When I first heard them I immediately fell in love with them. The guitars, the tempo, the drums, the dual vocals, all of it was hooked into me very deep. The first album I heard from them was Late Night Conversations which I still listen to this day with a sense of accomplishment for finding this band. Never once did I question what I was doing with my life when I listened to that record. It didn't last long though, the band soon released their follow-up In The Shadow Of Two Gunmen, and I found a new album to listen to constantly. Nearly four years after it was released I still listen to this record with the same wide grin that I wore the day I bought it. To this day, I claim that it was the greatest purchase I have ever made. And people, I bought The Get Up Kids' Four Minute Mile on vinyl for $3.
Months turned into years and I grew nervous to think that The Forecast was never going to come to Nebraska to play a show. Then I saw that they would be playing in Kearney, but alas, family issues kept me from attending that show and I still haven't recovered from missing it. At that point I haven't heard any new happenings from the band so I wanted to know what they were doing. It was at that time their new EP Alive For The First Time was released and despite being only five songs deep, the record was still a constant listen for me. As a HUGE Tom Petty fan, The Forecast's cover of "You Wreck Me" dominates Taking Back Sunday's cover and rivals Tom Petty's original for my favorite version. However, it left me thirsty for more. That's where this year's release The Forecast comes in. I was anticipating this release with every bone in my body for four years. So how is it, you ask? Well, that's what the review is for.
The Forecast - The Forecast (2010)
Every record needs a great lead off track. It's so important to get that first song across to let people know of what they are in for, or have an introduction into the album. This record has the later. Less than a minute in length, the acoustic track "Losers" features soft vocals from guitarist/vocalist Dustin Addis. When I first heard this track, I can't explain why, but it reminded me of my deceased grandfather who I spent a lot of time with when I was first listening to this band. That might be why I let out a few tears the first time I heard this song.Right after the subtle acoustic sounds of "Losers" the album kicks into "Illinois". Tony Peck's drums start the song off, but the guitars soar soon after. The verses aren't slowed down, but the wall of sound subsides for the vocals, and the mood that Addis creates with his words gets you ready for the chorus to kick things off. Once you hit the chorus we are reintroduced to bassist Shannon Burns, who joins in with vocals. The harmony that Dustin and Shannon create together soars above any competing vocal duo. They compliment each other so well that at that point it seems like destiny that they are in the same band. The song keeps going from the softer verses to the anthemic chorus until you hit the breakdown where Addis plays lead vocal and is complimented by guitarist Matthew Webb with the backing vocals. The song ends with the three vocalists doing their parts of vocals and it sounds simply enchanting.
Up next is the song "Lost At Sea" which saw air time on MySpace before the album was released. This track kicks off with a guitar and Addis' vocals. Then Burns' bass drop kicks the rest of the band off during the verses while they do a somewhat start-and-stop number during the chorus. This sound keeps the song steady, but not repetitive. Notice Peck's drumming on this track. He utilizes a stutter beat drum that compliments the song perfectly. Vocally, the first 2/3 of this song features primarily Addis, but we hit a point where in between his vocals, Burns has harmonic vocals. Then the song slows down in the last minute or so and Shannon comes center stage. In that last minute you hear Burns singing but Addis adds in his vocals that compliment Shannon's for a perfect ending to the song.
The fourth track, and one of my favorites off the album, is "I'll Set You Free". Peck kicks in with an opening drum beat and the guitars follow suit with sweet chords that set the tone for the track. The band sonically backs off for the opening verse, which features some of the best lyrics that The Forecast has ever penned. When Addis sings: "The first cut's the deepest / When the trust is gone you know I'm the first to run / But I said forever / But I'll stick to my guns." It's like he's either singing it to you, or you would be singing it to someone else. But it's when the band kicks into the chorus that you get the intense sense of ease with everything around you. Sonically and vocally, the chorus lifts you, which is a trait not seen in music anymore. The song then indulges into another verse-chorus which hits just as hard as the one before it. Then the song breaks out into a different spectrum with Burns and Addis joining into a pleading dual vocal before the repeat of choruses to end the song. Just at the ending though you hear Addis singing the chorus but then Shannon breaks off into complimentary vocals that gives any harmony enthusiast goosebumps.
If there was ever a "weak track" on this record, it would be the following track, "So Wrong". After the band equally kicks in with the intro, they calm down again for Addis on the vocals who is complimented by Burns after every line. The chorus works the same way, but with Burns doing her sweet moan to lead the vocal charge. In a soaring, dual vocal performance after the second chorus, the song hits its climax. The song ends with another chorus and the track ends with a simple fade out of Addis' voice. The song that seems like it needed to be on this record, and it's not out of place, but on an album full of platinum this song shines gold.
