Billy Talent - II
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CD Details
Artist: Billy TalentEdition: Music CD
Audio: English (Original Language)
CD Release Date: 2006-06-27
Music Label: Atlantic
Product features:
- BILLY TALENT BILLY TALENT II
- Devil In A Midnight Mass
- Red Flag
- This Suffering
- Worker Bees
- Pins And Needles
- Fallen Leaves
- Where Is The Line
- Covered In Cowardice
- Surrender
- In The Fall
- Perfect World
- Sympathy
- Burn The Evidence
Music reviews of II
Music Review: 'II' good!
Rating: 4 Stars
Billy Talent II
The second (and highly anticipated) album from Billy Talent (well, aniticipated by me).
The review is up late, because I actually had a chance to listen to it a few times before I posted a review on it, instead of writing about it the same time as I listen to it the first time.
Members Aaron Solowoniuk
Ben Kowalewicz
Ian D'Sa
Jon Gallant
Released on June 27, 2006
Track Listing:
1) Devil In A Midnight Mass
2) Red Flag
3) This Suffering
4) Worker Bees
5) Pins And Needles
6) Fallen Leaves
7) Where Is The Line?
8) Covered In Cowardice
9) Surrender
10) The Navy Song
11) Perfect World
12) Sympathy
13) Burn The Evidence
Track Review:
1) Devil In A Midnight Mass
First track off this album, and first single as well. Excellent choice, the single itself shows they have matured. Good riffs, good chorus, and Ben's vocals are as good as ever. Noticably more bass than in their previous album. And more studio-style sound, than the raw sound they had before. The video for this song is also very well done. I wouldn't be suprised if the video gets nominated for various awards this season.
2) Red Flag
My personal favorite from this album. Very strong, and has the reggae-ish type elements from their previous band Pezz on it, which was lacking on the previous album. Reflects a little on Prisioners Of Today from their previous album, mentioning "the kids of tomorrow don't need today when they live in the sins of yesterday"... the kids of tomorrow being the reference. I hope this song is the next single, as its awesome! It was also released about 6 months earlier online, as they got a huge response live for this song, so they decided to release it as a demo
3) This Suffering
Very similar to their first album. Similar style, lyrics, and sound as most of their debut album. Good song, still good to see they still got it. Carries on a bit longer than most of their debut cd songs, and it's noticable.. they should have cut it off earlier.
4) Worker Bees
One of the songs that the artist of the album cover found very inspirational. Again, BT takes us into a different direction with their music, with actually having a steady rhythm going for the whole song, a la Seven Nation Army (White Stripes). Excellent song, definately in contention for a single in the near future.. at least in my books. It may be a little different than what Much Music is looking for, though.
5) Pins And Needles
Opening chord is very good, and leads into Ben's vocals very well. Another break-up song (like The Ex). Almost like the aftermath.. This song is also a nice slow down to the album, which isn't a bad thing. It's actually good to see versatility in the music, that not all of it is fast punk. Song is talking about an ex-girlfriend that the protagonist has let go.. and how he feels about it (general subject, but guitar chords are well done, even if it's a little basic)
6) Fallen Leaves
A popular favorite with fans online, and with good reason. It's familiar territory for Billy Talent, kinda like This Suffering. But it stretches the distance between familiar and new.. and I guess a lot of fans enjoy it. Personally, its a mediocre song for me, but worth a listen to. Not my favorite on the album, but a good addition.
7) Where Is The Line?
Half way through the album, and everything is looking good so far. Song starts out kinda slow, but within 20 seconds it speeds up a little bit, though not to their familiar speed.. a little slow. Sounds like a radio single to me.. a generic punk-rock-made-for-radio song.. unfortunately. But you have to please the record executives, don't ya? I think Ian D'Sa's lyrics are totally unnecessary. It just gives you more to point out, and it takes you away from the song. Also the solo at roughly 2:15 is sorta out of place.. its almost too loud for the song. Definately not one of the top 5 songs for this album for me..I guess they all can't be excellent, can they?
