Saves the Day
In Reverie
Dreamworks/Vagrant
Whereas Saves the Day’s previous albums were dripping with emotion, heartache and occasional disturbing imagery (listen to the lyrics of “As Your Ghost Takes Flight” from Stay What You Are), In Reverie, the band’s fourth full-length album, is lacking in all of these. Although the album does maintain Saves the Day’s penchant for sugarcoated melodies mixed with punk and pop, the angst that always followed the band seems to have disappeared. On the upside, this could mean that vocalist Chris Conley is finally happy, but on the downside it means that fans will have to accept a new Saves the Day, one that is mature, upbeat and a step down from the old Saves the Day.
Fans liked Saves the Day because they were so damn emotional. Conley always seemed to capture the listeners’ feelings in such a raw and upfront manner that it was hard not to identify with him. It was Conley’s down-to earth lyrics that made the band famous. True, they are talented musicians and they are great live, but everyone knows Saves the Day because of how desperate they were, or rather, their lyrics were.
In Reverie is not a bad album, but it is not the Saves the Day that fans know and love. Like other Saves the Day albums, In Reverie is a melodic punk record with hooks galore, but unlike their other albums, Conley seems removed and distant. The vocals for each song are practically the same, no matter how much the rhythm may change. As a result, Conley ends up sounding monotone and detached from the music, a far cry from past albums on which he often sounded as though he would burst in tears at the drop of a hat. Fans should be aware of this, and approach In Reverie with little or no expectations. And, even then, they should be warned that they may still be disappointed with the album. I know I was.
Saves The Day: http://www.savestheday.com/
