Ghosts of Download - Blondie

This is the newest album released by New Wave legends Blondie. Their last album was released in 2011. And before that their last was from 2003. So they really don't release them very often anymore. So I was kind of looking forward to this album. They have a lot of features on this album, maybe because they are trying to make a current album. Now I know they also added the whole Blondie 4(0)Ever rerecordings with this, but why waste time doing that. I heard it, and to be honest it's ok.... not as good as the originals but I'm focusing on the new material. Actually I preferred Comeblack's rerecorded song over this album's. Although, that isn't anything special either.

1. Sugar On The Side: This track features someone called Systema Solar. I mean I like this song, and I like the accordion thingy. But I'm not huge into the chorus and how she doesn't keep up with it. Also the whole Spanish part is just OK. There is something humorous though about this track. I wish I could speak spanish, but I still do enjoy the track.
2. Rave: This track features someone named Miss Guy. I like some of the electronics on this tune. It's kind of fun to hear, and it also reminds me of a song I like a bit Prepare For The Fight by The Lovemakers.
3. A Rose By Any Name: This is another Ok song, that the worst part is the chorus. I like that Blondie isn't afraid of EDM and trying to embrace it, but you know. This song is p[retty decent, I mean I don't love it, but it doesn't hurt or bother me to listen to.
4. Winter: There is something about his tune that makes me think of winter. I'm kidding, but to be serious this isn't half bad. I like the atmosphere and I like the synths on the track. I also dig the guitars and the over all just feel.
5. I Drag You Around: I really dig this tune, it's simple but there is something that's peaceful abou it. I could kind of see my self being upset and visiting this tune to sort of come to reality. Not like insane depressed or anything like that, but sort of a "friend" to rely on down you know.
6. I Screwed Up: This track features someone known as Los Rakas. I've heard this numerous time, and the chorus is what kills it. I mean I think it could be a solid tune in the verses, but that off ness of the chorus is just.... it doesn't really work for me. I mean it sort of works better in later choruses, but that first one just ..... it takes me too out of the tune. And the rap is just..... Okay I guess. That guitar, the nylon sounding one, is pretty solid I think to the fade.
7. Relax: This is a Frankie Goes To Hollywood cover. This is a piano ballad rendition, until the ending. But to be honest, while it's different from the original, it's not nearly as good and Debbie sounds kind of bored. That is until the songs half over, then they make a techno sounding version that sounds more like the music from DDR.
8. Take Me In The Night: I don't really know what to say about this. It's okay, but I mean I'd probably skip it if not for the review. The sort of bridge is pretty solid in my opinion though.
9. Make A Way: I don't really have anything to say I didn't say in the previous track.
10. Mile High: I think this sounds like a song I would have heard in High School on the bus to Summer School. So I guess there is some nostalgia value, thought I don't love it, but I do like this tune.
11. Euphoria: This kind of sounds like a glitchy remix of The Sign by Ace of Base. I dig that tune, but I mean.... This isn't as good. Or like another song is playing in the background while I'm listening to this because I was on a Tab site or something. If you play guitar you know what I'm talking about. I like some of the 80's sounds here though. This does go a little long though.
12. Take It Back: Ehhh
13. Backroom: Not half bad but again..... I don't really know how to feel., It's okay I guess.

Overall I have to give this album a 5/10. This might have worked better as an EP, but I mean I don't like the 13 tracks. It isn't terrible, but I just...... I just don't really think it's as good as I wanted. I still think it's cool they tried this and did something more current, it just didn't work for me. This feels like more of a celebration album than a serious one though so.... whatever it may be, it wasn't horrible.

Hate Me - Escape The Fate

To keep on keeping on, since I've completed recording this year, I'll do this review. This is the fifth, fourth with Craig Mabbit, studio album by Escape the Fate. While I don't expect this to be much of anything, I could always be surprised. I downloaded that track, the free one, the day it came out and I liked it. It got me kind of excited to hear what was on the album. Then I remembered something, that last time they announced an album with the Ungrateful title track it was a pretty solid track. The second single was pretty good here, but then the album came out and...... well there's a reason the review isn't done yet. I don't really like listening to it. And then I saw the titles for the songs here...... Please Please Please let me be wrong with my preconceived notions, please the be foolish notions. This is also notable for being the first album without Monte Money, here being replaced by Kevin "Thrasher" Gruft. So, at this point, the only original member to be in the group is Robert Ortiz (the drummer).

