Yellowcard is neither the flashiest nor the most popular among the new millennium's pop-punk bands but their fifth album Paper Walls goes a long way in proving that they are among the best of their breed. Despite violinist Sean Mackin, whose very presence can seem like a clever ploy (even as the instrument fades in prominence over the years), they're not attention-mongers -- their pop is melodic but not incessantly hooky, they rock hard but not furiously. Without ever seeming laid-back, they seem casual in how they approach their music, never drawing attention to themselves, which is a bit odd because on pure musical terms they're more gripping than many of their peers, displaying a restless sense of musicality that often makes Paper Walls interesting even if means they can stray toward areas that are just a shade too indulgent for their own good. Often, those areas are quicksand pits of sentimentality, whether its drippy anthemic love songs and odes to grandparents ("Dear Bobbie"), sweeping gestures that come off as hammy due to the overdose of emotion but that same tendency to dive after a big moment pays off on the harder rockers where it gives the music true momentum. There's not just a purpose in their backbeat but they dance around the clichés of their genre, either by jacking up the overall energy quotient or suddenly exploding into metallic guitar solos -- like the breakneck breakdown on the opening "The Takedown" -- or strenuously writing melodies that strive for grandness, something that's evident even when they don't achieve their goal. Yellowcard works hard within the confines of their genre but they never rewrite rules: they push the boundaries a little bit further, just enough to separate themselves from their peers, but not quite enough to rope in listeners less dedicated to the super-slick sound of modern punk, especially because they lack one undeniable song to rope in the unconverted. Nevertheless, as a whole, it's hard not to listen to Paper Walls and be impressed by Yellowcard's vigorous musicality which does display more imagination than many of their peers even if the finished songs could stand hooks that dug slightly deeper.
I've had Yellowcard's latest effort "Paper Walls" on my Zune for sometime now. After giving it an initial listen, it fell into the purgatory of my 80 gig PMP. Once resurrected for another listen several months later, I have not been able to not listen to these latest 11 tracks. With the band's constant evolution, of both sound and roster, it's been hard for Yellowcard to maintain the mainstream...
More >
Another song that I like is "Light Up the Sky" by Yellowcard. Yet again, I'm not a fan of Yellowcard but I think this band really rocks! Unlike the first one, I didn't have to listen to the song over and over again for me to like it. I got to listen to it once or twice and then I fell in love with it right away. I also like it because of the lyrics and the melody, plus the guitar and drum works...
More >
I am a big fan of Yellowcard. Their 2006 record, Lights and Sounds, was an amazing record, no matter how few records it sold. Their latest record, Paper Walls, was a huge let down for me. It is full of mainstream, pop-y songs that are sure to please their MTV fans. It seems as though the essence of the album was lost. It seems like they were focusing much more on how many records they would sel...
More >
Yellowcard are releasing another new album. We say “another” because it feels like their last album, 2006’s Lights and Sound, came out only yesterday. The new album Paper Walls comes out July 17th. The band is coining the new album as the third album in a trilogy, probably in an effort to sell more of their prior two albums, 2003’s Ocean Avenue and last year’s Lights and Sounds.Yesterda
More >
dig it then....hmmmi am listening now.seems ok thenwhatcha think?
More >
Another song that I like is "Light Up the Sky" by Yellowcard. Yet again, I'm not a fan of Yellowcard but I think this band really rocks! Unlike the first one, I didn't have to listen to the song over and over again for me to like it. I got to listen to it once or twice and then I fell in love with it right away. I also like it because of the lyrics and the melody, plus the guitar and drum works...
More >
I am a big fan of Yellowcard. Their 2006 record, Lights and Sounds, was an amazing record, no matter how few records it sold. Their latest record, Paper Walls, was a huge let down for me. It is full of mainstream, pop-y songs that are sure to please their MTV fans. It seems as though the essence of the album was lost. It seems like they were focusing much more on how many records they would sel...
More >
I've had Yellowcard's latest effort "Paper Walls" on my Zune for sometime now. After giving it an initial listen, it fell into the purgatory of my 80 gig PMP. Once resurrected for another listen several months later, I have not been able to not listen to these latest 11 tracks. With the band's constant evolution, of both sound and roster, it's been hard for Yellowcard to maintain the mainstream...
More >
| Title | Lyrics | Buy |
|---|---|---|
| 1 The Takedown |
|
|
| 2 Fighting |
|
|
| 3 Shrink the World |
|
|
| 4 Keeper |
|
|
| 5 Light Up the Sky |
|
|
| 6 Shadows and Regrets |
|
|
| 7 Five Becomes Four |
|
|
| 8 Afraid |
|
|
| 9 Date Line (I Am Gone) |
|
|
| 10 Dear Bobbie |
|
|
| 11 You and Me and One Spotlight |
|
|
| 12 Cut Me, Mick |
|
|
| 13 Paper Walls |
|
|
Click to purchase…
© 2006-2009 Mog Inc. All Rights Reserved
 "Paper Walls")
