Yellowcard - Lights & Sounds
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Music CD Cover
Artist: YellowcardBrand: Baker & Taylor
Edition: Music CD
CD Release Date: 2006-01-24
Music Label: Capitol
Soundtracks:
- Three Flights Up
- Lights And Sounds
- Down On My Head
- Sure Thing Falling
- City Of Devils
- Rough Landing, Holly
- Two Weeks From Twenty
- Waiting Game
- Martin Sheen Or JFK
- Space Travel
- Grey
- Words, Hands, Hearts
- How I Go
- Holly Wood Died
Free Music Notes for Lights & Sounds
Free Music Review: Yellowcard's Crowning Achievement
Hit: 5 Stars
Being a violinist in my high school and a huge fan of contemporary strings music, I've been searching all over for modern rock bands that utilise the violin and/or a string orchestra in their music. Metallica used a full orchestra in their 2-disc live album, S&M, and Nightwish also used an orchestra in their latest album, Once. However, after listening to Lights and Sounds, I believe Yellowcard has come the closest to achieving perfect fusion of rock and orchestral music.
I listened to their past albums (excluding Where We Stand, which I personally thought was a horrible), and I really admired Sean Mackin's talent for the electric violin. While I especially enjoyed Ocean Avenue for their hit singles (Ocean Avenue, Way Away, Only Once), it really can't be compared to Lights and Sounds.
As some mention, Yellowcard has entered a new era of music, and they've evolved in many ways. Their lyrics are obviously much more mature, from laments about teenaged melodrama to discussing the politics of war and the effect it's had on the country. In addition, they've also upgraded their instruments in the sense that Sean Mackin is now accompanied by a 25-piece string orchestra, adding a greater sense of depth and emotion of a number of their songs.
Here's the general breakdown:
1. Three Flights Up: A short, but nontheless beautiful instrumental piece with a piano solo and orchestral accompaniment. I was completely blown away by it the first time I played it. This song doesn't even need lyrics to convey emotions; it's done flawlessly by the strings. It sets the general mood for the rest of the album. Simply amazing. 10+/10
2. Lights and Sounds: One of the more energetic, punk rock-type songs of the album. It kind of betrays the atmosphere created by the previous songs, but it's still enjoyable to listen to. 8.5/10
3. Down On My Head: A song that slows the tempo down from "Lights and Sounds". It's got a catchy chorus, and is the first lyrical to utilise the orchestra. 9/10
4. Sure Thing Falling: I was somewhat indifferent to this song when I first heard it, but it eventually grew on me. It carries on the pace set by "Down On My Head", and leads directly into the next song. 8/10
5. City Of Devils: This is one of Yellowcard's darker, more brooding songs that reflects the mood originally created by "Three Flights Up". Here, a cello solo is featured, with the orchestra in the background. It's beautifully poetic. 10/10
6. Rough Landing, Holly: It's back to a "Lights and Sounds" tempo, but the lyrics have further matured here. It introduces us to Holly Wood, a symbolic character created by the band, obviously representing Hollywood, CA. Personification of Holly is well-done here. 8/10
7. Two Weeks From Twenty: The song's almost like a subtle anti-war protest as it describes how the war has affected people. Printz Board from the Black Eyed Peas is featured on the trumpet. Some people dislike this song for its political-themed lyrics, but I found it to be very provocative. 9/10
8. Waiting Game: Starts immediately with a wonderful combo of electric guitars and orchestras. It's a beautfiul strings-rock fusion song with great lyrics. 10/10
9. Martin Sheen or JFK: This was another one of those slown-to-make-an-impression songs, that took me a while to warm up to. The title is odd, and I've yet to figure out how it links to the lyrics. 8/10
10. Space Travel: Another cello solo is featured here. The lyrics could have been found in Yellowcard's previous albums, but the slowed-down tempo and strings adds a more sombre tone in the song.
11. Grey: Sean Mackin's violin is the predominant stringed instrument in this song. The lyrics have a darkness comparable to "City of Devils", with a more punk-rock flare to it. As much as I love the orchestra, it's nice to hear a strong violin part once again. 10/10
12. Words, Hands, Hearts: Another beautifully-written song with a catchy chorus and a strong violin accompaniment. 10/10
13. How I Go: Words can't truly express how absolutely amazing this song is. The orchestra is used to its full potential, bringing out a torrent of emotions. Natalie Maines of the Dixie Chicks who accompanied Ryan Keys in "View From Heaven" is featured again here. The emotions and mood are very similar to that of "View From Heaven", but there's also a feeling of hope mixed along with the melancholy sadness, as a dying father expresses himself to his son. I've come very close to crying on countless occasions while listening to this song. Ryan and Natalie sing in perfect harmony - even better than in "View From Heaven", while the guitars and piano keep a simple beat and is amplified by the string orchestra, soaring to new emotional heights. Yellowcard has reached its ultimate peak in the album with "How I Go", and reflects how the band has truly matured. 10++/10
14. Holly Wood Died: We are reacquainted with Holly Wood, the character introduced back in "Rough Landing, Holly". While this song isn't as emotionally beautiful as "How I Go", it's amazing in its own way. The violin is strong in the chorus, but the orchestra ends the piece with a big bang as it performs a reprise of "Three Flights Up", with the guitar carrying the rhythm and joined by the piano. It's the perfect counterpart to "Three Flights Up". 10+/10
I actually gave every single song on this album in my iTunes a 5/5 because I have grown to love and admire every single one of them. With "Lights and Sounds", Yellowcard has become my favourite band of all-time. While Ocean Avenue and previous albums were nice, I actually prefer this new style of music Yellowcard has adapted, and I hope they continue on this path with subsequent albums.
Lights & Sounds Poster
Lights and Sounds is a bigger, broader album from their platinum debut album Ocean Avenue, that finds Yellowcard moving away from songs about breakups and onto more expansive themes of artifice, war, and adulthood. The guitars are tougher, the songs more intricate and encompass a wider spectrum of musical styles, which is evident in the title track.
Lights and Sounds is a statement of intent: Yellowcard has grown up. Never "just kids" to begin with, the California-by-way-of-Florida quintet tackles thornier subjects than on 2003's Ocean Avenue, while taking a more ambitious approach towards their already proficient musicianship. Sean Mackin's surprisingly well integrated violin playing has always been a big part of their sound, but now they've upped the ante. Their third album doesn't just open with a pretty piano-based instrumental ("Three Flights Up"), but leads to a 25-piece orchestra, along with Natalie Maines of the Dixie Chicks, on "How I Go." It may sound pretentious, but they make the unusual combination (pop-punk plus classical) work. On their second major label effort, Yellowcard comes across as serious to be sure--and this is nothing new--but not pretentious or silly. Affairs of the heart are as important as ever, but charismatic frontman Ryan Key has other matters on his mind. On "Two Weeks from Twenty," featuring Printz Board of the Black Eyed Peas, he sings, "We lost another one that we sent with a gun / They're gonna miss him he was two weeks from twenty." Then on "Words, Hands, Hearts," he laments, "The whole world is different now men have died." No longer bright-eyed teenagers, Yellowcard hasn't lost hope and their compassion remains boundless, but the times have changed, and so have they. --Kathleen C. Fennessy
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