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Although we're here to give our oppinions please feel free to comment on what we say and tell us what you think of the albums we review. Agree? disagree with what we say? tell us!

Also we're free to join so drop me an email danjames@hotmail.com if you wish to join the team and post some reviews. The more that join, the bigger we get and the more reviews are posted :)

Dan

-MDS-

Saves The Day - Sound The Alarm (Advance) - (6/10)

Well the alarm was certainly raised today when Saves The Day's new album 'Sound The Alarm' leaked. We have a copy on our hands and after it had cooled down we gave it a spin...

'Head For The Hills' (8/10) kicks off the new album, a punchy track with a solid beat and vocals that ooze aggression. The stop start beat of this song is strange at first but within a minute your heads moving and you're hooked. A mere 2.50 in length its just enough to keep you gripped but not get bored of it. A loving change of pace leads the song into closing beats, a solid song overall with a nice guitar riff to end the track. 'The End' (4/10) is in a sense much like Head For The Hills in its aggressive vocals and punchy intro but this soon fades to a very different beat that once again gets the feet moving. Nothing really that special and just under 2 minutes in length this seems to lack an edge to it. 'Shattered' (9/10) has a nice heavier beat to introduce it, with vocals that seem to be sung with more emotion than the previous too, the vocals rising beautifully in passionate moments with the heavy underbeat kicking nicely. A stunning song that has very nice backing voals in parts. 'Eulogy' (7/10) starts seemingly softer than the others with a nice and soft vocal introduction to it also which soon builds to another foot tapping classic beat. Not really standing out to me this song is still solid and catchy with a lovingly crafted fade out. 'Dying Day' (4/10) is another so-so song really to me, catchy beat and solid lyrics but it just doesn't really scream much to me. '34' (9/10) has a nice range of vocals being delivered with true passion and a thrusting beat to back it all well. The guitar really being played stunningly and making many a nice appearance on this song and really has a fantastic riff during the middle. A powerful song sung from the heart. 'Say You'll Never Leave' (8/10) has a fast paced intro with lyrics screamed from the soul from the begininng. This song really feels full of emotion and near desperation at points. Another song that is really outstanding on this album and will carry multiples playbacks on any Saves The Day fans playlist. 'Diseased' (9/10) is a beautifully sung song with a really different feel to it, the guitar still being lovingly played and the vocals seeming to pour out with passion. 'Don't Know Why' (8/10) has a nice acoustic feeling intro, full of moving vocals and a soft and stunning underbeat to it. Picking up slightly this song still has a haunting feel to it and continues to focus on the vocals above all else. 'Sound The Alarm' (9/10) kicks off nicely with a different beat whilst keeping the grungey vocals. Still this song seems to has a more feel good sound to it than i thought it would. A memorable title track that once again has a gorgeous guitar riff at the centre of it. 'Bones' (5/10) is a much more upbeat song with a funky beat getting the foot tapping from the begininng although i must say this fast beat does get slightly tedious towards the end and the vocals seem to go a little to whiney for my liking. 'Delusional' (5/10) is another fast paced song doesn't really stand out as that different from Bones until the backing vocals kick in, turning into a less whiney song, still not majorly impressed with this song though overall. 'Hell Is Here' (6/10) screams emo whining to me i have to say i'm afraid and getting to this point has been hard at times although this song on it's own is pretty nice with a beat that does get into your head although after the previous 12 songs i have to say i am getting a small headache from the constant whineing feeling that seems to surround a fair few of these songs.

Ok so i'll summarise: Ok in small doses although this album really would give me a headache after too many listens in a row, it's just whineing alot that gets to me really. Some good solid stand alone songs but in conclusion i feel less time should have been spent making a 13 song cd with 2minute-odd songs on it and more time on a few carefully selected longer songs. Overall (6/10)

Dan

-MDS-

Embace - This New Day (2006) - 9.5/10

Embrace - This New Day (Advance)

