When a band combines hardcore, power pop, and math rock, the results can be pretty tedious -- not because the combination isn't a good one, but because it's what just about everyone seems to be doing these days.
Silverstein avoids the sing-then-scream-then-7/8-guitar-break doldrums in a couple of ways.
Importantly, they keep the screaming to a tasteful minimum, using it as a spice rather than a main ingredient.
By so doing, they ensure that the screaming actually carries emotional meaning instead of turning into aural wallpaper.
Equally importantly, they deliver their beautiful melodies and tight, rich harmonies with just as much muscle as they do their more abrasive moments, which keeps either aspect of their sound from coming across as just a gimmick.
And the odd-metered guitar breaks are both few and brief, which keeps them interesting and enjoyable as well.
The result is, basically, power pop for the new millennium -- and a remarkably mature sound for a band that has only been together for a few years.
Every track is well worth hearing, but the ones that will keep you hitting the repeat button are the beautiful "Your Sword vs.
My Dagger," the double-entendre-laden "My Heroine" and "Call It Karma," with its blissfully wanky twin-guitar solo.
Highly recommended.
| Title/Composers | Performer | Listen | Time | Size | Size | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Your Sword Versus My DaggerShane Told | Silverstein | Play | 02:58 | 6 MB | 23 MB |
| 2 | Smile in Your SleepNeil Boshart, Silverstein, Shane Told | Silverstein | Play | 03:13 | 7 MB | 24 MB |
| 3 | The Ides of MarchNeil Boshart, Silverstein, Shane Told | Silverstein | Play | 03:27 | 7 MB | 26 MB |
| 4 | Fist Wrapped in BloodShane Told | Silverstein | Play | 02:57 | 6 MB | 22 MB |
| 5 | Discovering the WaterfrontNeil Boshart, Sean Mackin, Silverstein, Shane Told | Silverstein | Play | 04:45 | 10 MB | 34 MB |
| 6 | Defend YouNeil Boshart, Silverstein, Shane Told | Silverstein | Play | 03:28 | 7 MB | 26 MB |
| 7 | My HeroineShane Told | Silverstein | Play | 03:27 | 7 MB | 25 MB |
| 8 | Always and NeverNeil Boshart, Silverstein, Shane Told | Silverstein | Play | 03:49 | 8 MB | 30 MB |
| 9 | Already DeadNeil Boshart, Silverstein, Shane Told | Silverstein | Play | 03:17 | 7 MB | 25 MB |
| 10 | Three Hours BackNeil Boshart, Silverstein, Shane Told | Silverstein | Play | 03:34 | 8 MB | 26 MB |
| 11 | Call It KarmaShane Told | Silverstein | Play | 04:14 | 9 MB | 31 MB |
| 39 mins | 90 MB | |||||
| 39 mins | 295 MB | |||||
| Artist | Job | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Gordie Ball | Photography |
| 2 | Neil Boshart | Composer, Group Member, Guitar |
| 3 | Josh Bradford | Group Member, Guitar |
| 4 | Sergio Chavez | Engineer |
| 5 | Mike Fasano | Drum Technician |
| 6 | David Fricks | Engineer |
| 7 | Steve Genewick | Engineer |
| 8 | Billy Hamilton | Group Member, Guitar (Bass), Vocals |
| 9 | Paul Koehler | Art Direction, Drums, Group Member |
| 10 | Scott Komer | Pre-Production |
| 11 | Sean Mackin | Composer, Main Personnel, Musician, String Arrangements, Strings, String Writing, Violin |
| 12 | Curtis Mathewson | Group Member, Mellotron, Musician, Synthesizer |
| 13 | Silverstein | Composer, Primary Artist |
| 14 | Shane Told | Composer, Group Member, Guitars, Musician, Vocals |
| 15 | Cameron Webb | Engineer, Mixing, Producer, Vocals |
| 16 | Rodney Wirtz | Cello, Group Member, Musician, Viola, Violin |
| 17 | Martin Wittfooth | Artwork |
| Quality | Format | Encoding | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard | MP3 | 320kps 44.1kHz | MP3 is an audio coding format which uses a form of lossy data compression. The highest bitrate of this format is 320kbps (kbit/s). MP3 Digital audio takes less amount of space (up to 90% reduction in size) and the quality is not as good as the original one. |
| CD Quality | FLAC | 16bit 44.1kHz | FLAC is an audio coding format which uses lossless compression. Digital audio in FLAC format has a smaller size and retains the same quality of the original Compact Disc (CD). |