BILLY TALENT
"666
Live" (Warner; 2008)
Reviewed by Mike SOS
Canadian quartet Billy Talent is an international smash, yet success in the United States has eluded this outfit somewhat. "666 Live" is a CD/DVD combo of the band during their 18-month tour and covers three of their bigger European appearances, all to the rabid approval of audiences in attendance.
Mixing up their supercharged energetic performances with an edgy concoction of punk, rock, indie, and emo, Billy Talent fans will want to grab this one, as it captures the band at their most explosive and genuine, especially on tracks like "Try Honesty," "Red Flag" and "Standing in the Rain."
For more information, check out http://www.billytalent.com.
"Billy
Talent" (Atlantic; 2003)
Reviewed by R. Scott Bolton
Like Pink Floyd, Billy Talent is the name of a band, not an individual. That has nothing to do with the review that follows. I just thought I'd point that out.
"Billy Talent" is a punk rock record that has many great moments hampered by not quite so many just plain dull moments. Most of the songs are dynamic punk numbers, with the band delivering huge slabs of guitar chunk, sparkling rhythms, and clever lyrics but some tend to drag on; "Nothing to Lose" and "Standing in the Rain" for example.
Fortunately, there are some truly great songs on this CD as well to help balance things out a bit. "This Is How it Goes" starts the CD off on a nice, edgy keel while the more straight-forward rocker, "Cut the Curtains," is probably my favorite song on the CD.
At least Billy Talent has a sound that is, for the most part, uniquely their own. Too many modern punk rocks bands sound too much like too many other modern punk rock bands. Billy Talent sounds mostly like Billy Talent ... and that's enough to give them a shot.
Billy Talent: Ian D'Sa - guitar, vocals; Jonathan Gallant - bass, vocals; Aaron Solowoniuk - drums; Benjamin Kowalewicz - voice.
For more information, check out www.billytalent.com.
Rating Guide:
A classic. This record will kick your ass.
Killer. Not a classic but it will rock your world.
So-so. You've heard better.
Pretty bad. Might make a nice coaster.
Self explanatory. Just the sight of the cover makes you wanna hurl.
Copyright © 2008 by R. Scott Bolton. All rights
reserved.
Revised: 15 Apr 2024 14:51:32 -0400.
