Audition, The - Champion

[Drew Beringer]

The Audition – Champion
Release Date: January 22, 2008
Record Label: Victory

I couldn’t hold my excitement last week when I saw a package from Victory Records sitting in my mailbox, as I knew I had just received Champion, the latest release from The Audition. As I gleefully ripped open the envelope, I was thinking of how much I enjoyed their debut album, Controversy Loves Company (which is one of the better debuts in Victory’s history), and wondering how, and if, this Chicago pop-punk could top it.

The first three thoughts that came to my mind after my first listen were:
1. Danny Stevens’ vocal style has changed.
2. It’s ridiculously catchy.
3. Man, they must have listened to a lot of Maroon 5 and Justin Timberlake.

It was evident to my ears that The Audition has added even more of a pop influence into their brand of aggressive rock and roll. And while Champion will be viewed as a change in direction from the debut, the energy is higher than ever, and you’ll have a blast driving to this album in your car.

The other thing I noticed is that this album is rather short. Clocking in at only ten tracks and 37 minutes, Champion hits you hard and hits you fast. And you hear the difference immediately between the two albums with opener “Basbhat.” A groovy, dance-oriented track, it threw me off upon first listen. “Warm Me Up,” the first single, feature big guitars and a pre-chorus channeling “Cry Me A River” from the aforementioned Timberlake. You can definitely hear some Maroon 5 influence in “Hell To Sell,” which will probably become a staple in the band’s live show, with its tantalizing guitar riffs and groovy bass line. The track sounds like it just barely missed getting on It Won’t Be Soon Before Long, and it’s incredibly fun.

The Audition drop a ballad (complete with falsetto!), “What Gets You Through The Night," between rockers “Ether” and “Shady Business,” both of which feature roaring guitars and drums that pound into your skull. The most fun track comes in the form of “Make It Rain,” and while Pacman Jones doesn’t make an appearance, the chorus is just as rambunctious and loud, and will make you want to throw dollar bills all over the place. And the album closes with the quintet taking a journey to the Wild, Wild West and taking cues from labelmates The Forecast, as “Have Gun, Will Travel” sounds like it is being played in a Saloon with a quick drum beat and fastened vocals and guitar work.

What you’ll realize on Champion is that The Audition is changing up their style. The majority of tracks don’t follow the same path set forward on Controversy, rather going in direction that can span more genres. And the end result is an album that will polarize The Audition’s fan base. And many will jump the gun on this album, claim it as “disappointing” and immediately discard it. Take it for what it is. While the lyrics waver from average to downright bad, the music and energy counterbalance that. If you want a fun album to get you through the cold winter months, then Champion should be one of your top choices.

Track Listing:
1. Basbhat
2. Warm Me Up
3. Heaven For The Weather
4. Edinboro
5. Hell To Sell
6. Ether
7. What Gets You Through The Night
8. Shady Business
9. Make It Rain
10. Have Gun, Will Travel

The Audition are:
Danny Stevens – vocals
Seth Johnson – lead guitar
Timmy Klepek – guitar
Joe Lussa – bass
Ryan O'Connor – drums

Buy it now: http://ax.phobos.apple.com.edgesuite.net/images/badgeitunes61x15dark.gif (http://click.linksynergy.com/fs-bin/stat?id=dbziBg1FBPw&offerid=78941&type=3&subid=0&tmpid=1826&RD_PARM1=http%253A%252F%252Fphobos. apple.com%252FWebObjects%252FMZStor e.woa%252Fwa%252FviewAlbum%253Fi%25 3D271159117%2526id%253D271159115%25 26s%253D143441%2526partnerId%253D30 )

Official Website (http://www.theauditionrocks.com); Official Myspace (http://www.myspace.com/theaudition)

[mattybobviously]

I might actually listen to this now.

[billyboatkid]

I love this album, the lyrics aren't the best but I still love it, just give it a few listens and it will stick with you for sure. I also don't think they changed that much, it's just new and improved, and Danny's voice sounds even better then before. But good review.