1. Just A Memory: Released first track to drop, this wasn't half bad. I mean I liked the over all sound of it and it was pretty good at getting me to at least listen to the record.  But as mentioned eariler, the first to drop from the last album was similar. Upon finally listening to this on the day of the albums, day after to be exact, release I noticed stuff I hadn't before. I noticed the fact that this isn't really that good of a song. In fact, there wasn't anything here for me to even get excited about. I was a fool to have any hope for the new album. Does that mean the songs a piece of shit, not, it just means its initial veil has been lifted. I mean it's a rocker, has some nice screams and growls. This is not half bad, but I think the thing bugs me is the "unforgivable" line. This has these electronics that remind me of Born of Osiris, and the solo sounds like Monte. But the solo doesn't really feel like him. It almost sounds like it was sped up, or made faster. Like it comes, and goes. There is nothing to savor or remember.
2. Live For Today: Die once I hear this album.  ahaha. No this is link one of the weaker songs on This War is Ours, but done in an annoying rendition. There are also harkens, I think that's the right word, to Gorgeous Nightmare. But like..... I heard this once, then a second time for the review. I wanted so badly to just skip this track. It's too, poppy. Where's the grit, or balls. Maybe albums like Symbolic, Scum, Scar Slighted and other heavy records have tainted my outlook on this. But then why does DIYLF and TWIO still hold up pretty well in my mind.
3. Remember Every Scar: This is another title I'm not digging. I mean don't get me wrong, most of these titles are kinda lame, but some at least don't bother me. This and track 1 (and any I mention later) do.  Okay, seriously, Coldplay came to mind with the intro. Like if these guys did a Punk Goes Coldplay song. I can't begin to tell how much this breaks my heart. 
4. Breaking Me Down: Nice two songs with Break in the title, looking forward to what's ahead. There was a reason I forgot this song the first time through, it's so generic. There isn't a single moment on this that is worth remembering. 
5. Alive: "At last, now its time to look away. When you have to, sit through someone like this today. Don't worry yourself, it will be over soon. Music can get this bad, and then your day'll be in ruin. So always remember, to listen with you heart and ears, and not with your penis. Fuck Nostalgia". That's a 10/10 right. I wrote that for you guys, why, because the lyrics are better than anything going on in this track. That intro reminds me a bit of something from Guitar Hero. Don't quite remember, but don't care enough to check at this point. This is another song that's okay, not that I'll care to remember it.
6. Get Up, Get Out: I never knew they went Reggae. This hurts. There was a point in time I was under the belief that there were only two good bands, I liked, on Epitaph. Well, that theory is no longer relevant.
7. Hate Me: This is too close a title to that of Waif Me. Bonus points if you get the reference. But this  track happens to be the title track. I don't know why, but whenever I see "hate" in a title it kind of looks stupid to me. The only exception is if you like incorporated it into a cool title, but Hate Me. There isn't any way you can think of that as a cool song title. Throw this on the not intrested pile.
8. Les Enfants Terribles: I don't like when people use french for titles or anything that reminds me of infants or Le Mes. Also Enfants looks like Elephants and Infants combine, or misspelling Elphants. This is kind of lame. I mean I really can't dig much deeper than that.
9. I Won't Break: Before I started typing I misread this as I Won't Back Down. I do misread titles often, or names, but once I hear the correct pronunciation I'm usually okay. But that bummed me out a bit, like a "ha-ha fuck you, let's remind you of a better movie in our movie" type deal. That could have just been me, but still. That distortion, made me cringe. Hey, when did I start listening to Marlyin Manson?
10. Let Me Be: "Let Me Be, Let Me Be. Stop putting me through this travesty. The only fucking answer's, Let Me Be eeeeeeeeee!". This song, the song on the album not my rewrite, is a piece of crap. This is now the worst song the group has put out to date. I didn't think that was possible, but it Alone, has reached a new low. I'm going to be straight right now, that stupid joke I made to that song, Alone, yeah that song. That has m more redeemable moments than this one. Let that sink in for a minute.  I can't think of any song that is more of a nail in the coffin. Drifter gave Falling In Reverse a country twang, and it was nice. This is shit country. Like bullshit, listen to me on the radio, horse shit shit shit shit. I can't believe I consider, at any point, Self Titled record to be a sell out. This folks is the definition of a sell out.

