Thieves and Villains - Movement

[hockeyguitar99]

Thieves and Villains - Movement
Record Label: Victory Records
Release Date: July 8, 2008

Thieves and Villains, like many other bands, got signed after being featured in Alternative Press’s AP&R section. Signing with Victory Records, they quickly jumped into the studio to start working on a debut full-length. After all of their hard work, they walked out of the studio poised to take over the world. Releasing it on the same day as other pop-influenced albums, they fit with that particular group of release very well. As that day hit, Movement was released to us, an album that in some respects is good, but just doesn’t live up to the potential of the aforementioned demos.

The demo versions of the songs had a certain bite to them; it always felt like the lead singer really meant the words that he was pushing out. I feel that this one of things most absent on the record. In an attempt to polish the songs more, they covered up and even took away this aspect. The vocals feel emotionless at times, and that is something that is unforgivable in this genre.

With that said, the album does have parts where it shines. The drums hit harder and the guitars sound crisper; I feel that they add a lot to the songs in places that most bands wouldn’t have thought. The guitars on this record aren’t much more than the normal pop-punk guitars. They sound good and fit in well with the record but other than that, they don’t add much.

Overall, this record isn’t what it should have been. The production is a step up from the demos at far as the instrumentation goes. Unfortunately, the vocals sound overproduced and hold the record back from what it could be. The biggest thing that this album proves to me is that this band has potential, they just need to learn how to capture it. Once they do that, I have no doubt in my mind that they will take the pop-punk world by storm.

The Scenic, indie pop punk
myspace.com/thievesandvillains (http://www.myspace.com/thievesandvillains)

[sputniksignals]

Essentially the same review as Tony's just a higher score. Bottom line

[hockeyguitar99]

Essentially the same review as Tony's just a higher score. Bottom line


Sorry, I can only say how i feel about the album.

[sputniksignals]

Sorry, I can only say how i feel about the album.
No I just felt like pointing that out because I guarantee nobody will come in here and be like O U R BIASED and stupid shit like that

[Klatzke]

No I just felt like pointing that out because I guarantee nobody will come in here and be like O U R BIASED and stupid shit like that
Tony's was harsher. Maybe it says basically the same thing in writing but the score better reflects it in this case i think.

[sputniksignals]

Tony's was harsher. Maybe it says basically the same thing in writing but the score better reflects it in this case i think.
The truth hurts

[Klatzke]

Haha, if you don't like it then think that. But i've seen worse albums, and even pointedly worse get better scores than he gave TAV.

[sputniksignals]

Haha, if you don't like it then think that. But i've seen worse albums, and even pointedly worse get better scores than he gave TAV.
Once again all of this is opinion. Everything involving a review is an opinion

[Klatzke]

Once again all of this is opinion. Everything involving a review is an opinion
I know. I mean the reviewer bashed the album the entire time but yet gave it a better score. Some of Tony's scoring, to me, was kinda ridiculous, (lyrics, really).

I know this is all opinion. I was just stating mine. I didn't say that Tony's was wrong or anything, just that i didn't agree with it.

[sputniksignals]

I know. I mean the reviewer bashed the album the entire time but yet gave it a better score. Some of Tony's scoring, to me, was kinda ridiculous, (lyrics, really).

I know this is all opinion. I was just stating mine. I didn't say that Tony's was wrong or anything, just that i didn't agree with it.
I meant more your comment that you heard bands that were worse than TAV. That is up for discussion. But whatever. I listened to this band the other day and I got bored. Instantly.

[WFUJerseyJon]

Personally I agree with giving a bad album a bad score. If I were to tell you something is 70% good, wouldn't you think it's not that bad? Where as if I said 30% you'd know it was terrible.

[Klatzke]

Personally I agree with giving a bad album a bad score. If I were to tell you something is 70% good, wouldn't you think it's not that bad? Where as if I said 30% you'd know it was terrible.

Yeah, i do agree. I just don't find it bad at all.

I meant more your comment that you heard bands that were worse than TAV. That is up for discussion. But whatever. I listened to this band the other day and I got bored. Instantly.

I meant in the reviews the reviewer would constantly bash on them and yet give them a better score. I get your point, and im not disagreeing with you.

[sputniksignals]

I still think we're all in agreement that this album sucks. Correct assumption?

[Klatzke]

I still think we're all in agreement that this album sucks. Correct assumption?
I like it, but Im not dissing either reviewer.

[sputniksignals]

I like it, but Im not dissing either reviewer.
Good because you shouldn't

[Klatzke]

Good because you shouldn't
Haha? I dont. Trust me, i get the same shit in every one of my reviews, im not going to give anyone unnecessary shit for theirs.

[sputniksignals]

I'm thinking of starting writing reviews and being as blunt as possible. I mean sometimes you just can't care what people think, and some bands just need to hear the truth about how fucking stupid they look or sound. You can't judge a book by its cover, but any band that looks like douchebags often makes terrible music

[hockeyguitar99]

For everyone's information, the basic thing that I was trying to convey in my review was that I liked this record, but it should have been better. I don't know if effectively displayed this, but thats what I based it on.

[Klatzke]

For everyone's information, the basic thing that I was trying to convey in my review was that I liked this record, but it should have been better. I don't know if effectively displayed this, but thats what I based it on.
you're fine. lol, that was one of those randomly generated AP.net arguments.

[Chris Fallon]

I like Tony's more because his score is more realistic. This album is garbage, it throws away every bit of potential for a recycled sound and has absolutely no substance.

[sputniksignals]

I like Tony's more because his score is more realistic. This album is garbage, it throws away every bit of potential for a recycled sound and has absolutely no substance.

This was my point. Who cares if Tony's was "harsher". The two reviews tell the same tale and I think Tony's is more accurate scorewise. Potential is nothing in the present. Having potential is the worst thing ever because it means you're not what you should or could be - in this album's case, a halfway decent album.

[Young Machetes]

I like Tony's more because his score is more realistic. This album is garbage, it throws away every bit of potential for a recycled sound and has absolutely no substance.

I agree. With all the good releases on that same day, Thieves and Villians just can't keep up. Sorry guys, maybe try harder next time?

[Genuma]

Too high score. Album sucks. Not indie. Vocalists are supposed to mean what they're saying or the music is shit.

[tiffanyohhhh]

the single is pretty good

[Dymytry Vance]

For everyone's information, the basic thing that I was trying to convey in my review was that I liked this record, but it should have been better. I don't know if effectively displayed this, but thats what I based it on.
You did. Great review. But I'm seeming to like all of your reviews lately, Brad. That's your name, right?