Reviews

Starting off with the creepy but insanely cool "Insight the Choir," Take the Crown's debut album gets off the ground running. Leading into "L.A. Resistance (Revolution)," this band sounds like it's ready for the radio, which is a refreshing change in the cluttered music of today. By inserting keyboards into the mix, Take the Crown are trying something different to differentiate themselves and it works.

Songs like "Lights, Camera, Disaster" sound really, really good, except for the terribly clichéd gang backing vocals, but hey, what can you do? But despite the clichés, the band manages to make everything work well. "Ride or Die" is probably the best song on the record, managing to sound like Saosin but also having it sound like Take the Crown in the process. Tracks like "Somewhere Waiting" and "Take Control" have emotion dripping off the sleeves but neither of them are overly sappy. The fact that the band is able to keep everything in check is refreshing and gives hope for other bands like them.

The whole record sounds this way, which is completely exciting for a band of this nature because if they play everything the way they're doing it now, then they should be around for a while.

The only sore spot on the record is "This is Your Cue" where they let their electronic tendencies take over; it doesn‘t bode terribly well. This band is definitely one of the top new acts of 2008 so far and everyone who's into bands like Saosin, Underoath and others should keep their eyes out for them. The ending song, "Locked and Loaded," is an ode to an almost unwanted love, which gives the record a rousing conclusion. Definitely one of the more interesting albums of 2008 so far and one of the more dynamic bands to emerge.