You Me At Six - Cavalier Youth Album Review

Released	27 January 2014
Recorded	2013
Genre	Rock, Music, Alternative,Adult Alternative, Punk
Length	43:13
Label	BMG Rights
Rating	5.5/ 10

I wasn't too sure if I wanted to review this album or not but already doing some on the previous three, I thought it would be interesting to see the pattern and journey  the Surrey band You Me At Six have chosen. (Also released on my birthday, I couldn't resist)
Being their fourth major studio album released by a new label it was sure the band have yet again taken another turn, this time a little too far down the wrong track. Progressively the band have shown a slow distance sway towards their music, with each album slowly deteriorating from their first "Take Off All Your Colours" and have now reached to the bottom of the trash.
Not to be overly negative, but I have been a supporter of this band since their first album, as I have watched them grow with each one, I have also found myself lost, but with Cavalier Youth, it has finally ended my journey. Being totally in love with the first two albums and pretty swayed with Sinners Never Sleep I knew that this new release was going to be way out of their usual comfort zone. After listening to it for a couple of days I have finally made my own decisions on how I feel towards it, if you were an old YMAS fan then you may agree with some of the points I'm trying to say but overall It's worth a listen and I really did enjoy it, but as an album by the band I spent my teenage years on, I didn't relate to it well.

Before the album was released in its entirety, three new songs featured on it were banged on about all over the internet with various positive comments and professional style music videos to match. First out the bag was "Lived A Lie" a very catchy positive and upbeat song, imminently sweeping the nation with their typical charm however this song didn't keep me on my toes. With its first listen I didn't seem to understand it, but with more and more views I began to let myself open up a little and enjoy it slightly. Hearing a familiar rocky guitar intro I was pleased that they had kept this talent alive, however ending too soon with lead vocalist Josh Franceshi jumping right in with his upbeat vocals which lead right to the chorus. Bright and bouncy the song does prove to be one of the strongest within the album as I can find myself reuniting with their previous work. Lyrically wise it was poor and lacking meaning, like Sinners Never Sleep, the typical themes within this album are heavily based on relationship troubles. Disappointing me further with its basic repetitive chorus of "We are believers" the song ends in its mediocre finale. Overall I feel that this song was just overly hyped about for my expectations.

Following this impressive new take to their genre was "Fresh Start Fever" which contained a more adult, serious themed music video, impressed with this choice in style, the actual song lets it all down. Just when I thought it was getting better. Instrumentally wise it's pretty bland and basic, with no outburst of drums or a heavy screeching guitar riff it felt more like a Josh Franceschi song than an YMAS one. Despite this, they have clearly produced another bouncy generic song, with its short cut lyrics placed in perfect time with the snare crashing of the crescendo, YMAS have shown some new impressive talent here. Liking this song better than Lived A Lie I can see how modern and wide the band have gone totally different from any of their other music, as they have definitely taken on the alternative rock approach leaving their punkiness behind and growing up a bit. Pleasing the mainstream audiences, with its time of release it did sound a lot like all the new bands and their new albums like Fall Out Boy and Panic! due to this influence I feel like they have gotten easily strayed away into this group of change.

Close to its release date "Hope For The Best" was next out, keeping their treasured guitar intro in place, Franceschi's vocals came in a whole lot stronger and solid this time. Now feeling like all my hopes are restored, this song proved to lift my spirits up a bit as I found myself instantly glued to it, reminding me a lot of Hold Me Down. Solidly perfecting their catchy head bobbing pace, Dan Flint proved to show his drumming skills here a lot more taking its adult alternative feel with a joining bridge of the guitars into it's sucking chorus beat before ending the song with a similar outro.

Starting the album off we have "Too Young To Feel This Old" which sets the mood right away with this whole theme of growing up. Perfectly in line with their new sound this songs gives a brief overview of the new route they have taken in growing up along with this new alternative sound. Not venturing around too far, this proves to deploy some old themes in Hold Me Down with its serious tone combined with the instrumental gift the band are blessed with, this song is a secure opener to Cavalier Youth.

The next few songs seem to be fillers of the sandwich which are less important and rather bland.  "Forgive and forget" covers an inherent laid back relax style tune which doesn't stand out to be a song produced by You Me At Six, as I feel this is the case with a lot of the songs, causing the album to be poor in comparison to their others despite the claim Josh and Max broadcasted that "This album is defiantly the strongest by far".
Fifth up "Room To Breath" certainty does give the other members some breathing time to show off their talent a little more than Josh has given them. All credit goes to Max, Dan, Chris and Matt in this song as I feel it's the most strongest instrumentally wise and would be better off as an interlude rather than making it another "Song about Josh". In spite of this YMAS verify once again they can pull it off making it their own track and doing the band some more justice they deserve.
"Win Some Lose Some" tackles a resembling yet more "I told you so" reminiscence that I get from their first two records, with their new modern twist added on, this song doesn't strike me or catch my attention but does flow along with the album well.

