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Street Dogs - State of Grace

Silverstein

Arrivals & Departures
2007
Victory

Silverstein - Arrivals & Departures (Cover Artwork)


Review by: Coldwaffles
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Victory Records (Logo)

Published on July 17th 2007

God, I really wish I could hate this record. This isn’t something I should like at all. Silverstein are responsible for one of the worst songs ever, “Bleeds No More.” Silverstein are one of Victory’s last remaining post-brocore "screamo" flagship bands, with Atreyu, Thursday, Taking Back Sunday, and Hawthorne Heights all jumping ship. They have that terrible hair. They have those pop-punk vocals. They have that terrible scream. They jock all kinds of punk and emo classics, like Hot Water Music, Operation Ivy and Braid, yet have absolutely no sign of influence. They have those fans...

And yet, I find myself sitting here, enjoying their latest release, Arrivals & Departures. For what it is, Arrivals & Departures could be much worse. For instance, this is better than Chiodos, Drop Dead, Gorgeous, and pretty much any other swoosh rock available to the masses right now. That doesn’t mean it’s a classic or anything, but it is a solid release from a band that have learned to stick to their guns and do what they do best. They aren’t throwing any new gimmicks into the mix, there isn’t any new production gloss on the record compared to previous efforts, and there isn’t any watering down for a shot at Top 40. It’s just a modest neo-screamo/pop-punk album from dudes that know the trade.

Lyrically, Silverstein take a step up. They’re not anything to be proud of, but these songs are no “Bleeds No More” or “My Heroine.” Musically, Silverstein deliver their pop-screamo, sometimes with metallic effort, sometimes with indie influence. Mostly though, you can be happy that Silverstein vary their songs a lot more on Arrivals & Departures than ever before.

My biggest problem with this release is something so many albums suffer nowadays. The second half falls flat off. Arrivals & Departures starts off so strong with huge sing-alongs (or scream-alongs/whine-alongs?) in “Sound of the Sun,” “Worlds Apart,” “My Disaster” and relatively unique instrumentation (at least for Silverstein) in “Bodies and Words,” “If You Could See Into My Soul,” and “Still Dreaming.” However, the second half contains lots of filler, and the obligatory trite ballad, “True Romance.” The only worthwhile tracks on the second half are the Saves the Day-esque “Here Today, Gone Tomorrow” and the ever-catchy “Vanity and Greed.”

Silverstein really stepped up to take their place as the kings of screamo-stereotype here. If you find yourself enjoying some pop-screamo now and again, even if you feel guilty doing so, a listen to Silverstein’s Arrivals & Departures may be worth your effort. Plus, the album cover is just plain awesome, which is really surprising, considering the label in question’s history for horribly clichéd, ugly artwork.



People who liked this also liked:
Silverstein - Discovering The WaterfrontDredg - Catch Without ArmsBomb the Music Industry! - Goodbye Cool World!Tim Armstrong - A Poet's LifeAgainst Me! - White People for Peace [7 inch]Against Me! - New WaveRancid - Rancid (2000)Every Time I Die - Hot Damn!Bad Religion - No ControlBedouin Soundclash - Sounding A Mosaic



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    Posted by CantSitStill on 2007-07-20 10:03:39

    gimme some new reviews... this week's sucked.

    Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, July 19, 2007 at 4:20 PM (EDT)
    My Score:

    Listening to scenestein or a sensual hot carl. Which would you pick? Let's vote. Here's one vote for the hot carl.

    Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, July 19, 2007 at 3:34 PM (EDT)

    doe sthe cover remind anyone else of Dag Nasty's "The Godfather"?

    - JD

    Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, July 19, 2007 at 2:34 PM (EDT)

    I don't know, from what I hear of this cd it didn't sound like a 6 maybe a 4. I find all the positive (okay a handful) comments sort of surprising and somehow refreshing.