[thedondeluge]

I might actually pick this album up sooner than later.

[lenard27]

I love the Audition. Their debut is one of my favorites and I've heard most of this and I'm pumped to hear the rest. Can't wait till it arrives (hopefully) on the 22nd.

[rodericknj]

Awesome review. I couldn't agree more with the Maroon 5 and Justin Timberlake likeness. My thoughts exactly.

[pshh]

drew, riot or champion?

[drudo182]

Good review, just noticed this though; "hits you hard and hits your fast". Should it be "you fast" as well.

As for the album, it's pretty good and I agree on the lyrics grade. Could have been better.

[LGRE]

i'll probably go ahead and pick it up .. kudos ..

[turbonium]

interesting how i can vote multiple times for a review.

i'll take blame but i wasn't trying to hose their score.

[Kurt Retenauer]

i liked controversy a little better, but this album is still pretty good. good review drew.

[MattRM]

I like this album. I never really got into Controversy, I listened to it a few times but nothing really stuck with me.

[Drew Beringer]

drew, riot or champion?
champion easily

[jrtbighurt]

What's going on with the member Ratings...haha

[OptimusBeard]

Isn't the track called "What Gets You Through The Night," not "Can You, Will You?" That's what their website says anyway.

[bailmeout13]

What the hell is going on with the Member Ratings? Average: 1785732222%?

[drive-thru]

awesome review. i'll buy it.

[MCSmate]

I'm thinking of picking this up. The boys did good on their second album, though it took a bit of a different sound. No doubt it'd good though.

[evan324]

haha.. thats a really high member rating.. must be great. i am excited to hear this cd though.

[chandler7287]

What's going on with the member Ratings...haha
Vocals10007.3Musicianship7.25Lyrics 7.8Production8.2Creativity8.93Lasti ng Value8.95Reviewer Tilt1000000009.55 Average: 1428585797%
must be a bad ass album...and, apparently, the vocals are a godsend...

[Daniel Thompson]

looks like champion it is!
i can't wait for tuesday

[Chico]

Great review. I'll pick this up when they play at the highline ballroom.

[ashorterstory]

im all for bands growing and developing but i gave this record its time and it still hasnt stuck. his "new" vocal styling might be pleasing to the ear but the hooks arent catchy.

[LikeACat]

22 and wetting himself to tween tailored pop-punk.

[ThisIsNotDan]

nice review Drew!

unfortunately this cd has the same problem as the last; 3-4 excellent tracks in the beginning, but then its not as good later

[NotThtKndaGirl]

I like this album. I never really got into Controversy, I listened to it a few times but nothing really stuck with me.

definitely agreed. i liked Controversy, but i can't stop listening to Champion.

[Drew Beringer]

Isn't the track called "What Gets You Through The Night," not "Can You, Will You?" That's what their website says anyway.
It's called "Can You, Will You?" on my iPod. so I dunno

[Drew Beringer]

22 and wetting himself to tween tailored pop-punk.
Please, wetting myself? This won't even come close to being on any of my end of lists, if you paid closer attention you would see what kind of music I "wet" myself over. I don't listen to that much pop music like this. If anything I prefer music close to what's in your fuckin avatar.

[Tony Pascarella]

This album was a major disappointment to me.

[robhimself]

"warm me up" is really good.

[RyanAudizzle]

champion easily
you the man!

[RyanAudizzle]

This album was a major disappointment to me.
why?

[Cue the Sun]

I didn't like their debut for some reason, but this is seriously catchy. I'm impressed.

[allisterkid]

Hmm. Sounded pretty average to me on their myspace, but a Drew review is worth pirating an album and giving it a listen... err I mean buying an album and giving it a shot.

[themostdeplete]

i got the chance to have a phone interview with danny for my college newspaper this morning, and it went pretty well. the only shitty thing is i had to ask questions that would allow the general UH population to find out who the audition is, as opposed to asking the questions i really wanted to ask. i still have to review this album this weekend.

