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ALL

Breaking Things (1993)
Cruz

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

Published on April 8th 2002

After experiencing Percolater almost a year before, I was really looking forward to this album.

But as the release grew closer, I did have some reservations...

Firstly, the replacement of Scott Reynolds with former backup vocalist Chad Price had me a little concerned. Add to that, various reports that the album sounded a fair bit different from previous ALL efforts, meant that I had no idea what to expect.

By the time I actually got it, I was just hoping not to be disappointed...

I needn't have worried...

Breaking Things is (in this reviewers opinion anyway) the finest ALL release to date.

The whole band seem energized like never before here. Chad's vocals bring a real growl and power to the ALL sound and help drive every track. The music is harder, edgier, and more intense than any previous ALL album. Songs like "Shreen" and "Guilty" are, simply put, ALL classics and a testament to Bill Stevenson as a songwriter. But it's not just Bill, great songs abound here, tracks like "Birthday I.O.U.", "Stick", "'Cause", "Original Me", & "Right" show exactly why ALL were (and still are to some extent) a vastly underrated and underappreciated rock band.

Nice to know that trademark quirky ALL humour is still present as well, on tracks like "Strip Bar" & "Horizontal". And even in my mid twenties, every time I hear "Bail" I still wanna jump around the room like an idiot.

Almost a decade later, ALL have released 3 more albums and, although they've come close, have yet to better Breaking Things. If you're an ALL fan and somehow don't have this album, what are you waiting for?

And if you're new to ALL, you can do a hell of a lot worse than add Breaking Things to your collection. It's a fabulous record.

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VStoriesFallen (November 15, 2006)

And now for mine.

Best Singer: Scott Reynolds
Worst Singer: Dave Smalley (Again, great singer, just not with ALL)

Best Album: Allroy's Revenge
Worst Album: Problematic/Allroy Saves

I only dislike Problematic and Allroy Saves because they are so bland. Some say this about Mass Nerder too, but they needed to do it after Pummel, and it came out great. Two in a row is just bad, however, and their just isn't anything that grabs my attention on Allroy Saves. Chad Price runs real close for best singer, but I just like Scott in the band so much, and he sings my favorite ALL song "Scary Sad." Breaking Things is the introductory album for pop punk fans, but that's also where it loses. It sounds great and has great songs, but it falls right into the middle of their releases because they are just getting used Chad and the band seems to be trying to run through straight pop punk songs, which is weird after listening to the album previous, Percolater, with all it's experimentation.

Anonymous (April 11, 2002)

In response to the last guy, here are my opinions:

Best Singer: Chad Price
Worst Singer: Dave Smalley (great singer, but he just didn't fit with ALL)

Best Album: Allroy's Revenge
Worst Album: Mass Nerder (very uninventive album, it feels like they weren't even trying)

Anonymous (April 11, 2002)

if i were to give anyone an album of ALL's if they didnt know about them I would definately give them ALL (Compilation) The recording has been cleaned up and is a collection of ALL the favourites. What more could you want.

No to add my opinion:

Best Singer: Chad Price
Worst Singer: Scott Reynolds

Best Album: Mass Nerder
Worst Album: Allroy Saves

Anonymous (April 10, 2002)

Breaking Things is a really good record, but I'm gonna put it somewhere in the middle of all their releases. Some are better (Allroy Saves, Allroy's Revenge, Mass Nerder [screw all you naysayers, Nerder is amazing]) some are worse (PROBLEMATIC(!!!), Allroy Sez [but only by a little bit]) One of the things I like about this album is that it's got Chad. I agree that he's one of the best rock singers today. Anyone who has heard Drag the River can attest to this. (also a shout out to Jon Snodgrass is due) Scott sang some of my favorite ALL material, but I like Chad a little bit more. Scott's work with the Pavers hasn't really equalled the quality of his work with ALL, but his voice is much better with them. Anyways, Breaking Things is an good album for ALL, but a good album for ALL is better than a great album for many other bands.

maverick (April 10, 2002)

"Shreen" is the best song ALL has ever written, period.

The rest of their stuff is mediocre at best.

Scott

exhaustra (April 9, 2002)

great album, but i would have to vote Mass Nerder as ALL records numero uno. every song is awesome, i wouldn't change a thing.

wyzo (April 9, 2002)

I guess I agree with both the reviewer and the guy below me.

Personally, I thought Pummel was the least consistent, and I loved problematic, but Ive been told by an ALL fanatic friend of mine the horrors of problematic, I just dont see how it could be that different, oh well.

Scott reynolds wasn't a bad singer, I just cant stand his voice, I'm a big fan of the Dave smalley era, but I'm a shoe in for anything smalleyesque (how often do you hear that word).

Breaking things is the album I would give someone who had never heard ALL before. Its got my favorite individual songs on it, and has a great sound, even though I stop the disc before the last two songs which I think are the only weak songs.

wyzo

Anonymous (April 9, 2002)

Hmmm, I think this one is in the middle on ALL's hierarchy of albums. Obviously some great songs (Shreen, 'Cause, Birthday IOU, Original Me), but the recording stinks. And overALL, the variety of songs isn't as good as other albums. But it's still WAY better than the shit most popular punk bands today call albums (read: Pennywise, NOFX, Millencolin, Saves the Day). As for Chad's voice, well, while ALL's best material was with Scott, I think Chad has the best voice of ALL 3 singers (4 if you count Milo). I seriously think he's the best singer in punk today. Anyways, as far as albums with him singing, Pummel is better, but this is better than Mass Nerder and Problematic (which are deffinitly ALL's weakest releases). Good album.