Klatzke
09/22/08, 09:52 AM
Striving for Better - A Good Place to Find Yourself
Record Label: None
Release Date: April 15, 2008
Who?
A pop/powerpop sextet from New Jersey featuring dual vocalists, one of which sounds eerily similar to Craig Owens.
How is it?
It's not anything groundbreaking, but they know what they're doing. Owens' protege adds an interesting element to their music that reminds me of Cinematic Sunrise. It's got the same dual-vocal styling of Forever The Sickest Kids and Mayday Parade, but with a bit more liberal use of vocal harmonies. The harmonies are really what make the songs shine, since both of their vocalists have considerably good voices. The musicianship isn't very impressive, but that's not really a surprise when you're dealing with this genre.
Most of the songs are extremely catchy, and "Hey Hey Katy" is easily on par with some of the bigger acts of the genre. As expected, the lyrics are fairly generic and tacky. It's really apparent in "So Shakespeare," which sports the lines: "I can / arrange the alphabet to / put you and I together, forever." While some of them are pretty cringe-worthy, overall they're no worse than any other pop album.
Overall, A Good Place To Find Yourself is a catchy, fun-filled EP. If you're looking for a pop band that you haven't already played to death, then Striving For Better is a perfect fit.
"Hey Hey Katy"; "So Shakespeare"; "Everything You Need"
Cinematic Sunrise; Forever the Sickest Kids; Mayday Parade
myspace.com/strivingforbetterrocks (http://www.myspace.com/strivingforbetterrocks)
Record Label: None
Release Date: April 15, 2008
Who?
A pop/powerpop sextet from New Jersey featuring dual vocalists, one of which sounds eerily similar to Craig Owens.
How is it?
It's not anything groundbreaking, but they know what they're doing. Owens' protege adds an interesting element to their music that reminds me of Cinematic Sunrise. It's got the same dual-vocal styling of Forever The Sickest Kids and Mayday Parade, but with a bit more liberal use of vocal harmonies. The harmonies are really what make the songs shine, since both of their vocalists have considerably good voices. The musicianship isn't very impressive, but that's not really a surprise when you're dealing with this genre.
Most of the songs are extremely catchy, and "Hey Hey Katy" is easily on par with some of the bigger acts of the genre. As expected, the lyrics are fairly generic and tacky. It's really apparent in "So Shakespeare," which sports the lines: "I can / arrange the alphabet to / put you and I together, forever." While some of them are pretty cringe-worthy, overall they're no worse than any other pop album.
Overall, A Good Place To Find Yourself is a catchy, fun-filled EP. If you're looking for a pop band that you haven't already played to death, then Striving For Better is a perfect fit.
"Hey Hey Katy"; "So Shakespeare"; "Everything You Need"
Cinematic Sunrise; Forever the Sickest Kids; Mayday Parade
myspace.com/strivingforbetterrocks (http://www.myspace.com/strivingforbetterrocks)