Taking on a whole happier and pleasant theme in which has shown through Josh's personal life this reflects directly on the album as it seems to focus on his moods, which is a great thing for him just not the band, as it has left them somewhat in the shadows of his happiness. Not to say that they are not happy, I just hoped that there would be a variety of sounds within each song rather than a nice smooth transition from one to another, it's almost samie with the odd distinctive song that catches the tip of your ear.
Along with its bland choice of songs, the titles follow closely which seem to lack in the creative side a little, I mean what even is "Love Me Like You Used to? Hope for the best, Forgive and Forget" they all just seem like generic sayings lacking the surprising and extravagant mind set shown in "You call that a comeback, There Is No Such Thing As Accidental Infertility and Blue Eyes Don't Lie" I can see them trying to relate more directly to their fans with "Be Who You Are" by choosing these song titles which is a good thing, yet it dissolves all originality and spring.

Finally we have "Wild Ones" which again restores the albums strength as it's a perfect closing song that revolves around Sinners Never Sleep. Slow pace, the song starts up its steady drum beat which floats peacefully alongside Josh's vocals that layer up in time to the chorus. More of a realisation song that I feel close to, all faith has now been restored as I really did enjoy this song settling the relaxed mood to just sit back and let it flow through my ears. The band certainly do know what they're doing, despite the lack of evidence, the album flows perfectly even if it's not up to my taste it is a solid one. If it wasn't by them, without all their previous history then it would probably earn a much higher rating of 7, however this is not the case and I feel a little more disappointed with them as they started of strong but didn't come out swinging.
All in all the album is a nice listen to once in a while but not something I would listen to a lot or get into, as each song blends into another I feel half and half about it, therefor earning only a 5.5
Better luck next time? Or not, maybe even worse, who knows?

Full stream here: Cavalier Youth

Decade - Good Luck Album review

Released	13 January 2013
Recorded	2012
Genre	Pop Punk/ Alternative Rock
Length	26:00
Label	Spinefarm Records
Rating	7.7 / 10

The five piece pop punk Decade from Bath, have just released their first ever Album titled "Good Luck" following two brilliant EPs, the band have reached a great success throughout their four years of being together. Certainty being consistent with their music, keeping fans posted regularly, no disappointment was expected and with the massive hype over Good Luck, it was safe to say that they have withheld that expectation.
Starting the album off right away with its titled song, "Good Luck" the band show their progression in musical talent, with a similar nostalgic feel that Alex Sears produces in every song with the heavy upbeat pop punk beat banged out within the drums. Placement of this song slowly introduces the audiences to this album, as "Brainfreeze" follows, a much more well known song that can easily relate their fans.
One of my favourite songs in the album, it produces a more diverse range in it's changing beat between chorus and verse, the little pre-chorus instrumental touches add to the more rock feel in which they are producing, that sit softly with Alex's vocals that keep the song intact, proving its strengths towards the bridge, where we get a heighten feel, ending the song in unity.

"Callous" follows with its more familiar rhythm as this song can relate to a lot of existing bands in its sounding, as at first it's not as recognisable to Decade as such, it proves the diversity in which their sound takes, another strong contestant, Decade have mixed up everything, focusing heavily on the instrumental bridge which moulds the song, showing its importance as well as the Vocals are involved.

Despite not being a huge fan of the band, I do appreciate the music they make and how advance they have done this, they are a quality to the UK, improve our music scene as we are proud to have them represent us within a mixture of alternative rock as well as emerging as a pop punk band, their complexity of sound is impressive all the same.

The next few songs which follow take on a more alternative rock feel, matching instruments to vocal pitch, each song catchy in their own way and distinctive in sound, easily to note that they have made each song special, creating the whole album to be solid.

Coming to a close of the album, "Coffin" stands out as a great ending song with its changing in pitch that differs from a low calm settlement to a high tension chorus that edges it's rock vibrant sound that Decade have perfected, setting them apart from many other contemporary bands, they have set their own trade mark to each song ending them with a sharp cut.
Finally coming to a close with "Fake Teeth" a slightly slower pace is taken still keeping its simple rhythm, the song ends on a similar note as many others, more down beat and softer, it conforms to its finish look, as again placing a strong song last it remains in your mind for a while to repeat.

