The uber geeks

Smile Empty Soul - Vultures review

The Grade:

Vultures: B+

Recommendation:

A very solid effort from the bitter boys of Smile Empty Soul. While not exceptional nor as good as their debut (it comes close), anyone who likes heavier rock music should find something redeeming.

The Review:

It’s surely been a long wait for the “second,” long-awaited, sophomore release from Smile Empty Soul. When I originally reviewed their self-titled album, I gave it a great review, even though it was slightly repetitive. It was so brutally honest, compelling, and raw that I deemed it as one of my favorite albums of 2003.

Three years later, we finally get what is to be their second release. However, in that time they have had a dispute with their record label, recorded a second album which wasn’t released due to the said dispute, and then signed to an indie label that housed the likes of Skindred and Nonpoint.

Their second, never-to-reach-the-light-of-record-stores album, “Anxiety” was sold at shows and eventually leaked on the internet. Even though it’s not well-known, it was also a very good album, although it was basically their first album all over again.

With that being said, “Vultures” is basically Pt. III of the Smile Empty Soul saga, and not much has remain unchanged. They are still brutally honest, pissed, self-loathing (”give me something good and I’ll — it up, I’m going to die a loser”), and maliciously bitter to almost everyone from record producers/companies to over-bearing parents to society to the corporate machine.

Although, the majority of topics remain the same, many of the songs don’t see the bright side of bad situations as they previously had. The other constant is that they continue to kick ***. The straight-forward approach is welcomed (there are not many bells and whistles here) when over-production is such a problem in the majority of music today.

What they seem to realize is that the star of the show is the angry vocals, which aren’t anything to write home about in the skill department but are certainly addictive. None are as powerful as were featured in “Every Sunday” or the “Other Side,” which featured screams so real it was enough to believe this is a person who believed what he was yelling about. They don’t seem be using the lyrics as a cliched means to appeal to the angst in teenagers.

Make no doubt about it, this isn’t an album that will only be enjoyable to those who are angry at everything. I’m not angry at anything, but it’s still fun to hear someone who has something to say, even if you don’t agree with their stance.

Their lead single, “The Hit” is a catchy, bouncy jab at his record producers, companies, and landlords. While not nearly up to SES standards, it is an enjoyable and radio friendly single.

Luckily the rest of the album has a much darker feel to it. The self-depricating “Loser” is one of the standouts. “The Freaks Are Nothing” is basically “No Where Kids Pt. II” but is a superior song. “Here’s to Another” is an addiction song very reminiscent to one my favorite songs, Sinch’s “433 (Hypothetical Situation).” The dark viewpoint continues on with “Live Forever” (’There’s not one — in this world that’s going to live forever / The world will knock you down‘)

Not is all fire and brimstone, though. The superb acoustic “Morning Light” is an uplifting song. The message here - every day is new day, and even when the struggles do occur, there is a new chance to make things right. While I said the majority of SES’s songs had some type of positive message in the past, this has seem to dwindled a bit in their old age, which is surprising since “artists” normally soften as they “mature.”

“Jesus is a Manager at Wal-Mart” may be biting off more than they can chew lyrically. I see the metaphor they are going for (I think), but they are reaching a bit too much at trying to be better songwriters. While not a bad effort, it doesn’t have the same effect as their straight forward songs.

This album isn’t going to go out and sweep any awards or get huge accolades, but one thing is for certain, this is a very very entertaining and addictive band. This album is not going to change your world view or cause you to think deeply, but while it’s on there is no doubt that’ll you’ll be crankin’ it up and singing along.

Recent features

• Coheed and Cambria - The Velorium Camper II: Backend Of Forever
• Leah Andreone - Break Your Fall
• The Format - Give It Up

Song of the week

Sara Bareilles - Between the Lines
Sara Bareilles' "Between the Lines" is the Song of the Week for April 20 to 26.