jueves, 24 de noviembre de 2011

Maylene and the Sons of Disaster - IV

After reading tons of posts online, I have to say I'm in the minority when I say that Maylene and the Sons of Disaster have just released their best album to date with IV. No joking, I'm dead serious. Dallas and company have finally embraced southern rock and not southern metal with a splash of metalcore thrown in - but southern rock. The guys are much less Underoath now and much more Gov't Mule or Drive-By Truckers. They lose a little edge at times, but the new sound is worth it. Don't get me wrong, I think III was great, but I love the new sound. "In Dead We Dream," "Save Me," "Fate Dreams," "Never Enough" and "Cat's Walk" are completely rocking tracks, while "Faith Healer (Bring Me Down)" and "Drought of '85" are slower acoustic based. "Faith Healer" even has a slightly pop vibe. I'm most confused by the fact that some say it's not southern and it's a radio sell-out album. I believe this album is a throwback to 70's southern rock, where it actually began. From the album cover to the fuzz they used for distortion, it's beautiful, classic even. So you may ask, "If you love it so much why only a four star rating?" My only complaint and disappointment is the seemingly flippant use of the word "hell" in both "Drought of '85" ["If no one had answers and love had no meaning, then what the hell are we fighting for?"] and "Off to the Laughing Place" ["I'm scared as hell I'll walk this earth alone."] I'm also pretty skeptical of the line "Take a moment to weep for the hurting, but I'll be damned if you weep for me.", which is also found in "Off to the Laughing Place." No matter how good it is musically, I just don't find the lyrics acceptable for a band being promoted in the Christian market. Mild profanities aside, if you are a fan of a more classic style of southern rock, this is a must-have. I am thrilled that you guys have stepped outside of your former selves for this record. Keep it up.

Style: Southern Rock/ Hardcore
Street Date: September 27, 2011

Track List:
01. In Dead We Dream (3:16)
02. Save Me (4:00)
03. Faith Healer (Bring Me Down) (3:38)
04. Open Your Eyes (3:15)
05. Killing Me Slow (4:05)
06. Taking On Water (4:06)
07. Fate Games (2:16)
08. Come For You (3:59)
09. Never Enough (2:52)
10. Cat's Walk (2:38)
11. Drought Of '85 (4:12)
12. Off To The Laughing Place (3:27)
Link: http://www.mediafire.com/?9dyaeu7tzgxy1k7

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