A Day to Remember - Old Record

[Blake Solomon]

A Day To Remember – Old Record
Record Label: Victory Records
Release Date: October 28, 2008

Jeremy McKinnon is a scrawny dude. He has a thick beard and, other than some gauged ears, looks like your normal pizza delivery dude or community college dropout. But, duh, looks can be deceiving. This guy is the definition of two-in-one. He handles both the nasally melodic vocals and I’ve-got-a-werewolf-in-my-throat growls for A Day To Remember. It’s like if Jekyll and Hyde was chased by tweens in neon instead of policemen in bell-shaped hats. However, it’s fairly safe to say these stupid people are onto something. Dummies can get lucky every now and then (http://www.tmz.com/2008/01/16/is-spade-going-to-be-a-daddy/). Yes, sure, I’m fully aware all the “smart” music fans on this site hate (like totally despise!) ADTR. Hey! All you crabbypants need to cheer up and hitch a ride on xXshaantluverXx’s bandwagon. She beat you to it, and you better believe she’s going to rub it in your face.

I’m surprised ADTR decided to re-release 2005’s And Their Name Was Treason as Old Record since, you know, Indianola is such a powerhouse label. Bombshell’s fanclub is probably boycotting the shit out of this thing, but f**k ‘em, ADTR can do without their support! This remastered version isn’t anything to go nuts over if you own the original, but for those of us (read: me) who first heard the band last year, this is a nice treat. The style and speed heard on For Those Who Have Heart is still here. “Nineteen Fifty Eight”, for example, could easily have been on that record: lyrics about murder, excessive doublebass and McKinnon wailing like the last Hot Topic on Earth is about to close. But you have to hand it to these guys, there’s a certain drama and attention to sidestepping lackluster repetitions that makes Old Record feel new each time. (Yes, I played off the album title. Sue me.)

There’s not much point to detailing each song. It’s pretty easy to get the gist of things by the halfway point of “Heart Less.” Pummeling guitars go right to the brink of annoyance before either A.) Settling into a dark breakdown or B.) Jazzing things up with some technical shredding. What’s not to like? The lyrics here are a bit more honest than …Have Heart since that record was all about “making it.” Here we have uncertainty and unusually bloody breakup fare (“Heart Less” even has a gun shot), but we also have some cheeseball lover moments: “I’ve never seen a smile that can light the room like yours.” That line is from the one campfire ballad (and by campfire I mean a smoldering Abercrombie & Fitch) entitled “You Had Me @ Hello.” The song replaces screaming and anger with acoustic guitars and drum machines. It’s pretty weak, but then again so am I. Plus, its placement right before barnburner “Nineteen Fifty Eight” is quite deft (that means clever or smart, xXshaantluverXx. Please don’t kill me.)

I don’t know what you want from me, but I like Old Record. It’s short, aggressive and tolerable, perfect for those of you (read: me) who have a fleshy patch where your nuts used to be. A Day To Remember will release a new record early next year, and I expect it’ll blow up. With very few missteps, they’ve figured out this whole pop-metal thing. And despite all the asshole contained within this review, I wholeheartedly support Old Record.


Recommended If You Like: Bombshell, Atreyu, pop+, Four Year Strong, culture


www.myspace.com/adaytoremember

[thatwasamoment]

It’s pretty weak, but then again so am I.

heh

[fadedmemories]

“Nineteen Fifty Eight”, for example, could easily have been on that record: lyrics about murder, excessive doublebass and McKinnon wailing like the last Hot Topic on Earth is about to close

:appl:

[Klatzke]

I actually liked it more before it was re-recorded. Not real sure why.

[cereal4life]

Haha dope review Blake! Gimme me some of dat laffy taffy, ooooh yeah!

[ddb43]

Review is much better than the band.

[what_ever]

Review is much better than the band.

This.

[FaceLixeMurder]

I guess I have been seeing that fleshy patch of no ball zone all too often because I am really liking ADTR, all of the sudden they have gotten pretty popular, even if it is with the little high school kids, I am down

[fashionshowdown]

nice 40yr old virgin reference. Had this CD 2 years back, and it's been nothing short of incredible. Heartless & "Casablanca Sucked Anyways" have some amazing lyrics.

[TheHays]

well i'm neither in high school or without a ballsack, yet i still love a day to remember. weird, huh? oh, and this entire review was a failed attempt at humor. better luck next time.

[Blake Solomon]

well i'm neither in high school or without a ballsack, yet i still love a day to remember. weird, huh? oh, and this entire review was a failed attempt at humor. better luck next time.


shoot!

