 4 track demo release, they started catering to mainstream. ButtFuck that Orchid comment was completely unwarranted, fuckass. How exactly do you suck a fuck? Score's for rkl.

nocigar (March 26, 2007)

make yourself sick was alright, trainwreck sucked, this i could care less about.

Anonymous (March 25, 2007)

Fifty Million People Can't Be Wrong?

This proved that they can be.

-Greenvandal

Anonymous (March 24, 2007)

"BLAAAAAAAAAAARGHHHGGHHHHRHGHGH THIS ISN'T PUNX!1!!!!"

-Summary of most of the comments

rkl (March 24, 2007)

Posted by Archangel on 2007-03-24 00:09:48

Orchid and Boys Night Out are NOT in the same genre.
sure they are, if you consider "crap" a genre.

Archangel (March 24, 2007)

Orchid and Boys Night Out are NOT in the same genre.

Anonymous (March 23, 2007)

Orchid is the only band in this genre I can stand, and even I cringe when the term "screamo" is tossed around.

Anonymous (March 23, 2007)

the first recordings of sketch artist was amazing. too bad they sound like fall out boy now

damnitsderek (March 23, 2007)

Emocore?

Yikes.

jacktheskipper (March 23, 2007)

This band is one of the reasons The Fullblast broke up ... so fuck this band!

Anonymous (March 23, 2007)

if "Boy's Night Out" isnt the gayest name for a band ever, i dont know what is

freesandwich (March 23, 2007)

This band went on tour with The Plain White T's...If thats not punk then i don't know what is.

swank (March 23, 2007)

While the term "emocore" makes me cringe, the reviewer is right,; this band has been pretty stellar since the get-go. Trainwreck was by far the most slept-on record of 2005. Totally brilliant.

But, as a fan of their previous work, I have to say that the re-recordings on this are pretty hard to listen to. The musicianship and production may be considered superior, but it feels like the songs themselves have been castrated. They've lost their "umph" and really only succeed in making me want to listen to the original recordings more.

The two new songs really grow on you and leave me curious on what the new full length has to come, but this release as a whole feels like the bands first (atleast partial) mis-step.

Holy_Balls (March 23, 2007)

This band rules. But fuck iTunes. I'll get my brother to buy it though. He has the moneys $$$

Anonymous (March 23, 2007)

emocore. are you serious?

brendankelly (March 23, 2007)

"Make Yourself Sick was one of, in my opinion, the best emocore records ever released. The singing/screaming dynamic was amazing, jumbling everything together into one frenetic mess."