The next track is "Kisses", a song in which Addis sings of shunning a past relationship. This is one of the songs that everyone can easily identify with, which makes it that much more powerful. It leads off with Peck's drums layered under the guitars and then the vocals again at the forefront. Burns' vocals can be heard highlighting certain lyrics to start off the song, which can be especially found on the pre-chorus. The chorus features a great drum track by Peck, Addis' powerful vocals, and Burns' complimenting background vocals. Halfway through Burns comes to center stage to lead in the vocals, doing a short repeating verse before the chorus kicks in again. That is followed by a bridge of more aggressive vocals from Addis before the closing chorus.
"Snake Charmer" is the next song, which is a much more mellow song. It is also the track where Burns' bass work can be heard best. The bass riff on this song matches the very 'snake charmer-esqe' vibe that this song possesses. Addis sings the verses and Burns joins him in the choruses where they both match for a great harmony to suit the near somber tone of the song. Addis then fits in lyrics as the song breaks down. The last minute of the song is almost like a blend of slide guitar, the basic guitar riff, and the bass riff. All of which make for a very somber western tone. This is the longest track that the band has ever put out, and not a second was made with filler.
The next track is Shannon's. I say that because while Dustin adds in his vocals, this is basically a pure Shannon sang track, and I think that it works the best that way. "If I'm Not Mistaken" is a dialog vocal song (much like "West Coast" was from Gunmen) where Shannon dominates with her high vocal work. The chorus features a neat riff of guitars but are also absent of Addis vocals. After the verse-verse-chorus-verse-chorus format, the song indulges into a break between choruses with, of course, Shannon doing vocals. The ending lyrics that Burns is heard singing gives a sense of closure on the song, which is the perfect way to end it. Who would have thought that "Say what you want to say" could have been sang so powerfully?
Guitars, complimenting bass, and a triple bass drum beat guides us into "Heads Will Roll". Addis and Burns match each other on the opening verses before the song builds into the chorus which features Addis in the spotlight but with occasional backing vocals from Burns. After the first chorus, Addis takes over the second verse which leads well into the second chorus. After the second chorus is where this song truly shines. Burns sings her side of the story, but is matched by an intense croon of Addis. The recipe repeats and you feel deeply that Addis is screaming for all he's worth. Fittingly, the song ends with the audience feeling as if they have done wrong.
Opening with guitars, "Life's A Garden, Dig It" is the track that Addis and Burns share vocal duties for nearly the entire song. The second verse is where they separate, but then in the pre-chorus the two rejoin each other. Just like the title implies, during their vocals in the chorus, you get that deep sense of optimism, which leads into the break down. Once the break down comes, Webb has the harmonic vocals and Burns is absent. In this part you get the sense that Addis is singing directly to someone, which isn't very far fetched at all. The lyrics that he speaks are so subtle and heartfelt that you can't help but sing along with them in the car or wherever you're listening to it.
The ultimate note of optimism on this album is "A Better Man". This track starts off with a driving bass line by Burns which is complimented by a short guitar riff repeated. This driving rhythm comes across in the verse when Addis takes his roll as singing for a generation. This all fades into the chorus which is as anthemic and optimistic as music can get. Burns adds her vocal strength during the chorus, accenting the most important lyrical parts. After a short second verse, the chorus kicks back in and you find yourself singing along easily. The track breaks down and Addis sings: "I'll take the blame to myself / Because it was me and no one else who poured the salt into your wounds / I never thought you'd run away / At least not to him I pray / Just for the day I won't lay down / My debt's been paid". The band silences for the last line and then kicks in for another chorus as the song fades out with us hearing Addis and Burns singing "I never said I lost control".
Closing out the album is "Double On The Rocks". A heavy guitar riff starts off the track, but its Addis' vocals that seem heavier during the verse. When Addis sings the verse, it hits you deeply. The lyrics are amazingly personal and powerful, which grab you and don't let go. This builds up into the chorus where Burns adds in her vocals to make for a sweet harmony, just like the rest of the album. The second verse matches the first one in intensity and with every listen it becomes that much more personal. The second verse also builds off the verse that came before it, building up to the section after it. Burns stands up and screams her side of what's going on, Addis then states his side, only to be overpowered by Burns right after him. Then they build all those vocal showcases into a repeating chorus to end the song.
When The Beatles ended an album, the last song was always the question mark. After you heard the last track of a Beatles album you would always wonder "when is the next album coming out so we can figure out how they are going to top this?". There was always that sense of mystic surrounding their closing tracks. "Good Night", "A Day In The Life", "The End", all of those songs had a sense of closure to the record, but also leading you to want the next record to see if they could build off of it. That's the exact feeling that you get when you hear the band cut out at the end of the track to where you can hear Addis solo singing "And I'm over this!"
Recommended Tracks: "Losers", "I'll Set You Free", "Kisses"
Recommended If You Like: Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, Saves The Day, The Graduate
Verdict: 9/10
