Opening Review by Earl Campbell
Go ahead and open up your email program right now, and get ready to write some hate mail. I am about to pan Stavesacre! Oh, the horror... Hey, just send your venom to Treble, he is the one letting me print this...
Anyway, ok tuff guys, here's the deal. This album is weak. One can only speculate on why, maybe an overreaction to being compared to Tool so much, maybe a lobotomy... Whatever the reason, Speakeasy is mush when compared to the immaculate fury of Friction and Absolutes. Sure, it still has musical elements of past Stavesacre, the drifting melodies, their trademark break-downs, and of course Mark's voice, but the soul is gone. There is no urgency, no passion, this album just goes through the motions. Most of the song writing is even mundane, with redundant chords, cliche progressions, and lazy, simplistic beats.
It does have some redeeming qualities though. For instance, "Keep Waiting" is amazing. It is poppy, but has some genuine passion and musical ingenuity, and Mark's wailing is beautifully combined with some soulful crooning. I think that this song is probably what they meant to do with the rest of the album, but just fell short or got bored half way through it. The most aggravating song on the album is right after "Keep Waiting." Titled "You Know How it is," it sets you up for a big fall with a pummeling intro that deteriorates into cliche pablum. It does have a cool chorus, with some Crucified style screams, but is not enough to save the song from being completely unoriginal and ultimately ridiculous.
In final analysis, I am thinking that this album was too forced. It was so heavily anticipated and demanded, and maybe they just went into the studio to "get it over with," like a lot of bands do with their sophomore albums after having a smash hit freshman release. The problem for Stavesacre though is that this is not their sophomore album, they have been writing it for over a year, and had plenty of studio time. This album had potential, their evolving style is notable, but the presentation is miserable. I would recommend that long time Stavesacre fans pretend that this album is not coming out, and keep waiting for their "real new album" which will hopefully see a triumphant return of that thing that once was the most incredible band on the planet.
Responsive Review by Jason Dodd
While I can understand some of Earl's frustration with and criticism of this album, I think that he missed the boat in his near sighted review. In order to dig a little deeper into this album, one that is sure to spark a lot of discussion, I propose that we open this one up for debate. I am going to write a short responsive review to Earl's pan-blast, and then everyone else send Treble their view on it once you get the album, and we'll print them. Try to make them within a paragraph though. Treble's email is [email protected], and please put "Stavesacre-Speakeasy" in the subject line.
Anyway, here are my thoughts. I think that Earl's feelings about a lack of passion on this album are understandable. This album is definitely more toned down, when compared to Friction or Absolutes, but fury is not the only passion we know. I think that Mark and the guys were exploring a more introspective passion, one of whimsy and regret and hope. Yes, some of the songs are a tad unoriginal, but again, only when compared to Stavesacre's past stuff. Standing on its own, this album is still much more creative than other bands out there. And much of the album is even pretty original when compared to their past stuff. "Keep Waiting" is amazing, songs one and nine are enthralling, and Mark stretches his voice to some remarkable levels, displaying another side of his personality. If I have to use cute metaphor, Speakeasy is like when you wake up after a really bad day and get some great news. It has the ethereal feeling of falling in love after being bitter with women for a long time. You know what I am talking about, how everything melts away, and even your anger and remorse has a soft, hopeful side all of a sudden. Yes, this album is not as violently passionate as their past ones, but there is still passion to be found, along with smart lyrics, playful melodies and beats, and driving guitars. If you are not down with your favorite band changing or evolving musically, like Earl, then you probably will be a bit disappointed with Speakeasy. But if you are willing to explore new feelings, new sounds, and a new outlook, then you will be very happy with this album.
Reader Review by Graham Buck - Gainesville, FL
The first thing that came to my mind when I picked up the new Stave CD was that this was the first one that I have paid more than 5 dollars for. So, it had to live up to some pretty high expectations. When the first notes came out of the speakers, I could tell that this was going to be a different experience than their previous offerings. But, I stood steadfast and read the words (on the website only) along with the disc.
It usually takes about 3 or 4 listens to a CD for me to make a decision about my opinions, but this one was different. On the first and second run I found myself hooked. Now you could call me a stave-a-holic, but there is just something very catchy about this album. My personal favorite song, as of this writing, is Gold and Silver. This song has such passion and emotion. The feelings of helplessness and hopelessness, comes across in the lyrics, but there is also the redemption: "Under wings of Gold and Silver, sometimes we have to hide. For shelter from this bitter winter, at least tonight."
