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| LaGreciaOn Parallels2008 Suburban Home 
 Review by: Bryne See others by this writer ![[staff]](/images/icons/staffsticker.gif){kind=icon}
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Published on July 15th 2008
From his early days in Kid Dynamite to his later days fronting None More Black, Jason Shevchuk has, perhaps unwillingly, acquired a divine status among many in the punk community. From the message board trolls clamoring for a Kid Dynamite reunion to the dread many of those same people felt when None More Black initially disbanded, the dude's got quite the following. And whether Shevchuk likes it or not, his distinctive voice -- both aurally and lyrically -- make him the focal point of every project he's involved with. Think about it: Would Kid Dynamite have been anything more than a run-of-the-mill hardcore band without him? Would None More Black be anything more than a run-of-the-mill pop-punk band without him? This dominative habit continues with LaGrecia on what ends up being their sole release, On Parallels.
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Brutal review. This album kicks major ass. so far most people don't think the score is unfair or that it is a bad review in terms of writing what they have issue with is that the review doesn't talk about the album much at all. The problem with the review isn't that it is poorly written or that it gives a low score it is that it is an important album to some people and the review about it wasn't very informative. Why do some people have such a hard time with the criticism that this cd is boring? It's not terrible. It's just not good. It's average. Fair to middling. Doesn't do a whole lot to discern itself. It's just there. Nothing exciting. Nothing memorable. Some people will like it, some people won't. Deal with it. NMB, not NMG...yeesh maybe I'm a retard, but I think this sounds like a natural progression from what he was doing on the last NMG album...some of the slower more blues-rock influenced stuff on the last NMG album would fit right in on this album, they're really not all that diffferent IMHO. i agree with Olmec, the Montage is easily one of the 5 best songs on the album and the cover art is off the chain. too bad the CD doesn't come with lyrics or liner notes worth a shit. Goddammit, some of us still buy CDs! This is a great album. "The Montage" hasn't been mentioned in the review or the comments, but I think it's up there with the best album closers that I've heard. he did and he didn't like it, plain and simple. great review. good album. still waiting for my copy though. stupid liner notes. This is a great and accurate review. I fully support it. It is also coherent and well-written. This review should be deleted, and another should be written by someone who has NEVER heard Kid Dynamite OR None More Black, because neither matter with LaGrecia. definitly a "grower", the first time I listened I thought it was mediocre at best, each time now I like it a little more, there's a handful of great songs on here...but overall, i like NMB more, little more rockin' he still gave the album an above-average score, but that wasn't good enough for some of you... you want 8-10 stars every time. The problem is that if you're going to write a review, you're supposed to actually try to give it a chance. I think its a quality review, I know exactly what to expect from this album, although a few more naming of the influences would be nice. victim Didn't I read on here that they were putting this album up to download for free? Favorite album so far this year Gotta agree with the reviewer I listened to it two or three times and found myself zoning out. I agree that According To My Notes is a good song but its not so great to make me give this more listens on the chance that it might be a "grower". I don't remember any of the other songs and overall the album is just too slow for my tastes. the songs the reviewer claims are slow and boring are some of my favorites on the record. "i love how if any reviewer doesnt give an "orgcore" band an 8 or higher, they get crucified by a few of the people here..." Oh yeah and I think I like My Lightening the best. Probably between that and According To My Notes This album and '59 Sound is all I've been listening to for the past couple weeks. I don't understand how anyone can say this is boring. It's far less boring than the second half of every None More Black record. No skippable tracks, and basically every song has something infectiously catchy about it. I loved Kid Dynamite as much as the next org visitor, but i thought none more black was pretty much boring as hell. i think this is the only thing shevchuk's ever done that i was bored to tears with. oops i meant they would be more than that anyway if he was singing too "Would Kid Dynamite have been anything more than a run-of-the-mill hardcore band without him?" This is better than None More Black. I'm sick of everyone talking about this, I still haven't got my copy yet!!! damn the $60 package... oh well it's going to be worth it I've seen the pictures i love how if any reviewer doesnt give an "orgcore" band an 8 or higher, they get crucified by a few of the people here... I think this is a pretty piss-poor review. The way it's written, I have a hard time believing he listened more than a few times. This one's a grower. I've found something to like about every track on the record and it is by no means "boring." He also did very little to mention what he liked/disliked about the songs and it feels like he just