Recently Natasha Perry went along to the launch party for the new Hundred Reasons album. During the launch Natasha got a sneak-peak of the album and below is what she had to say. A full review of the album will be at Room Thirteen shortly, so check back to soon.
Given that Hundred Reasons haven't had the best time of it following their split from Columbia Records, you'd think that they'd put some of this into their new record, that it would be rather snarling and pissed off. And sometimes it is, but for the most part, 'Kill Your Own' is a bit wet in the same sort of way that Nickleback is. In fact, throughout the majority of the album, the shadow of Nickleback looms over alongside emo (even if their Myspace site declares it to sound like 'the death of emo').
Opener, 'Broken Hands', is a slow starter before launching into the sort of heavy, crunchy tune normally used by the aforementioned Nickleback. It's definitely a rocker, but it's not very memorable for all that, a state of affairs that isn't helped by Colin Doran's weedy vocals. The title track, also the first single, is a marginal improvement throwing in a great bassline, riff, and stomping beat to almost make up for the still terrible vocals and Nickleback effect. Doran tries so hard to sound American and it mostly backfires on him which is aggravating to say the least.
It's a relief, then, that 'Destroy' is more indie. It's far better, and more uplifting at the same time after the dark and broodiness of the previous two - it would be even better, if only it didn't sound like Idlewild so much. That relief is short-lived, however, when 'The Chance' and 'The Perfect Gift' tips the emo scales towards lighters-in-the-air territory. 'The Perfect Gift' is so Jimmy Eat World it's not even funny and they sound like they're trying too hard.
'Live Fast, Die Ugly' and 'Feed the Fire' are the two best songs on the album by a mile. When 'Live Fast, Die Ugly', it's a bit of a shock. Surprisingly punky, the sleazy tune and shouty vocals are really good - this was the sort of thing I was expecting from the whole album. Despite a partial return of the Nickleback influence, 'Feed the Fire' twists the punk theme a little further.
The rest of the album, with the exception of 'A Better Way?', unfortunately is a total letdown. And it's closer 'Breathe Again' that really does the damage, giving as good an example of just how bad modern emo can get as you'll ever find. In the vein of Fall Out Boy, its overwrought emotions and painfully agonised vocals are all that's derivative and horrible about the genre.
'Kill Your Own' is a totally disappointing album even with a few standout tracks. In fact, it's those standout tracks that make it even more so because so much potential has just gone to waste and that's the most frustrating thing.