review: Chamberlain Waits | The Menzingers

I compiled a list of my favorite and not-so favorite 2010 releases that the year has graced us with thus far. I plan to write a little review for all of them, but rather than post them all at once, I'll do them when I get the time. I don't plan on reviewing each and every song on any given album, but I'll delve into one or two.

With that said, let's begin with The Menzingers' sophomore full length, Chamberlain Waits. Released only yesterday, the album has been dominating my iTunes & iPod & Last.fm since then.

Overall, the album is a bit more melodic than their last [EP], Hold On, Dodge! The vocals are less aggressive, but they make it up with good harmonies and even better melodies. The two voices really mesh well together. Like every album, a Menzingers' would not be complete without a [solo] guitar sing-along song. "Male Call" is just that. It's got a strong chorus accompanied by even better backups. "So It Goes" is hands down one of my favorites on the album. It's got those familiar aggressive vocals accompanied with a sweet chord progression. The chorus just straight-out rules. Definitely going to be a crowd favorite in shows to come.

The only thing I would have done differently is switch the opening track with the second track. "I Was Born" is super catchy and in my opinion, would've been a better intro to Chamberlain Waits. I also would have dropped the song "No We Didn't." I just don't care for that one.

The Menzingers have certainly matured and progressed and I can assume they will only get better (and bigger) with time. Punk bands like this are hard to come by these days, and they seem to be doing everything right. Fuck yeah!

Standout Tracks:
I Was Born
Time Tables
Tasker-Morris Station
So It Goes

Check it: www.myspace.com/themenzingers

great leaps forward.

I want to pack a bag. I want to pack a backpack full of a few of my favorite things. And I want to go. I want to leave. Saying goodbye won't be hard at all, just deciding which direction to head in will be.

I've lived in the same town, in the same square mile area, for my entire life. 20 years, 7300+ days, breathing the same recycled air. Seeing the same faces. Watching the same cars drive back and forth to the same, dead end destination. The thought is depressing. All I know is this town and to tell you the truth, it's terrible.

And my job. Yeah, it's great to have a steady job (almost 5 years - a quarter of my human existence), but kids my age have had several jobs. Lived in several towns in several states.

I'm just craving change. And the time to act is approaching in my rear view mirror, gaining on me.

maybe, the best plan is having no plan.

...and the battle begun.

"the positive will always overcome the negative"

A dimly-lit blue sea of hands under a horizon of smoke as dreads plague the canopy of the crowd. Matt Embree emerged, dressed in light, like the second coming of Christ.

After playing through "...And the Battle Begun" from front to back, nearly at perfection, Embree let out a simple soft-spoken "thank you" to the audience, raised his arm up and topped it off with two fingers straight out in a peace-sign formation. He just stood there, still in the moment. What a sight to see.

Freedom.

in that case, i'm a celebrity.

"there's no such thing as rock stars. there's just people who play music"
- frank turner.

the name Dancing With the Stars implies celebrities dancing. kate gosselin (of John and Kate plus 8) is not a star and certainly not a celebrity. she'll be rehearsing at home and flying to california and back to compete on the show. at this point, the kids are probably better off anyway.

and Celebrity Fit Club also implies the same thing; fat celebrities competing and shedding blood, sweat and tears (and fat), yet all i see is a fat-fuck-waste-of-skin kevin federline (but seriously, he got really fat), among other human shells.

but hey, a celebrity's purpose is to entertain the masses. they're just entertaining us for all the wrong reasons.

quote of the day.

"insanity's expensive," she laughed and paid for her pills.
- a regular at the pharmacy.

last day of childhood.

in less than 24 hours, the death of my childhood will be in effect as my 2oth birthday dawns upon me. now on one hand, maybe i'm overreacting about all this. to me, being 20 is a wasted year - not literally, but nothing really changes. no new privileges, just the thought that your teenage years are gone and they're never coming back. i've practically lived a quarter of my life already! on a side note, this summer will mark the 5th year of me working at the good old pharmacy. in essence, i've worked there for a quarter of my entire life. fucking strange thought.

tomorrow marks my twentieth year of life on this earth. and i couldn't be happier.

if we're stuck on this ship and it's sinking
then we might as well have a parade.

88 strong.

hospitals are something i'll never get used to.
the smells. the lights. the sounds. the air is always thick.

i've been to my fair share of funerals, more than the average person my age (i would think)
i can recall 5 right off the bat, most of them ten or more years ago.

the dust has settled for now,
but there's always something lurking, waiting to kick the dirt right back in your face.
I'm just thankful...for now.