Daryl's Rock Reviews

[Daryl the Beryl]

Blow

Theory of a Deadman

From: Savages

Listen here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=zBwKm8u8Rc4 Americana version

For the actual audio: www.youtube.com/watch?v=dn7o7LtcRsM

Mainstream Rock Peak: #12, Chart Run: 11 weeks and counting

Review: So, yeah, several posters sh!tted on this song prior to its release, and I can see why, because this song is about how the news drives someone insane, but it exaggerates with its Chris Brown and Kanye West references. I get why people don't like this song because while I don't find the lyrics to be that bad, the vocals and music aren't memorable. TOAD have made much better singles than this, so that's not a good thing for them. Nothing special about this song, so, you might as well skip it.

Song-writing: 2.5/5
Music: 2.5/5
Vocals: 2.5/5

C+

[Daryl the Beryl]

Big Bad Wolf

In This Moment

From: Black Widow

Listen here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=j-qQ_brIsfY (if you dare)

Mainstream Rock Peak: #20, Chart Run: 14 weeks and counting

Review: I initially gave a very harsh review of this "song" in my other review thread, and while the song has grown on me a bit (the chorus is a bit catchy), this is still a bad song. The delivery is obnoxious, the lyrics are meaningless (unless you perceive the "even in these chains you can't stop me" line as empowerment), and the singing on this song is by no measure good. Things take a turn for the worse at the 3:11 (3:18 for the video I posted) mark when Maria Brink goes berzerk and screams for no apparent reason. This song is easily the worst song I had to review, and this doesn't change my hatred of this band. Next! F

Song-writing: 1/5
Music: 2.5/5
Vocals: 0.5/5

[Daryl the Beryl]

Until the World Goes Cold

Trivium

From: Silence In the Snow

Listen here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=pm-xlwkQ_qc

Mainstream Rock Peak: #19, Chart Run: 13 weeks and counting

Review: Now this kind of metal I can get behind. Matt Heafy's vocals are great and the guitar work is awesome. The lyrics are meaningful, too. A-

Song-writing: 4/5
Music: 4.5/5
Vocals: 4/5

[Daryl the Beryl]

Bloodfeather

Highly Suspect

From: Mister Asylum

Listen here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=gT8ZBl229kA

Mainstream Rock Peak: #15, Chart Run: 7 weeks and counting

Review: Another great track from these guys. As with "Lydia", the guitar and drum work is heavy and Johnny Stevens' vocals are great. It's lyrically weaker than "Lydia", but the song is still very enjoyable.

Song-writing: 3.5/5
Music: 5/5
Vocals: 5/5

A

[Daryl the Beryl]

Adventure of a Lifetime

Coldplay

From: A Head Full of Dreams

Listen here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=QtXby3twMmI

AAA Peak: #1, Chart Run: 5 weeks and counting

Alternative Peak: #9, Chart Run: 6 weeks and counting

Review: "A Head Full of Dreams" was criticized for being too pop, but I personally really enjoyed this song (I've yet to check the album out as of this post). The instrumental is pretty unique, Chris Martin sounds great, and the outro is amazing.

Song-writing: 3.5/5
Music: 4.5/5
Vocals: 4.5/5

A

[Daryl the Beryl]

Now time for me to do the six Mediabase top 20s.. (HTTH eventually went top 20 this week)



Reincarnate

Motionless In White

From: Reincarnate

Listen here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=CVQC3bx_AXs

Mainstream Rock Peak: #24, Chart Run: 20 weeks

Review: Kinda unique from other metalcore songs to be honest, has a bit of electro touch to it, and the chorus is pretty cool. Could do without the screaming at the bridge though. B

[Daryl the Beryl]

Till It's Gone

Yelawolf

From: Love Story

Listen here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ndpryp2OlUQ

Alternative Peak: #25, Chart Run: 19 weeks

Review: I think this rap song is pretty cool. Yelawolf (or Michael Atha)'s vocals are unique, and the accompanying instrumentals are cool, having an indie/country touch to it. Lyrics are good, too. A

[Daryl the Beryl]

Nothing Without Love

Nate Ruess

From: Grand Romantic

Listen here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=ssVvkfcL9HI

Alternative Peak: #24, Chart Run: 8 weeks

Review: Nate Ruess' lead solo single was a flop on the alternative charts, peaking only at #24 (top 20 Mediabase though), and plummeted not long after it peaked. His vocals on this track are filled with emotion, and the chorus is kinda epic.

Song-writing: 3/5
Music: 4/5
Vocals: 3.5/5

B+

[H.]

Dec 19, 2015 10:47:50 GMT -5 Daryl the Beryl said:

Adventure of a Lifetime

Coldplay

From: A Head Full of Dreams

Listen here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=QtXby3twMmI

AAA Peak: #1, Chart Run: 5 weeks and counting

Alternative Peak: #9, Chart Run: 6 weeks and counting

Review: "A Head Full of Dreams" was criticized for being too pop, but I personally really enjoyed this song (I've yet to check the album out as of this post). The instrumental is pretty unique, Chris Martin sounds great, and the outro is amazing. A

The album is really good.  Probably top five for me of the year.

