Two years after the release of rock group Story of the Year's emotionally charged and radio-friendly debut album Page Avenue
the boys are back with their sophomore slump In the Wake of Determination which opens the floodgates for brutal criticisms and fun punch-lines for me to use.
Although the guys' hearts are in the right place, wanting to put out an album that truly represents who they are, they failed miserably with predictable song layouts and an unoriginal message of rally the youth against conformity and authority.
The funny thing is they kind of expected it to flop.
Song notes are included in the album booklet, consisting of a reflection by each member on each song. Bassist Adam Russell commented on the opening track We Don't Care Anymore saying, Good songs are good songs
whether they're polka or death metal
and if we love them
then people will too. Well then, why not play a good song?
From beginning to end, it feels like a car engine is sputtering to a start so it can proceed to drive off a cliff. It's like staring at the barrel of a gun; you don't know when it's going to go off, but you hope it does soon so that your misery is subdued.
Every track is structured in the same, elementary way. They begin with a 20-second instrumental intro with heavy guitar noise that is like a thick ball of phlegm in the bottom of your throat waiting to be coughed into a used hankie.
Then, lead singer Dan Marsala starts preaching with his nauseatingly clich+
take me back to better days and wake up the voiceless.
Next - big surprise - a belching scream halfway through every song quiets the single snare beat and three-chord riffs and restarts the chorus for another 10 rounds until it finishes with a fading guitar note.
Story of the Year's emotion and heart, which was undeniably the strongest element of its debut album, are nonexistent in In the Wake of Determination. Even though the lead singer screams his lungs out on every track, it feels empty and not genuine because he screams about everything. This doesn't make songs more emotional; it just means it is more painful to listen to.
It's like the minister who stands on Court Street every once in a while handing out tiny Bibles. After hearing him rant for so long, you disregard it.
Story of the Year is a talented band, which shows in its first album and its position on Vans Warped Tour, but it dropped the ball on this one when the members tried too hard not to try too hard.
What comes after this album will determine whether Story of the Year is just another one-hit-wonder or if this really was just a sophomore slump. But its anarchist tunes will have to do more than rob a 13-year-old of his ears and $12 if the band expects to keep its cozy tour bus and Californian girlfriends.
You can pick up In the Wake of 'Destruction' at any used CD store.
17
Archives
Kelly Schwaberow
