Everything Goes Numb - Streetlight Manifesto > Reviews > Everything Goes Numb - Streetlight Manifesto

Author's product rating:   

Originality	Groundbreaking
Lyrics	Sublime
Quality and consistency of tracks	Flawless
How does it compare to the artist's other releases	Outstanding
Value for Money	Excellent

Advantages:	Amazing, intelligently written Skacore
Disadvantages:	None

Recommend to potential buyers:

yes

Full review

'Everything Goes Numb' is another album from the mind of Tomas Kalnoky (of 'Keasbey NIghts' era Catch 22 and Bandits of the Acoustic Revolution fame). Streetlight Manifesto, the amalgamation of half of the original Catch 22 line up and half of One Cool Guy, specialise in writing intelligent, lyrically outstanding skacore that is influenced by a number of musical styles which - going past the obvious mentions of punk and hardcore - include anything from classical to russian folk. 'Everything Goes Numb' ineveitably faces comparisons with (effectively) its predecessor 'Keasbey Nights' and in every way (originality, quality of music and lyrics etc) it is a much stronger, and darker (without infringing upon the inherent upbeatness of ska), album. Here is a quick run down of the tracks on the album:

1.Everything Went Numb - An excellent opening track (with one of the best opening horn lines found on any ska album). Fast with an infectious chorus. - 9/10

2.That'll be the Day - A good track, probably the most punk sounding of the tracks and one of the weaker tracks on the album. However, this is due to its lack of originality compared to the other tracks on the album, compared to any other modern ska tracks, this is still an amazing song. - 7/10

3.Point/Counterpoint - I always find the opening to this track (Tomas sing to the backing of an acoustic guitar) a little cheesy, but it doesn't detract from the greatness of this track. Point/Counterpoint is a continuation of the title track of Keasbey Nights and won't dissapoint, with lightning fast chants and horn lines that embed themselves in your brain. - 9/10

4.If and When we Rise Again - This track took a little while to grow on me, but not long, it has a minute long intro which slowly builds up into a bellowing tune that reminds me of an eastern european folk song, were it to be mixed with ska punk that is. - 9/10

5.A Better Place, A Better Time - The longest and, in my opinion, the best track on the album. The song is a call against suicide (a theme that is picked up again later in the album) and is both touching and a great tune, it varies a lot in speed and intensity, from the slow isolated singing of Tomas alone to rapid chants from other members of the band backed by horns. - 10/10

6.We are the Few - This track starts with a cutting opening that just begs for attention, I just love how this track builds up, strongly establishing an addictive chorus. One of the most varied tracks on the album (both lyrically and musically). - 9/10

7.Flailing, Failing - The last of the 3 longest tracks (the other two being 'A Better Place, a Better Time' and 'We are the Few'), 'Flailing, Failing' is also the weakest of these 3, however, this is mainly due to its less than original opening, by the end, Flailing Failing reveals itself to be just as good as the two previous tracks with an odd rendition of a variation on 'sticks and stones may break my bones' which is truly one of the highlights of the album. - 8/10

8.Here's to Life - This track is a cover of a 'Bandits of the Acoustic Revolution' track, and considering that Tomas is only working with a band, rather than the mini orchestra that appears in the BOTAR version, this is an excellent cover. Some work has been done to the chorus, which I feel is an Improvement, the track once against picks up the anti suicide themes of other songs in this album. This track is probably the most musically intricate of the album and has a very jazzy feel to it. - 9.5/10

9.A Moment of Silence - A much slower track than the rest, musically this song is very chilled with a bitter edge, and lyrically it is similar. The guitar of the track has a very classic ska sound, but the horns have a very epic feel that is hard to relate. - 9/10

10.A Moment of Violence - Is a short follow up to 'A Moment of Silence', it is effectively a sped up version with raging horns and vocals. Not really much of a track in its own right, but an excellent addition to 'A Moment of Silence'. - (hard to rate as a stand alone track as it is more of a continuation)

11.The Saddest Song - Probably the weakest song on the album, but this is only because it is pretty much a standard ska song and lacks the originality found elsewhere in the album. Outside the context of the album this is still a good song. - 7/10

12.'The Big Sleep' - A excellent end to an excellent album, the song starts off slowly but builds into a loud and fast chorus that breaks down into a quiet modest verse that buils up once again. This song also features one of the best delivered 'nanana's I've ever heard. - 9/10

Overall 9/10

Streetlight Manifesto are an amazing ska band, and this is an epic album, there is definately something on this album for everyone (no matter what their taste in music). This is certainly the best Ska release of the 21st Century so far, and if you consider yourself a fan of ska (be it 3rd wave, two tone or classic) this is definately an album that you should purchase.

A Classic that won't be matched in a while