10 Years - "Shoot It Out"

[onefrayedrepublic]

Album is absolutely incredible. Suddenly 2010 is a much less shitty year for rock. Fix Me may be the band's best song to date.

Also, 10 Years seriously makes the best Acoustic versions of their songs ever. Wasteland, Through The Iris, Shoot It Out, and Fix Me are all haunting acoustic. The acoustic of Shoot It Out is far better than the single.

[rockmaniac]

Aug 31, 2010 20:26:18 GMT -5 onefrayedrepublic said:

Album is absolutely incredible. Suddenly 2010 is a much less s**tty year for rock. Fix Me may be the band's best song to date.

Also, 10 Years seriously makes the best Acoustic versions of their songs ever. Wasteland, Through The Iris, Shoot It Out, and Fix Me are all haunting acoustic. The acoustic of Shoot It Out is far better than the single.

what do u mean? u got STP, Godsmack, Saving Abel, Disturbed, 10 Years, Avenged Sevenfold, Korn, Hellyeah, Bullet For My Valentine, Apocalyptica, Buckcherry, Deftones, Drowning Pool, Nonpoint and Sevendust albums already out and u got Stone Sour, Linkin Park, All That Remains, Alter Bridge, Limp Bizkit, Hinder, Trapt, Crossfade, Bush and Finger Eleven coming out. does this look shitty on paper? To me, HELL NO!

[onefrayedrepublic]

STP: not my style
Godsmack: ugh
Saving Abel: dear god no.
Disturbed: too, um, screamy
10 Years: awesome
Avenged Sevenfold: don't care
Korn: alright
Hellyeah: just shoot me now
Bullet For My Valentine: haven't listened
Apocalyptica: good
Buckcherry: rape me first
Deftones: very good
Drowning Pool: don't care
Nonpoint: good
Sevendust: alright
Stone Sour: probably will be decent
Linkin Park: can't wait
All That Remains: don't care
Alter Bridge: fuck creed
Limp Bizkit: u serious?
Hinder: are u shitting me?
Trapt: I'm excited for this one
Crossfade: and this
Bush: and this
Finger Eleven: and this

In summary, 10 Years may have started a turnaround in quality for the year. You also missed a pretty good cd from Taproot on your list.

[rockmaniac]

Aug 31, 2010 21:00:37 GMT -5 onefrayedrepublic said:

STP: not my style
Godsmack: ugh
Saving Abel: dear god no.
Disturbed: too, um, screamy
10 Years: awesome
Avenged Sevenfold: don't care
Korn: alright
Hellyeah: just shoot me now
Bullet For My Valentine: haven't listened
Apocalyptica: good
Buckcherry: rape me first
Deftones: very good
Drowning Pool: don't care
Nonpoint: good
Sevendust: alright
Stone Sour: probably will be decent
Linkin Park: can't wait
All That Remains: don't care
Alter Bridge: f**k creed
Limp Bizkit: u serious?
Hinder: are u s**tting me?
Trapt: I'm excited for this one
Crossfade: and this
Bush: and this
Finger Eleven: and this

In summary, 10 Years may have started a turnaround in quality for the year. You also missed a pretty good cd from Taproot on your list.

and Black Label Society too

[jvandyck87]

I agree with you on almoset everything ESPECIALLY DEFTONES...except I'd say that the Sevendust CD was better than Taproot's, and Nonpoint's (though I was impressed with both of those taking 'Miracle' and 'Our Long Road Home' into account). Avenged Sevenfold and Limp Bizkit are better bands than you give them credit for. And just because you don't like Creed has very little bearing on whether you are likely to dig Alter Bridge, because the vocals are obviously very different, but their songwriting styles are also very different.

For me it's the other way around though. All the CDs I was really excited about this year have already been released, culminating in the release of Deftones - Diamond Eyes which is essentially a shoe-in for my personal favorite album of the year. Though my friend just showed my some tracks off the new Filter album which were all quite good, so I may buy that album. And if people are digging the new 10 Years, I'll likely check it out. Sevendust and 10 Years are soulmates when it comes to touring, so I'm pretty sure I'll see them when they come to town together in a month.

[pen]

Aug 31, 2010 21:00:37 GMT -5 onefrayedrepublic said:

Alter Bridge: f**k creed

They sound nothing like Creed and Blackbird is one of the most underrated hard rock albums in recent memory.

