Greeley Estates - Go West Young Man, Let the Evil Go East
Record Label: Science Records
Release Date: May 6, 2008
Greeley Estates have picked out what I love about post-hardcore and thrown it all into a cluttered mess of brutal and erratic bliss. While the genre as a whole has never appealed to me that much, Greeley Estates have received my attention. Their music is oddly catchy and what's more, oddly interesting. Post-hardcore has never really been the highest on the creative ladder, but Greeley Estates add a lot of their own flare that makes me wish other bands would follow in their footsteps.
The first track "Blue Morning" starts the album with a kick in the ass. With no musical intro, the first thing heard is Ryan Zimmerman screaming "I'm not a monster!" With that one line, you are strapped onto a ride you will not be able to get off. The double-bass kick given by drummer Brian Champ could wake up a hibernating bear and Champ throws it in when least expected, making it work every time. The next track, "Go West Young Man" starts with a riff that sounds like it was stolen from a Saosin demo. This track starts out almost identical to the first, however, when the chorus hits, a dose of melody comes storming up. While it is initially quite off-putting, Zimmerman has a good voice (when he's not screaming). The oddest part of this song, and maybe the entire album, is towards the end when they have a choir come in and sing. It sounds mildly out of place but proves to fit like a glove.
"If We're Going Out, Let's Go Out in Style" starts out with spectacularly clean vocal arrangement and well-written lyrics: "Let's save the women / Let's save the children first / Let's act like real men for once in our lives." However, the intro is misleading as the screaming resumes, as does the intensity. "Let the Evil Go East" is a song that seems to blend the melodic and heavier parts together perfectly. The blend of the two makes this track one of the most interesting and creative on the album. "Keep the Heat on the Dash" starts out with gang vocals and flaring guitars that grab attention with its unadulterated raw power. The screams seem to be fuller and deeper, as well as there being a slightly more consistent double-bass drum. The closing track, "You're Just Somebody I Used to Know," is a vintage Greeley Estates track. Following in the footsteps of most of the album, the song starts out with a scream and keeps going straight on through to the close of the album.
While it does not disappoint, Greeley Estates' latest offering shows potential in a direction that I don't think they recognize. Their screams are great, but the high points of this album are when Zimmerman stops his screaming and demonstrates his clean vocals. While it doesn't sound like it is the direction the band is going in, anything is possible.
well, seeing as they sang alot more on their previous albums, i dont think they are going in that direction, they are moving away from it. maybe you've never listened to them. i disagree with alot of what you said, because i see nothing creative or special about this cd, and was actually kind of disappointed with this release. but after listening to it again, it really sticks with you. and is probably the best this genre has to offer as of now.
well, seeing as they sang alot more on their previous albums, i dont think they are going in that direction, they are moving away from it. maybe you've never listened to them. i disagree with alot of what you said, because i see nothing creative or special about this cd, and was actually kind of disappointed with this release. but after listening to it again, it really sticks with you. and is probably the best this genre has to offer as of now.
good review though.
That's what i said in my review. i gave it a good review, however.. the lyrics are pretty tight.
Mine should be up here soon-ish.. so. lol
I thought this CD was a great step, myself. They actually defined their style in this one, instead of Lies where to me they sounded nothing short of confused.
As much as i love Ryan's singing his screams make their live shows way more intense and to me is what needed to be heard most on this album. Far From the Lies was good, but its seemed ever since then they needed to come out with an album that just throws it down. These guys are all about their live show and always play their harder songs. They knew that they needed to make an album where they wanted to play all of them live. This album is definetely Greeley Estates best release since Outside of This.
As much as i love Ryan's singing his screams make their live shows way more intense and to me is what needed to be heard most on this album. Far From the Lies was good, but its seemed ever since then they needed to come out with an album that just throws it down. These guys are all about their live show and always play their harder songs. They knew that they needed to make an album where they wanted to play all of them live. This album is definetely Greeley Estates best release since Outside of This.
thats actually a lot of what the press release said, it had zimmerman saying that they might sound better melodically recorded, they love to play heavier stuff live, and thats why they recorded their reccord this way
I think the record is absolutely amazing. "Far from the Lies" was okay, but it didn't sound like Greeley Estates. I think this new record is their best release to date.
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