[wroteurname]

why after a band has a solid raw youthful pop punk debut they feel like they have to do something different that will never match thier first effort? like seriously every time

i just hope that if/when houston call's follow up comes out they wont follow this pattern

[Giuseppe]

why after a band has a solid raw youthful pop punk debut they feel like they have to do something different that will never match thier first effort? like seriously every time

i just hope that if/when houston call's follow up comes out they wont follow this pattern

I'm not against changing musical style, but I agree with you on this.
I love "Controversy...", but I really don't like the new album. I've been listening to it many many times (trying my best not to think back to their debut lp), and the more I listen, the more I think it's a huge letdown. Too bad...Anyway, I'll take the chance to listen again to controversy loves company, which is still one of my favourite albums.

[Joe DeAndrea]

Definitely my favorite album that I've heard so far this year.

[all time (joe)]

this album is goi nto bring theAudition back form the shadows man.

they went what, 3 years without new stuff?

yeah this is definatley going to be worth the wait

[Swayback]

Danny's voice does indeed sound better. The better improvement is his voice live. He wasn't that good a few years back, but nowadays he rocks on stage.

[indieira]

i know it's just your opinion...... but i'm not digging his "new vocal style".

i don't know. sounds too polished. i miss the raw feeling i felt controversy had.


dont get me wrong, danny can fucking sing his ass off. and i do love the audition. and im sure i'll get into this album once i give it a chance.


but right now, ugh.

[huckleberry]

i have a feeling that i wont like this as good as controversy, but i will most likely pick it up anyway because i love the band

[dirty dianna]

i am so excited to here all the positive feedback from everyone. these boys have improved so much, and i think its going to be a cd that takes you all the way through summer. this time next year, i think they will be on trl (if it's still around).

[billyboatkid]

The only way any follow-up album from a band will sound the same is if it were the same damn songs. So going into a cd thinking its gonna be the same is already a horrible way to look at it. Expect something new, open your ears.

[pgizzle312]

I've been a fan for a while, and secretly had hoped they would make there second album sound exactly the same as Controversy, but I was ever so wrong.

It's amazing.

Warm me Up and Make it Rain are going to ultimately become classics.

[iwuvzebraboy]

its so goooood imo

[I was Brad]

this is extremely catchy and the lyrics are poor

[pgizzle312]

oh and they are totally already have them out at PacSun.
Griffin family bought three copies.
Yeah Boy.

[Freeride]

What a shit review........this will be one of the best cd's out this year, you should actually post the lyrics you think are bad coz im having trouble finding out which lyrics are that bad..........I loved there first cd but i like champion way more, this cd deserves a 9 not a 7.........shit review.....

[Romancebled]

Definitely my favorite album that I've heard so far this year.

I agree... along with The New Frontiers album.

[Romancebled]

What a shit review........this will be one of the best cd's out this year, you should actually post the lyrics you think are bad coz im having trouble finding out which lyrics are that bad..........I loved there first cd but i like champion way more, this cd deserves a 9 not a 7.........shit review.....

if you think this is a shit review, then you should try writing your own review.

[Freeride]

if you think this is a shit review, then you should try writing your own review.

k. here it is.

This is an awesome album. It deserves a 9. The End.

[destinationVero]

Good review Drew. I was deffentely expecting a lot different, but it does have it's enjoyable parts.
Are you going to be reviewing the new Protest the Hero?

[WhiteLies.]

I was disappointed upon first listen. Since giving it a few more tries, I've grown to like it a lot more. Good review.

[Alex DiVincenzo]

Little too much pop for my liking, but still good stuff

[Vismund_Cygnus]

Umm...what is up with the reviewer's tilt?

[RyanT]

What a shit review........this will be one of the best cd's out this year, you should actually post the lyrics you think are bad coz im having trouble finding out which lyrics are that bad..........I loved there first cd but i like champion way more, this cd deserves a 9 not a 7.........shit review.....


