•
Rating: The Silverstein, riding the wave of success from their previous LP "Discovering The Waterfront," release this "18 Candles: The Early Years." This album is a collection, for the record, and it's really poorly done without any half measures. Now I ask, what is the point of making a compilation of various tracks, most of which are not from their official productions, if the following songs are entirely negligible?
Unfortunately, there are flaws like stains, starting with poor and often confusing sound recording, and moving on to the scarcity of remarkable tracks. Add to this that in this collection, we hear the early Silverstein dedicated to nothing more than simple melodic punk and nothing more, light years away from the emo-core sound that they would later develop and that would make the band one of the most successful in the scene. This was exactly what led me to a negative judgment of the band, which promptly changed as soon as I heard some of their real repertoire. However, let's analyze the little that is interesting within the platter. The first 12 tracks are from the band's first two EPs, "Summer Stellar Gaze" (2000) and "When The Shadows Beam" (2002), inserted here as they were and remastered without the desired effects, given the poor sound quality. To all this, two acoustic versions of electric tracks, three live tracks, and a needless remix of songs from their famous "DTW" (with one exception) complete the collection. One of the few noteworthy tracks from the EPs is the powerful "Bleeds no more," with a refrain completely in scream (screamed vocals used for long parts), tight rhythms, and even some violin plays midway. This is perhaps the only one along with "Defend you" that can be defined as emo-core and fits into the sound that the band has accustomed us to. Of the other EP songs, only a decent and nothing more "Waiting four years" and the dual nature of "Last days of summer" (already present in the LP "When Broken Is Easily Fixed") are worth mentioning. Certainly, the latter is the most creative piece (in terms of compositional variety, not mere beauty, although it's a good piece) that transitions from a first part with sweet arpeggios and introspective and slow style reminiscent of Jimmy Eat World to a second completely strummed and screamed in screamo style, with a riff that touches metal. It's a pity for the uselessness of two songs (contained in both EPs) that are repeated here twice, without this actual need. The last part of the album, as mentioned, is dedicated to studio song remakes, a strategy to complete an otherwise sparse collection in terms of number of songs. The acoustic versions of "My heroine" and "Call it karma" are performed with just two acoustics, and the result is not bad; the latter certainly stands out, truly splendid. The band also included three live tracks, such as the title track "Discovering The Waterfront," which remains low-key, a not very thrilling "Bleeds no more" featuring the vocalist from Aiden, and the convincing "Defend you." Precisely "Defend you," a great hardcore track where the clean and predominantly furious scream of the singer blends with the high speed of the rhythm section and with a great well-chosen chorus. This very piece can remind of bands like Underoath or the more melodic My Chemical Romance of "Three Cheers For.." regarding the choruses. As for the final dance/techno remix of "Smile in your sleep," only one word is needed: embarrassing. This absurd idea ruins the splendid version of the song present on the studio album.
In summary, a negligible collection, good only for the band to pay for a new villa by the sea. But the fault for all this is definitely to be shared with their label, Victory (unfortunately more focused on sales than a major) and reluctant to stop proposing such money-grabbing ideas. The band itself is not in question at all; they are certainly one of the best in the genre, but we are light years away from the style and the band heard in "Discovering The Waterfront." The advice, therefore, is to leave the album aside unless you are super fans of the Canadian band and want to see how they sounded at the beginning. But the rule that always applies in these cases is the same: if a collection is to be made, it should be acceptable, and here the only good tracks are those recycled from studio works, to the wise, few words?
Tracklist and Lyrics
01 Waiting Four Years (04:02)
I gave you everything,
but it just wasn't enough to make you stay.
You said you'd give me time and space again.
I asked to see you everyday.
Now I'm waiting four year just to feel your touch, waiting four whole years to say how much I care.
The flowers I gave you, died,
lost and been thrown away, just like me.
Life has passed me by, reflected in my eye.
Never again will I have you beside me,
you to be there.
The years behind cost more than I'll ever have.
Now I'm waiting four years just to hear your voice, waiting four whole years to lie right by your side.
I waited all this time,
just to see your smile.
I waited all this time to say how much I care.
Can you see me waiting for you everyday?
02 Wish I Could Forget You (03:36)
You won't repeat this for the rest of the crowd.
I know they will miss but you'll still feel proud.
but you'll still feel proud.
Say it's gold, say it's fine.
The secrets out that you're mine.
Say it's gold, say it's fine.
The secrets out that you're mine.
Yeah.
Say it's gold, say it's fine.
The secrets out that you're mine.
The television radiates as the clock ticks on and on and on.