[jvandyck87]

Aug 31, 2010 21:26:57 GMT -5 pen said:

Aug 31, 2010 21:00:37 GMT -5 onefrayedrepublic said:

Alter Bridge: f**k creed

They sound nothing like Creed and Blackbird is one of the most underrated hard rock albums in recent memory.

What he said. Though I know a lot of people who really dig it so I guess that I didn't think it was underrated. ...just good.

[onefrayedrepublic]

I understated the greatness of this album last night. I apologize. This album will blow your mind. "Fix Me" is a top-notch competitor for song of the year!

[jvandyck87]

Sept 1, 2010 11:39:42 GMT -5 onefrayedrepublic said:

I understated the greatness of this album last night. I apologize. This album will blow your mind. "Fix Me" is a top-notch competitor for song of the year!

I'll make you a deal. I haven't listened to the new 10 Years album yet, so in hopes that we might both better ourselves, you give Alter Bridge - Blackbird a fair chance to impress you (listening from start to finish as if they were a new band that had nothing to do with Creed), and I will listen to 10 Years' new album. While I like "Shoot It Out", I also liked "Beautiful", but I didn't love either of their first two albums. But if it's as good as you say it is, I will give them another chance to impress me. You should do the same with Alter Bridge. I went into Blackbird with low expectations as I didn't really like Creed, and I didn't like any of the singles I'd heard off either of their albums. I was quite surprised, and I think you will be too.

[onefrayedrepublic]

I agree to your deal. I have some free time this evening. I'll give it a complete listen ... I must admit seeing the tracklisting (including the 7:58-in-length Blackbird) is a bit alarming, but I will take your deal anyway.

[Jorge_Str [Som3on3]]

official music video

[rockmaniac]

Sept 2, 2010 10:05:40 GMT -5 Jorge_Str [Som3on3] said:

official music video

I posted it already

[Shadows in the Dark]

These guys could potentially get their first Top 10 album even if it's only projected for 20-23k.

[rockmaniac]

it would be cool if they go top 10. They gotta go through Bieber and Usher though

[Jorge_Str [Som3on3]]

Sept 2, 2010 18:30:04 GMT -5 rockmaniac said:

Sept 2, 2010 10:05:40 GMT -5 Jorge_Str [Som3on3] said:

I posted it already

sorry dude, i didn't see it

[lockebox]

Solid album from a solid band. "The Wicked Ones" or "Fix Me" for single #2.

[jvandyck87]

First listen through the album starting now. Comments are train of thought while listening to the album.

"Shoot It Out" - This is the only song I've already heard going into this session. It's a solid and very likable first single that sounds radio-ready but also interesting enough that it deserves whatever success it attains. I really love the bridge, especially the harmonies. A-

"The Wicked Ones" - didn't stand out to me on first listen. I felt like I had to actively make myself pay attention and still didn't. I like the lyrics though. B

"Now Is The Time" - Strong opening riff. Does the chorus riff sound like Mudvayne - "Scream With Me" part II anyone? It better, because it's identical. Besides that though, I enjoyed listening to it and it probably would be among my favorites if it weren't for the "Scream With Me" riff stealing (this song is WAY better than "Scream With Me" anyway). A- penalized down to B+ because of riff-stealing

"One More Day" - First song to change the tempo, key, and instrumentation, which is a welcome change after three straight songs with a fairly similar feel. If they were a more established band, this song could be big, but I think it'd be risky as a second single. I don't like in the bridge that the strings exactly follow the guitars in parallel. Seems like a cop-out way of attempting epicness. The strings by themselves at the end also sound a bit too fake to be exposed like that. Overall a strong song. B+

"Fix Me" - There's a lot of hype for this one, so high expectations, especially given it was co-written by Dave Bassett who co-wrote some Shinedown hits as well as Sevendust - "Unraveling". Through the second chorus, and everything feels perfectly executed so far from a songwriting perspective. Musical events and melodic choices all feel really good. Awesome bridge and then the piano alone at the beginning of the last chorus and then it all comes back in...MONEY. The song has a great shape, and layers are added and subtracted as they should be. Repetition and form done well. Should be a shoe-in for their second single if you ask me. A

"Chasing The Rapture" - Cool title. I'm not a huge cut-time fan, and this song is not the exception to the rule for me. It's tough to follow "Fix Me" and they do a good job of surrounding "Fix Me" with two songs that are very different from it, but this just doesn't do it for me given my taste. I also hate at the end of the chorus when the vocal melody and guitar line are the same for a bunch of consecutive notes notes (just like the strings and guitars in the bridge of "One More Day"). The very ending is kinda cool, but overall not my type of song. B-