I agree about the lyrics. Just because they arent the same "clever" shit that everyone writes nowadays doesnt mean that they are bad. They fit the feel of the music perfectly.

[KalwithaK11]

good review. I agree. Its deff different than CLC but in a good way.. its not so much that generic pop punk sound.

good job

pick up this album!

[Moral_Orel]

haven't listened to it but i have to

[ishotthepilot]

good review Drew. the style doesn't sound *too* different to me, but maybe that's because i've been listening to Ediboro and Warm Me Up for weeks. i love that they changed it up instead of doing the same style every song... i don't get anyone saying anything about disappointment, i would be disappointed if it sounded exactly like Controversy.

again, the Audition leaves me wanting more though! what's with this 10 song thing?

[Keith21]

good review. i was excited to hear this cd, because for some reason, controversy was an album that never got old for me. i kept coming back to it and it was still good catchy pop. i think this one is more of the same, and i mean that in a very positive way.

[loveisdead]

I always enjoy reading your reviews, Drew. Good job. I'll have to pick this up and see what I think of it.

[birthstoned]

What's going on with the member Ratings...haha

exactly what i was thinking!

[jenny_ell]

nice review. i agree the cd rocks but is a little short, but still awesome

[taylerx0]

I really enjoy this album.

[a speedo model]

Since when was being compared to Maroon 5 and Justin Timberlake a good thing? I missed that.

[M.C COB]

yes!! so pumped to get this

[LakeShoreJordan]

I think this album is the shit

[AloneInTheDark]

I love the hip hop feel they put into this album, especially the bridge in Basbhat, where he starts in with that "you say don't stop, but it's all I got". Definitely a fresh album, I'm impressed.

[heartsdietoo]

This album was a major disappointment to me.

Really? I wasnt' expecting much from this album. Don't know why but a lot of bands that I've been having high hopes for have been disappointing me whith sophomore slumps. This album however, amazed the hell out of me. It's been on constant rotation in my car. Incredibly good driving music. Such a damn catchy album. I wasn't completely blown away at first listen, but give it a chance.

[applesandcyanid]

I heard some shit about the recording of this that makes me want to stay away from liking it too much.

[AloneInTheDark]

I heard some shit about the recording of this that makes me want to stay away from liking it too much.

like what?

[wroteurname]

Definitely my favorite album that I've heard so far this year.


thats a bold statement to make

in January

[RyanAudizzle]

like what?
yea like what?

[RyanAudizzle]

I heard some shit about the recording of this that makes me want to stay away from liking it too much.
really?

what?

[sweetestxsin]

i really like warm me up and edinboro. i really like how the audition is changing it up a bit.

more unexpected :)
can't wait to get the whole album!

[heartsdietoo]

I heard some shit about the recording of this that makes me want to stay away from liking it too much.

Maybe you should try listening to the album and then form an opinion. I think the music on the cd is what matters. Please share the shit you heard about recording this album. I think more bands should try it.

[Gumbyjag]

This album is getting rave reviews from users. Never have I seen an album with a better member average.

[Bruce_LeBeau]

I'm not sure that this album will be as good as "Controversy Loves Company". I've heard the first single, "Warm Me Up" and no offense, I think the song is kinda cheesy IMO. But, I don't know about the rest of it. And I'm gonna check out this album A.S.A.P.

[patriots_fan71]

This seems like a pretty solid album, although im only listening to what is posted on myspace. Is it the entire album? I suppose i could just count.

Anyways, im really enjoying 'Warm Me Up" but "Make It Rain" is definately the stand out track on this album for me.

Such a great song.

[PaintMeBlue]

What's going on with the member Ratings...haha

if it's that good i'll have to pick it up...i think i was going to pick it up anyways.

[pgizzle312]

Champion > Breathing.
I can't stop listening. Seriously.
February 8th will be the best day ever.

