Upon receiving this CD, I popped it into the CD player, plunked myself down on the couch and went to work on editing some photos with Chevelle as delightful background noise. Halfway through the first song, I stopped my editing and got out the liner notes and I've never looked back.
Since then, I’ve listened to it in the car. I’ve listened to it during those precious moments known as lunch at work where I’m allowed to sit and not do anything work related. I’ve listened to it while walking through the mall, grinning at the contrast between the Gap's front window and track five, Breach Birth as it sings, “Be brave, reshape/ Can’t force all into molds.”
I’ve made my roommate listen to it while we cooked dinner. I listened to it while I was waiting for the pharmacist to refill a prescription. I woke up this morning humming track 11. This, my friends, is quality rock.
The music is driven inexorably forward by the interplay of the drum/bass/guitar combination. The three brothers Loeffler have all matured as musicians, and they seem to be enjoying their maturity. The songs on this CD are all tight and well crafted. When it does slow its unrelenting march to the sea we are treated to melodic tracks like Panic Prone in which singer Pete’s fantastic voice rises and demands your full attention.
I found the percussion in the last track, "Bend the Bracket" particularly enjoyable. I found myself tapping along on the table.
At first, I didn't know what to say about this CD. I didn't want to be one of those gushing fans that waxes poetic and overuses the words "cool" and "awesome." And, then it occurred to me that I am a fan. This CD rocks. It rocks a lot.
Article comments
1 - Temple Stark
Katharine,
I point you to the Alabama music review site of Advance.net.
Your review's up there, loud and proud. Please go and tell your contacts that hundreds of thousands more readers will now have access to your review.
2 - Katharine Donelson
done.
3 - Aaron Krause
Any onne that did not rate this CD a 5 out of 5 is crazy. While their first album point number one was an easy listen, Chevelle first captured my attention on Wonder Whats Next. Which is definitley one of the best albums I have ever heard. The only thing it lacked was a little bit of musical creativity. Everything else was definitley perfect and I had it set in my mind that they were without a doubt the best band I had ever heard and also that improving would be far from possible. They proved me wrong. The first time I heard "The Clincher" (the first song i heard off of their new album) I was simply blown away. The new album makes up for their past lack of musical creativity while still mantaining a very heavy, tight, sound. Actually that has improved too. With each album they have improved greatly, this one not being and exeption. As well as the instrumental music surpassing anything I have ever heard, the vocals are incredable. Pete has a very soothing voice that you would not excpect in such an aggressive rock band. He has an incredible range and the best screaming in any band. Along with that the melodies and harmonies as well as lyrics put into this album are top of the line. His style of jumbling up t he lyrics makes it an interesting challenge to figure out and is very rewarding when you do. The messages in his song are all from a different persectives of life that i would have never seen and i have gained wisdom from this album. There is so much talent, creativity, and new aspects in music i have never heard poured into this album and their videos (which by the way Vitamin R music video is very well done. both shocking and suprsing while clearly and iniscapably mantaining the message) that it puts chevelle way ahead of any other band. They have influenced the music that i write greatly and i am thankful for that. Im actually writting a song about it now. Chevelle most definitley does not get enough credit for everything that they do musically. It isnt appreciated as it should be. cant wait for their next album!
4 - Viktor
Chevelle are doing just fine