"Dead In The Water" - Second straight song to feel weirdly punk influenced for 10 Years. The backing vocals in the verse and cut-time chorus especially add to this feel. This has a weaker title, but overall is a much more interesting song to me than "Chasing The Rapture" and I like it a decent amount despite it not exactly being my style. This feels a bit like the "Actions & Motives" of this album. The closing riff has an interesting effect that adds to its heaviness. B

"Don't Fight It" - I don't know how I feel about this following the every four tracks is the acoustic ballad formula championed by Metallica. The chorus comes in very strong, but doesn't live up to how it enters. "One More Day" is a more interesting lighter melodic rock radio song to me. I like the instrumentation, but the drumming is a bit TOO boring for me to get into the song, which is VERY boring considering I'm a guitar player. The bridge makes some cool harmonic choices. I don't like the last chorus coming in with just the vocals in the context of this song. Considering this song is a dynamic level below the rest of the album anyway, going further in that direction doesn't have the surprise-factor that it's going for. B

"Waking Up The Ghost" - I like the shuffle beat on this song. It's essentially a very fast 6/8, which is something 10 Years hasn't done. The strings are surprising in this song because it isn't what would typically be considered epic and the juxtaposition of strings with this feel and the Talkbox guitar solo in the bridge are bridging two very different worlds. The clean low-octave entrance of the final chorus in THIS song is very effective unlike in "Don't Fight It". This rivals "Fix Me" for my favorite track on the album thus far. The strings at the very end still do sound fake as they're too exposed, but a small gripe for a very good song. A-

"Running In Place" - Everything before the chorus sounds like a mediocre bar-band. I like the chorus, but partly probably because the beat is VERY Sevendust...a lot of Sevendust choruses have that type of groove. It also has a very similar feel to the "Shoot It Out" chorus come to think of it. Too many songs in a row that have the clean drumless entrance to the final chorus. That formula, though very effective, looses it's power when too many songs on the album use it. C

"Fade Into (The Ocean)" - There's a lot to digest with this one. Given Tool is such a big influence of theirs, it's surprising to me that this is the only song on the album that flaunts any progressive elements, but the rhythms, riffs, textures, vocals, and just about everything are at their most intense, complex, and urgent on this song. This song has both the most beautiful and heavy moments of any song on the album. The ending is a bit abrupt for me after the way it's built up. This song isn't as flawless as "Fix Me" but its execution definitely lives up to the ambition. Another favorite. A

"Shoot It Out (Acoustic version)" - the chord voicings they change for the acoustic version and rhythmic changes in the hand percussion relative to the drumkit are really cool. The shoot-it-shoot-it-out refrain doesn't work as well in this song as the original but the rest of the song is treated well in this context. The beauty of the bridge which is easily my favorite part of the original song is only highlighted further in this version. Though I miss the stacked harmonies from the original in the bridge, the intimacy of Jesse's voice more than makes up for it. A-

"Fix Me (Acoustic version)" - I figured this would be good. It was. The addition of harmonics are especially nice on the acoustic guitars compared to on the electrics, and the different voicings of the chords again work very well. A

"Silhouette Of A Life" - I understand why this didn't make the album, especially with Universal's 10-track album rule, but this song has a very cool sound. The effects give the song a unique gloomy sound, and I respect that they choose to keep the song at a quiet dynamic level. B+

"I Blame You" - This song reminds me of a couple songs. It reminds me of the song Mark Wahlberg records in 'Rockstar' "We All Die Young" and some other song that I can't think of. Jesse has no sense of urgency singing in the low register. He sounds like he doesn't really care in the verses, but he really opens up in the choruses. I think this song should have made the album. Given the trend of bonus tracks becoming singles recently, this wouldn't be an awful pick by any means. But with "Fix Me" available, they'd better not. B+

Overall impressions: There were a lot of likable songs with a handful of tracks that either felt like filler or just not quite up my alley as well as a handful of real standout tracks. For a band that emulates Tool, I feel that they don't take enough risks, don't surprise me enough, and only on the strongest songs do they make up for it by having undeniable hooks or a sound all their own.

Standout tracks: "Fix Me" (both versions), "Fade Into (The Ocean)", "Waking Up The Ghost", "Shoot It Out" (both versions)

Rating: 3.5/5 (would be a 4/5 if they could cut out the two worst tracks and replace them with the two good bonus tracks, and make a 10-track album with two awesome acoustic bonus cuts. Would be a 3/5 without "Fix Me").

