Dead Poetic - Vices

[Gabe Gross]

Dead Poetic – Vices
Release Date: October 31, 2006
Record Label: Tooth & Nail

Maynard James Keenan would be proud.

Being the new millennium and all, alternative music of today has strayed from the place of where alternative music came from in the early 90s. Bands like Pearl Jam, Nirvana, Soundgarden and Tool stood as monuments for how rock and roll would be angrier and more personal, intuitive and unabbreviated. On Vices, Dead Poetic have certainly bottled that charisma and whittled away any form of screamo critics thought they were. Capturing themes of—you guessed it—vices, the lyrical development of Vices strains through sexuality, pride, vanity and ultimately redemption.


With a solid two years between New Medicines and Vices, Dead Poetic toured like a machine. And perhaps that intensity on perseverance weathered the change in intensity on Vices. For those looking to fill their desires for another scream-sing album, you're not going to find it here. A shallow reach into the past and Dead Poetic have showcased the elements at for which what made rock and roll "rock n' roll' 10-15 years ago.


Dead Poetic, formed by Jesse Sprinkle (drums), Zach Miles (guitar), Brandon Rike (vocals), Dusty Redmon (guitar) and John Brehm (bass), have served a third album that is aptly named and the nostalgia comes piping hot. Starting off the album is "Cannibal vs. Cunning," a ripping alternative anthem that sets the tone for the first half of the album. Following are songs like "Narcotic" and "Long Forgotten" that follow a similar format but catch attention through angered vocals matched with emotional guitars. Percussions stay relatively on beat and only accent the veracity and antique rock sounds.


“Sinless City” may be the transitory track where the consistency of the album's intensity is murmured. and consequently the vibe of the album turns to a more modern style of alternative rock; accessible and neatly packed to radio play. The guitars draw in a warmer climate, while the integrity of their rock sound remains. Rike’s vocals are calm at the right points and more controlled at the heavier points. The most unfitting and generally intermissional track is “Paralytic.” Percussionless, with a single guitar acting as pacifying breeze to proliferating vocals. Being the shortest song on the album (clocking in under three minutes), it neither distracts nor misleads the collectivity of songs.The title track proves to be the stamp on this envelope as it sends the album into redemption. This song bleeds for attention, as Rike calls out: “I’ve got Vices like any other man / Vices that you’re not used to / Vices that’ll make you think less of me.”
Assuming that family work well together, drummer Jesse Sprinkle and producer Aaron Sprinkle gathered the rest of the band together to wrap the collectivity of songs carefully. Aaron didn't only bring stellar direction for the band but also a veteran to the game. The honesty of the album shines through when the group brought in legendary Chino Moreno (Deftones, Team Sleep) to help with the writing process (most notably on "Paralytic" and "Crashing Down" where Chino also supplies his vocals).


All things aside, how does the album stand up? While resurrecting familiar alt-rock sounds, especially on rhythm guitar, and a vibrant variety of vocal range, Vices doesn’t sharpen the blade of alternative music. No tracks protrude as extraordinary or easily addictive. With that said, the album is not a failure by any means. Is New Medicines better/worse? There’s no comparison. Both albums showcase completely different motives. Although Vices may have a hold on some, odds are the album won't hold together strong enough in the tests of time.

[turbonium]

yeah. it isn't their sophmore album.

but good try :P

not to mention they didn't tour like at all in the last year... i think they did only like 40 shows.

[Web250]

Not their sophmore effort, Four Wall Blackmail --> New Medicines --> Vices

[J to the Osh]

i have to disagree. i really like what i've heard so far.. i mean dusty redmond (ex beloved) plays guitar for them. just because they don't scream that shouldnt mean it isnt intense. GAD made the most instense album this year without one scream..

[a_sk8r]

i'll have to agree with you guys

[petey536]

ouch, i probably wont be buying this one after all

[neo506]

Actually I think Maynard James Keenan would be pretty embarrassed. That said, the record is better than I expected with the "nu" sound, though Id say a score in the low 60's is about right.

[turbonium]

I have to agree with the reviewer and disagree with Josh. GAD's new album is not intense nor is pleasing the ears. I used to be the biggest GAD nerd but their new album was a huge disappointment (minus pearl station).

I haven't heard this album all the way through yet, but what I've heard has totally turned me off from them. I loved Four Wall Blackmail and New Medicines, but this isn't anything special and lacks the edge to get listeners minds into the music and sticking to their ears.

