The accompanying press release for the debut CD from Straylight Run begins with the line, "In April of 2003 John Cooper asked his friend John Nolan, "Do you want to commit career suicide?" As many of you may be aware, Nolan and Cooper left Taking Back Sunday, a band on the very forefront of mall emo, to form the decidedly pop affair Straylight Run. While the self-titled release from Straylight Run is far from perfect, it seems they made the right decision. It may have been "career suicide" to leave Taking Back Sunday, but I've heard parts of the new Taking Back Sunday album, and it would have been musical suicide to stay in that sorry band.
A few years back, I was a fan of Taking Back Sunday's first album. While my tastes have shifted since then, I was still curious as to how this album would sound. After all, the band did leave Taking Back Sunday, so it would be pointless for them to do something too similar. The first song, ironically titled "The Perfect Ending," immediately proved that this is the case. "The Perfect Ending" sounds like a Ben Folds b-side ballad, but vocalist John Nolan's voice is not near as pretty as Mr. Folds. This may not seem like glowing praise, but I like the song.
Straylight Run seems to alternate between upbeat songs and ballads. Some of the more poppy songs have rather memorable choruses, albeit with lyrics that clamor for inclusion in the Instant Messenger profiles of emo kids across the globe, including "sing like you think no ones listening" in "Existentialism on Prom Night" and "I die trying just to keep myself from kissing you" in "The Tension in the Terror." One aspect that separates the band from other emo rock bands is the piano and keys that carry most of the songs. I've always enjoyed piano rock. Also, Nolan's kid sister Michelle sings backup on most of the songs, and even handles lead on a couple tracks. One of these tracks, "Tool Sheds and Hot Tubs," is some sort of attempt at new wave. It feels out of place, awkward, and downright awful. However, her other song "Now It's Done" is actually a beautiful song. The packaging is also really well done, with abstract photos and an old-fashioned look.
Straylight Run is a solid release. It isn't anything that will receive a lot of critical acclaim from elitist webzines, nor should it. However, it is a well done pop rock album that certainly separates itself from the baggage that no doubt will come along from being a band of "ex-members" of a more popular band.
2.5/4
Similar sounding releases
2005Chris BonoTen Senators and the Rebel Son
2004Andy ZipfI Stole the Morning Sun
2005CopelandIn Motion
2001downheredownhere
2005MashlinPushing Through the Seasons
2003Dashboard ConfessionalA Mark, A Mission, A Brand, A Scar
