Song: Heads Are Bound To Roll
Album: Leave A Light On
Year: 2014
Genre: Hardcore
At first I wasn’t going to do “new release” reviews of bands
of which I’ve previously posted. Plenty of
sites, magazines, and Amazon reviews to read for those. But, this is 7 Seconds; my favorite band on
the planet. Plus, I get to make up the
rules as I go along! As you read this,
you may get the sense of complete over-criticism and “under a microscope” type critiquing. There’s a reason for this heavy
concentration. Due to my love for this
band, and their music, and because of the influence they’ve had on me as a
musician and person, I take everything they do (way too) seriously. Trust me when I say it is damn difficult for
me to be objective about 7 Seconds. I
promised myself I would listen to this record a minimum of 5 times before
casting judgment, whether it be positive or negative. Well, 10-15 rotations later, I'm scribbling a review. What I was initially afraid of is that the
new record wouldn’t live up to their pretty awesome 2005 release, Take It On,
Take It Back, Take It Over. Was my fear
correct or irrational? Well, maybe a slight touch
of both.
Leave A Light On is an album nine years in the making so
I anticipated nothing but the best material front to back. Are there some truly great songs? Definitely.
Are there songs to satisfy my need for melodic hardcore? Yup. Are there clunkers? A
couple. The majority of songs are
extremely strong, but others fall just short of the high standard I associate
with the band. I look upon some things as missed opportunities; where verses could’ve had more melody put into
them, such as on “Rage Quit” and “Simple Or Absolute,” or choruses that just
miss the mark like on “30 Years (And Still Going Wrong) and “Empty Spots.” Then there’s the paint-by-numbers “Upgrade
Everything” and “Slogan On A Shirt” that should
be the B Sides of a B Side, and can’t really compete with the rest of the
record. Still, even the weaker songs are better than 90% of what is considered melodic hardcore right now.
That being said, most songs are boiling over with the inspirational and youthful spirit 7 Seconds still exudes even with 30+ years behind them. “Exceptional,” “I Have Faith In You,” “Heads Are Bound To Roll" and ”My Aim Is You" are classic, hardcore sing-a-longs that will fit in seamlessly with any of the back catalog from their younger days. The true standout of the album is the title track. A mid-paced, touch out of left field, song just stands above the rest in its melody, message and execution and harkens back to the Soulforce / Ourselves days of the band. The lyrics bring forth a familiar and consistent subject that Kevin Seconds has written about so many times; human connections and the choices we make to improve or diminish them. This is not a cry for unity, but more about individual actions and efforts we put towards each other. He suggests to "leave a light on" and to "tread a light step where you go" in an effort to make the world feel more like home for others after your time is done. Kevin has always written direct from the heart about humanity and the challenges that test all of us. Some accuse his content of being preachy, yet I’ve always seen it as a suggestive push forward on how we can elevate ourselves to withstand and persist through day-to-day life. The world could use more of that from different avenues than just music.
Recently, Kevin did an interview where he stated, "I wasn’t even sure whether it mattered if we put out a new record or not. Who would buy our music? Who was buying music, period?” Well, placing my hyper demanding expectance aside, I truly think Leave A Light On is a fine record and I'm excited to have another 7 Seconds release to etch into my memory. So, yes Kevin, putting out records still does matter. My only suggestion; please, no more waiting nine years in between albums.
Listen to "Heads Are Bound To Roll" here.
No comments:
Post a Comment