[Blake Solomon]

nice 40yr old virgin reference. Had this CD 2 years back, and it's been nothing short of incredible. Heartless & "Casablanca Sucked Anyways" have some amazing lyrics.


ha, i actually couldn't remember what movie that was from. Thanks for the heads-up. I typically suck at movie quotes or the like.

[fashionshowdown]

ha, i actually couldn't remember what movie that was from. Thanks for the heads-up. I typically suck at movie quotes or the like.

no worries, i have an uncanny ability to quote jude apatow/will ferrell movies at will.

[Co and Ca]

how come all of their shirts look like someone vomited fruity pebbles? anyways, i don't care for this band at all, but good review. it kept my attention for a band who can't keep mine.

[Blake Solomon]

no worries, i have an uncanny ability to quote jude apatow/will ferrell movies at will.


these days that's enough to get you a job in hollywood

[JTMcKrackles]

Nice review, although I'd say this album deserves at least a 90%. And Their Name Was Treason is still amazing, and this remastering makes it even better. All in my opinion, of course.

[voncorn]

Nice review, although I'd say this album deserves at least a 90%. And Their Name Was Treason is still amazing, and this remastering makes it even better. All in my opinion, of course.

That is WAY too high of a score for what is essentially a nearly four year old rookie half-hearted attempt at clashing together metalcore and pop-punk. Not to say it's completely atrocious, but it's certainly no masterpiece by any means. I think the score it earned in this review is just right.

[altemose09]

so is this just remastered or is it also rerecorded. i don't want to waste my money picking it up if its just remastered. i wanted to hear some new vocals laid down for this.

[Alex DiVincenzo]

I like your reviews, Blake -- they're fun! -- but this one seemed like it was trying too hard. Not bad, just not your best work.

[Nolessthanblink]

I like ADTR a lot

[steveo2358]

I love this remaster, the quality is so much better than the original.

[MorningStar10]

Good review, agree with the bulk of it.

[d00d81that]

i like adtr. i like old record..
good review :]

[Blake Solomon]

I like your reviews, Blake -- they're fun! -- but this one seemed like it was trying too hard. Not bad, just not your best work.


haha. I wouldn't say I tried any harder than usual. I think this is one of my funnier reviews to be honest. I love it. I entered into a review contest. It got first place. My mom is proud.

[live.]

This band is so fun.

[ReadyForAction]

The review brings the lulz
I don't like this band, mostly because my friends played ...Have Heart to death

[Alex DiVincenzo]

haha. I wouldn't say I tried any harder than usual. I think this is one of my funnier reviews to be honest. I love it. I entered into a review contest. It got first place. My mom is proud.

Haha well congratulations

[Heart-A-Tact]

I bought this because I didn't have the original, and I like it. Pretty spot-on score.

[Chuck!]

hilarious review, well done

[Chuck!]

so is this just remastered or is it also rerecorded. i don't want to waste my money picking it up if its just remastered. i wanted to hear some new vocals laid down for this.

remastered.

[Or!]

A Day to Remember has been a love for a few years, though I doubt this record will have any mind-blowing affects. Nontheless, I'll download it when I get home.

[cory-182]

Two things:

1. Did anyone notice that there's not a symbol for Casey on the back next to Beatz and Raybeez?

1. Did anyone notice that they used the exact same liner notes from the original? They even have Bobby's thank you's and he's not even in the band.

[boykosaurus]

Haven't liked what I've heard personally, but it's not terrible.

"culture"? Haha.

[boykosaurus]

That is WAY too high of a score for what is essentially a nearly four year old rookie half-hearted attempt at clashing together metalcore and pop-punk. Not to say it's completely atrocious, but it's certainly no masterpiece by any means. I think the score it earned in this review is just right.

:eyebrow:

[voncorn]

:eyebrow:

I was quoting the kid who said that it should have gotten at least a 90%. In the last sentence I'm acknowledging how I agree with Blake's score.

[albertofernande]

My favourite songs:

U Had Me @ Hello
U Should Have Killed Me When U Had The Chance
Your Way With Words Is Through Silence

[mybreakingpoint]

Great review, terrible record, awful band.

[Klatzke]

The song titles are enough to make me lol on this one.

[Boadrummer]

I actually liked it more before it was re-recorded. Not real sure why.

Wasn't re-recorded. Remixed and remastered.

[Dunn.Nope]

whats with all these kids calling a day to remember terrible? if you don't like hardcore, don't post?

[Klatzke]

Wasn't re-recorded. Remixed and remastered.
Well then that. Idk what it was about it, i just liked it. They did lay down new vocals for those two tracks on the FTWHW re-release, which i though they did on this album as well.