Overall I have to give this album a 3/10. I contemplated reviewing the bonus tracks, but based on the last two deluxe editions (Ungrateful and Just Like You) and seeing the bonus tracks I decided not to. And when I listend to the remixes.... If you want to know what I'd give them I'd give them a {2/10}. There was no fucking point, plus they weren't that interesting. But back to the album at hand. This album, much like JLY and Ungrateful, just isn't that good. I mean this album is like a watered down Ungrateful. And while JLY has it's moments, this has none. The moments that shined on that are toned down here and the moments of lame, stupid and pointlessness are now complete garbage. This album has made it official ...... I am no longer a fan of the band. They have now put out more albums I dislike than material I do like. I mean seriously I get no enjoyment out of this record. As much as I'd like to think it's me being depressed or something that's my fault....... but I still feel a rush when I listen to Journey to the Center of the Mind and,maybe a better example in this case, DIYLF. Those are exciting, fun, awesome records and songs.... this..... this is not......

I also like to note, you can argue, they are changing their style.... but they really aren't. They're just tampering with their formula, not their style.

Ungrateful (Deluxe) - Escape The Fate

Because Spotify is an asshole (and changed Hate Me to (Deluxe) I have to download the album), I decided to finish this album. Also I have a job now, so I won't be able to put stuff out like I've been the last two months or so. Cool, this is album four, by one of my favorites, Escape The Fate. We were last left with 2010's Self Titled album. Minus G3 and World Around Me the album sucked dick. You can like it all you want, but it wasn't a "Gorgeous Nightmare"...... That would be a Zorn or Yamantaka EYE record (hahahahahahahahahahaha). That wa, on a more serous note, their darkest record to date. And I don't really think people would argue with me on that. Now 3 years later, no Max and two new members, kinda, here we are..... also the new record blows.