Overall I would say that the album is very strong in its self -proving to be a great starter for Decade and many high hopes for more to follow as they do deserve this massive recognition and a wider fan base, not bad for a first album eh lads?

Currently going to be on tour with Man Overboard and Mayday Parade! Such a brilliant opportunity for them. Well done!

Neck Deep + Roam + Doppelganger LIVE GIG @ Barfly London 13/1/14

Monday the 13th of January was marked to be the first week of tour for the UK's finest pop punk band Neck Deep, with supporting guests ROAM! Being their first ever headline show in London, the Barfly soon became sold out with screaming fans, awaiting their arrival. It was also the official date their latest album Wishful Thinking was released, so the band were in high spirits for a mental gig to follow.

Celebrating their new release, announced on the day that a another support was to come specially from Doppelganger, an alternative rock band from Neck Deep's home town of Wrexham, pleased to have a friendly opener, the band imminently stole everyone's attention from the moment they set up on stage.

No one having a clue who they were or even that they were going to play tonight as announced at such late noticed, people still seemed pretty engaged with the band. As giving them a listen they showed a clear unique and instant quirkiness to their music, blasting their heavy riffs right in your face. Being at a pop punk gig and being the only alternative band certainly does trade off a mark, as for them it was proven to be a good one.

Their exploding passion to music showed through the lead singer and guitarists facial expressions as rocking out all over the stage whilst producing strong and powerful cords, they certainly did open the gig with a whole new incite and feel to their genre.

A strong solid, perfected vocals followed each song with the twisted screams of the backing vocalist intertwined with the bashing crescendos of the drums entirely, ending the song with a static vibration. Along with the catchy lyrics which are still stuck in my head "Something's you should keep to yourself" they made an imprint on me with their everlasting guitar riff that changed with the pace and tempo of the song. A mesh up of fast pace lyrical motions matched short snappy screams that broke down in 2 strums ended the second song in a mash up of everything coming together. Each song then took a similar path with a little twist on each, further surprising the audiences with their astonishing new song, a group in the crowd also got heavily involved causing a little scene. Sad to see their set come to an end, I can say that I really did enjoy hearing them as in the future I can see them playing more and more shows, with the right recognition they could soon be headlining their own tour!

Following that great set was Roam, the band I've been dying to see on this whole tour, as with previous experience in a small crowd when first introduced to them, I was excited to see them in a much bigger venue with a crowd of people who shared the same love as me towards them.

Photo by Elliott Ingham 

 Starting their set of with a much lively, bouncing intro, the band got right into their first song "You Never Said" featuring on their new EP Head Down.
Brilliant for an opening song as it delve right into the upbeat atmosphere keeping everyone in high spirits  before lead vocalist Alex Costello, was joined by a large group of the crowd that pushed forward in an attacking manor, finger pointing and screaming right in his face. Straight away the song had set everyone going mad. Withholding this energetic movement, the crowd remained in full view, with each one pelting out each lyric as soon as they left Alex's mouth.

The true complexity of each strum meshed with the echoed vocals and pop punk beat set each song apart in their different ways but brought the whole crowd together in a unity for everyone to enjoy. Being a very important tour for the band, they certainty did them selves justice as pushing out such an enthusiastic, crowd involving set, giving them an insight to what they're truly capable of gaining new fans along the way, If you still haven't heard of Roam, then what the fuck are you waiting for? They are a must see band live so check them out on tour!

Photo By Elliott Ingham 

Defiantly having the time of my life, with a whole heap of people who started getting really into them towards the end of their set, the tried faces seemed to disappear and were replaced with bright sweaty, vibrant smiles that each member showed when playing, this was also a nice touch that they always seemed like they were enjoying the set and wanted to join in with the crowd themselves. Being my favourite song, Nothing In Return proved to be even more entertaining live with a group of crowd pointers, screaming the lyrics line by line into the mic Alex held out every so often.
Ending the whole set off with Head Rush, Roam had officially destroyed half of the crowd with their new intake on pop punk music, showing it in its rawest form for a room full of people to enjoy, it was such a great set and I do hope that they soon get to do their own headline tour with rooms twice as big, filled fully with Roam fans. Quality band live, nothing could have been better.

