Quietdrive-Deliverance

I would highly recommend you to give this a shot. If you don't like it, you don't like it. At least you broadened your horizons.

(For all of you who are too busy being narrow-minded to try something new, I'm not sure why you're even on here!)

The step from 'When All That's Left Is You' to this album is the biggest positive about this: Quietdrive have evolved and tried something different.

Deliverance is a very difficult album to pigeon-hole into a category, all I can call it is 'alternative rock'. It is both 'harder' and a lot more experimental than the last, but not to the point where they stray too far in one direction-there is still a pop-rock sensibility running straight through the middle of it.

Deliverance sounds like a nice blend of a variety of different styles, it's difficult to pinpoint who they sound like. At times, it sounds like a synergetic combination of U2 and Fall Out Boy and at others there's a sound reminiscient of Blink-182's last, more serious album, highlighted in the fact that Quietdrive have mastered the art of the hook/chorus.

To do justice to this album. it needs to be listened to as a whole. It has a consistency in quality that was lacking on the last album, which had two stand-out tracks which made the rest sound hugely inferior, despite the fact it probably wasn't.

In conclusion, this is probably going to come in as my favourite rock/alternative album of 2008, and probably one of my favourite albums of the year in all categories.

Believe-7.5/10
-The change in their style is shown right from the off: The song explodes in, and begins with a pounding drumbeat.

Deliverance-9/10
-Starts of with a Metro Station/Cobra Starship-esque drum sample, but steps up into a feel-good anthem with a great chorus that blends into the verses nicely.

Daddy's Little Girl-8.5/10
-The title says it all. A mocking, sarcastic chorus surrounded by calm, reflective verses. It all combines into a nice image of a thought process, moving from calm reflection to anger, and back.

Motivation-7.5/10
-A more pop-punk affair, and probably not as lyrically mature as the rest of the album. It is however likeable and highlights the range of styles on the album.

Birthday-8.5/10
-Great lyrics, which are brutally honest and create the impression that this is probably the conversation that was had whilst hungover. Intelligent use of simple, repeated chords in the verses that prevent the song from becoming too serious. Very memorable chorus.

After All-6.5/10
-Least favourite song on the album. The transitition from the bouncy verses to a darker chorus don't quite work, the chorus feels like it should be in a different song. It's also a little disjointed as a song, but it does end quite well, when it becomes introspective and shows a range of emotions from thoughtful, to angry.

Pretend-8/10
-A good song in which the verses probably just outshine the chorus, somewhat of an anomaly for this album. The slow down towards the end builds back into an impressive, Rush Together-esque finish.

Hollywood-9/10
-A great bridge that builds into a very strong chorus. They use a wide variety of styles on this song, with traces of an acoustic guitar in places. This, when combined with the great vocals/backing vocals, good lyrics and slow guitars makes for what is one of the strongest songs on the album.

Kissing Your Lips-7.5/10
-Begins with an almost reggae/pop vibe. Very simple and laid-back, but effective nonetheless. The chorus isn't shooting for overkill, both instrumentally and lyrically, which offers some diversity from the rest of the album.

Take Me Now-7/10
-A good bridge and chorus, which is built up nicely by the verses. A solid track, but nothing outstanding.

Promise Me-8/10
-The opening line draws you into the song, which then builds upon it progessively. It culminates into a big, loud chorus which creeps into the verse. The lyrical (love) content of the verse does prevent this from being as good as it should be, as it doesn't seem to fit properly.

Secret-8/10
-A very likeable song which opens up with haunting vocals, that offer a surprising contrast to the Spanish-style guitars that jump in. It adds together to create another progressive build to the chorus, a chorus which screams Fall Out Boy.

Starbright-9.5/10
-They saved the best for last. A genuinely brilliant song, with really honest lyrics that compliment the fact that this is the softest song on the album, and in turn makes it the most memorable. It feels like an Angels and Airwaves song, but instead of taking a complicated route to getting their message across, they take the idea of appreciation from afar and turn it into an honest track.