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My Bitter End

The Renovation
2007
Uprising

My Bitter End - The Renovation (Cover Artwork)

Review by: GlassPipeMurder
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Published on July 13th 2007

I just got a new job over at my university's computer center. I haven't started yet, but I'm sure my training will involve an introduction to nerdy internet talk. When I listen to My Bitter End, one "word" comes to mind: br00tal. The Renovation is absolutely br00tal, and dices between orgasmic technical guitar playing and sonic mishmashes that make listening an excercise in tolerance.

I would reckon drummer Mike Ranne goes through double-bass pedals like toilet paper. The quick, heavy thud of the instrument is a constant in The Renovation, carrying the songs from fierce, growly attacks, to melodic walls of thunder, to rapidfire breakdowns. "Comfortable with Corpses" employs an interesting rhythm that pairs handily with jagged guitar playing, slicing with precision and creating one of the most engaging licks on the album. When I think about the guitar playing on The Renovation, the word that comes to mind is "epic." No internet lingo needed, it's just fucking epic.

However, the majority of the songs on the album are not at all enjoyable to listen to due to the incoherent, metal-belch vocals. Unlike those whose complaints hinge from "Wahh, you can't even understand what they're saying!," my main problem is that the unpleasant vocals are unoriginal and draw attention away from the precision musicianship. When it comes to indecipherable barking, Caninus did it better.

The Renovation is also painfully drawn out. The songs would be tolerable if cut down to power-violence time, but at an average of four minutes apiece, the audio assault turns listening into drudgery. There is also three tracks of filler, the most notable of which is "Dirt Helmet," otherwise known as two minutes of light acoustic before the sonic bludgeoning of "A Proper Sendoff."

My Bitter End is like one of those bands you hear playing off in the distance at one of those small stages at Warped Tour that you never go watch. The guitar playing sounds pretty good, but the only guys in the audience either have their hands on their knees, whipping people in the face with their long stringy hair, or are flying through the "dancefloor" like Tae Kwon Do dropouts. (The band actually tried getting on Warped Tour this year via the SmartPunk stage voting contest, but came in 118th place and decided to go on indefinite hiatus instead.)

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Posted by coldwaffles on 2007-07-13 11:00:17

this should not get a better score than against me. this should have the lowest possible score.

Posted by Anonymous on Friday, July 13, 2007 at 9:52 AM (EDT)

To the punknews.org poster below, the new CD Paper Walls is coming out on 07-17-07 on Captiol Records. It will be in all the major record chains (Target, Walmart, FYE and so forth). Check it out!

Posted by Anonymous on Friday, July 13, 2007 at 9:27 AM (EDT)

how much is capitol or warner brothers (or whoever puts out yellowcard's records) paying this asshole to spam message boards to promote the new yellowcard record?!?!?! this is ridiculous and obnoxious. stop now.

Posted by Anonymous on Friday, July 13, 2007 at 9:19 AM (EDT)

Not to get off topic, but nice to see a fellow Yellowcard fan on here! You are correct about Yellowcard having earlier releases with, quite frankly, an inferior singer and other players. It's less confusing for their new fans who are trying to get thier back catalog to just think of three records, Ocean Avenue, Lights and Sound and the new one Paper Walls. If you see any irecent nterviews with the band, they talk about how the first record Ocean Avenue was about "being young and having dreams", Lights and Sounds "was about having those dreams come true and lving in the moment" and Paper Walls was about "the journey and insight gained along the way". If the band chooses to say they have three "main" releases, then who am I too argue! Paper Walls, hitting the streets and shelves on 07-17-07. I have never heard of Bitter End, but on Wednesday night's Warped Show on Steven's Untitled Rock Show, the singer for Yellowcard said the best advice he could give a little band starting up today is to "never give up and have the band as your only thing, then when the tough times hit, you stick it out for the long haul". Truer words were never spoken!

Posted by Anonymous on Friday, July 13, 2007 at 5:12 AM (EDT)

The funny thing about this Yellowcard guy is that he seems to think Lights and Sounds was their 2nd release.

Posted by GlassPipeMurder on 2007-07-13 01:03:39
My Score:

I agree it's not bad & would probably do better in the metal circles, mediocre (5/10 on a pure 1-10 scale) for the punkers including me.

Posted by clownwithstress on 2007-07-13 00:52:14
My Score:

this is some great music..alongside through the eyes of the dead..should of got a better rating, but thats just my opinion

Posted by Anonymous on Friday, July 13, 2007 at 12:51 AM (EDT)

Sorry to hear the band wasn't able to play the Warped Tour this year. After headlining Warped Tour several years ago (for the entire tour) Yellowcard was only invited for three weeks this year, the band took it in stride realizing most fans didn't latch onto their 2nd release, however they are reminding crowds why the fell in love with them in the 1st place. Paper Walls out soon.

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