    - JD

    Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, July 19, 2007 at 2:25 PM (EDT)

    the artwork looks like a children's book.
    suits the music I guess

    Posted by heythanks on 2007-07-19 13:50:07

    HERE TODAY
    GONE TOMORROW !
    DRIVE AWAY FROM THE PAST !

    i've never been a fan of anything this band has put out
    but this song rules

    score for the song

    Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, July 19, 2007 at 12:21 AM (EDT)
    My Score:

    Yeah man, totally wouldrather take a vile dump then listen to this vile dump.

    Posted by SilentStorms on 2007-07-18 23:47:16

    "IMHO Yellowcard CD's sell themselves once kids hear their music. I just want to pump up the readers of this site and get them down to the store!"

    Disgusting.

    Score is for internet selling.

    Posted by SilentStorms on 2007-07-18 23:45:51

    Thanks for the insightful comment.

    P.S. that's a joke ... haha

    Posted by treos on 2007-07-18 23:38:44

    respect these guys for sticking to their guns, althoug the music can be a bit bland, really dont mind the last cd, althougni havent given this a solid listen yet, so i cant say much about it. i fuckin hated the new funeral for a friend because of the direction they took man that was gay.

    I really wish someone would review the new august burns red or darkest hour though. Sum 41 is on tv defending the lyrics on their new cd, man their gay, anyone can write anti bush songs, what a afag
    pz

    Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, July 18, 2007 at 6:16 PM (EDT)

    Reviews are dependent on reviewers submitting them and spaced allowed.

    Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, July 18, 2007 at 5:04 PM (EDT)

    Why is there no new Darkest Hour review or new Mxpx review???

    Posted by coldwaffles on 2007-07-18 15:49:52

    i think it probably would hurt this band to sound like operation ivy, that would be too off. some hot water music might be better.

    Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, July 18, 2007 at 3:12 PM (EDT)
    My Score:

    I don't care, I'd rather take a mushy hangover poo than listen to this garbage. Fuck Scenestein.

    Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, July 18, 2007 at 2:53 PM (EDT)

    good and honest review. very mature! this record is really awesome the band totally legit!

    Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, July 18, 2007 at 2:10 PM (EDT)

    name drop, like, talk about, ect.

    Ahah, thank you Mr/Ms waffles!

    It wouldn't hurt Silverstein to sound a little more like Op Ivy, ya know.

    Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, July 18, 2007 at 1:16 PM (EDT)

    Listen to Botch instead.

    Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, July 18, 2007 at 12:57 PM (EDT)

    "I feel the same way.
    Even though I usually don't dig this shit, I've liked silverstein's last two records a lot. Does that make me gay?"

    No, but your love of balls does.

    Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, July 18, 2007 at 6:44 AM (EDT)

    " i read a review of their first album a long time ago that said silverstein pick up where grade left off, which i disagree with, but they're trying damn hard. someday, they'll get close enough to be good."

    yeah i think i read that review too, and upon hearing silverstein, i realised how inaccurate that comparison is. and now everytime i've hear a song by these tits it breaks my heart that they're here and making 'music' and Grade arent.

    alexwank

    Posted by swank on 2007-07-18 00:43:31

    Instead of buying this, the 14 year old demographic this band seems to have should all go out and buy what will undoubtedly be their first Grade record. May I reccomend "Seperate the Magnets"? or "Under the Radar"?? It's what Silverstein have been going for for years without ever really getting there.

    It'd be like a Monkee's fan getting a copy of "The White Album".

    Posted by thedude on 2007-07-18 00:13:13

    when this guy tries to sing he sounds like a robot. but they worship grade almost as much as i do so therefore they have to be semi-cool dudes. i read a review of their first album a long time ago that said silverstein pick up where grade left off, which i disagree with, but they're trying damn hard. someday, they'll get close enough to be good.

    Posted by inagreendase on 2007-07-17 23:47:36

    considering the last good record Victory released was in 1997 (Progression Through Unlearning by Snapcase)

    Okay, I can be a real douche bag sometimes, but come on.

    Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, July 17, 2007 at 11:01 PM (EDT)

    IMHO Yellowcard CD's sell themselves once kids hear their music. I just want to pump up the readers of this site and get them down to the store!

