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| Dangerous Summer, The - Reach for the Sun | The Dangerous Summer - Reach for the Sun
Record Label: Hopeless Records
Release Date: May 5, 2009
In the midst of synth-pop bands and electro-pop bands becoming the headliners of major tours and festivals, it's becoming increasingly difficult for listeners to feel something or to be able to relate to a band any more on a personal level, but with The Dangerous Summer's Reach for the Sun, feeling something is just the beginning.
Reach for the Sun is the magnificent first full-length album from Maryland's own The Dangerous Summer. Comprised of eleven songs full of love, hate, remorse, loss, honesty, and pretty much any other feeling known to human kind, if you listen to this album all the way through and haven't felt anything then you simply aren't listening.
The album kicks off with the song and the first official single "Where I Want To Be." Right away, you can tell that simply hearing the song is like reading directly out of bassist/vocalist AJ Perdomo's personal journal. With lyrics like "I wish you'd try to save me, your silence makes me crazy...It takes a lot to say that something is fate, I kind of know where your headed," it makes you immediately dig inside your own head with Perdomo becoming your unofficial shrink. "Settle Down" is the definitive song that reminds you of every other bands first full-length album that talks about the exhaustion of touring, leaving family behind, and the long road ahead. The difference between those albums and this song, with the intro lyrics "I gave my things away..I called the people that I only see on holidays, this next year's going to burn a hole in me," is that you already feel sympathy for Perdomo before the chorus even hits, and if that doesn't hit you enough the barreling drums attached perfectly to Perdomo's vocals will make you give in.
"Weathered" is a song that is as much of an explanation of "a day in the life" as it is a hypothetical story. With a very repetitive but meaningful chorus Perdomo gets his point across quite quickly. One of the standout lyrics of the song "Well, I'm an optimist but only in a perfect world" truly magnifies and assists the heartfelt anguish of the chorus. But the kicker to this song lies within the bridge; the music itself transends you into another world with the lyrics and Perdomo's vocal abilities screaming out to you to give him a hand.
"A Space To Grow" is definitely a song about forgiveness and attempting to start over. Once again within the second chorus with the drums and guitar chiming together in perfectly slow melody and Perdomo pleading through his lyrics it makes you step back from whatever it is you are currently doing and open your ears.
Reach for the sun as a whole isn't perfect; songs like "Northern Lights" and "Never Feel Alone" have great lyrics, but feel as if they could have been re-written musically and made better overall, but what they lack musically is still an incredibly small factor compared to the fact that this entire album could be broken down into eleven singles and sell incredibly well. And when you listen to it, you will rarely if ever find yourself hitting the fast forward or next track button. Perdomo's vocals/lyrics mixed with the music is a perfect mix of honest feelings that is one of the rarest results of any albums released these days.
Simply put, this album will knock you over, break your heart in half, make you wish you could be this honest to everyone in your own life, and make you sing along, all at once. |
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Displaying posts 1 - 8 of 8. |
08:09 PM on 08/20/09 | If only all albums were this good... | | |
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06:48 PM on 08/21/09 | May be my AOTY... how is it 44% member rating? | | |
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07:37 AM on 08/22/09 | The world can never be the same... Brilliant, brilliant album that rewards each listen.Best pop-punk album released this year without a doubt. | | |
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01:05 PM on 08/23/09 | Once again I'll call it as I see it Good review. I agree, the honestly of the lyrics and the excellent song writing make this a TOP 10 album of the year for sure. I disappointed to see the user rating below 80. | | |
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07:13 PM on 08/23/09 | Definitely my AOTY. Haven't been able to go long without listening to this ever since it came out. | | |
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