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.

Dashboard Confessional – Alter The Ending

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Artist: Dashboard Confessional
Album: Alter The Ending
Label: Vagrant Records
Purchase: iTunes
Release Date: November 10th, 2009

Overall: 8.0
Music: 8.0
Lyrics: 8.5
Production: 7.0

Dashboard Confessional’s last album, The Shade Of Poison Trees found them turning the volume down and going back to their roots. The album was soft, acoustic and mellow all the way through. Apparently Chris Carrabba & co. have grown tired of that style as they go back to their full band ensemble, with their latest album Alter The Ending.

The album comes right out of the gate with the song “Get Me Right”, which is a very catchy beginning to the album. It will be hard not to revisit this song again and again before finishing the entire album, as it is a great start to the album. Following tracks like “Until Morning” and “Everybody Learns From Disaster” have the same kind of epic, yet soft feeling to it.

Most predominantly, the main flaw of the entire album is the band’s obsession with over-production. From a band that truly shines at their most vulnerable, a lot of sheen doesn’t really help the feeling of relatable lyrics. The return to form of their last album was a great maturing point for them, but unfortunately they were not able to carry it on. Some songs just come off as trite and over compensating with production (“Belle Of The Boulevard”, “I Know About You”).

At their best, Dashboard Confessional are impeccable at writing a slow, catchy little ditty of love and loss. Songs such as “Even Now” and closing track “Hell On The Throat” are shining moments during Alter The Ending’s journey. These songs show just how good the band can be, and how they don’t necessarily need intense production to pull off honesty or epic intentions.

The album as a whole shows that well produced songs can co-exist with heartfelt acoustic ballads. There are missteps here and there, and sometimes you feel as though the band should harken back to their previous album. But there is a sense of unity, and aspiration for change throughout the album. Dashboard Confessional aren’t in any hurry though to change who they are, or else we’d be hearing a lot more auto tune and references to neon clothing, and that’s something we can all be thankful for in these times.

Thrice – The Alchemy Index: Vols. III & IV Air & Earth

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Thrice

Artist: Thrice
Album: The Alchemy Index: Vols. III & IV Air & Earth
Label: Vagrant
Purchase: Interpunk
Release Date: April 15, 2008

Overall: 8.0
Music: 7.5
Lyrics: 8.0
Production: 8.0

The Alchemy Index: Vols. III & IV Air & Earth marks the completion of Thrice’s foray with experimenting with the four elements of nature. Overall, the newest Alchemy Index displays Thrice’s explorations with instrumentation, rhythm, and feel. The album consistently moves from expansive arrangements into acoustic etudes. As well, Thrice delves into the world of blues, folk, jazz, and dance, while continuing to strengthen their trademark sound. The record, in its attempt to explore each element with an EP of six songs, contains many successes and a few failures.

Volume III: Air establishes a mood and feel most similar to past Thrice records such as Vheissu. This EP is definitely stronger than Volume IV: Earth and appears as a wonderful direction where Thrice may be headed. Air utilizes atmospheric guitar lines and effects, soft piano strikes, and a locked-in rhythm section beautifully depicting one’s serene flights on the edges of the sky. “Daedalus” stands out as a track with introspective guitar leads behind a story of a father losing his son. The track concludes with a touching verse displaying Dustin Kensrue’s ability to connect with the listener. Air reiterates Thrice’s skill of experimenting while not compromising their sound.

On the other hand, Volume IV: Earth feels awkward and beyond the capabilities of Thrice as a band. As expected, Earth takes an acoustic folk/blues approach to each arrangement. Most often, the songs feel clumsy and like an acoustic version rather than a creation. Earth appears that a possible statement into humanity’s continual disconnection with the natural world was squandered. The EP takes a more expansive approach when it should have taken a simplified stance. Although its limitations, “Come All You Weary” stands out as a well-played, bluesy track. Kensrue’s gravelly vocals cut deeply into this road-wandering song. Thrice made the right choice as it is their first single off this record. Volume IV: Earth does contain a few gems but, all in all, sounds like a misrepresented element.

Ultimately, The Alchemy Index: Vols. III & IV Air & Earth successfully continues Thrice’s approach into progressive and popular music. The strength of the album’s better tracks surely outweighs those of the weaker kinds. Thrice chose to venture outside of its safe haven and the listener will find worth in their exploits.

