Saves The Day - Saves The Day Album Review: All 11 Tracks Analysed

rating: 3.5

For New Jersey based pop-punk/rock band, Saves The Day, change has been one of the only reliable constants in its 16 year career. During the course of that decade and a half, the band has experienced frequent member turnover and multiple stylistic changes to its music. Alongside this perpetual change, the only other constant has been singer, guitarist and primary songwriter Chris Conley. As the only remaining original member, the voice and the emotional center of a band that formed when its member were still in high school, listeners have witnessed Conley's maturation into adulthood firsthand through the band's music over the years. With the release of a new, self-titled album in September 2013, Conley has added another chapter to his public account of growing up and his band has seemed to enter yet another new phase in its long, resilient career. 1. Remember €“ Saves The Day open their new album on an energetic note with "Remember." The song begins with a repeated, bent note guitar riff and pounding drums that produce a pleasingly full cymbal wash that sizzles crisply. The intro is an impressive opening statement, showcasing some powerful rock guitar growl and introducing two of the biggest strengths of the album: excellent rhythm section sound production and highly professional musical performance. After the intro, the song quickly transitions into a more subdued verse focusing on singer Chris Conley's youthful vocals. With each successive album, the singer's voice seems to mature in reverse, becoming higher in pitch and less sophisticated in enunciation. That trend has continued here, to the detriment of the band's music. When the vocals are doubled, Conley's throaty, blunted vowels resonate at an ugly interval, making it difficult for the listener to focus on the lyrics. The bent note riff returns for the chorus and the song creates a nice contrast between the quieter, vocal focused verses and the loud, pounding chorus. Saves The Day makes it clear on "Remember," that short, upbeat songs will be the norm on their self-titled album.