Time for the band everyone who sold out the venue was really here to see, Neck Deep! Taking to the stage a bit later on the pop punk band from Wrexham opened up their stage to Kick It, performing a full bouncy, live rhythm that introduced everyone into their set. As soon as this happened, the whole floor teared apart with fans rushing in, pushing forward trying to get to the front, this collision in the crowd forced a massive tidal wave, as What Did You Expect (original) set into play and everyone just went mental. Great song starters as it provided some stability to their hardcore fans who love this aggressive, harden sound but also then eases out for their new, softer fans with Crushing Grief positioned straight after. Feeling more like a room filled with friends than randomers, everyone sang together in unison each and every single word, while Ben bounced around the stage, filling all empty space with his rigid face up against the crowd, passing the microphone to them at certain parts in the song.
Protecting this rough environment  the next the next few songs followed this heavy pop punk style of jumping around, stage diving and crowd surfing, it was such a great atmosphere and experiences to be up on the stage one second before jumping right into the crowd the next, as this process repeated over and over and over and overrrrrr.

Happy that they mixed up the song choices a lot with keeping Rain In July present but also releasing Wishful Thinking, the combination of the two juxtaposed perfectly, creating an ever changing mood that every fan could relate and enjoy. Being the fourth time seeing them Live, I can say that Neck Deep have honestly stepped up their game and produced much more clear structured music live, as this had to be their best performance yet. It may be because it was such a small and intimate crowd that you could really relate to them and be upfront and personal by expressing yourself through music.

Halfway through the set and we had already come to the part where they play All Hype No Heart with a dirty breakdown. Seeing this performed twice already, I know it always goes down well with the crowd as it mixes things up a little with an element of hardcore, breaking into the song. This is where all havoc was lost and people went flying all over the place, it had to be the highlight of their set for sure as this one song differed from all the rest by a long run, setting its face paced harder hitting side that caused a small circle pit to form in the crowd. Glimpse here
Then going back to their original roots with Over and Over, the night had taken an old backseat with fans still going crazy all over the place as more and more stage divers joined, plunging people into the air at every second. Keeping in good beat with each other, drummer Dani gained full focus with his complex talent of bashing the drums kept the band together, as vocalist Ben Barlow followed in his much heighten and gained voice, improved in sounding as well as performance.

Making sure that everyone was live, every so often, the band had good intentions to keep up involved by taking a few breaks and speaking directly towards us, when the atmosphere had calmed down a bit and it was time for the acoustic and slower paced songs to end the night with. A song that everyone knows and loves, Part Of Me was sung not just with Ben, but every single person in the crowd. From start to finish the song was sung in high spirits and tranquil harmonies that filled the room with raw emotions right till the next acoustic.

Finally it was time to say goodbye, as Growing Pains was the last song to be played, not being a big fan on this ending song as it was more softer and calmer, they did perform it justice live, Neck Deep have certainly gained more confidence in their sound when performing, and communicating with their fans so closely, it had to be the best night seeing them live.

All in all the gig was perfectly constructed with three brilliant bands who deserve an equal round of applause for putting on such a brilliant show.

Closely following my top live gigs, I would position this in the top 10 for sure, everything about it was just right and perfect, and no one left the venue without the chatter of what they had just experienced.
10/10 night. Can't wait to see this all over again on Tuesday in Guildford, bring it on!

Neck Deep - Wishful Thinking Album Review

Released	13 January 2013
Recorded	2012
Genre	Pop Punk
Length	32:00
Label	Hopless Records
Rating	6.5/10

No doubt that Neck Deep are extremely talented in producing entertaining, lively pop punk music as a British band, they serve us justice, it's just not as justified on the latest album. Made up of 5 young, ambitious young lads from Wrexham forming in 2012, they have proved to race through their starting carer and hit it up big time by recently getting signed to Hopeless Records. Not bad for a years work.
Trying to top their previous EP, "Rain In July" was bound to be hard as their very first "Head To The Ground" only gave us a taster of what was next to come. Hoping that they would carry on this aggressively, relatable song theme from their first album, they chose to take a slightly laid back turn with Wishful Thinking.

Being a good fan of the band, I had high expectations and hopes for them to produce a solid style album packed with Ben's edgy sharp vocals which provide a nostalgic theme of "All Hype No Heart" showing a more stronger, mash up style which was hinted before. Preparing us with the release of two songs before the album stream I knew that this wasn't going to be present.
Don't get me wrong, I do love "Crushing Grief (No Remedy)" as a song as it proves to be the strongest one in the whole album, being the nucleus of the whole setup. Matching this with a brilliantly structured music video in which their fans have helped them make, the song just draws a full highlight on everything they are about. My only setback would be that it is quite a change in the rhythm, in comparison  to their old music. Loosing that simple 4/4 on the drums and pushing it forward with a much stronger, faster energetic beat, it proves to show a different side to the pop punk genre.