----------

Alright Onefrayedrepublic, your turn with Alter Bridge - Blackbird. And I expect more than "f**k Creed". :)

[onefrayedrepublic]

Alright, I shall post a similar track-by-track in the next day. I listened (and it was much more pleasurable than expected) but I wasn't expecting to have to match such a through review! Excellent review by the way.

[rockmaniac]

-- 16 10 YEARS UNIVERSAL REPUBLIC 19,557 --
FEEDING THE WOLVES

[Shadows in the Dark]

Top 40 on Alternative:

46 39 10 YEARS Shoot It Out 165 148 17 0.513

[jvandyck87]

Sept 5, 2010 20:36:43 GMT -5 onefrayedrepublic said:

Alright, I shall post a similar track-by-track in the next day. I listened (and it was much more pleasurable than expected) but I wasn't expecting to have to match such a through review! Excellent review by the way.

Haha thanks. And I'm not necessarily expecting a review on Alter Bridge. I just wanted to make sure you'd know that I'd upheld my end of the bargain for sure so that you would feel moved to engage Blackbird. Any standout tracks at least or global impressions at least?

[avaholic26]

jvandyck87, excellent review. Made me appreciate the album even more. One question just out of curiosity because I was not aware of it, you mentioned in your review about this bonus track becoming singles trend, do you have any examples?

[jvandyck87]

Red - "Forever" is one, but I know there are more or I wouldn't have noticed it as a trend.

There are also bands that have been adding bonus songs to the albums as they're released as singles such as FFDP - "Never Enough" and "Stranger Than Fiction", Evans Blue - "Erase My Scars", and Seasons After - "Gettin' Even"

[onefrayedrepublic]

Sorry, I forgot to post anything.

Anyway, about Blackbird, I was genuinely surprised and impressed. I expected the same sort of generic bland and tiresome music that Creed produced so regularly, but this album was entirely different from expectations. Ironically, I preferred the ballads on Blackbird, even though it was Creed's radio-ready ballads that drove me mad.

Album highlight was definitely Blackbird. Amazing song ... really touching. I really liked Watch Over You, Ties That Bind, and Come To Life as well ... can definitely see myself listening to all those again. The album was a little bit too "metal-y" for me, but I respect the songs musically that were too hard for me.

Ironically, the only song that really irritated me was Rise Today. Maybe it just came too late in the track listing, but I found it boring and I really disliked the vocal performance. I am at a loss to explain why it was the lead single. But other than that song, I really enjoyed the album, and I will no longer mentally lump Alter Bridge in with Creed. Thanks for opening my eyes.

[jvandyck87]

"Rise Today" is my least favorite song on the album too, and I had lumped the two bands myself until I heard "Ties That Bind" followed by "Watch Over You" and realized that they had a lot more to offer than I had expected in their heavier songs as well as their more melodic songs.

Since, I have gone back and listened to all four Creed albums, and while I still don't like Creed overall, I was able to find a handful of really awesome Creed songs (overlooking Scott Stapp's inferior vocals to Myles Kennedy's). "Who's Got My Back?" is really intense and I liked both "A Thousand Faces" and "Overcome" off the most recent album, which were singles that fared more poorly than they deserved after so many earlier Creed singles had markedly outperformed what they deserved.

[Shadows in the Dark]

Top 10 on Active:

12 10 10 YEARS Shoot It Out 1142 1089 53 2.615

[lockebox]

Top 30 - Alternative

33 29 10 YEARS - Shoot It Out 315 292 23 1.323

[Devin]

Aug 9, 2010 9:45:45 GMT -5 Devin said:

Don't think this will outpeak "Beautiful" on both rock charts.

I predict:
#8 on active
#21 on alternative

How fast did "Beautiful" peak on active/alternative. I forget

My predictions are coming together. ;)

[Shadows in the Dark]

Oct 23, 2010 14:23:31 GMT -5 Devin said:

Aug 9, 2010 9:45:45 GMT -5 Devin said:

Don't think this will outpeak "Beautiful" on both rock charts.

I predict:
#8 on active
#21 on alternative

How fast did "Beautiful" peak on active/alternative. I forget

My predictions are coming together. ;)

Up to #23 on Alternative now. Hopefully it can match your prediction, and then some by going Top 20.

[jvandyck87]

What I meant to do the first time.

Sevendust all dressed up as Elvis on Halloween, and 10 Years dressed up as...

www.youtube.com/watch?v=7WFKtCnXeig