Standout Tracks: “Daedalus” and “Come All You Weary”

Track Listing
Vol. III: Air
1. Broken Lungs
2. The Sky is Falling
3. A Song for Milly Michaelson
4. Daedalus
5. As the Crow Flies
6. Silver Wings

Vol IV: Earth
7. Moving Mountains
8. Digging My Own Grave
9. The Earth Isn’t Humming
10. The Lion and the Wolf
11. Come All You Weary
12. Child of Dust

Protest The Hero Pre-Order

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Protest The Hero are gearing up for the release of Fortress on January 29th. A special pre-order for the album is now on the Vagrant Online Store — you can pre-order Fortress for $6.99 or you can pre-order Fortress with the band’s previous album, Kezia, for only $15.00. Orders will be shipped before street date to ensure that you get your CD before or by the 1/29 street date.

John Ralston – Sorry Vampire

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Sorry Vampire

Artist: John Ralston
Album: Sorry Vampire
Label: Vagrant
Purchase: Interpunk
Release Date: October 2nd, 2007

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

Upon first hearing Ralston’s debut entitled, Needle Bed, I found the record to be impactuful yet rather sparse and almost hollow at times. His follow up, Sorry Vampire sits on the complete opposite end of the spectrum. This intensely layered and meticulously crafted record is truly something to behold. The somber, swaying, gloomy melodies lend the perfect audio-backdrop for the commonly gray fall weather. Each track is its own intricate and developed work of art. I find it hard to imagine how Ralston will follow this up or how these songs will be preformed live. I look forward to finding out those answers in the not too distant future. This is truly a record that requires a good pair of headphones and an open mind.

Recommend if you like: Wilco, Dashboard Confessional, Kevin Devine, The New Amsterdams

Track Listing
1. Fragile
2. The Only Evidence
3. When I Was a Bandage
4. I Guess I Wasted My Summer Now 5
5. Lessons I & II
6. A Small Clearing
7. Ghetto Tested
8. Beautiful Disarmed
9. No One Loves You Like I Do
10. Second Hand Lovers
11. Haven’t Missed You All My Life
12. Where You Used to Sleep

Thrice Sign To Vagrant

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Thrice has signed to Vagrant Records. You can read a message from the band below.

Thrice will release The Alchemy Index: Volumes 1 and 2 via Vagrant Records on October 16th.
Taking an unsullied approach to the writing, recording and production of their upcoming release, the decision to find a new record label was evident and expected for Orange County’s critically lauded, Thrice. Assuming control of their creative direction, Thrice has parted ways with Island records after releasing 2003’s The Artist and The Ambulance and 2005’s Vheissu, and have signed with Vagrant Records, on which they will release the four-volume Alchemy Index.

The Alchemy Index: Vols. I & II – Fire & Water will be released on October 16th, 2007, with The Alchemy Index: Vols. III & IV – Earth & Air to be released in Spring of 2008. The specific details about this ambitious project will be revealed over the next few weeks.

Stretching their innovation even further Thrice’s, Dustin Kensrue, Teppei Teranishi, Riley Breckenridge & Ed Breckenridge, expressed their musical diversity resulting in their most stunning effort to date. The Alchemy Index is an uncompromising artistic collection that represents the band’s evolution and shatters conventional boundaries. This quartet prides themselves on continually pushing the envelope creating the dynamic sound they call their own. It is this equilibrium that helps the band develop such richly crafted tracks and in doing so, it raises the bar once again for all that follow.

Founded in 1996, Vagrant Records is headquartered in Los Angeles, California. For The Alchemy Index, Thrice joins a diverse roster featuring artists like The Eels, The Hold Steady, Dashboard Confessional and Paul Westerberg.
In support of the first installment of The Alchemy Index, Thrice will be headlining a 9 week — 42 date U.S. tour with Brand New.

Emanuel Post E-Card; Album Art

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Emanuel have posted an e-card for their new album, Black Earth Tiger, here. The album hits stores on August 28th through Vagrant Records. A special pre-order can be found over at Interpunk where you can get a free 4 song Acoustic CD with your order. Check out the album art for Black Earth Tiger below.

Emanuel

Track Listing

1. Whiteflag (Intro)
2. Cottonmouth
3. Anathamatics
4. My Antapex
5. Scenotaph
6. Phobos
7. Abandonment Star
8. Let Them Die
9. Year Of The Pig
10. Forever
11. Whiteflag (Reprise)