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Hundred Year War – Hello From The Children Of Planet Earth

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Hundred Year Storm

Artist: Hundred Year Storm
Album: Hello From The Children Of Planet Earth
Label: Floodgate Records
Purchase: Smart Punk
Release Date: August 22, 2006

Overall: 8.5
Music: 9.0
Lyrics: 7.5
Production: 8.5

Usually when a band wants to make an experimental record, they wait until their second or third record to do it. Hundred Year Storm decided to skip a few steps, and here they are now with a debut album that can only be described as wellâ┚¬Ã‚¦experimental. Theyâ┚¬Ã¢”ž¢ve managed to make it work though and the result was a surprisingly mature, well done debut album that to be honest, doesnâ┚¬Ã¢”ž¢t even sound like a debut. If the artwork or the clips of John F. Kennedy speaking about the space program on the track â┚¬Ã…”The Golden Ageâ┚¬? didnâ┚¬Ã¢”ž¢t tip you off yet, the record is a concept album about outer space.

Every song on the record sounds a little (or maybe more than a little) different than the previous. The first track on the album â┚¬Ã…”00:01â┚¬? is over five minutes long and contains only one lyric: â┚¬Ã…”Hereâ┚¬Ã¢”ž¢s to new beginnings. Hereâ┚¬Ã¢”ž¢s to a new sky.â┚¬? Despite its unorthodox construction, itâ┚¬Ã¢”ž¢s one of the most interesting and catchy songs on the record. It is this unconventional song writing method as well as the bandâ┚¬Ã¢”ž¢s versatility that create the backbone of this album.
As the album progresses, the band reinforces their concept with spacey guitars that sound like something Tom Delonge wishes he could have had on the Angels and Airwaves record. Singer Bill McCharen vocals paired with synths on the track â┚¬Ã…”August on Fireâ┚¬? make you feel as if youâ┚¬Ã¢”ž¢re floating along somewhere in outer space. These two things paired with small but important touches like clips of NASA transmissions mixed in with songs have helped the band unify their album and reach their goal of having listeners question the unknown. Hundred Year Storm have truly stepped out of the safe zone bandâ┚¬Ã¢”ž¢s usually stay in with their first record, and managed to create a sincere and truly unique record. Hello From the Children of Planet Earth is by no means a traditional record and it may take a few listens before you really begin to appreciate what the band is doing but once you see the vision that the band has created, you’ll be glad you did. As I was watching news coverage of the space ship landing this morning I couldnâ┚¬Ã¢”ž¢t help but think of this band. Itâ┚¬Ã¢”ž¢s the perfect example of how the songs have the ability to stay with you long after youâ┚¬Ã¢”ž¢ve listened to them.

Tracklisting:
1. 00:01
2. Yesterday We Had It All
3. Walking Away From What We Deserve
4. August On Fire
5. Where Beauty Never Dies
6. The Golden Record
7. All This Time
8. Beloved
9. Winter is Always Good for Broken Hearts
10. Reach
11. Crash and Burn
12. Pilot’s Last Broadcast

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