Driven Far Off

The latest on the indie, alternative, and rock music scene including news, music, contest, interviews, and more. Best described as your favorite place to find new bands.

Archives for 2006

Albums In Stores Tomorrow

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House of Fools – House of Fools EP
Me First And The Gimme Gimmes – Love Their Country
Face To Face – Shoot The Moon DVD
Decemberists – Crane Wife
It Dies Today – Sirens
Chiodos – All’s Well That Ends Well (Deluxe Edition) CD/DVD
Unwed Sailor – White Ox
Permanent Me – Dear Virginia

Staff Recommendations October 15th 2006

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Trevor Bivens

Jimmy Eat World – Bleed American

For the longest time, I thought I had lost this album. Well, I found it this weekend, and I got to experience the awesomeness all over again. This disc is packed full of gems and everyone should be able to appreciate the sweetness(ahaha I kill myself sometimes) that is Jimmy Eat World.

Mike Duncan

Third Eye Blind – A Collection

E-Card

Tyler Hayes – Mxpx

Probably the band to blame for me getting into music in general (pun intended). I’m excited about their new b-side album, as you should be too!

Myspace

Michael Schneider

Between The Trees

Seeing this band yesterday at Bamboozle and hearing their new record, there’s not one band out there right now that’s more set to hit it big. If you’re a fan of Melee, Copeland, or the Fray, check these guys out, they kind of do a little bit of it all.

Valida Prentice

The Svengalis

Greetings from England!Ԛ  I was in London this past weekend and two guys in a bagel shop invited me to see their band play across the street.Ԛ  So this is a twofold recommendation, first clearly I recommend the Svengalis, a cute little unsigned English indie band.Ԛ  Further, I recommend that you go out to a local venue and check out a local show (with bands you haven’t previously listened to) and see if you find a new gem somewhere other than PureVolume/Myspace.

Ԛ 

Senses Fail – Still Searching

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Still Searching

Artist: Senses Fail
Album: Still Searching
Label: Vagrant
Purchase: Smart Punk
Release Date: October 10, 2006

Overall: 9.0
Music: 9.5
Lyrics: 8.0
Production: 9.0

After releasing their first full length and having it suffer from being leaked online several months in advance, Senses Fail were labeled boring and unoriginal by many critics and people behind their keyboards. What a lot of these people failed to realize is that had that album came out when it was originally intended, it would’ve preceded the thousands of albums cloning them and the few other bands that were actually fronting the new wave of “screamo.” Senses Fail just got screwed in a moment which they could’ve owned, but they didn’t let that stop them. “Let It Enfold You,” despite the harsh criticisms was still a moderate success. The band are aiming for a bullseye this time around with their second LP for Vagrant, “Still Searching.”

The most obvious change for the band comes with the departure of long time guitarist Dave Miller and the new addition of Midtown’s Heath Saraceno. The guitars have always been one of the strongest parts of the band and Heath adds a whole new level of proficiency as he and Garret Zablocki have become a team worthy of the “dynamic duo” mantle.

Buddy Nielsen’s vocals have always been the subject of hate, which I can sometimes understand. For the most part, I always thought Buddy’s voice was pretty unique, and that helped to set the band apart from others. Not every vocalist has to be spot on for it to be good. Every now and then, there are a few flat notes(ex. “Shark Attack”) but overall, Buddy’s on top of his game. The most prominent difference in the frontman is his scream. He’s gone from a capophonic squeal to a lethal roar that’s sure to turn some heads.

Lyrically, Buddy dives into his experiences with nearly going insane for inspiration. Where his old suicide and murderous lyrics were just figurative for the sake of the songs, the accounts of “Still Searching” are far more introspective.

Senses Fail have definitely stepped their game up and this disc has the potential to sway former haters and turn them into fans. As for older fans, they should definitely dig “Still Searching” as it showcases the best the band has always offered and elevates them back to the top of the mountain of bands that piled up during their limbo.

Track Listing
1. The Rapture
2. Bonecrusher
3. Sick or Sane(Fifty For a Twenty)
4. Can’t Be Saved
5. Calling All Cars
6. Shark Attack
7. Still Searching
8. To All the Crowded Rooms
9. Lost and Found
10. Every Day Is a Struggle
11. All the Best Cowboys Have Daddy Issues
12. Negative Space
13. The Priest and the Matador