Through Being Cool,
Saves The DayI can't believe that one of us hasn't penned a review on this record yet, so I thought I'd give my thoughts while I'm sat here bored at work. For me there are two schools of Saves The Day fans - those who believe the band have got progressively worse as they've released albums, and those who believe the opposite. I'm kind of in the middle as I believe their recent 'In Reverie' release was a solid, if unspectacular, album. But with harsh reviews from critics emanating from the murky depths of the world wide web, it would seem that Chris Conley's time may well be up.
There's no doubt that 'Through Being Cool' is an awesome record. Released on Equal Vision in 1999, it shows a natural progression and growth from their debut release, 'Can't Slow Down', a growth which has continued as the band have got older. There is a maturity in the lyrics that shows a wisdom beyond Chris' relative youth, with cheeky tales of teen angst re-told without coming across as corny or trite. Although pop-punk at heart, the songs drive and twist with a production that is heartily solid, but not overly thick.
If you want anthems, 'Through Being Cool' has plenty of them. 'All-Star Me' and 'You Vandal' are driving songs full of hooks and melodies, showcasing Conley's talent for sharp-tongued lyrics. 'Shoulder To The Wheel' shows you don't have to be too clever to have tracks that work, as lyrics such as "And I say, "Oh, Dave, I'm sorry, I didn't mean to yell, but I'm having quite a bad week and I miss my mom" certainly won't win a Pulitzer Prize. Having said that, the track is fantastic, as are the likes of 'Holly Hox, Forget Me Nots', 'My Sweet Fracture' and 'Rocks Tonic Juice Magic'.
In the space of two full-length albums Saves The Day have mellowed out tremendously, but the maturity recognised in 'In Reverie' is apparent here. 'Through Being Cool' is one of those must-have albums that deserves a place in your record collection. It's difficult to say if it's Chris Conley's best work to date, but for many bands this would be the pinnacle of their career.
www.savestheday.com
Equal Vision
Paul
