“Where is your inspiration, you lost it, oh so long ago,” is the first
line a listener will hear from Yellowcard’s latest release on Lobster
Records, entitled, One For the Kids. It is clear, however,
these five rockers from Jacksonville, Florida are nothing short of
inspiration when you pop this album into your stereo. Infectiously catchy
songs on the record such as “Sureshot” and “Rock Star Land” grab your
attention immediately with rhythmic guitars and a driving violin. Yes,
that’s right; you read correctly, a violin.
Yellowcard proves to be creative with their music.
One For The Kids has a sound that is much unlike others in the
pop-punk genre, and the presence of a violin is not the only vehicle
steering them towards uniqueness. Whether it is Ryan Key’s (lead
vocalist/guitar) “pick-you-up” vocals or Ben Harper’s diverse guitar, this
group will reach you through all-embracing audio. The tracks “Something
of Value” and “Cigarette” both display an acoustic edge that the band
strategically uses, while the song “Trembling” starts out with emotional
and almost eerie vocals that truly set the mood. As with many bands
today, Yellowcard’s music expresses feelings involving love, friends, and
just growing up in general. Perhaps this is why the album is called
One For The Kids.
The lyrics on this CD are solid and blend
well with the music, yet I would not describe them as anything
“mind-blowing.” But then again, I can confidently say that many artists
today have no intentions of writing lyrics that puzzle their listeners.
On the track “Sureshot,” Key sings, “Get up, face this year/ Days will
fade with all your childhood fears./ All of the nights, all of the friends
and the fights,/ You’re a young man who’s burning to break free.” With
lyrics like these present on the album, a listener can easily recognize
the CD’s personal qualities. Yellowcard is no longer just a penalty
in soccer that one gets from yelling profanities at the referee, it is a
musical act that is just waiting to happen to you. -John
Murnane
Links:
www.yellowcardrock.com
www.lobsterrecords.com |