Embrace return and the opening track 'No Use Crying' (10/10!!) is just pure genius. A beautifully crafted and catchy beat with the stunning vocals give this album a hell of an opener. More up beat than some of the songs from the old album, this song is filled with positive beats and a fantastic range of vocals showed in this song alone. 'Natures Law' (9/10) is the first single from this album and another soft and swaying type song filled with lyrics that make you melt. A nice use of backing vocals gives this song a perfect mood for playing at a party as background music. 'Target' (8/10) has a different feel to it, a different beat and the vocals sound a bit harsher in a way. Another catchy chorus and uplifiting beat stalks the vocals like a hunter after pray. Gently lifting and falling the effort put into this album is obvious and shines through like a beacon. A grungey riff leads into 'Sainted' (9/10) with an electric backing this again has a nice and different feel to it. Foot tappingly catchy tune makes this album feel alot more upbeat than their last album and should do well. Although the lyrics "big fish eat the little ones" aren't stunning in this one, the fast beat and ups and downs of the vocals more than make up for it. 'I Can't Come Down' (9/10) is really typical Embrace in my oppinion, a soft slow tune, sung with a voice that sounds near tearful, a beautiful example of how much passion can be put into a song. This is one that really gets to you, the guitar singing softly, one that really shows the bands full range of abilities. 'Celebrate' (7/10) filled me with confidence that this would be an uplifting song but the soft piano and haunting into didn't seem to match this. Picking up after a bit the haunting feel to this song remains but is done very nicely. Not my favourite but one that can't be criticised easily. 'Exploding Machines' (8/10) has an ititially strange feel to it but this soon drops and a powerful and punchy beat kicks in. This album seems to be filled with catchy beats and strange backings but it's just done so well, they just...work!. 'Even Smaller Stones' (10/10!!!)starts very strangely, heavy on the drums and a strange guitar riff playing on and off. Totally different to the rest of this album, before the vocals even kicked in i loved this song. Gorgeous vocals and a stunning sound to this song with a nice use of an fx pedal reminds me of the song Like A Stone by Audioslave at parts. This is by far one of my favourites on the album and shows they haven't lost the ability to write a stunning song. 'The End Is Near' (6/10) sounds like it could have been on the old album but still is nice enough. Nothing outstanding about this song but still a nice one to play in the background, can't really fault it, it's just shadowed by the other beautys on the album.'This New Day', the title track is another soft one, piano intro will get the lighters swaying at the gig for sure. A positive and feel good chorus got me swaying strangely but caught up in it "just keep on dreaming".

Cutting It Down: Way above my estimations and this will get alot of playback. Soft enough for a dinner party backing music but also punchy enough to have songs that will get your foot tapping and body moving. Overall (9.5/10)

Dan

-MDS-

Hit The Lights - This Is A Stick Up...Don't Make It A Murder

MakeDamnSure advance

We have the new Hit The Lights album, 'This Is A Stick Up...Don't Make It A Murder' slated for 11th April release.



Kyle has been hunting this down so i'll let him sort the review out.


Dan

In Review...

Currently i am giving the new Hundred Reasons album, Kill Your Own [Advance] a spin...


along with the soft sound of Embrace's new album This New Day [Advance]...

Reviews will be posted soon.

On first listen - Embrace is a nice album which would be perfect for background music for a meal. Hundred Reasons have stuck with their pop rock sound, adding a bit more electric weirdness but still some strong tracks.

Dan

Thursday - Counting 5-4-3-2-1 (2006 - 4/10

Thursday return with 'Counting 5-4-3-2-1'.

The first single from their new album. A strange and eerie type intro soon relaxes into some nice vocals and a rolling beat. Heavy on the guitar beat the chorus is almost whiney in the way it is sung. Nothing outstanding really and one that would only get a few plays on my playlist to be honest but still it is not the worst song i have heard in the world, and not being a huge Thursday fan i can't comment on their old album in comparison.

Catchy beat but the lyrics just don't stand out and overall it's a song i could give or take really.


Stream the new track: here

Pre-order the album: City By The Light Divided - £15.99 (US - UK import)

Pre-order the album: City By The Light Divided - $13.98 (US)


Dan

Yellowcard - Live At The Carling Academy, Birmingham (10/3/06)

Yellowcard with support from Engerica


To be honest although i was a big fan of 'Ocean Avenue' the latest album took a while to really grow on me and even still there's only some of it which i like, the rest i could give or take. Therefore when i got the tickets i was more looking forward to hearing 'Breathing' 'Way Away' and other classics from Ocean Avenue but when they hit the stage and opened with Lights And Sounds i was blown away. The lighting was perfectly co-ordinated, with almost eerie spotlights over Ryan and the guys whilst the crowd bounced as one.

A big opening song and often quite a gamble as i have always seen bands hold back on the big hits until towards the end when the crowd are already fired up, but as if Lights And Sounds wasn't enough to get the crowd moving, the punchy violin suddenyl began playing the biggest hit Way Away straight after. Now with the crowd really fired up, song after song were played seamlessly. Even when someone needed a drink or a break the rest of the band would take that opportunity to improvise and show off, in a sense.

The slushy 'Only One' showed the couples all swaying as one with mobile lights and lighters illuminating the academy like a night sky. Speeding back up to 'Breathing' and some new songs 'Sure Thing Falling' and 'Down On My Head' the band really showed that they could pull off the old stuff just as good as the new. Even going back to the bands first album 'One For The Kids' and playing the ever popular, 'October Nights'.

The best part of the gig was that they really made the audience feel a part of it, taking every opportunity to thank everyone for coming and looking back to when they played a smaller stage at the same venue and bringing 2000+ peoples vocals in to help during 'Ocean Avenue'.

