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After being around the music scene for almost a decade now, we've
come to expect certain things from the band New Found Glory.
These typically included a pop-punk sound, complete with up tempo
drums, higher toned guitar and lyrics that probably had no real
meaning behind them. However for their 5th album Coming Home,
Jordan Pundik and the rest of the crew decided this time
to make things a little different.
When I first stuck in this album I kept waiting to hear that
New Found Glory sound that I grew up with. Needless to say, I
never heard it. Now some fans would say this would be a disappointment,
however if you are a true fan, then you should give it a second
listen. The songs are, well, different. The up-tempo drums have
been replaced with a more melodic beat. The higher toned guitar
had been brought down, slowed down and even simplified a bit.
The riffs are less complex and a little more basic, leaving way
for you to really get into the lyrics. In the past we've become
accustomed to punk lyrics that may have meaning behind them, yet
still sound funny when you sing them. Off of Sticks And Stones
"I'm sick of smiling and so is my jaw/Can't you see my
front is crumbling down?" Off of Catalyst "Your
life is a time bomb set to explode/You talk out your ass and everyone
knows." But again, that was with the old NFG sound. With
the new sound you get more meaningful lyrics like: "Wanting
you for such a long time/In my mind, a heart, a lesson to learn"
and "How selfish of me, to think I'm the only one/To question
mistakes, a fools game I'm losing now." With the new lyrics
come a more melodic rock sound and at times even a taste of emo.
In "Hold My Hand" and "It's Not Your Fault"
a piano is thrown into the mix,possibly for the first time. This
added instrument mellows the song and reminds me of maybe some
Death Cab For Cutie or Coldplay. Going down to "On
My Mind" is when you get into the Rock sound. It's an A-typical
Rock song, like those of the early 90s, where you pretty much
find a beat and some chords and just repeat over and over. This
song actually brings to mind the band As Fast As, I don't
know if the two have met, but it sounds almost exactly the same.
If you're desperately searching for some punk, you can find some
in "Coming Home." Towards the end of the CD is "Too
Good To Be." Ultimately done acoustic or at least made to
sound that way, with no strong presence of drums, only an acoustic
guitar. A third element was added: clapping. Not a typical addition,
but it does strengthen the feeling of an acoustic song... well
an acoustic melodic rock song.
After all is said and done, my iTunes classified them as Alternative
& Punk. If this had been a previous album of theirs I would
agree with this. However for Coming Home, an Alternative
& Punk sound is not what I get. For those NFG fans that have
been around since Nothing Gold Can Stay, don't judge right
away. It's still Jordan and still NFG, just a little different.
-Rachel Fredrickson
Track Listing
1. Oxygen
2. Hold My Hand
3. It's Not Your Fault
4. On My Mind
5. Coming Home
6. Make Your Move
7. Taken Back By You
8. Too Good To Be
9. Love And Pain
10. Familiar Landscapes
11. When I Die
12. Connected
13. Boulders
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