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Silverstein

Arrivals & Departures (2007)
Victory Records

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

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.

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CantSitStill (July 20, 2007)

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

Anonymous (July 19, 2007)

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

Anonymous (July 19, 2007)

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

- JD

Anonymous (July 19, 2007)

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

Anonymous (July 19, 2007)

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

heythanks (July 19, 2007)

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

Anonymous (July 19, 2007)

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

SilentStorms (July 18, 2007)

"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.

SilentStorms (July 18, 2007)

Thanks for the insightful comment.

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

treos (July 18, 2007)

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

Anonymous (July 18, 2007)

Reviews are dependent on reviewers submitting them and spaced allowed.

Anonymous (July 18, 2007)

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

coldwaffles (July 18, 2007)

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.

Anonymous (July 18, 2007)

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

Anonymous (July 18, 2007)

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

Anonymous (July 18, 2007)

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.

Anonymous (July 18, 2007)

Listen to Botch instead.

Anonymous (July 18, 2007)

"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.

Anonymous (July 18, 2007)

" 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

swank (July 18, 2007)

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".

thedude (July 18, 2007)

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.

inagreendase (July 17, 2007)

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.

Anonymous (July 17, 2007)

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!

SilentStorms (July 17, 2007)

Stop trying to sell Yellowcard cds you fucking loser.

Anonymous (July 17, 2007)

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.

Anonymous (July 17, 2007)

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!

RedElephant (July 17, 2007)

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

Enchanted_Steel (July 17, 2007)

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?

coldwaffles (July 17, 2007)

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

Anonymous (July 17, 2007)

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

bigdaddy287 (July 17, 2007)

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.

coldwaffles (July 17, 2007)

"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.

miff (July 17, 2007)

"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

Anonymous (July 17, 2007)

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.

skolarx (July 17, 2007)

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

skolarx (July 17, 2007)

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

Anonymous (July 17, 2007)

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.

shindo (July 17, 2007)

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

-adam

Anonymous (July 17, 2007)

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.

mikeinflames (July 17, 2007)

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.

CantSitStill (July 17, 2007)

this shit is on victory = lame.

MilkyJoe (July 17, 2007)

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?