Although Ryans vocals let him down ever so slightly during some songs, i believe this is to do with a few problems the band had not long ago when they had to reschedule the entire tour.

Finally the band ended with 'Ocean Avenue' and said of how they had found someone during the day, taught him to play the guitar and brought him on stage to play with them. Although it was hard to believe he had never played guitar before, the nerves in his eyes and statue like stance on stage showed that he had not ever really played in front of a crowd before and although we are unsure of how true the story was, if it was, it shows just how close to the fans Yellowcard truly are.

A surprisingly good gig with the best audience participation i have ever seen at such a small venue.

4/5


Dan

Yellowcard - Lights And Sounds (2006) - 8/10

Yellowcard return. After the mammoth success of 'Ocean Avenue' the question is, can they make it another time around, with Lights And Sounds?

The band once again give a nice variety of punchy songs with the odd slow and classic type song that is guranteed to get a crowd swaying at the gigs. City of Devils really is one that you can sit and think to, as the haunting vocals slide through you with the violins melody carrying the song through beautifully (8/10). Kicking the tone back up comes Rough Landing which starts as it means to go on, with a hell of a kick and fantastic chorus that would have been screamed in Ocean Avenue (previous album) is sung with passion instead here, showing the bands maturity . This song could be a hit if it is released (in my oppinion) (9/10). Two Weeks From Twenty. Listening to this, not far from your 20th birthday isn't the greatest idea but anyway. Another soft and sway type of song, showing that Yellowcard really can pull off both slow and fast songs very well indeed. Ryans vocals really are stunning in this song, with him showing his vocal range very nicely. A good song to have on at a dinner party i would say, one that can blend nicely into the background (8/10). Down On My Head in my oppinion the intro has an almost, The Rasmus feel to it. This is soon lost though when it drops into another foot tapping beat. The chorus kicks it up a notch and is one sure to make a crowd bounce happily to. The lyrics in this one i particualry like, even though they are not outstanding they fit the song style nicely and seem to describe a particualry bad day, which i think we can all relate to (8/10). Holly Wood Died begins with a soft intro that leads you to think it is another 'Believe' (Ocean Avenue) style of song. When it reaches the chorus it hits you with a fast and biting chorus that really gets you off your seat and moving. The violinist once again in this song showing that rock can still have a classic touch and be damn good with it (9/10). How I Go is a song that i would describe as being 'cute' with the first few lyrics being about 'my friend the giant'. Another nice and soft song with a female backing to it that gives it a nice feeling about it. Get your lighters out to this one if it's played at the gig, it'll get the crowd swaying nicely (7/10). Grey is the greatest song on the album in my oppinion, a punchier version of Only One (Ocean Avenue). Ryans vocals and the violins soft sound really working so nicely in this one. This song has enough of a kick to keep your feet tapping whilst your mind begins to wander about ex partners (10/10). Space Travel
is a song that kind of grows on you after a bit although personally the slow and exact phrasing of every word in the intro annoys me slightly still. Overall it's not a bad song, the chorus will still get into your head but the whole feel of it is a bit stop start for my liking (4/10). Three Flights Up is simply a beautiful piece of instrumental that definitley shows the maturity from Ocean Avenue and that the band know how to compose a nice piece of music without needing vocals all the time (8/10). Words, Hands, Hearts is much like City Of Devils with its soft beat but with a much more lively chorus (7/10). Lights and Sounds, is the title track of the album and definitley has a high playback rating but when you look at the lyrics it does kind of get to me at how little sense they actually make but my pedanticism aside this is a nice choice of first single and has an immensley catchy beat to it that has got stuck in my head many a time (9/10). Martin Sheen Or JFK is the strangest song title i have heard from Yellowcard but that aside the beat is catchy but does sound exactly like some of the other songs on the album, same sort of beat and vocal range used. Not a bad song but not one that really stands out (6/10).


.... Getting To The Point: A nice and more mature album from Yellowcard that shows that they can still write some good catchy songs that will easily tide them over until their next album. Although few stand out, this is still an album that you will play a few times, and after those few times you will begin to love it more with each listen. (8/10 overall)


ebay: £7.49 from music_wow

online: £6.99 from 4CheapCDs.com

in store: HMV £9.99 with Bonus DVD (UK)

samples: MySpace YellowcardOfficial


Dan

Welcome To MakeDamnSure

Hey,

So you've either stumbled accross this blog or come here for music advise from the gurus (well ok..monkeys) we have working here for us.

A quick intro......first off this is MDS, a place for music reviews from unbiased people who just love music, as lets be honest, if it's a published review it could be biased in some ways.

Anyway, as a bonus 'stay with us' plea we will post links to where the subject being reviewed can be purchased cheapest online, cheapest in the shops and where samples can be heard.

Hope you like the place and bookmark us.


Dan