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Yellowcard
Capitol Records I can hear you complaining from here—“Pop-punk is a crappy genre!” “There’s no such thing as emo! All music is emotional!” “Everyone sells out when they get to a major label!” What if I told you there is a band who is poppy, emotional, and great even though they signed up with a major? Don’t pee your pants, kids, what you must do is go out and obtain a copy of Ocean Avenue by Yellowcard. Ever since the album’s release, the band has been blowing up all over the place and as their website says, they’re “on tour forever.” One of the main aspects setting Yellowcard apart from other catchy punk or emo groups is their use of violin. While other bands like Murder by Death and Cursive make the most of moody cellos to set a dark songscape, Yellowcard’s addition of a violin adds lively hooks to their songs and defines their style of rock.
The songs on Ocean Avenue are upbeat, but never saccharine-sweet. Even songs about lost heroes (“Believe”) and loved ones who have passed on (the country-tinged “View from Heaven”) have positive messages, but don’t make me feel like I’m watching the Disney Channel. While the vocals on the album have a slightly whiny punk sneer to them, they're not pretentious or annoying. (*coughs* Chris Carabba *coughs*) Also, there aren’t any swears on this album, so it’s okay to play in front of your parents/little siblings/grandma/college radio station. My favorite track on the album is the bouncy title track, “Ocean Avenue,” but following at a close second is a tie—the more intense rock-out openers of the album “Way Away” and “Breathing,” which boast instrumental layering fitting of a Juliana Theory or even a Thursday song. They grab your attention, pull you into the album, and from there you can absorb the unique rocking-out experience that only Yellowcard can provide you with. Check out Yellowcard…it’ll be worth it. These guys are going to be huge. I picked up my copy of Ocean Avenue at Hot Topic, but I think I saw it at Walmart too. But please, support your local indie record store and XROXX before you need to go to a major retailer. XROXX.com Album Rating: XXXX (4 X's out of a possible 5 X’s) Hannah Renk
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While someone is inevitably going to group Yellowcard into the category of pop-punk, especially if they get a lot of mainstream radio play, I have to say that Yellowcard is straight-up rock that defies genres. Songs like “Twentythree,” “Miles Apart,” and “Life of a Salesman” are straight-up punk rockers with fast drums and the violin picking up the majority of the catchiest hooks. Go Back.
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