|
Review Navigator   FeaturesContestsReviews
| American SteelDear Friends and Gentle Hearts2009 Fat Wreck Chords 
 Review by: RedScare See others by this writer Only registered users can post comments 
 
Published on July 21st 2009
Another very, very solid release from one of punk rock's most beloved bands. As always, this new record from American Steel offers up great lyrics, original melodies, sass, soul and the usual uplifting spirit we've come to expect from these Oakland punks. Dear Friends and Gentle Hearts is an overall combination of latter-day American Steel, Crimson-era Alkaline Trio and their side project, Communique.
People who liked this also liked:           Please login or register to post comments. What are the benefits of having a Punknews.org account?
The album is good but not great. And I really don't understand the comparison to Alkaline Trio's "Crimson". They're nothing alike. I'm getting a sorta Bosstones-esque vibe from Lights Out. Def a good thing. This is okay but by no means outstanding. There are some really solid songs here and there but also a few that I skip. I dont comment much on here but I visit punknews almost daily and I wanted to thank pretty much everyone on here for introducing me to American Steel. I finally checked them out the other day and I think they might have a new fanboy. Rogues March is their best album. All their other stuff is good too, but Rogues beats them all. Though they're not mutually exclusive, I always felt maria and shrapnel were more on the emotional side than "pop." Of course AS has poppy songs but overall I feel this is poppier and less rockin' and less heart wrenching. But what about Maria and Shrapnel? Poppy stuff! I get a poppy feel from this and I don't with JT Sorry, Jeff. This is disappointing to me. This is a damn fine record, I just feel the substance is a little lacking compared to Jagged Thoughts. It IS there, just not in the way I want. Toby and Justin, I just don't understand how you could love Jagged Thoughts and call this album a disappointment. I won't argue that Jagged Thoughts is a great record because it is. TO me, the new album is a lot more similar to Jagged Thoughts than DTF was! Fans of JT should be stoked! I love Jagged Thoughts and the Self Titled a lot. Guess I'm in the minority here. I also love the new album. My least favorite is actually Destroy Their Future 1- Destroy Their Future If Jagged Thoughts was cut down to only these songs... Jagged Thoughts is their best album? I've killed people for less. Nah, Mike's absolutely right about that one. I haven't really been into the last two records at all. mikexdude is wrong about so many things. Super catchy yet super disappointing. Also - the fact that their favorite team is the Giants when they are East Bay folks is shameful. fuck it, i just realized i'm going to be playing this record to my children someday... this album is perfect. time to finally listen to the solo jon snodgrass record. It's hard being an Athletics fan, I often forget they even exist, until I look at my 1990 World Series poster and remember the Reds beating their asses. Ah, memories. As great as this album is, I don't think they could ever write a song as good as "Maria" or "Day to Night" again. Also - the fact that their favorite team is the Giants when they are East Bay folks is shameful. This was for sure my most anticipated release for 2009, as "Destroy..." was like ALWAYS on rotation ever since it came out. If anyone thinks I hate Toby and/or Red Scare you've got another thing coming. Love this album. Easily my favourite of the year so far. Should be a good album. Looking forward to getting it in the next few days. Also got tix for the Bronx, Gallows and NOFX/Bad Religion/Pour Habit tours today so good times all round. By the way, whats the big deal with reviewing friends bands? I'm probably most critical of friends music. Oh, awesome! It fucked up my comment! "but I don't think I have seen/spoken to anyone in AmSteel in two years." American Steel's NOT putting out records on Red Scare. i don't understand the redscare hate. toby is a nice dude and he wrote a good review. perhaps punknews should post a review from someone who absolutely hates amsteel so that we can have a post from both sides of the coin. I think this record is way better than Destroy Their Future, and the change ups on it like "Finally Alone" and "Meals & Entertainment" are awesome. its no destroy their future, but its pretty good. THIS fuckin' guy again! I knew you were the one behind the Domino's pizza ads on here. I guess those elitist degrees you're after don't grown on trees, collegiate fancyboy. Says the dude who emails every time he sees an add that chafes his bottom! To me, this album sounds as if they took the worst songs off of Destroy ("Razorblades", etc.) and made it into a whole album. Not that those songs are bad necessarily, but definately not near the rest of their work. Oh quit being such a pussy all the time. Jesus Christ. I'm HARDLY "extremely close friends" with this band, just ask them, ha! A couple texts here and there, but I don't think I have seen/spoken to anyone in AmSteel in two years. It doesn't come out of the gate as powerfully as Destroy Their Future, but this album is pretty awesome all the way through. I always thought Destroy Their Future lags a little bit after the first 6 or 7 tracks. I'd really have a hard time picking any of the last 3 albums over each other though. Solid release as a whole, but I have to agree with the others and say this didn't grab me the same way Destroy Their Future did. Still a fucking rocking band though! Unless you have reason to distrust his opinion, what difference does it make if he reviews this? I wouldn't be surprised at all if 4/5 is his genuine opinion, and if so, then why shouldn't he review it and score it as such? Also, music related, I found the less I listened to this album with the, "this is an American Steel album" mindset, the more I enjoyed it. I find it's probably more "Walk Into the Light" than "Rouges March" and that's fine. Fun music is fun music. The tour with the Lawrence Arms was less than two years ago. I just picked this up today and I'm on my third spin right now. I totally love it. I'm not sure why we publish reviews written by extremely close friends of the band. this band has never been very good I'm not sure why we publish reviews written by extremely close friends of the band. Oh hey, it's that guy: reserving judgement on this am I the only one who likes "finally alone" best? Blatant editorializing. it's hard to imagine a good review that starts with comparisons to crimson era alkaline trio. Pretty goddamn good, but I think Destroy Their Future is still their best. Why didn't you review American Rubicon instead? Yeah this one is a grower, but it's ridiculously good. Might end up as my album of the year. a wonderful follow up to destroy their future "I hope it's more of an album that grows on you, but right now it's obvious to me that it lacks the immediate punch that came with Destroy Their Future. I cannot stop listening to this album. So incredibly solid. Strong contender for album of the year. album of the year. at least for me, it's no contest. saw these dudes 7 times on the larry arms tour back in 07. one of the most fun weeks of my life. "Score is for the line "Haters can blow us, they don't even know us" from "Your Ass Ain't Laughing Now."" My score is for Fat Wreck Chords and not having the preordered record at my place on the release day. How long will I have to wait to hear this goddamn record? "It's also nice to have a new record that both my girlfriend and I enjoy. What I am trying to say here is...sigh...chicks really dig this shit, okay? Just sayin'." - hahaha. that's funny cuz I love this record and my girlfriend is NOT into it. bummer. Kinda disappointing after multiple listens, at least vocally and lyrically. The guitars are usually wonderful though. I'm still confused about my reception of it... I think it's a case of me recognizing that it's a well-thought-out record, but it just doesn't click with me. Loved it at first, it got semi old pretty quick, but still a very good listen. Score is for the line "Haters can blow us, they don't even know us" from "Your Ass Ain't Laughing Now." Awesome record. Excellent record... lots of good anthemic choruses. I still somewhat prefer Destroy Their Future but this is growing on me with every listen. Hopefully they tour out my way soon so I can hear these songs live. And Toby is right, my girlfriend who listens to very little punk loves this band. I hope it's more of an album that grows on you, but right now it's obvious to me that it lacks the immediate punch that came with Destroy Their Future. Very excited to hear this! I will have more score in later today. i need to go out and get this. American Steel is fucking amazing. |