1. Ungrateful: This is a pretty great opener. This is catchy, heavy and everything that's great about Craig's part in the group. This sounds like it would fit very comfortably on the follow up to, hypothetical, This War Is Ours. I've heard this song tons of times and it's still pretty great. I mean the riff is there, the vocals are pretty angry and this might be angrier than past releases. I mean I could just be imagining it, but I feel like there is an anger when he screams, he isn't just screaming. And while not the best solo in the world, it certainly is memorable and fits.... and while it doesn't go to long, it is a tad on the short side. But I mean, I don't think it'd fit for it to be longer in this given song. It might just be me wanting . Plus I can honestly say the electronics here sound much better than on the last album.
2. Until We Die: This intro reminds me a shit ton of As I Lay Dying. I can't think of the song, but seriously. It's almost lifted from the song I'm thinking of. I want to say Nothing Left or Repeating Yesterday but there may be one where it is quite literally quoted from. While this song is pretty solid, I think the weakest link here is the chorus. Don't get me wrong, I think this is pretty great.... it's just the last song was much better all around. I'd give this anyday over Hate Me, but still. I think the piano section is very tasteful, and sets a distinct section.... but I think it was done like 100 times better in World Around Me and G3 (If I'm remembering correctly).
3. Live Fast, Die Young: This is very close to the sound I didn't care for on the last record. And the worst part is the lyrics are kinda stupid. I mean all the lyrics be this stupid, but at least they aren't so overtly dumb to my ears when I hear them. This is almost like he bashed his head in and then wrote the songs. Now this isn't overtly terrible, but I just don't like it. Like if I wasn't reviewing this I'd click skip. 
4. Forget About Me: This is a return to a tasty lick. But then he starts singing, and after the stop I began to get nervous. I don't think this is bad, it's just.... It isn't clicking with me. But all can be forgiven when I hear that solo. It's easily one of Montey's best. It's so good the song I didn't give two shits about I'm all the sudden listening far more attentive.
5. You're Insane: This is another decent track, and another single released from the album. I liked it far more when I first heard it. Upon re-visitation it doesn't hold up at all. Although I can pull another AILD thing. Though the main riff reminds me a bit of Avenged Sevenfold. The vocals reminds me a tad of Girl I Know and there is something that makes the Self Titled record pop in my head. The more alternative parts of that record.
6. Chemical Love: *Sigh*. The digital distortion waves would bother me regardless of how much I like the song. They don't ruin it, I just notice them. But even if they were taken out this song is so..... I just don't like it. I think it's too poppy, ha I know I like music far poppier, but it's just like trying to appeal to a broader audience. They could completely be doing this of their own choice, for artistic reasons, but I just can't get behind this. I can tolerate, but not support (defend is a better word).
7. Picture Perfect: The beginning of this doesn't really sound like this band. While I may not have liked it at first, it isn't half bad. It's pretty relaxing and pretty. I think the melody is nice and its easily one of the best songs here. It doesn't blow my mind, but its an example of a nice change. While it's more in line with the electronic tracks, its different enough to where I can say its different. 
8. Risk It All: This is a generic rocker that is on the album. Not a heavy rocker, more of a alt rocker. I mean there isn't anything to report about that sticks out to me. 
9. Desire: Nice riff, but then the song goes into this vibe I don't jive with. It's really not insanely different from the prior track. 
10. One for the Money: This, now in 2015, isn't the worst song they ever put out. No that award belongs to Let Me Be. But if this was don't in 2013 it would take the cake as their worst song, in my opinion. The lyrics are horse shit, and music is just ..... it's the worst of what the Self Titled had to offer. The solos has this epic feeling, and has a like build up that doesn't pay off at all. It's just.... trade this with any of the bonus tracks.
11. Fire It Up: The best way to end the record would be with a Picture Perfect or a Father, Brother. Instead we get a Black Tide track, kinda. Do I think this is bad, not necessarily. I just don't agree with this as the closer. It's not as satisfying as it should have been, and I mean seriously it's not like the electronics are not in the picture. So why not re arrange the tracks.

Now on to the bonus tracks, I'm going to include the iTunes and Japanese bonus track just because I can. Yeah I said it, I CAN.

1. I, Alone: This feels like one of the more alternative tracks on TWIO. It's not half bad, but I feel like this is best as a bonus track. This could actually be an outtake, be it recording or it was written, from that period. It's kind of a nice little treat you know.
2. Father, Brother: I don't really have anything to say I haven't said before. It's a nice track, good as an extra though. While I didn't look into the lyrics, I like the idea of what I picked up on. About relationship with his family. While it's been done before I can always support someone writing to someone who played a huge part in their life. The ending would make for a very neat ambient piece. I wish this would have been in the record just to end on that. 
3. Losing Control: The second I heard the drum machine drums I rolled my eyes. And then the vocals come in and I just close my eyes and take it. The more of this track that reveals itself to me, the less I like it. And the more I feel like it's dug it's grave deeper.
4. Apologize: This introduction isn't half bad. This is a quicker song, and it's pretty nice. While the chorus is pretty light, I still would trade this over any of the ETF-esque album tracks. This isn't the best track, thought the solo is tasty. I don't know, it feels like a bonus track. The ending also reminds me of Welcome to the Black Parade.

Overall I have to give this a 6/10. This album is best described as the album that was unreleased and bridged the change in sound between This War Is Ours and Escape the Fate. There isn't any other way of describing it, other than maybe some parts are darker than the second album. I also want to mention, I plan to do Just Like You this month.... as in finish it up. And hopefully Chasing Shadows too.