BinacaFreak
03/21/09, 05:46 PM
This Providence - Who Are You Now?
Record Label: Fueled By Ramen
Release Date: March 17, 2009
"Who's This Providence?"
This seems to be the most common response I've gotten when asking my friends if they've heard the latest sophomore effort from the Fueled by Ramen band. After having a fairly successful run with their self-titled first album and a run of tours with the likes of Paramore and Relient K, it amazes me that they haven't garnered the interest of more people. For those who have taken a liking to them, though, the youthful band brings some catchy sounds with lasting lyrics that are sure to make the three year wait since their first album worthwhile. And for those of you who are late to the party, it's time to take an interest.
Who Are You Now? features an eclectic mix of sounds. The majority of the tracks deal with love and romance, but they are far from your typical love songs. The lyrics of each of these songs paint a very specific scenario and tell stories that convey relatable emotion and concerns of the romantic world. "That Girl's A Trick" tells of the beautiful woman we obsess over, even when we know she's trouble. The story-like scenarios are a pleasure to listen to, like well-written poetry, such as "Sand In Your Shoes."
This Providence deliver some crazy dance beats in tracks like "Squeaking Wheels and White Lights" but know when to slow down with tracks like "Sand In Your Shoes." Speaking of which, the latter, along with two other tracks ("Waste Myself" and "My Beautiful Rescue (Renovated)"), while being some of the stronger tracks on the record, have already been delivered through the band's The Bright Lights EP back in October. To see a rehashing of these tracks on the full-length is a pretty big disappointment to the devout fans who already purchased them.
Lead singer Dan Young has been one of my favorite vocalists since I first heard "A Wolf In Sheep's Clothing" off their debut. His voice is unique, well-controlled, diverse, and well-suited for many different tracks. His driving passion works well in fast-paced, upbeat songs, and his crooning falsetto will draw listeners into some beautiful ballads as well. He may be considered an acquired taste by some, but just give him some time. It'll grow on you. His messages of hope are absolutely contagious too. Apart from the feel-good love songs, Young has penned some incredible lines in songs such as "This Is The Real Thing."
With every track having its own merits, it's hard to not suggest Who Are You Now? to any music lover. It isn't without its mistakes such as the recycled hits from their recent EP and a few musically strange moments (the intro to "That Girl's A Trick" just doesn't flow as well as the rest of the song). With messages of attraction and love, failure and hope, just about anyone can find something to love here. The album as a whole is a joy to listen to and would probably fit best on a sunny summer day with the windows rolled down, a friend in the passenger seat, and not a care in the world. Get caught up in This Providence, and you may just find yourself beaming with hope even through the hardest of days.
Relient K; The Rocket Summer; feel-good music; dancing barefoot on summer days
myspace.com/thisprovidence (http://www.myspace.com/thisprovidence)
Record Label: Fueled By Ramen
Release Date: March 17, 2009
"Who's This Providence?"
This seems to be the most common response I've gotten when asking my friends if they've heard the latest sophomore effort from the Fueled by Ramen band. After having a fairly successful run with their self-titled first album and a run of tours with the likes of Paramore and Relient K, it amazes me that they haven't garnered the interest of more people. For those who have taken a liking to them, though, the youthful band brings some catchy sounds with lasting lyrics that are sure to make the three year wait since their first album worthwhile. And for those of you who are late to the party, it's time to take an interest.
Who Are You Now? features an eclectic mix of sounds. The majority of the tracks deal with love and romance, but they are far from your typical love songs. The lyrics of each of these songs paint a very specific scenario and tell stories that convey relatable emotion and concerns of the romantic world. "That Girl's A Trick" tells of the beautiful woman we obsess over, even when we know she's trouble. The story-like scenarios are a pleasure to listen to, like well-written poetry, such as "Sand In Your Shoes."
This Providence deliver some crazy dance beats in tracks like "Squeaking Wheels and White Lights" but know when to slow down with tracks like "Sand In Your Shoes." Speaking of which, the latter, along with two other tracks ("Waste Myself" and "My Beautiful Rescue (Renovated)"), while being some of the stronger tracks on the record, have already been delivered through the band's The Bright Lights EP back in October. To see a rehashing of these tracks on the full-length is a pretty big disappointment to the devout fans who already purchased them.
Lead singer Dan Young has been one of my favorite vocalists since I first heard "A Wolf In Sheep's Clothing" off their debut. His voice is unique, well-controlled, diverse, and well-suited for many different tracks. His driving passion works well in fast-paced, upbeat songs, and his crooning falsetto will draw listeners into some beautiful ballads as well. He may be considered an acquired taste by some, but just give him some time. It'll grow on you. His messages of hope are absolutely contagious too. Apart from the feel-good love songs, Young has penned some incredible lines in songs such as "This Is The Real Thing."
With every track having its own merits, it's hard to not suggest Who Are You Now? to any music lover. It isn't without its mistakes such as the recycled hits from their recent EP and a few musically strange moments (the intro to "That Girl's A Trick" just doesn't flow as well as the rest of the song). With messages of attraction and love, failure and hope, just about anyone can find something to love here. The album as a whole is a joy to listen to and would probably fit best on a sunny summer day with the windows rolled down, a friend in the passenger seat, and not a care in the world. Get caught up in This Providence, and you may just find yourself beaming with hope even through the hardest of days.
Relient K; The Rocket Summer; feel-good music; dancing barefoot on summer days
myspace.com/thisprovidence (http://www.myspace.com/thisprovidence)