[Shrillex]

good review. i have for those without heart already and i was wondering if this was worth it. thanks for the review

[Chemical Love]

Cant wait till my pre-order comes in.

[ZoSo1886]

i find it hard to take a band serious that has choreographed stage moves

[werealldudes19]

good review

[heyzombiehitler]

I actually enjoy this band. But this is the most pointless release this year.

[MattyD]

whats with all these kids calling a day to remember terrible? if you don't like hardcore, don't post?

I wouldent say ADTR is hardcore.

[cscwell107]

You Should Have Killed Me When You Had the Chance" is one of my favorite songs of all time.

[cscwell107]

four year strong blow ass.

You blow ass and your opinions on music blow ass.

[Blake Solomon]

You blow ass and your opinions on music blow ass.


rawr rawr rawr rawr

[Kbm600]

aww boo hoo if you don't like it then
http://www.b0dhi.com/gtfo.barker.jpg

Win!


I dunno what to think of this release, some of the songs are just horrid (I never listened to the original release), but some are pretty good. I'm looking forward to their new release.

[Dunn.Nope]

I wouldent say ADTR is hardcore.

you wouldn't consider breakdowns and growls with poppy choruses hardcore? I must be out of the loop

pretty soon all the top 40 stations will be playing this i assume?

[saysmydoctor]

You blow ass and your opinions on music blow ass.
pickitup'd
rawr rawr rawr rawr
:lol:

[TuskandTemper]

who reviews a an old cd? there's nothing different about it. except for some of the titles.

[superBMRuth]

when they announced this and that they were re-recording and rewriting it, i thought it would be more like the revamped versions of Heartless and You Should've Killed Me that were on the "For Those Who Have Heart" re-release. Instead all i got was something that sounded slightly different and very rough. I like it, but it's not anything like i expected it to be.



god that's alot of fucking "re's"

[TheBaroness]

haha, good review

[thedullard]

"old record" was most certainly re-rerecorded in a lot of aspects. all the drums now are alex, not bobby, and most of the guitars were re-recorded. the vocals were what didn't have much done with.

[symbiote28]

even as an ADTR fan, i really see this release as pointless ..

[MattyD]

you wouldn't consider breakdowns and growls with poppy choruses hardcore? I must be out of the loop

pretty soon all the top 40 stations will be playing this i assume?

I've been waiting for Sick of it all, Bane, Agnostic Front, Comeback kid to add in those poppy choruses so I can consider myself a fan of hardcore.

[TurnOnTheLight]

what the hell. why does this band take so much hate? i like them, but they're certainly not genre-defining nor hate-worthy. "For Those Who Have Heart" has lots of strong moments. this does as well, but not nearly as many.

sometimes i really think people like ripping bands apart more than they actually enjoy music.

edit: and btw, i agree that this is a pretty pointless re-release. though almost every Victory redo is pointless.

[slimfenix182]

I've been waiting for Sick of it all, Bane, Agnostic Front, Comeback kid to add in those poppy choruses so I can consider myself a fan of hardcore.

haha. sweet smackdown. I also didn't realize "poppy choruses" were an essential part of hardcore!

[maker_break]

Hey, you made fun of a band by referencing Hot Topic! No one has ever done that before! You're trying to talk shit because ADTR signed to Victory. You're an asshole and this review wasn't even funny. Try again.

By the way, Hot Topic takes advantage of bands by capitalizing on the scene. That's not the bands fault. Hot Topic actually has their employees go to shows and "scout" what bands are popular. You can't blame the bands for Hot Topic wanting to make money of their merch.

[chelseaxsmilexD]

:appl:
no... if the last hot topic closed... w'd need everyone screaming as loud and "were-wolfy" as they could!!!!

[chelseaxsmilexD]

oh blake... we all know you have a fleshy patch where your nuts used to be... jsut like every male Disney star...

[chelseaxsmilexD]

Hey, you made fun of a band by referencing Hot Topic! No one has ever done that before! You're trying to talk shit because ADTR signed to Victory. You're an asshole and this review wasn't even funny. Try again.

By the way, Hot Topic takes advantage of bands by capitalizing on the scene. That's not the bands fault. Hot Topic actually has their employees go to shows and "scout" what bands are popular. You can't blame the bands for Hot Topic wanting to make money of their merch.
yah!!! i know right!!! but i lovvveee hot topic because they are the only store that holds my music!!! plus i wanna work there... employee discount!!!

[LoveSickPuppy]

Can anybody derect me to a place where i can get this album? O_O

[thestingingrain]

because this review was so good, I'm going to buy this record.