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I know it’s difficult, but let’s try to be objective here. A Day to Remember is one of those bands who mixes hardcore with pop-punk in a way that makes music snobs cringe, and gets young kids screaming for more. I would probably fall into the former category, holding my ideals and musical integrity high while rolling my eyes at the next trend. But who am I kidding? I love a sunny chorus just as much as my young sister, and you just might too. It’s okay if you don’t want to admit it.

A Day to Remember has become enormous because of Homesick, selling out large venues and generating hundreds of thousands of MySpace plays a day, though that can be partially chalked up to their covers of “Since U Been Gone” (Kelly Clarkson) and “Over My Head (Cable Car)” (the Fray). So how did they get so popular? Simply by making an album that appeals to just about everyone.

Homesick begins with the album’s first single, “The Downfall of Us All,” containing an intro of the band doing an a capella breakdown, which gives way to a thunderous actual breakdown. It’s a little gimmicky, but at least they sound like they’re having fun.

From there, every song follows nearly the same structure:

  1. Verse with singing, maybe some screaming.
  2. Big catchy chorus with no screaming.
  3. Second verse, usually half-sung, then half-screamed and some guitar chugging.
  4. Big catchy chorus again, no variation from the first.
  5. Bridge or middle section, always a breakdown, at least some chugging.
  6. Big catchy chorus.
There are maybe three songs that stray from this formula, and when they do it’s still not very impressive. So we have an album that is committed to hitting the listener in one specific way, over and over, never bucking expectation. But don’t walk away from it yet. The undeniable quality of Homesick is its melodic competence. Jeremy McKinnon is a vocalist that can scream like a pro and still sing with the same assured talent, which makes for a slew of songs that stick like glue. “Have Faith in Me” sounds like their tribute to a band that surely influenced them (the guitarist has “BLINK182” tattooed on his knuckles, so take a guess), yet they’re able to make you forget that it’s a ripoff and instead implant that chorus right into your brain.

As someone who appreciates the hard more than the pop, I have to grudgingly conclude that A Day to Remember is actually at their best when they take the melodic approach. There are too many moments on Homesick where the heaviness and the hardcore feel out of place, especially in the pre-breakdown pit-call of “Mr. Highway’s Thinking About the End,” where McKinnon orders you to “Disrespect your surroundings.” This sounds like dangerous advice, not just when at a show, but also if you’re in a children’s hospital or your grandma’s house. Vincent Bennett of the Acacia Strain shows up in “Welcome to the Family” to bring the vocal mosh, and that he does, but even then the point is lost.

A Day to Remember will continue their success, and rightfully so. Ultimately, musical creativity and underground cred mean nothing, dwarfed in the larger picture by a band’s drive to craft music that people like. These guys have struck gold, and when you strike gold, you have to keep mining until it’s bare. Keep those hardhats on, boys. You’ll need them.






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    Posted by beerpong on 2009-07-15 13:37:35
    My Score:

    what, you guys dont like this?

    Posted by salvation on 2009-05-30 01:31:11
    My Score:

    I think this pop punk/hardcore crap is the new rock n roll/hardcore thing that was really big a few years ago. This shit is so bad.

    Posted by givemeamuseumandillfillit on 2009-05-28 19:52:15

    Guess I'm going to be the first one to say it:

    The DUdudududududDU DU.. DU dududu DU DU song is catchy as fuck and fun as hell to listen to.

    The rest is beyond horrible, though.

    Posted by Dante3000 on 2009-05-28 14:52:41

    haha.
    I have such varied taste in music. I like everything from "quasi popular underground band" to "other quasi popular underground band". I even like "iconic legendary old rock band". I guess you all can't appreciate music like I do. Too bad it's just, "bad internet meme that makes a silly metaphor about people I don't agree with". Guess I'll just do "silly act that proves how rad or counterculture you are".

    -Dante

    Posted by RAMBUNCTOID on 2009-05-28 13:32:48

    I only heard one song, but I asked my friend never to play it again for the fear that I'd actually start liking it. So f-ing catchy.

    Posted by johnnycarnage on 2009-05-28 13:31:35
    My Score:

    "haters wanna hate. lovers wanna love. i don't want none of the above. i want to piss on you." - dave chappelle.

