juan_believes
08/07/08, 03:50 PM
The Midway State - Holes
Record Label: Remedy / Interscope
Release Date: July 22, 2008 (Canada)
About four years ago, on my way out from the Civic Tour concert (Dashboard Confessional, The Get Up Kids, Say Anything, and Thrice) there were a couple of guys giving out CDs featuring three songs from their band. The next day, not expecting much, I put the CD on. I have been waiting for a full-length album from this band since then; to say that I was hooked is an understatement.
The Midway State play piano driven pop rock that's as catchy as it gets. Produced by Gavin Brown (Billy Talent, Three Days Grace), Holes is the band's first full-length album, finally bringing my wait to an end.
The album starts with the single "Never Again," and I knew I was in for something good when the first notes of singer/songwriter Nathan Ferraro's piano hit my ears. Soon after the rest of the band comes in for an energetic introduction, and then we go into the bass drum driven verse and we hear Ferraro's voice sing "Hey, you surround me, like a blanket, in my bed..." The song then builds up into a poppy chorus with falsetto vocals, which is certain to get me some strange looks when I find myself singing along in my car; it's a great way to start an album.
The next three songs on the album are from last year's Met a Man on Top of the Hill EP. "Change for You" is one of my favourites and has probably one of the catchiest bridges ever written. "Fireflies" is an edgy track with a quiet/soft to loud/hard style. This song (previously named "A Million Fireflies") must be over four years old.
The title track, "Holes," showcases Ferraro's catchy songwriting. Accompanied by his piano and an acoustic guitar, the verse builds up into a melodic chorus with wonderful back-up vocals. "Where Did We Go?" is one of my favourites. I love the way the high and low vocals reply to each other in the chorus, as well as how the guitar and piano do the same in the bridge.
"Fire Keeps on Burning" is an energetic bass driven track with a cool 80's vibe. Finally, the album closes off with "No Crying," an emotional song that again shows the wonderful job that this band does in creating pop songs, and that producer Gavin Brown has done in polishing them.
One of my only complaints is that while the album booklet includes some nice pictures of the band, it doesn't include lyrics, a major disappointment.
The Midway State stick faithfully to the classic verse/chorus/verse/chorus/bridge/chorus formula, which tends to get repetitive, and even though it would have been nice to hear them try something different, the formula works perfectly for them. While nothing ground-breaking, Holes presents such good pop songs that it's hard not to listen.
Jack's Mannequin, We Shot the Moon, Straylight Run, Augustana, The Rocket Summer
myspace.com/themidwaystate (http://www.myspace.com/themidwaystate)
Record Label: Remedy / Interscope
Release Date: July 22, 2008 (Canada)
About four years ago, on my way out from the Civic Tour concert (Dashboard Confessional, The Get Up Kids, Say Anything, and Thrice) there were a couple of guys giving out CDs featuring three songs from their band. The next day, not expecting much, I put the CD on. I have been waiting for a full-length album from this band since then; to say that I was hooked is an understatement.
The Midway State play piano driven pop rock that's as catchy as it gets. Produced by Gavin Brown (Billy Talent, Three Days Grace), Holes is the band's first full-length album, finally bringing my wait to an end.
The album starts with the single "Never Again," and I knew I was in for something good when the first notes of singer/songwriter Nathan Ferraro's piano hit my ears. Soon after the rest of the band comes in for an energetic introduction, and then we go into the bass drum driven verse and we hear Ferraro's voice sing "Hey, you surround me, like a blanket, in my bed..." The song then builds up into a poppy chorus with falsetto vocals, which is certain to get me some strange looks when I find myself singing along in my car; it's a great way to start an album.
The next three songs on the album are from last year's Met a Man on Top of the Hill EP. "Change for You" is one of my favourites and has probably one of the catchiest bridges ever written. "Fireflies" is an edgy track with a quiet/soft to loud/hard style. This song (previously named "A Million Fireflies") must be over four years old.
The title track, "Holes," showcases Ferraro's catchy songwriting. Accompanied by his piano and an acoustic guitar, the verse builds up into a melodic chorus with wonderful back-up vocals. "Where Did We Go?" is one of my favourites. I love the way the high and low vocals reply to each other in the chorus, as well as how the guitar and piano do the same in the bridge.
"Fire Keeps on Burning" is an energetic bass driven track with a cool 80's vibe. Finally, the album closes off with "No Crying," an emotional song that again shows the wonderful job that this band does in creating pop songs, and that producer Gavin Brown has done in polishing them.
One of my only complaints is that while the album booklet includes some nice pictures of the band, it doesn't include lyrics, a major disappointment.
The Midway State stick faithfully to the classic verse/chorus/verse/chorus/bridge/chorus formula, which tends to get repetitive, and even though it would have been nice to hear them try something different, the formula works perfectly for them. While nothing ground-breaking, Holes presents such good pop songs that it's hard not to listen.
Jack's Mannequin, We Shot the Moon, Straylight Run, Augustana, The Rocket Summer
myspace.com/themidwaystate (http://www.myspace.com/themidwaystate)