8) Covered In Cowardice
Nice song, very reminiscent of their style. They got Ben screaming again, and Ian doing backup vocals which are really good. Not much to say about this song, not gonna be a single, but great song. Another long one, which is different for Billy Talent, but this song pulls it off pretty well. Nice friendly chord, and the drumming is really nice too. Goes really well together. Very nice solo at around the 3 minute mark as well. "Voice Without A Face". And weirdly enough, an actual fade ending! Strange!
9) Surrender
Wow. A very good song.. quite possibly a second favorite. Another slower one, about a guy and a girl (suprise). Very well done. I don't know what else I can say.. Ian's backup vocals are amazingly well done, and it speeds up a little around the 2 minute mark. Very well done.
10) The Navy Song
Starts off with a little intricate guitar work. Then Ben comes in with a poppy-punk rock lyrics.. very radio friendly. I never thought I would actually say this.. but this song is a little too Simple Plan/Sum 41 like for me.. at least at the beginnning. During the chorus, it rises above the stereotypes, but then goes back after the chorus and a little bit more intricate guitar work. Very good guitar, though drums seem a little basic, especially at the calibre he's shown on previous songs. Not the best song on the album by a long run.. kind of like a filler to me. The guitarwork saves the song for me. Plus the lyrics are very well done.
11) Perfect World
Before even listening to this, I was a little stereotyped. It seems like every radio band has a song named Perfect World (or close to it) that ends up on the radio... hmm.. Anyways.. Harder than their last two songs, and again with the screaming Thank Goodness! I love the screaming! Good song, maybe could be a single. It would make a decent one in my opinion. Very good, hard guitars. Short, too, clocking in at just over 3 minutes, with another quick ending.
12) Sympathy
Good ol' Billy Talent! Just after a few songs of a new style, they go back to their familiar roots! you can hear the Pezz elements, like before, along with some Billy Talent style as well. Good song, and Ian and Ben sound good singing together. In the top 5
13) Burn The Evidence
Starts off a little different, with Ben singing solo for a few seconds, then within 30 seconds you got the familiar hard guitars coming in. Good lyrics. Good chorus. Good Song. Good Closer.
Overall, an excellent cd. 8.5/10.. coulda done without the radio friendly songs, but oh well, what are you gonna do? I loved the cd, and it was worth the wait. Not as good as their debut (but it's hard to improve upon perfection) but probably one of the best albums I've heard in awhile.
Best Songs: Red Flag, Devil In A Midnight Mass, Surrender, Worker Bees, Covered In Cowardice
Not The Best Songs: The Navy Song, Where Is The Line
Description of II
Billy Talent?s new album Billy Talent II, is the Toronto-based band?s first new music since the 2003 release of their breakthrough self-titled debut. Billy Talent II sees the band taking punk to new heights, amplifying the explosive energy and earnest lyricism that made their debut an international sensation. Powerful new songs like "Devil In A Midnight Mass," "Surrender" and "Red Flag" are alive with the band?s personal blend of angular angst and irresistible popcraft, all given distinctive focus via singer Ben Kowalewicz? inventive, issues-oriented songwriting.Billy Talent delivers a rock-intensive and at times eclectic disc that highlights the group's inability to write songs that have depth or elements of surprise. True, "In The Fall" has a hook that's as catchy as a soccer anthem and the anti-scenester rant "The Red Flag" proves excitingly attitudinal and carries with it a spot on Clash-meets-Green Day vibe; "Falling Leaves" and "Perfect World" demonstrate the unit's knack for crafting ear-perking opening riffs. But each of those tunes??and virtually all those found on II (save the closing "Burn The Evidence")??run out of gas by the end of the first chorus which is consistently placed as close to the front of the track as possible. All that adds up to a highly infectious but equally formulaic record that could have been recorded by a thousand other punk-influenced bands.??Jedd Beaudoin
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