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Band: The Scenic
Album: Find Yourself Here
Genre: Pop-Punk
Line up:
Label: Victory
Tracks:
1. Lights Out
2. The American Way
3. Armageddon
4. Hold Me Close
5. Bon Voyage Mr Bones
6. Take You Down
7. Are You Down
8. And We Collide
9. Notice Me
10. Direction
11. All My Friends
12. Follow
The Scenic were set up for success from the start. A few months ago they were included in Alternative Press's AP & R section, which includes the best unsigned bands of them month. Only weeks after that, they officially announced their signing to VIctory Records. With their sweet pop hooks and mellow feel, The Scenic are a perfect band for the summer months.
Their musicianship is very poppy and has a very cheerful vibe. The guitar riffs are very slow and pretty high pitched. They make for a very nice listen that doesn't overpower the listener. The drums are nothing really special, but they fit extremely well with the feel of the album. They don't always keep a technical beat, which makes the albums instrumentation much more intriguing and captivating.
The vocals on the album are probably the low point. His voice is mid-range, however it's very breathy which makes the album a little uncomfortable to listen to. When listening it's obvious the potential that he possess's, but he hasn't seemed to have made it to that point yet. With that said, the vocals aren't bad, they could have been better, but it's good that there is room for improvement, due to the fact that this is their debut full-length.
Overall, Find Yourself Here is a very good debut record. At times the production can seem a little bit much and other times it feels underproduced. Hopefully, through touring and writing more, The Scenic will be able to work out the kinks and bumps in their writing and recording proccess. If they do that, I have no doubt that they will be blasting on your car radio. This album is fun and catchy, but it may be forgotten after the summer months have past.
Rating: 8/10
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Posted by Bradley Babendir at 22/06/2008 - High Beam Press
Discography
"Find Yourself Here" 2008 Victory Records
Photos
Bio
With a series of impressive accolades under their belt, it was only a matter of time before Victory Records put pen to paper and invested in THE SCENIC's breezy spin on current pop-rock.
The band had already appeared twice on MTVU, been featured in Alternative Press, and shared stages with heavy-hitters such as Saves the Day and the 2007 Warped Tour, and these credits weren't without notice. Their infectious brand of unpretentious melodies had captured the attention of nearly everyone with an ear for genuine talent. Armed with a barrage of demos that would easily translate into studio-ready gems, THE SCENIC began to lay down the foundation that would become Find Yourself Here.
Comprised of four members with a knack for indie pop sensibility and similar tastes, THE SCENIC was fashioned in 2006 with ringleaders Shane Reynolds on drums, guitarist Jake Scisio and Frank Romantino on bass. The group thought their ideal roster was complete when rhythm guitarist Dan Wolf joined in late 2007, but, in an unfortunate twist, the original vocalist then took an exit. However, vocalist Jeremy Menard's outfit had also just disbanded, and he was recruited to not fill another's shoes, but to make the role his own.
"We like to think it was a completely new band then when we wrote together for the first time," Wolf says. "We all realized we had something special. Our work ethic, songwriting and promotion was stepped up by all members."
This new dream team chose to keep their good luck streak going by hitting the studio with producer Mike Watts (The Junior Varsity, As Tall As Lions, As Cities Burn), who had nurtured the band's talent on the demos. Being a friend as well, he knew the nuances and direction it would take to make the tracks uniquely Scenic.
The ease of collaborating with Watts and new-found electricity within the band is evident in the result, 12 addictive anthems laced with sunny beats and views alike. Tracks like the driving opener "Lights Out" and its brisk follower, "The American Way," wax Americana while providing a comfortable, easy nostalgia for days of friendship, hot-and-cold relationships and burgeoning dreams. With this collection of summer staples, THE SCENIC have proved their knack for creating bright sing-a-longs that are instantly memorable from just the first spin.
"When listening to our record, we want people to feel exactly like the feeling you get when you couldn't be happier anywhere else, doing anything else, at that moment in time," Wolf says. "We really feel we made a great record. Overall, it's very feel-good, yet still has an emotional side to it."
With refreshing humor and a streak of good fortune to their credit, THE SCENIC has created a buzz that has helped build one of summer's most anticipated releases. They've made an honest, straightforward record that pulls no punches in its messages. From the title alone, Find Yourself Here is an ode of appreciation to their current state of life. In a line from the self-reflective "Direction," THE SCENIC has ended up right where it belongs.
"After stepping back and really taking an overall look at the lyrics and content in the songs, the theme really seemed to gravitate toward discovering who you are and where you're going in life," Wolf says. "After everything that everyone in this band has experienced, it has led us to this point, playing with these friends and writing these songs. We have found ourselves in a place in which we couldn't be happier."
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