[Hidenothing27]

I was pleasently surprised with this album. From the demos I heard I thought it was going to blow but the second half of the cd is great. He has a lot of emotion in his voice and he has a strong set of pipes. His range reminds me of Gleason in how to start a fire.

[chris1152]

How would you define "touring like a machine"?

Dead Poetic has done little to no touring over the past year, I don't know how it was before that but I do know that they haven't done enough touring to provoke such a comment.

As others have said, this is not their sophomore effort (Four Wall Blackmail + New Medicines + Vices), but good review otherwise. I think I'll still check this album out, the new songs didn't sit with me at first but they grew on me a bit.

[weworemasks]

great review gabe. i'm loving this cd so far.
as far as their records go, four wall blackmail is by far their worst.
"in coma" and "vices" are my favorite tracks so far.

[Gabe Gross]

Not their sophmore effort, Four Wall Blackmail --> New Medicines --> Vicescompletely blanked on that album. fixed.

Actually I think Maynard James Keenan would be pretty embarrassed. That said, the record is better than I expected with the "nu" sound, though Id say a score in the low 60's is about right. sarcasm

[dlaug]

"paralytic" is actually four and a half minutes and does have percussion, i believe you are actually speaking of "animals".

[Gabe Gross]

"paralytic" is actually four and a half minutes and does have percussion, i believe you are actually speaking of "animals".
you know what...im glad that was brought up. tooth and nail keep sending outadvances with completely different track titles and whatnot. this has happened before. I'm going to go with what I have and how the lyrics match up with what they gave me. If they are wrong when it is officially released, I will fix it. But because Tooth and Nail has done this before. I'm not going to scramble for their mistake.

[Pass The Flask]

i like vices a lot more than new medicines. i was never a huge fan of this band and wasn't expecting a lot, but i was kinda shocked at how good the album turned out to be.

[weworemasks]

you know what...im glad that was brought up. tooth and nail keep sending outadvances with completely different track titles and whatnot. this has happened before. I'm going to go with what I have and how the lyrics match up with what they gave me. If they are wrong when it is officially released, I will fix it. But because Tooth and Nail has done this before. I'm not going to scramble for their mistake.

way to stick it to tha man!!!!!!!

[*crying stars*]

i guess their different sound just didn't cut it.

[Xain]

I have actually enjoyed this record alot so far. After 5 or 6 listens, it's really grown on me.

[theguy]

yeah, uninformed article. dead poetic never tours, and did about two tours in the two years between new medicines and vices. sweet dudes though.

[Drew Beringer]

I would give this like a 7.

[J to the Osh]

fans of eighteen visions will really be drawn to this album. not saying i like them or anything, but the similarities are definitely there.

[Greg.Kushlan]

i'll probably download some of this before i decide to buy the new album..

[disfiguredid]

i'll probably download some of this before i decide to buy the new album..

you can stream on purevolume/myspace. or you can be an asshole and download. your call.

[Greg.Kushlan]

you can stream on purevolume/myspace. or you can be an asshole and download. your call.
ive heard those and want to hear different songs.
i guess i'll be an asshole since i dont want to spend $13.99 on something i might not like.

[eversoinviting]

i don't wanna be a dick or anything but don't review cds from bands you don't know to much about

[disfiguredid]

i don't wanna be a dick or anything but don't review cds from bands you don't know to much about

ha, thank you. i think you summed up this thread.

seriously, did they send you a bio? did you read it? is it wrong too and you're gonna blame tooth and nail for it???

[[Mike]]

I completely disagree, I love this CD very much.

[Marsbar]

I'm really not sure about this CD...
I was really into the whole 'screamo' scene when I bought New Medicines... I just heard the title track and sprung the money for it. It's now one of my favorite CDs... But when I heard the new demos I couldn't believe my ears. They sounded awful and everyone (EVERYONE!) was complaining about their new sound. I heard Narcotic early this summer and hated them even more. Recently, In Coma's been growing on me. I will buy the CD, I enjoyed their last one enough to do that, but I think they should've tried for a good CD, not the whole "let's make the best CD ever!" (<-- which they did try to do, and apparently failed!) I mean, if you don't try you won't fail!
And what's the deal with them dropping off the Red Jumpsuit tour? Will I ever see them? (Not that I wanted to see Jumpsuit at all)

[gottastayfly]

ill have to agree with this. i dont like the new stuff. In fact I LOVE the first two releases. They are actually among my fav. cds. As i visit the myspace and hear this new stuff i'm disappointed. Not only with that but they jumped ship on the red jumpsuit apparatus tour which in my opinion would've helped them so much.

