Broadway Calls

Broadway Calls: Good Views, Bad NewsGood Views, Bad News (2009)
Side One Dummy Records

Reviewer Rating: 3.5

User Rating:

Contributed by: InaGreendaseBrian
(others by this writer | submit your own)
Published on August 18th 2009There's a breeziness and simplicity to Broadway Calls' Good Views, Bad News that, when complemented by strong songwriting and honest personal and social struggles, makes for an album that's hard not to like. Yeah, this is pop-punk (arguably a slower, straightforward take on the Nimrod-era Green D.

There's a breeziness and simplicity to Broadway Calls' Good Views, Bad News that, when complemented by strong songwriting and honest personal and social struggles, makes for an album that's hard not to like.

Yeah, this is pop-punk (arguably a slower, straightforward take on the Nimrod-era Green Day variety). And yeah, this isn't quite as versatile and sprawling as the band's other full-length, a self-titled affair that featured aching acoustic romps and even a condensed yet layered and accomplished Smiths cover ("A Rush and a Push and the Land Is Ours"). Okay...so, this isn't quite as energetic, either (compare Good Views' generally mid-tempo pacing to scrappier old cuts like "Suffer the Kids"). However, the band's sense of melody is expanded here, generally more full-bodied and more consistent from song to song, and that makes a more complete listening experience from front to back. The album's also about three songs and six minutes more concise.

Their subject matter is just as inspired too, though. First single and major standout, "Be All That You Can't Be" is a thinly veiled shot at military recruiters who target the poor and underprivileged, stripping kids of their potential. "Give Up the Ghost" seems to showcase the occasional bleakness of frontman Ty Vaughn's touring outlook.

Bassist Matt Koenig seems to sing a little more than he did on the self-titled record too, a dual vocal approach thankfully relied upon a little more than they had in the past. It's a dynamism that's subtle but goes a long way in keeping the songs interesting, pretty much nailing it in "Tonight's Alive" and the chorus of "Be All That You Can't Be."

Broadway Calls have been improving with every release, and while certain elements may be missed, weeding them out (temporarily?) may have been necessary for that to happen. Good Views, Bad News is far from perfect but it's another steady collection of songs that assuredly eclipses Broadway Calls' previous material.

STREAM
Midnight Hour
Be All That You Can't Be
Tonight Is Alive

VIDEO

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Fine Print: The following comments are owned by whoever posted them. We are not respon sible for them in any way. Seriously.

Hein (April 29, 2010)

A lot of you are saying this is generic pop-punk... I don't understand why! This guy sure does sing very well and to me those songs are very enjoyable to listen to. I too am pretty tired of the many generic bands out there, but this to me is no generic sound. I write this about 6 months after buying and listening to it. The fact alone I write this so lang after, is proof that this album doesn't bore. In fact, after all this time I still can go over this entire CD without wanting to skip alot of the songs. Don't know exactly why, but this album just gets me in a good mood. Plus, I saw them perform a couple months ago in VK Brussels and they were really really good: clean singing and CD-alike instrumental performance in my opinion.

pitchforkwriter (August 22, 2009)

This is a pretty fun "end of summer" album.

deadpan (August 21, 2009)

SideOneDummy is a big dollar label? Really? Yikes.

Irish_Punk_Is_Gimmickry (August 20, 2009)

i enjoyed some songs on the last record but this new album just got forced out of them. probably because they have a big label and bigger manager pressuring them. they may have been a diy band in the past but all that goes out the window when there's so much $$ involved. it's uninspired and you can hear it.

TahoeJeff (August 20, 2009)

I'm looking forward to seeing them in Trier, Germany on the 3rd and London on the 5th.

thatsyouth (August 20, 2009)

Yeah At The End sounds a shit ton like the beginning of Clavicle by Alkaline Trio.

deadpan (August 20, 2009)

I like this, a lot. It's not as immediate, as the self-titled, and maybe a bit too mid-tempo at times, but it's still awesome. Really looking forward to seeing these guys at Reading.

pdxtoph (August 20, 2009)

this record rules. fuck the haters. sincere and catchy.

TheMike (August 19, 2009)

Muted verses, abundant whoa's, familiar vocals... It is generic. I'm not saying it's bad or anything. They're better than a lot of bands who share this sound. But, speaking only for myself, I can't really get interested in it. I do get a slight sense of nostalgia, though (feels like I'm back in high school). Which can be a good thing.

Every time I hear that "be all you can't be" song, though, I half expect it to morph into Jimmy Eat World's "The Middle".

tye (August 19, 2009)

and the start of at the end sounds like it should be an alk3 song.

tye (August 19, 2009)

tonight is alive = know your enemy LOL

icapped2pac (August 19, 2009)

I liked about 75% of the previous album, but this seemed to have more pandering pop sheen on it to me. I hate bashing them because I know they're swell guys, but I found this to be really disappointing.

victim (August 19, 2009)

Heard the first two songs and thought it was going to be alot more like the s/t. But they went in a different direction (less energetic as the review puts it) which has made me have to stop and think

Right now I still prefer their older stuff, but sometimes it takes a little while for "different" to grow on me.

Slacker (August 19, 2009)

A lot of people are saying they sound like a whiney commercial poppunk-band, but I don't hear it. The vocals are even a little gruff.
This is the first time I listen to them and I like it. I'm always turned off by whiney vocals, but this band doesn't have that

friokir (August 19, 2009)

I really don't see how this should be generic, you can't compare it to the overpolished bands that used to listen to blink and then found emo or to the bands that used to listen to ramones and then (maybe) found greenday. if anything, I'd say it sounds like a mix of older midtown, the aforementioned nimrod era greenday with some alk3 and streetpunk singalongs thrown in it.

badsceneyourfault (August 19, 2009)

I think the record is good. They have a great youthful thing going on here that I think the younger punks will appreciate. It comes of sincere and honest...unlike some of the other bands featured on this site...Crap-light Ant-hymn.