Hell to Sell and Make It Rain are giving Dancefloors Turn into Ghosttowns and Don't be So Hard a run for its money.

Amazing.

[emkvetwin]

ploan on downloading (legally). hope it matches up to CLC...

[kylecrowe]

Champion is amazing, i literally cannot stop listening to it, definitely a different style than CLC, and a great one at that. It is extremely catchy and i feel myself loving every song, i couldnt be more pleased with their sophomore album

[TLPvocals]

my initial thoughts after first listening to BASBHAT was...holy dick...which is a really good thing

[Mr_Ian]

Nice review Drew but...I don't think i could disagree with it more. I thought the album seemed like a band trying way too hard to be something they're not. I really liked "Controversy..." but this record just made me feel a bit weird. It's like an audio hard on, almost every song is about having sex or trying to get sex. I equate to standing beside some dude at a party who keeps turning to you and pointing to his boner while saying "this is my penis and I am going to use it." I'm like "way to go man but, get the hell away from me".

If I want an R Kelly record I'll get one, at least they're kinda funny too. This record just creeped me out.

[AdamTheGreat]

952381027% -Member average

The Audition is taking over the world.

[kissy0560]

bought it yesterday, i love it and its catchiness :)

[ScorchOurBodies]

Nice review Drew but...I don't think i could disagree with it more. I thought the album seemed like a band trying way too hard to be something they're not. I really liked "Controversy..." but this record just made me feel a bit weird. It's like an audio hard on, almost every song is about having sex or trying to get sex. I equate to standing beside some dude at a party who keeps turning to you and pointing to his boner while saying "this is my penis and I am going to use it." I'm like "way to go man but, get the hell away from me".

If I want an R Kelly record I'll get one, at least they're kinda funny too. This record just creeped me out.You pretty much just summed up the entire album.

What Gets Your Through The Night Have Gun, Will Travel, and Shady Business are the only ones that stand out to me. This is exactly what happened to June: A few good songs that could make it, and then the rest all about sex and horny teens.

[Adrian Villagomez]

Crazy ass member ratings.

[all time (joe)]

soooooo I went everywhere in the central minnesota area this past weekend and i couldn't find this ANYWHERE!

best buy, no. circuit city, no. target, no. walmart (yes i actually set foot in a walmart), no. WTF!

[topher465]

Although the lyrics aren't great, in my opinion a 5.75 is a little low.

[rockcore]

What a great cd...The Audtion has out done themselves. I cant wait to catch them on tour!!

[all time (joe)]

so i finally found this album at Pac Sun due to the fact that the audition is going to be headlining the Pac Tour annnnnnnnnd yeah it was a disappointment i feel. Warm me up is pretty good but i really didn't get a good vibe from any other tracks.

any suggestions on which ones to listen to more? i wanna like this album, i mean i waited like what 2 or 3 years for this? suggestions would be sweeeeet.

[lyricallyloved]

so i finally found this album at Pac Sun due to the fact that the audition is going to be headlining the Pac Tour annnnnnnnnd yeah it was a disappointment i feel. Warm me up is pretty good but i really didn't get a good vibe from any other tracks.

any suggestions on which ones to listen to more? i wanna like this album, i mean i waited like what 2 or 3 years for this? suggestions would be sweeeeet.

Umm, it all depends on what you're looking for. Most people, including me, like Hell to sell for the sexy lyrics and bassline. Basbhat, Edinboro and Ether are some of my favorites. I hope I helped out a little bit :]

[Sian!]

I got this album yesterday and I'm completely hooked.
They did a pretty good job.

[thedondeluge]

Very Solid Album.

[sick tunes]

perfect review. ive had this album since it came out but just read this. perfect.

[ScorchOurBodies]

Haha the member ratings still aren't fixed. XD

Best album in AP history apparently. ;)

[eatbabiesyum]

this is their best in my opinion

just REALLLYYYYY catchy

incredibly catchy

and i like the shortness :P