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Whistle Stopper - Scars and Souvenirs
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List Price: $11.98
Our Price: $8.25
Your Save: $ 3.73 ( 31% )
Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours
Manufacturer: Roadrunner Records
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Average Customer Rating:   
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Binding: Audio CD
EAN: 0016861800925
Format: Explicit Lyrics
Label: Roadrunner Records
Manufacturer: Roadrunner Records
Number Of Discs: 1
Publisher: Roadrunner Records
Release Date: 2008-04-01
Studio: Roadrunner Records
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Spotlight customer reviews:
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Customer Rating:
Summary: Never heard of Nickelback
Comment: Just kidding, of course I've heard of them. But EVERYONE sounds like Nickelback, or rather everyone sounds the same to me these days in this genre of music. Actually this TOAD album reminded me more of Hoobastank, but I digress. I think all of these types of bands have a 5 string bass guitar - they all love to hit those big fat low string notes. I'm actually a guy in his 40s and don't know as much about the bands in this genre of music as most of you do, so I am not influenced by how much they may or may not sound like Nickelback. I had heard Bad Girlfriend on a video running through my cranked up stereo and really liked it, very catchy with a hard driving beat. I thought the video and lyrics were funny, obviously satire (as is the song Hate My Life). But after I heard it, I got on here and listened to the clips of their other songs and downloaded the whole thing. I'd never even heard of these guys before. I'm an old guy still looking for someone to match Boston I (I'll go to my grave waiting for that to happen). But having cut my chops on Boston I and early Rush in 70s and early 80s, most bands today are absolute total letdowns when it comes to measuring how complex the music is compared to Boston, Rush, Emerson Lake and Palmer, et el. No one comes close to having this type of talent anymore to lay down such complex tracks. Why do I rant about all this? Because I think it is amusing to read these reviews and watch you guys worship Nickelback and insinuate that bands are imitating Nickelback - when Nickelback sounds to me like a rip-off of the early grunge stuff out of Seattle in the early and mid 90s. I like Nickelback but why worship them as so unique? They all sound the same I think. OK - having said my peace - I really like this album. It is straight ahead rock and roll, good harmonies, humorous though explicit lyrics in some songs, some good riffs, power chords, low driving bass notes, good mix of hard vs ballad. I've not heard the first two albums from these guys, but I can understand TOAD fans not liking this one if the band has given up their "edgy" music and made this more like rock-pop. I would probably be disappointed too. But, not being influenced by their early stuff, or anyone else currently for that matter, I thought this album was great on its own. I give it 4 stars, because, well, the only album that I will ever give 5 stars to is the one that is on the same level as Boston I. And that will never happen.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Its a pity I have to give it a star
Comment: To imitate Nickleback is bad enough, but this takes bad to a whole new dimension. Where to start, banal riffs, souless production, unbelievably uninspiring arrangments and some of the greatest lyrical crimes ever committed. Painful.
Customer Rating:
Summary: On second thought, it only deserves one star.
Comment: It saddens me to write this review for a band in Theory of a Deadman that has produced some of my all-time favorite music. "Scars and Souvenirs" represents one of the wisest purchase decisions I have made in quite sometime in that I did not actually purchase it for myself; it was, rather, a gift for someone else, and therefore I had the chance to listen to it and decide if I wanted a copy for myself before actually buying my own copy.
The answer to that would be a definite "no." It pains me to write this, but there really were not three songs on this album that I liked. Two songs, that's it. "So Happy," while being far from original, is a decent tune, even with the blatant ripoff (or homage, depending on your perspective) of Alice in Chains on that introductory vocal harmony. The next song, "By the Way" is also a solid track and possibly the best cut on the record. It is something of a ballad, but its somewhat darker tone definitely reminded me of some of the material from the band's self-titled record - a good thing in my book.
After that, I got nothing. Musically, the only other point on the entire record that stands out to me is the first twenty seconds or so of "Bad Girlfriend" - or basically until the lyrics begin. Now, Theory of a Deadman have never really been Shakespeare when it's come to lyrical matter, but for the past two records, the lyrics were usually at least decent and if not the most original, then at least they seemed sincere. The lyrics on this record, for the most part, come across as absolutely banal and insipid. "Bad Girlfriend," especially, comes across as a cheap imitation of Buckcherry's "Crazy Bitch," a song that I can't understand why anyone would want to imitate in the first place.