wanted to write it to be contrary, since a lot of people that read this site are "supposed" to like this. "I think a 6 is pretty dead on. The songs all have really good parts but I find myself getting bored and skipping ahead. It takes a lot of talent to be concise, and without someone else in the band to reign him in, Shevchuk doesn't seem to know when to stop." i love how if any reviewer doesnt give an "orgcore" band an 8 or higher, they get crucified by a few of the people here... I'm surprised this even review even got posted given the love. 6 review for '59 sound coming up? damn lack of edit. that first sentence doesn't even make sense. you get the point thou I'm sure... I am surprised at some of the lackluster comments below and I'm surprised this even review even got posted given the love. 6 review for '59 sound coming up? Kid Dynamite was the best thing this guy ever did. "On This Is Satire, the slower songs felt lifeless and boring." - I disagree, Majestic is one of the best on there. "The only thing I really don't care for on the album is that annoying "Oh, oh oh oh oh oh" in Two Shotguns." Great songs. Wow, punknews commenters really do suck this guys dick. more of an 8 than a 6. the first shevchuk band i've been able to really enjoy. I don't know if it's honestly worth an objective 10, but if an album makes me want to listen to it more than 2 times back to back then it's a 10 in my book. So far I haven't gotten tired of it. But I will say I was pretty disappointed/didn't like it at all the first 2-3 times I heard it. Give it a chance, it's a grower. I thought of a lot of the musical motifs in it were strange an awkward at first but it's great how Shevchuk can weave it all together. At least a 9. far less for the review. Mid-tempo =/= bad meh - found this quite dull which is a shame as i really liked NMB I think a 6 is pretty dead on. The songs all have really good parts but I find myself getting bored and skipping ahead. It takes a lot of talent to be concise, and without someone else in the band to reign him in, Shevchuk doesn't seem to know when to stop. "The only thing I really don't care for on the album is that annoying "Oh, oh oh oh oh oh" in Two Shotguns." Anyone who rates this album below an 8 is going to get a visit from me... you're all getting swash-buckled. Six? A fucking six???? The only thing I really don't care for on the album is that annoying "Oh, oh oh oh oh oh" in Two Shotguns. I like a few of the songs but Jason cannot seem to put together a cohesive album...songs just fucking ramble Wrong. I agree with the rating, but the slow songs, along with "You Like Baseball, I Like Ghosts" are the standouts for me. "Don't Wanna Be Right / Filler" is awful. The rockout in "Hey Medic" is dull. That last song doesn't do much for me either. Still, a decent album, but they should have put more time into the writing of it. It's not as good as any of his other output but it's certainly a great cd. I heard the other title for this album was "Bang the Drum(er) Softly". I was pretty disappointed by this.I keep listening to it hoping it will click. I love NMB but this just is missing something. Wow, it's amazing how two different reviews can have two totally different opinions. I can see not liking how poppy it is, but this album is not boring in the least. Orgers who love fighting in review threads are STOKED. blah blah blah Jason's old bands...let it go and enjoy this for what it is. This guy's getting by on credit from his previous output. The songs just aren't there. I'm going with you on the review. One other thing, Kid Dynamite without Jason would've been Lifetime, which is not a run-of-the-mill band. One thing I forgot to mention, the reason this album is better than This Is Satire is due entirely to the slower songs. On This Is Satire, the slower songs felt lifeless and boring. "Slower Than Manasses" is a brilliant song. I have to completely disagree here. The songs are slower, yes, but not in the least bit boring, and from the demos of his OnGuard stuff, this in no way sounds forced. This is the direction he's been heading. It's no xboundx. I see where you're coming from when you describe it as forced. There were definitely parts that, intentional or not, sounded way too deliberate and fussy instead of just rocking out. I wasn't expecting to have my face melted off, but this record could definitely have standed to be more limber and agile. I stopped reading when you said Kid Dynamite would be a run-of-the-mill hardcore band without Jason. Do you even know who Dan Yemin is? Dumbass. the review isn't bad but a little scant on discussing the album's music. "Filler" is listed as the name of the track both on eMusic (where I downloaded it) and on Vinyl Collective, but at the stream on this site it's listed as "Don't Wanna Be Right." My bad? I hate to say it, being a fan of NMB ... but I expected more. I downloaded this off emusic and spent more time checking how much time was left than anything else. Maybe it'll grow on me after a few more listens, but it's an uphill climb. It's a shame this review isn't more enthusiastic, because I get the sense that this reviewer listened once, maybe twice, and jotted down some notes. I love this album. It's funny how Jason's voice masks just how poppy the music is. Not that it's a bad thing, but it's a very poppy album, save for the vocals. Is the title wrong? I got this off eMusic and that's what it's listed as. Wow, I wouldn't call this boring in the least. His voice sounds great on this and I really like the influences you can hear in these songs. Worst review. |