    "i sold out long before you ever even heard my name." - tool.

    my favorite band pushes millions of albums world wide and do it by making smart music.

    if it's not your cup of tea, that's cool, but that doesn't make it garbage.

    i suppose i'm wasting my breath because opinions are like retarded kids playing in the streets: there's just too many of 'em.

    nonetheless, i'll listen to anything from tool to the beatles to a day to remember to bad religion to sage francis and back to cancer bats.

    i suppose not everyone can try to find something good in most music like i can, but all of these kids that hate any band with an iota of success are pathetic.

    Posted by westfield_east on 2009-05-28 09:52:42
    My Score:

    A few standout songs but the "less-listenable" songs all sound exactly the same.

    Posted by elliot on 2009-05-28 02:19:58

    "I've never heard this band, but I have heard of the Blink tattoo before. Just think I should point out that it's a fake tattoo that he did with a ball-point pen as a joke for one photograph.

    Do a tad bit a research if your going to mention something on a review."

    I was told this by a friend who is in a band that toured with A Day to Remember. Maybe I misunderstood, but it sure sounded like that's what he meant.

    I'll make sure to consult Wikipedia or some other type of "research" next time. Thank you for your help.

    Posted by SKAtepunk on 2009-05-27 17:39:03

    Just fuckin' terrible. The only people that like this are 13 year old girls who think this shit is "punk"

    Posted by LooseKanonYankee on 2009-05-27 17:31:57

    an album that appeals to everyone? I say no fucking thank you

    Posted by tenwestchaser on 2009-05-27 16:07:49

    Still no Narrows review?

    Posted by TrueBeliever on 2009-05-27 15:55:00

    I've never heard this band, but I have heard of the Blink tattoo before. Just think I should point out that it's a fake tattoo that he did with a ball-point pen as a joke for one photograph.

    Do a tad bit a research if your going to mention something on a review.

    Posted by inagreendase on 2009-05-27 15:49:18

    I have a friend who's really into this.The reason that's odd is cause we listen to alot of the same things,he's just less active in finding smaller punk bands than I am.

    I don't know, this sounds perfectly logical to me considering how much this band is blowing up.

    Posted by GarrettIrish on 2009-05-27 12:59:44

    I have a friend who's really into this.The reason that's odd is cause we listen to alot of the same things,he's just less active in finding smaller punk bands than I am.

    Whiney vocals metalcore beats = trash.

    Some kids told me the other day they love this and Four Year Strong,and then were pissed when I didn't think they were punk.

    Posted by mattramone on 2009-05-27 11:54:34

    I don't want their van to flip so much as careen into a ditch and catch fire. With all their fans inside.

    Posted by ffwoodycooks on 2009-05-27 10:31:55

    "If this art isn't done by Horsebites, someone should be suing motherfuckers."
    its not that similar. also, if Horsebites is gonna be involved in a lawsuit, itll be becaue the Garbage Pail Kids sued.

    Posted by Dante3000 on 2009-05-27 10:01:22

    If this art isn't done by Horsebites, someone should be suing motherfuckers.
    -Dante

    Posted by hayman on 2009-05-27 03:23:47

    Is this album ANY better than the last one? I've got a mate who likes these guys and I just didn't get it.

    Posted by sugarfull on 2009-05-27 02:55:19

    chalk me up as a "music snob".

    Posted by scorpiondeathlock on 2009-05-27 00:20:49

    kids who wear hot pink shirts with neon green writing and bandannas are stoked.

    im usually not THIS guy, but why the fuck was this reviewed?

    if its on victory, its not good. period.

    Posted by Bryne on 2009-05-27 00:12:26
    My Score:

    I'm ready for this fad to die.

    Posted by Cheesetits on 2009-05-26 22:47:27

    I heard this band's horrible cover of a Kelly Clarkson song. That, in itself, should be grounds for banishment. Fuck em, not even going to try.

    Posted by mikexdude on 2009-05-26 22:42:24

    I don't really consider myself a music snob -- I have been known to enjoy a few panic at the disco songs --- and I am young. This band, and most of the bands of this ilk suck.

    Posted by inagreendase on 2009-05-26 22:41:54
    My Score:

    Good review, but elliot, you are a more generous man than me. This album is so difficult to listen to. I think I withstood about 70% of it on my first and only run through.

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