    Posted by SilentStorms on 2007-07-17 22:59:31

    Stop trying to sell Yellowcard cds you fucking loser.

    Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, July 17, 2007 at 10:30 PM (EDT)

    It's not good. It's not that catchy either, but considering the last good record Victory released was in 1997 (Progression Through Unlearning by Snapcase) it's no surprise this is mediocre. Sure, these dudes have some legitimate indie and post hardcore influences (Knapsack, Small Brown Bike, Mineral) but saying they have emo influences is a stretch as the "emo" bands they cite were not really emo. Not a terrible album, but not good either. They will not be too concerned, as they are rolling in the cash. They are all vegetarian kids though, so good on them for that. Lyrics are nothing special.

    Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, July 17, 2007 at 8:51 PM (EDT)

    When you are in the S section at Best Buy, ride the train on over to the Y's and pick up Yellowcard's CD, your ears will thank you!

    Posted by RedElephant on 2007-07-17 20:15:01

    i'd rather take the December Drive's Arrivals/Departures EP over this bullshit any day.

    Posted by Enchanted_Steel on 2007-07-17 18:56:58

    I feel the same way.
    Even though I usually don't dig this shit, I've liked silverstein's last two records a lot. Does that make me gay?

    Posted by coldwaffles on 2007-07-17 18:44:13

    Notice the "". But that's okay, you can totally miss the point, if you really want.

    Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, July 17, 2007 at 6:22 PM (EDT)

    If you think Atreyu is 'screamo', you've been spending too much time on MTV.com

    Posted by bigdaddy287 on 2007-07-17 18:16:40

    Saw them live a couple of years ago and they were actually really good, which is weird because every other screamo band I've had to sit through due to one circumstance or another has been pretty terrible.

    Posted by coldwaffles on 2007-07-17 18:04:58

    "What does that mean? I'm not trying to criticise the reviewer's choice of words, I've just not heard that expression before."

    name drop, like, talk about, ect.

    Posted by miff on 2007-07-17 17:40:26

    "this shit is on victory = lame."

    yeh thats true most of the time, except with honor's this is our revenge was released on victory

    Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, July 17, 2007 at 5:30 PM (EDT)

    They jock all kinds of punk and emo classics, like Hot Water Music, Operation Ivy and Braid, yet have absolutely no sign of influence.

    What does that mean? I'm not trying to criticise the reviewer's choice of words, I've just not heard that expression before.

    Posted by skolarx on 2007-07-17 15:53:02

    forgot to throw in that the first line of the second paragraph also fit for the first time i listened to this

    Posted by skolarx on 2007-07-17 15:51:11

    funny, that first line was thee exact same thinkg i thought after the second song

    Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, July 17, 2007 at 2:27 PM (EDT)
    My Score:

    i bought the album not really expectin it to be good. And i was sort of right. it had some good songs on there and other shitty ones. i think this band has the ability to put out an amazing cd. hopefully it will be there next one.

    Posted by shindo on 2007-07-17 14:26:31

    I absolutely love the first paragraph of this review. Great job.

    -adam

    Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, July 17, 2007 at 2:17 PM (EDT)

    I was planning on listening to this release after I have had a chance to enjoy Yellowcard's new release Paper Walls (which was released today July 17th, 2007 on Capitol Records) so knowing how AWESOME "Paper Walls" is, I've penciled in sometime into October that I can check this release out because I'm going to ONLY be listening to Yellowcard until then.

    Posted by mikeinflames on 2007-07-17 14:08:38
    My Score:

    silverstein's album artwork is always fairly awesome.
    i have a soft sport for these guys since i'm from burlington.
    for some reason though they never seem as lame as the other "screamo" bands.

    Posted by CantSitStill on 2007-07-17 14:06:54

    this shit is on victory = lame.

    Posted by MilkyJoe on 2007-07-17 13:59:38

    I feel exactly the same way... And the STD reference is spot on, I thought the same thing about that song, but cant remember, which STD song it sounds like?