Big_Guy (August 18, 2009)

I almost wish they had duel lead vocalists. I really think there's a good contrast. I guess I just really like the bassist's vox

friokir (August 18, 2009)

oops, it was meant to be an 8

friokir (August 18, 2009)

man, this is better than nimrod era greenday, great stuff.

sickteen (August 18, 2009)

I'm disappointed with the over all lyric content. And the music it self gets boring time to time. And a few songs have some moments that make me feel sorry for these guys. But remember people they are singing for you, and they will tell you that 20x over in one of their songs!LOL

Record is so so. Would like to hear more from the sessions that didn't make the LP.

sickteen

Cheesetits (August 18, 2009)

I would say NFG crossed with Simple Plan, yes.

onegirlarmy (August 18, 2009)

You really think Ty's vocals sound like NFG? I am honestly stumped.

name (August 18, 2009)

i like this way more than the self-titled. definitelly gonna be near the top of my year-end list.

mystereohasmono (August 18, 2009)

My little sister is stoked.

gotsmuch (August 18, 2009)

i think this record is OK... not a big fan of a lot of the subject matter as it's become a bit redundant. i'm sick of broadway calls songs that are about broadway calls.

pierredeluxe (August 18, 2009)

I got a leaked version of this record a few weeks ago and it has gone from initial skeptisism to I can't stop listening. At this point it's my number one album of 09'. This record has so much more depth than most pop punk albums. The arrangements stay interesting, the melodies are nice and catchy and most of the lyrics are refreshingly dark in contrast to your typical pop punk fare. Love it.

telegraphrocks (August 18, 2009)

Entertaining music, but the vocals sound waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay too much like NFG, whom I despise.

onegirlarmy (August 18, 2009)

Just because it's generic pop punk doesn't mean it's bad. This is good, honest song writing with good melodies.

This. I wouldn't call them generic pop punk, honestly, I think they're way better than most bands in this genre.

thatsyouth (August 18, 2009)

Just because it's generic pop punk doesn't mean it's bad. This is good, honest song writing with good melodies.

TEF (August 18, 2009)

Liked this record a lot more than the self-titled. Thank god they decided that Ty sounds shitty on acoustic songs.

ahopeagainsthope (August 18, 2009)

It's nothing original or anything, but it's great for what it is: an extremely catchy summer pop-punk record. My favorite songs are "To The Sheets", "Tonight's Alive", and "The Wake-Up Call", although there isn't a weak one on here.

It's a shame they left "Jump At Shadows" off of the album, because that's the best out of the songs recorded in this session.

eazyd2 (August 18, 2009)

no talent

TahoeJeff (August 18, 2009)

I love this record. I'll listen to other stuff, but I keep coming back to this album. Its a great singalong record. I don't think that there are any songs that I don't like. Highlights for me include "The Sheets" and "Sundowners". Definitely in my top 10 of the year.

Nap (August 18, 2009)

Very addictive. Simple and very enjoyable. Will be on my top 10 for sure.

oldpunkerforever (August 18, 2009)

sorry, generic-oldpunker-

oldpunkerforever (August 18, 2009)

the-other-scott's last sentence gets its right, genric.-oldpunker-

Dante3000 (August 18, 2009)

Look, I brought you a kite! Oh Noes! Kite on fire, get water bucket! Oh Noes! Water bucket is chemical waste!

This is how I see this cover playing out.
-Dante

mattramone (August 18, 2009)

Record is pretty damn amazing.

It's nice to see commercial pop punk with ambitions beyond "wah wah girls are stupid wah!"

the_other_scott (August 18, 2009)

Gogol Bordello, Flogging Molly, Fake Problems, Chuck Ragan, Bedouin Soundlcash, The Gaslight Anthem...Broadway Calls.

Which of these bands isn't like the others? Brian's going to think I'm such a hater, but I just can't get into these guys. I have no problem with pop-punk - I absolutely love some of it, but it either has to be extremely catchy, or at least a little bit unique for me to get into it. This is about as generic as it gets.

T-Rock (August 18, 2009)

I'll be honest: I've only heard the song in the music video, and the other tracks streamed on various websites (like SideOne's site). Score is for those songs. I plan on getting this album very soon. If the rest of the album can hold up to those songs, it will be an amazing album.

"Be All That You Can't Be" is probably my favorite song of the year so far. At least one of my favorites. Straightforward, fun, catchy pop-punk.

Oh, and I love Whoa-Oh's. Seriously. They do it well.

notfeelingcreative (August 18, 2009)

Great pop punk record, simple and fun!!

onegirlarmy (August 18, 2009)

Their subject matter is just as inspired too, though. First single and major standout, "Be All That You Can't Be" is a thinly veiled shot at military recruiters who target the poor and underprivileged, stripping kids of their potential. "Give Up the Ghost" seems to showcase the occasional bleakness of frontman Ty Vaughn's touring outlook, while

Did the rest of the sentence get cut off?

Great record, by the way. Broadway Calls have matured in a way and still manage to sound better than ever.

xcarlupanddiex (August 18, 2009)

nice pop punk record !

thornsoflife (August 18, 2009)

I actually liked this record alot, not going to be in the top 10 of 09, but still pretty damn good in my books.

TheMike (August 18, 2009)

not a fan. whoa-o.

johnnyclash (August 18, 2009)

This record is what i kinda wished The Loved Ones' "Build and Burn" would have been. It's a great summertime pop punk record. Well done.

Cheesetits (August 18, 2009)

What is this, Simple Plan?