This record is chock full of ballads, and unlike previous TOAD ballads such as "In the Middle" or the amazing "The Last Song," none of them are the least bit memorable. Instead, they all seem like desperate attempts at securing some moderately successful singles which will shortly thereafter fade into total obscurity. Also, I'm not sure who handled the production for this album, but there was a lot of what can only be described as "excessive crap" thrown into the songs. There are several songs with some sort of electronic beats or even an organ at one point which, while being potentially great ways to add some spice to the sound if executed properly, nonetheless add absolutely nothing to the song and come across as nothing more than superfluous garbage.
One other song which could have been nice to hear was "Hate My Life." While certainly not the least bit original, it is a nice playful little tune that would have been an interesting change of pace on an album like "Gasoline." After suffering through the previous six songs on this album, though, it just comes across as annoying.
If you are a newcomer to Theory of a Deadman, having just heard "So Happy" on the radio, I'd recommend downloading a single copy of "So Happy" and then checking out "Gasoline" before buying this. Not only is it simply a better album in my opinion, but the songs you'll find on that album are actually much more similar to "So Happy" than those found on "Scars and Souvenirs." For older fans of the band, definitely take a listen before you buy it. It is a way, way different sound that will no doubt be appealing to some, but for those like me, it will simply leave you asking, "Why...?"
Customer Rating:
Summary: Diversification Through Evolution
Comment: Until they do something completely groundbreaking, ToAD won't be able to shake its association with Chad Kroeger/Nickelback because of their method of discovery coupled with their 604-RoadRunner Records contracts management.
However, that doesn't mean Tyler Conn0lly and the rest of Theory of A Deadman are incapable of producing enjoyable music. "Scars and Souvenirs" is a great example of musical maturation by a band with incredible potential. Though the album's sound and lyrical content are by no means revolutionary or particularly insightful, there are indications that the band is taking necessary steps to find its own niche in mainstream alternative. The arrangements, schizophrenic as they are, seem to be less palatable than those of Nickelback's, and there is a genuine nature behind Connolly's writing.
Compared with their debut and sophomore albums, "S&S" isn't afraid to venture for a slightly more mellow approach, instead of drilling songs into your brain. Nonetheless, this album is more than worthy of a listen.
Customer Rating:
Summary: toad dissapoint me
Comment: Iam sorry but there is no way this album is as good as there other efforts.The songs are much slower and the song writting not as good .Iknow every swears now and then ,but whats they point in every other song,maybe its me but i think cleaner words could be used.They are a few good songs on here but not enough for me to recondmend it.My opinon buy the other two there much better
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Editorial Reviews:
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Originally from Vancouver B.C. and signed by Chad Kroeger of Nickelback to his 604 Records label (where the band is still signed in Canada), Theory is following up a very successful sophomore album cycle (GASOLINE) that included the huge radio hits "Santa Monica," "No Surprise" and "Hello Lonely." Theory are road dogs and expect to be on the road for 2 years straight to support their new album SCARS & SOUVENIRS. The balanced 13-track effort is the polished and passionate testament to seven years of hard work, heavy touring and diligent attention to its craft. From the swirling grinds of the first single "So Happy" to the soaring melodicism of "Not Meant to Be" and "By The Way," Scars & Souvenirs is a broad-reaching endeavor that puts singer/guitarist Tyler Connolly, guitarist Dave Brenner and bassist Dean Back high in the rock pantheon, achieving creative growth without sacrificing the hard-hitting power that got them here in the first place.
"It's the Scars & Souvenirs of your life," Connolly explains. "The songwriting on the record is really about someone's past or and present, their relationships and how they shape everything. It's more metaphorical than physical scars and trophies.We're just a hard-working band, man. We want to be out there for a couple of years and play these songs to everybody we possibly can." Tyler also contributed guitar and appeared in the video for Chad Kroeger's #1 smash hit "Hero," the theme song to the massive Spider-Man movie.
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