Artist: Race The Sun
Album: The Rest of Our Lives is Tonight
Purchase: Smart Punk
Label: Fidelity
Release Date: September 21, 2004
Overall: 8.8
Lyrics: 8.5
Music: 9.0
Production 8.5
Race the Sun is a new band hailing from Virginia (yes Virginia) that promises to rock us to our roots. Being compared to everyone from Fall Out Boy to Jimmy Eat World, Race The Sun has blended all types of music and added their own spin. Their debut album, “The Rest of Our Lives is Tonight” offers an emotion driven, hook filled, infectious mix. The album kicks off with the track, “Solo Tonight”. In the opening track Race The Sun gives a taste of what is to come. This song definitely reminded me of a Fall Out Boy track (which never is a bad thing). The funky bridge comprised of interesting guitar licks lead way into the chorus, which kept my head bopping. Apparently this song will soon be accompanied by a video (good choice). In the track, “Paper Weights and Coffee Stains” lead singer Jason Henderson opens with the perfect line for any poor punk kid, “My wallet is only getting lighter. I’ll keep it folded for now it’s a paper weight”. The verses seem to perfectly compliment the chorus. In the verses there is a definite singsong pattern that greatly contrasts the shouting/pop-punk style of the chorus. Once again the bridge in this song kept my toe’s tapping, especially when Henderson sings the opening line again this time with only a palm-muted guitar in the background. In “Dreams v. Me”, Race the Sun offers a bit different style. Light background screaming helps harmonize Henderson’s voice in this slightly harder track. If you’re looking for hardcore this is definitely not the song for you, think more Fall Out Boy backgrounds rather than Senses Fail. However, the screams did add substance to an already good song. This song also has a weird, almost out of place, bridge that slowed the song dramatically down. That is, of course, until youï¿Â½re hit again with the pounding vocals and heavy guitar. “Weak Would Be Me Flinching” offers a great transition. “Dreams v. Me” blends into the opening of this track and the end almost effortlessly blends into the next song as well. This song is a simple rock song with plenty of repetition that causes it to firmly implant itself in your head. The next track, “To Icarus With All Sincerity” offers enough hooks and melodies to keep me humming along throughout. The screaming in the track also offers a pretty cool vocal balance that made this track stand out. Another part of this song I enjoyed was the title. A play on Greek methodology’s Icarus who was known for flying too close to the sun, Race the Sun’s creative title made me laugh as I read through the track listings. Race the Sun closes their debut album with “460 to Nowhere” which offers the same great intensity and emotion that kicked off the CD. Race the Sun is by far one of the best new bands Iï¿Â½ve heard this year. They are really worth checking out, especially if you are into the new pop-punk scene. Tremendous harmonies, excellent pop style vocals, powerful guitar hooks, and an overall great debut album. Pick up a copy soon, you wonï¿Â½t regret it.
Track Listing
1. Solo Tonight
2. The Vanity Score
3. Paper Weights and Coffee Stains
4. As Wings Develop
5. Dreams v. Me
6. Weak Would Be Me Flinching
7. My Heart The Compass (Points West)
8. Can’t Wait
9. To Icarus With All Sincerity
10. I Hear the Book was Better
11. 460 to Nowhere
Stand out tracks:
“Paper Weights and Coffee Stains”, “Weak Would Be Me Flinching”, “Dreams v. Me”
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