[Daryl the Beryl]

Dec 19, 2015 11:01:23 GMT -5 H. said:

Dec 19, 2015 10:47:50 GMT -5 Daryl the Beryl said:

review

The album is really good.  Probably top five for me of the year.

shh... don't distract me I'm trying to finish the last two reviews of this project asap

i'll do the aaa songs and 2016 songs on my own time

[Daryl the Beryl]

Blood Stop and Run

Kill it Kid

From: Single

Listen here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=K9m8JXh27JM

Mainstream Rock Peak: #22, Chart Run: 16 weeks

Review: Musically reminiscent of Royal Blood with Stephanie Ward's good vocals that are also similar to Taylor Monsen of The Pretty Reckless. Decent track. B+

Song-writing: 4/5
Music: 4/5
Vocals: 4/5

[Daryl the Beryl]

New Wave

Islander

From: Violence and Destruction

Listen here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=hB0PfSz-y5c

Mainstream Rock Peak: #22, Chart Run: 13 weeks

Review: A poster here compared this new band to Deftones, and he is true as there's really a cool 'alternative metal' vibe to this song. Great guitar work and aggressive vocals, too.

Song-writing: 4/5
Music: 4/5
Vocals: 4/5

A-

[Daryl the Beryl]

Here's to the Heartache

Nothing More

From: Nothing More

Listen here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=TbUAtnWwADI

Mainstream Rock Peak: #16, Chart Run: 9 weeks and counting

Review: This is easily Nothing More's second best single from their self-titled debut era, behind "Ballast". The vocals from Jonny Hawkins are amazing, the instrumentation is energetic, and the chorus is epic. Check it out!

Song-writing: 4/5
Music: 5/5
Vocals: 4.5/5

Grade:A+

[Daryl the Beryl]

And with that, I'm done with what I need to cover. I will review the AAA hits and 2016 top 20s another time, as well as other songs that had smaller impacts on the charts.

Green Baron Cody Devin Shadows in the Dark American Idiot Troy H. trebor wheatsquares33 Lordef†ones Doc Indie Party Rock shakermaker Pipa Web maine Devil Marlena Nylund peacebone

[Doc Indie Party Rock]

Dec 19, 2015 10:08:05 GMT -5 Daryl the Beryl said:

State of My Head

Shinedown

From: Threat to Survival

Listen here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kv0B-DLtMiM

Mainstream Rock Peak: #5, Chart Run: 8 weeks and counting

Review: Sure it's a pop rock track, but I still enjoyed this song. Fits the alternative rock chart more than the active rock chart too. Of course I'll want Brent and co. to go back to their heavier roots, or at least, songs such as "Cut the Cord" or "Sound of Madness" or "Save Me", but I'll take this for what it is. B+

That's exactly my beaf with this song. "What It Is" is a  Shinedown song I won't chart, but I can be brutal. The upside is; that, there is still promising material on the rest of the album to push out another single or two..

[Daryl the Beryl]

My first AAA-only review is...



24 Frames

Jason Isbell

From: Something More Than Free

Listen here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZtgPeNKpnyw

AAA Peak: #8, Chart Run: 18 weeks

Review: I've always wanted to review this song. Isbell is a folk singer-songwriter who's been gaining popularity over the years through consistent album sales and critical acclaim, and previously was a member of the band Drive-By Truckers. His 2013 album managed to sell over 100k, not bad for an album that peaked only in the top 30 on the Billboard 200. Then came "Something More Than Free" in 2015, which has one of the highest Metacritic ratings of 2015 and managed a top 3 peak on the album sales chart. The album also found love here among the country posters, since Isbell is an alternative country singer. (SMTF, unlike "Southeastern" was also classified as Country and Folk by Billboard) Also, he scored his first major hit with this song, which went top 10 on the Adult Alternative Chart. And I must say, this is a damn excellent song. The song kicks off with Isbell's vocals on a rather quiet background, but it showcases his great vocals. The songwriting on this song is excellent as well, as he narrates an experience of a deteriorating marriage and tragedy strikes in "24 frames". Finally, the music on this is damn good as well, with a decent guitar riff after the chorus and some subtle folky guitars elsewhere in the song. In conclusion, "24 Frames" is a must-listen and I'll recommend it to those looking for great folk music or just an introduction to the country genre.

Song-writing: 5/5
Music: 5/5
Vocals: 4.5/5

Grade: A+

[Daryl the Beryl]

I'm going to resume this now that my exams are over.



Unsteady

X Ambassadors

From: VHS

Listen here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=V0lw3qylVfY

Alternative Peak: #6, Chart Run: 20 weeks and counting

AAA Peak: #13, Chart Run: 13 weeks and counting

Review: I was one of the few that didn't mind "Renegades", even though it's worn out it's welcome on Billboard. This though, I'm sorry, it's disappointing. I get that the song is written for the lead singer's parents, so I'll give it that, but what bugs me more is the delivery of his track, especially the chorus, where he tries to raise his pitch. That said, they're more bearable in the verses, particularly the pre-chorus, where they're more heartfelt as compared to the whiny chorus. And I've got better options than to listen to this, like Sufjan Stevens' "Carrie & Lowell" album. Overall, this is an average song that would've been better if a better vocalist sang it. Skip it. C+

Song-writing: 3.5/5
Music: 3/5
Vocals: 2/5

[Daryl the Beryl]

Just wondering, I'll be focusing on Billboard Rock Breakdown, where I'll give quick reviews on the new entries, so check that thread out.