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