Tantric- TANTRIC *** 1/2 out of ***** possible.
Tantric, a band formed out of 3/4 fired members of Days of the New, puts out an album much better than former boss Travis Meeks has ever managed. While this album certainly isn't what I'd call classic, or incredible, it is solid, and contains quite a few good songs. For example, the singles "Breakdown," "Astounded," and "Mourning" are certainly worth their weight in gold. There are no total disappointments on the album, and one other track, which has yet to see the light of day (thus far) is "Hate Me," which is again worth a listen. If you like the sounds of Days of the New and Incubus, I'd highly recommend this album.
Thursday- FULL COLLAPSE **** out of ***** possible.
I like to think of Thursday as my surrogate At the Drive-in. Same general style, but with enough differences to not piss me off. The single, "Understanding (In a Car Crash)" is certainly a standout. Other highlights include "I am the Killer," "Paris in Flames," (based on the film Paris is Burning), and "Standing on the Edge of Summer." And then, there's "How Long is the Night?" This is probably one of my five favorite songs of all time. The emotion in this song is so staggering and painful that I'll admit, I've cried listening to it before. Overall, if you are a fan of the screamo (hardcore/emo) genre, this is probably one of the better albums you'll have the chance to buy.
Tonic- LEMON PARADE ** out of ***** possible.
I'm going to do you a favor. Do not buy this album. You may recall the singles "If You Could Only See" and "Open Up Your Eyes." Nothing else comes close to them on this album except the surprising "My Old Man" and the fairly good "A Casual Affair." I would say your money is probably better spent on just about anything on this page. Unless you're a fan, don't waste your cash. |