Other notables are Keep Waiting, Freefall (From Hand to Hand), and Rivers Underneath. I think, also, that This Love is a perfect way to end the album. It starts saying that I want to be ready on a moments notice and goes through the gamut of human emotions: pain, anger, love, and on. This Love wraps the album up nice and tight: "The sun is going down, let's follow it out of town, It will shine on us tomorrow when it comes back around. It's gonna be alright, it's gonna be alright." And that is the way Stavesacre, and myself, are going to be feeling for quite a while after this incredible offering. If I were a writer for Bandoppler I would give it five cows.
Reader Review by Bruce - Mr. Smarty Pants
I couldn't believe my eyes when I read the review of Speakeasy. I had just gotten done reading one of your reviewers saying the new Starflyer was a nice surprise after the "DISAPPOINTMENT" of The Fashion Focus, which is my favorite Starflyer album so far... And then I read this bad review of the new Stavesacre... I've had both the Starflyer and Stavesacre for a couple months (I work at a Christian bookstore) and have listened to both of them fairly extensively. I have NEVER liked Stavesacre before. I mean NEVER. The new album, however, drew me in because of a musical variety and depth I had never heard from them before. I was coaxed into trying it by my friend Gregg (of Prosper) who said their new stuff sounded more like Far, a band that I absolutely love. I don't know if it really sounds like Far, but I really do like it. I can't really compare and contrast with their older stuff, because I could never tolerate it long enough to listen to more than a song or two, but I know I like Speakeasy. As for a lack of originality, I think this album shows much MUCH more diversity than what little I have heard of their early work, and I don't really care that they don't let loose as much as they used to. You can take my comments for what they're worth (not much...) but I for one think Speakeasy is a great album and deserves credit for itself.
Other coverage for this album
HM Magazine #81Reviewed by Doug Van PeltWhen a group makes music that strikes a chord with its listeners, an anxious anticipation overtakes the audience every couple of years, as they wait for a new collection of songs. The wait is finally over for Stavesacre fans . . . and this fan is grateful. This gratitude took a while to develop, though. Friction the band's debut, was an "instant like" for me. The follow-up, Absolutes, took awhile…Decapolis 2000Reviewed by ConradI have a hard time categorizing these guys. I'll just say Forceful Angular Rock. I don't know what that means either, but it seems to fit. It's hard and not typical in any way. This album has a lot more vocal melody then I've heard of them in the past. Each instrument is going non stop. Drums are super creative - Sam might just be the best drummer I've ever heard. Guitars and bass are moving…Decapolis 2000Reviewed by Tom BastianMost of you have probably heard Stavesacre before. They have been around for quite a while now, been on many national tours, and sold quite a few records. Many refer to them as hardcore, some even say emo, but I don't think those two labels are appropriate at all. This band is a hard rock band, and a good one at that. Their other releases never blew me away, I thought they were pretty good, but…Decapolis 2000Reviewed by TimThis cd is really good. I don't particularly like this band, but this album is just plain rock, and I do like that. Everything (the melodies and arrangement) is above average. My only complaint is that some of the songs run together. BArt for the Ears 1999Reviewed by Marco PovervestMy first impression of the third record of Stavesacre is that it's different, moving further away from the hardcore roots of these guys. It's not only in the compositions that this is evident, you can hear it in Mark Salomon's singing too. Instead of screaming he tends to sing a whole lot more than before, like you might expect on a modern rock album. But this ain't modern rock either. It still…The Phantom Tollbooth 1999Reviewed by Michial FarmerSpeakeasy, Stavesacre's latest album, sounds pretty much identical to everything they've done in the past. 9/10ths of the album has that Tool vs. Helmet sound that's worked for them so well in the past, and there's a characteristic slow song in the vein of "Burning Clean." Mark Salomon and company tread very little new water here. The good news is that it still sounds fresh and new. Stavesacre…The Phantom Tollbooth 1999Reviewed by Josh MarihughStavesacre's rather unique blend of melodic alternacore begins to sound the same on this, the band's third album. Too much of a good thing, however, can still be a good thing, as this disc fully illustrates. While the band has yet to create a cut to top their classic "At the Moment," a few tracks here come close. "Freefall (From Hand to Hand)" paints a beautiful picture of just what happens when…The Phantom Tollbooth 1999Reviewed by Joe RockstrohStavesacre hasn't really changed for this album, despite an HM article where Mark Salomon inferred that this album would be different from its predecessors. Sure, there's a touch more melody, a hint more emo, and the guitars are thicker due to new second guitarist Ryan Denny, but other than that, this is Absolutes repackaged. There's also a lack of the high drama vocal peaks of Salomon that he…Similar sounding releases
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