Minnesota's favorite Tooth and Nail band, Ace Troubleshooter, is back with their second album entitled "The Madness of the Crowds."
"Madness" is actually quite different from Ace's self-titled in that it is a hybrid of pop punk and emo. It starts out rocking with the anthemic title track that will definitely get the kids going. Track two "2:00 Your Time" is an emo song that could end up being the band's signature song. The line "It's 2:00 your time, midnight mine" is bound to stick in a lot of people's heads. The third track "Have It All," that was originally featured on "Happy Christmas Volume Four," is reminiscent of The Foo Fighters.
The album hits a rough spot about song four with "Amanda," which is kind of an obnoxious adolescent punk song. The next track "Age of Gold" is also poppy, yet extremely repetitious.
Track six "Estella," the beautiful love song about the character in the book "Great Expectations," brings the CD back up to par. Then, just when you thought Ace had gone completely emo, they bust out into a sweet Hangnail-like pop punk song "Out To Sea." Then, suddenly "But For Grace" rocks out like Further Seems Forever.
Song nine "Let's Go Away" is a best heard on your way to work; it's about quitting your job and running away. Next comes, "Numinous," an emo tune with a chorus that is a lot like "Estella." "Your Reach," which ends the album, is quite fitting as it wraps things up on an upbeat note singing about the future.
On the whole, Ace is firing on all cylinders with: solid drumming, much improved vocals and even a couple guitar solos. By no means is the "The Madness of the Crowds" a perfect album, especially in the middle, but it's bound to appeal to the punk/emo crowd because it's a summer record that has something for everyone.
B+
Other coverage for this album
The Rebel Base 2002Reviewed by Josh HurstAce Troubleshooter's sophomore effort, The Madness of the Crowds, is something of a dream come true for a half-hearted pop/punk fan like myself. On the one hand, I've always been attracted to the pure, raw energy and passion of the genre, and Ace men offer up plenty of that with their new record. On the other hand, though, modern punk music has always seemed a bit repetitive to me. After two or…Art for the Ears 2002Reviewed by Marco PovervestHappy power rock, that's how you could describe the music on The Madness Of The Crowds. It's the first opportunity for me to get to know the music from this band so I can't compare it with previous efforts as this is not their debut. There's undoubtedly a lot of positive energy flowing through the music. It was the band Toto that discovered how great it is to sing about girlnames ending with 'a'…The Phantom Tollbooth 2002Reviewed by Trae CadenheadAce Troubleshooter entered Christian music at a bad time to impress reviewers. With the market flooded with pop punk albums, the debut from Ace Troubleshooter didn't provide much to get its head above the water. With their sophomore follow up, however, the band seems to be playing music they are more comfortable with and that will inevitably set them apart enough to be noticed. The new sound of…The Phantom Tollbooth 2002Reviewed by Bert GanglAfter three indie releases and a self-titled Tooth & Nail debut in 2000, the members of Ace Troubleshooter seem determined to use their back catalog as both a reference point and a springboard for their latest effort. True to much of what has preceded it, the new project, The Madness of the Crowds, once again showcases the Minneapolis foursome's love of all things punk/pop-related. Songs like…Similar sounding releases
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