SethMichael : 20/20 | Despite the fears of die-hard fans and a natural fear of change, these children of LA have come through yet again with a solid album that almost overShadows their debut album Swan Songs. Granted, I was skeptical after hearing of the firing of Deuce (the former lead singer and co-creator of HU) and feared a major change in style or sound in the band I had grown to love. What did Danny (Deuce's replacement) bring to the band some may ask, he brought with him the same drive and style that Deuce had but with an added power to it that Deuce lacked. Personally, I love Deuce and 9 Lives and his softer, Younger voice, but Danny brought a well needed revitalizing strength to the band who really had to show what they were made of in their sophomore album.
Equally, American Tragedy has a great number of "party tracks" and more serious songs, which I feel like they lacked in Swan Songs. Beginning with the powerful song Been to Hell, hitting us all just as hard as when Undead first came out. My personal favorites off the album are Apologize, Comin' in Hot, Gangsta Sexy and Glory. The notes Danny hits on Apologize and Comin' in Hot are vocals unheard of in HU, keeping a strong pulse through the veins of this American Tragedy. Once more, they lay down heavy beats and hard (if not sometimes a bit typical, cliche 'Gangsta') lyrics. One complaint I would have is for something I'm almost sure every rapper does; collaborations. Where was a track or two with Oliver Sykes or Jeremy McKinnon, or personal favorites of mine like Richy Nix or Eminem? My opinion, of course, having enjoyed the album immensely and now only left craving for more.
All in all the album grips you from the start, inducing fists to pump and women to dance, leaving hopefully all of us in the Undead Army waiting with bated breaths for a third album. For reviewers like the LA Times and other haters and nay-sayers, I don't quite know what they were expecting when picking this one up. Hollywood Undead is a band you either love or you hate (or think is just okay), obviously it is not for everyone, but said people should never feel like it's necessary to voice their opinions as if they were the "gospel truth". For any REAL Hollywood Undead fan, this will be a breath of fresh air, giving many a chance to get Everywhere I Go and Undead off of repeat and have a taste of the HU crew's new best hits. For those of you still not convinced, I can honestly say I got 9 Lives right next to my copy of American Tragedy and end up listening to both religiously. 2011-04-14 03:43:56
|
|