It's getting too late and it's time to move on. [x2]
05 My Consolation (04:02)
You left me,
now you come back to me saying it's changed
and we're not the same people we once were.
And you beg to be back with me,
I can't see anything but you.
Every night, I see you there.
Everyday, I hate you and everything we once were.
You keep saying it's changed and we're not the same.
And you beg to be back with me,
now I can't see anything.
I won't forget everything that you put us through.
Every night, I see you there.
Everyday, I hate you.
Crying can't carry you back to me.
06 Forever and a Day (04:27)
I thought we'd be together forever.
But it seems I was wrong and everything's fallen apart.
Think of what I've done for you.
Think of all that we've been through.
I hope every time he breaks your heart
you think of me and how I was to you.
Everything's fallen apart.
One day you'll see just how good I was.
And I thought that we'd be together forever.
[Spoken: (the poem "Where The Sidewalk Ends" by Shel Silverstein)]
There is a place where the sidewalk ends
And before the street begins,
And there the grass grows soft and white,
And there the sun burns crimson bright,
And there the moon-bird rests from his flight
To cool in the peppermint wind.
Let us leave this place where the smoke blows black
And the dark street winds and bends.
Past the pits where the asphalt flowers grow
We shall walk with a walk that is measured and slow,
And watch where the chalk-white arrows go
To the place where the sidewalk ends.
Yes we'll walk with a walk that is measured and slow,
And we'll go where the chalk-white arrows go,
For the children, they mark, and the children, they know
The place where the sidewalk ends.
07 Red Light Pledge (03:51)
The endings the same,
Past mistakes that you make,
Come back to haunt you.
I made a mistake;
I wish I could take, back everything that I did.
I wanted to tell you, I really did.
But how do I explain this?
Promise me you will be there
until the red light will change.
I would wait forever.
Promise me you will stay here
Until the darkness will fade, I'd wait for you.
A mistake, wish I could take, back everything, that I did,
I wanted to tell you, I really did
But how do I explain?
I wanted to tell you, what really happened,
But how do I explain this?
How do I explain everything?
Promise me you will be there until the red light will change,
I would wait forever,
Promise me you will stay here,
Until the darkness will fade, I'd wait for you
I'm the same and I'm all on my own. Away. Wait for you.
I'm the same, I'm on my own, by myself.
Wait for you, I'd wait for you, for you..
I'd wait for you.
09 Wish I Could Forget You (03:27)
You won't repeat this for the rest of the crowd.
I know they will miss but you'll still feel proud.
but you'll still feel proud.
Say it's gold, say it's fine.
The secrets out that you're mine.
Say it's gold, say it's fine.
The secrets out that you're mine.
Yeah.
Say it's gold, say it's fine.
The secrets out that you're mine.
The television radiates as the clock ticks on and on and on.
It's getting too late and it's time to move on. [x2]
10 Bleeds No More (03:17)
My heart bleeds no more;
now, it's been turned to stone.
You're stomach feels sick for someone else.
I've broken both my legs falling for you.
Drag me on the ground.
Powerless I stand, tarnished blade, cutting through, pushed into my vein.
Blood still stains my hands.
Sharpening my sense of pain outside,
my heart bleeds no more.
My heart bleeds no more;
now, it's been turned to stone.
You're stomach feels sick for someone else.
I've broken both my legs falling for you.
Drag me on the ground.
Killing everything off inside.
Make sense of everything you tried to hide,
hide from me.
My heart bleeds no more;
now, it's been turned to stone.
My stomach feels sore from cutting up.
I ruined all my sanctity for you.
Smash me on the ground.
I wanted to,
convince myself there's nothing else to do.
I wanted to.
Provide you with proof of what you put me through.
I wanted to.
Pretend that I was you.
"you're the worst thing thats ever happend to me"
"dieee"
Killing everything off inside.
Make sense of everything you tried to hide,
hide from me.
My heart bleeds no more;
now, it's been turned to stone.
You're stomach feels sick for someone else.
I've broken both my legs falling for you.
Smash me on the ground.
12 Waiting Four Years (04:14)
I gave you everything,
but it just wasn't enough to make you stay.
You said you'd give me time and space again.
I asked to see you everyday.
Now I'm waiting four year just to feel your touch, waiting four whole years to say how much I care.
The flowers I gave you, died,
lost and been thrown away, just like me.
Life has passed me by, reflected in my eye.
Never again will I have you beside me,
you to be there.
The years behind cost more than I'll ever have.
Now I'm waiting four years just to hear your voice, waiting four whole years to lie right by your side.
I waited all this time,
just to see your smile.
I waited all this time to say how much I care.
Can you see me waiting for you everyday?
Loading comments slowly
