|
 |
Straylight RunPrepare To Be Wrong CD-EP Victory/Stomp John Nolan, former songwriter and second vocalist for emo giants Taking Back Sunday, left that band embittered by not only personal disputes but a feeling that the music was being compromised by a desire to sell records (although this reviewer reckons TBS's post-Nolan offering 'Where You Want To Be' indicated otherwise). Unfortunately for Nolan, all this anti-commerciality clashing with his obvious pop sensibilities resulted in a pretentious (albeit often brilliant) mess in the form of Straylight Run's debut album earlier in the year. On this six-track follow-up, however, Nolan's settled where he wants to be. Opening with an indicative atmospheric number, the electro-driven I Don't Want This Anymore, Straylight Run have for the most part ditched their emo-pop fare for a spacier, more open sound that allows Nolan's penchant for melodrama to breathe easier. In fact, it's when Nolan allows the pop to creep in that things fall apart - the chorus of It Never Gets Easier seems like a cop out when juxtaposed to the dark, hushed backing vocals of its verse. Hands In The Sky (Big Shot) offers Straylight's finest moment so far when the sweeping ballad builds to Nolan's scream of "give it up boy! Give it up or you're gonna die!" in a breakdown that is more reminiscent of ...Trail Of Dead than Taking Back Sunday. Lyrically, however, Nolan obviously hasn't forgotten his former band, nor forgiven them if A Slow Descent is anything to go by: "The focus on friends and the feelings / that made those stupid songs all worth singing," and "as soon as it began it was ruined / a slow descent from unique to routine," sound just a tad bitter. With 'Prepare To Be Wrong' Straylight Run have set their sights on greatness, but, if Nolan & Co want to stop being compared to TBS, they should probably stop singing about them.  |
|
The latest issue available now!     |
All content copyright dB Magazine