oh well.maybe one day

[[Mike]]

I'm really not sure about this CD...
I was really into the whole 'screamo' scene when I bought New Medicines... I just heard the title track and sprung the money for it. It's now one of my favorite CDs... But when I heard the new demos I couldn't believe my ears. They sounded awful and everyone (EVERYONE!) was complaining about their new sound. I heard Narcotic early this summer and hated them even more. Recently, In Coma's been growing on me. I will buy the CD, I enjoyed their last one enough to do that, but I think they should've tried for a good CD, not the whole "let's make the best CD ever!" (<-- which they did try to do, and apparently failed!) I mean, if you don't try you won't fail!
And what's the deal with them dropping off the Red Jumpsuit tour? Will I ever see them? (Not that I wanted to see Jumpsuit at all)

Yeah, I got into Dead Poetic at the "musical timeline" I was really digging screamo. I'm actually glad they redefined their sound, I am not so much into it anymore and the "genre" (using that term loosely) it greatly oversaturated. I also did hear the negative backlash about all the demos, I guess it was good that I never ended up hearing them.

They dropped off that tour because some members of the band wanted to spend time with their families, no one was leaving the band, as rumors stated.

[traumalikerain]

this cd sucks so much.

[InaGreendase]

This is actually a surprisingly decent alt-rock album. I found myself singing along with a few of the songs after a couple spins.

Not as good as New Medicines, but I guess it depends whether you prefer alt-rock or the better of the nü-screamo group.

[Chris Fallon]

Pretty sure Maynard would shit on this record, but whatever, haha.

I like "Narcotic," but as for the rest? Sounds like mish-mash radio garbage to me. Not really a fan, and having Aaron Sprinkle produce seems, to me at least, to be the wrong choice.

[WakingTheMisery]

You guys are all pricks. This album sucks, leave it at that.

[buffziz]

Dude this album does not suck at all. Its a great album. New Medicines was f in sweet and is one of my favorites, but the new lineup and new sound redifines these guys and older fans should still be fans but expect a surprise. People mature over time and this is what this album represents. Maturity. Overall I give it an 8.8. BUY IT!! You wanna buy a gay album. Go buy My Chemical Romances new one and and go hang out with all the 12 year olds at there concerts.

[a_sk8r]

by far their best album

[Shatter_Glass]

Hmmmm this review didn't make me want to check this record out, or NOT check this record out. HMMMM.

[illdietryn]

I got my full copy of the CD today. and maybe it's just me, but i really like this cd. I'd even go as far as to say I may like it better then New Medicines. Comparing the two really does no justice, as they aren't really the same sound either, in my opinion.

Now, I've been waiting for this CD forever, I remember when they first announced they were recording and I was stoked. When I first heard Narcotic, I couldn't stop hitting repeat. When they released the slower songs, I was kinda like "meeehhh." I was scared this record would just be mediocre, with a few stand out tracks. Now hearing the slower songs and actually having a moment to digest them, they are great, and I think this is a really solid release by them. I really enjoy it, and personally I think it's score should be a little higher, I do believe this record is above just "average." But then again, opinions differ, so bleh.

I think it's really great though, and I don't really think the review did it much justice (I do understand you've got some mixed up CD though and will take that into account.)

I also can't wait to hear them announce a show near here, because I will definately be there.

[jakes1725]

Okay so anyone who said this cd sucks is stupid. Im sorry but this cd does not suck. Its very very good its just as good as new med. if youre stupid enough to compare them. But in reality you cannot compare them because they are completely different cds. And for anyone who like the whole screaming which i do like. Its on this cd aswell. In almost all the songs there is screaming of some sorts. I don't know why everyone is hatin on this cd. Its not mediocre its great. But hey we are all intitled to our own opinion..even if some of your opinions suck.

[yanks2np]

I love this album, it reminds me of New Medicines, but it isn't the same thing. Gonna pick it up!

[ThisIsNotDan]

i like this cd. oh well.

RIP dead poetic

[ThisIsABoy]

When I first heard this album I found it hard to like it. There were a few songs I liked but not many. To this day I find it hard to point out my stand-out favorite tracks but after a couple of months Id havta say that it is one of my favorite albums. Each song just backs up another and as a whole, this album is so good to listen to. The song orders are well arrange and its great! I think the review is fine. Fair enough id havta say.

[chocolate]

personally I thought the album sucked ...