Enough about that, and more about the actual album. Wanting to do a review on this album is hard when I fell so in love with their previous EP's as I feel this one just lacks enthusiasm and passion. However it's not to say that I don't like the album. The songs overall provide a strong, catchy beat which keep the positive moods to linger, still adding the basic conventions of the pop punk genre. It loses it's sense of "FUCK YOU, I HATE MY GRIRLFRIEND, I HATE YOU" and focuses more on the softer happier times.

The album starts off with "Losing Teeth" one we haven't experienced yet, wasting no time we are introduced to the Vocals almost imminently. As a starter song, they have chosen it well, as it still reminds us of the previous music they have made with the sharpness of the guitar strums on the verse but then it also displays the new style, which is much softer and toned within the chorus and Ben's main vocals. All in all, the song provides a lot of variety when listening to it, easing us into the new troposphere which is being created.
Following that new start is "Crushing Grief" which is quite obviously my favorite song off the whole album. Still encountering the troubles of teenage heartbreaks, this song proves to keep the close relateness Neck Deep have with their crowds, each lyrics in the chorus has been stuck in my mind ever since I started listening to it, and that's when you know it's going to be a success.

We then get to the middle, mediocre songs which tend to escape my mind as soon as they finish, not really putting any impact into my thoughts or even catching a line which implants my memory, I would rate these songs as just average. "Damsel In Distress" however does restore some of these thoughts with it's regained chorus that follows a listing feel that you will find yourself moving to.
Most of these songs seems to mix into others as they don't have a clear distinction between them to separate each one as their own, however saying this they do collaborate well together as an album, so on the whole overview they do work and can be very strong to the right set of ears.
"Zoltar Speaks" starts of with a strong riff which really does grab your attention as it slightly differs in key than the others, but this is loss with the generically structured verse/ chorus/ verse.

Halfway through the album and we are met with "Growing Pains" a slightly familiar song with a brilliant music video. When this first got released I imminently felt that something wasn't right about it, as though they were missing the aggressive stretches of Ben's voice. Placed with a simple, basic and easy beat the song carries this consistent bottom line tune which also shows strongly in their unproductive lyrics that seem to take an weak aspiration in the whole album.

One thing is for sure, that adding a new version of "What Did You Expect" was personally a bad idea. Firstly seeing the title made me think that they've just added the song in again which is fine, as it is already perfect as it is, but then I listened to it and it just sounded wrong. To me it was a train wreck gone wrong, re doing a song is always going to end bad, especially as they were trying to record it to fit in with the album which is much more simple and slow paced than the original song to keep up with. The changes to it are minor but they are changes in which I could pick out almost imminently, as hearing two versions you're always going to have to compare them to be good and bad. My opinion may be just so bias to me loving the original but it almost just pains me that they have ruined a really strong song. If you haven't heard the original then you will just probably think that it's brilliant, and it is, in the albums perspective it's a great song to add to it, improving its quality, but because we know its a remake it just pulls the whole atmosphere down a bit.
Ending the album with "Candour" was just something way to typical for Neck Deep to do. Normally full of surprises the band have tried to conform to the majority of albums with a slowed down, sad song leaving you thinking in past thoughts. For them however it proves a much wider variety of talent they are capable of producing as the violin touch does add to the song in its strength, making me like it slightly more than I should.

One of my main problems I have found with this album is not the music it's self but me, I have had  high hopes for it and for me to try and adjust to the new sound they are producing. It's not a bad album, I do like it in its entirety, some songs more than others, it's just very average when listen to individually with no clear message in the songs that seem to talk about the same things, it lacks that attack they had in their previous work. It may also be to do with them getting signed, and trying to produce an overall audience rather than keeping that tight niche one which loved their unique and quirkiness, the band have tried new things and that's never hurt anyone, well maybe a few fans.
I hope this is an album you'd have to listen to a few times before you get your heard round it because i'm still not feeling the full love here.

The album is released on Monday 13th January so make sure you have a listen to it yourself before taking my work for it.
Or even catch them on tour this whole month with ROAM!

Tracklisting:
Losing Teeth
Crushing Grief (New Remedy)
Staircase Wit
Damsel and Distress
Zoltar Speaks
Growing Pains
Say What You Want
Mileage
Sweet Nothings
What Did You Expect?
Blank Pages
Candour