Customer Reviews

Another Day Down

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

If you follow Tapping the Vein at all you no doubt know how lucky we are to even have Another Day Down. What with the record company collapsing, etc., I think I can safely say it's better late than never.

If you're anything like me among your favorite TTV songs no doubt is Hurricane. With its grim, unforgiving view of rape/sexual abuse it was the one song on The Damage that cut extremely deep. Expect that sort of fair throughout the entire listen of Another Day Down.

From the opening lyric of Burn (I know you will come for me at each opportunity), Tapping the Vein is clearly pulling no punches. Every song is so emotionally thick that at points you can't believe what you're hearing. While I realize The Damage was dark in almost every sense, I can honestly say that it can't even compare with how dark Another Day Down is.

If you're wondering if ADD is just a rehash of what we were given with The Damage, you'll be happy to know that no, it isn't. There are only two songs that compare to The Damage (Complicate It and Party Favours), other than that this is completely different. It's not as hard rock as The Damage is, though that may freak you out, don't let it. ADD is more on the industrial side, relying on the music to create moods more than anything.

Everyone brings their A game to the table, particularly Heather. I knew she was an excellent frontwoman, but I had no idea she had a CD like this in her. If there's one reason that you need to hear this, it's Heather's vocal performance. There is not a song that goes by that she isn't clearly giving it her all.

The lyrics have always been one of the best things about Tapping the Vein and Another Day Down doesn't disappoint in that respect. Only eclipsing the previous record in almost every way imaginable, the songs that beg attention are Burn, Complicate It, Bury Me, Razor Blades, All My Heart, and Another Day Down. Though each song has a great story, those are the most emotional in my opinion.

Special mention goes to the closer, Inclined. Performed almost entirely a capella, Heather truly shows she deserves more attention than she gets. The lyrics, the delivery, that is probably the single most hauntingly beautiful song I've heard in years.

I know Another Day Down won't get a lick of attention from anyone but fans, but it should. I can honestly say, even with it being this early, this will probably go down as the best CD of the year. There's so much variety here, so much emotion, so much talent, that I can't see a single band topping this. Highly recommended.

So we finally have an album from Tapping the Vein years after The Damage was released. I'd been waiting for this for so long, I'd almost given up hope. But let me tell you, it was WELL worth the wait. This album is fantastic. If you follow Tapping the Vein, you will be pleasantly surprized by this album. It's not like any of the others (The Damage and their two E.P.s) but it does consist of all the basic puzzle pieces that make TTV so great. You will definitely hear this album and know who you're listening to. For new fans, the album is so powerful that it can act as a stand-alone (although I highly recommend getting the rest of their stuff as well). Seriously. Another Day Down is a true accomplishment!

Having been an avid Tapping The Vein fan for several years, I was a bit weary of this album coming out. All of the raw emotion that their previous albums exhibited was incredible and I was sure that this one would be a let down, but I could not have been more incorrect. As stated in the review by incubus1, they have managed to continue implimenting all of the raw feeling without drawing soley off of the issues their previous albums focused on.

If you're a TTV fan already, buy this album. You will likely fall in love with it after the first listen. If you're not a TTV fan, I strongly suggest this album as a starting point. The issues it hits on are broad enough to draw everyone in.

As is too often the case with a band like Tapping the Vein, I know the name of the vocalist and the vocalist alone. However, TTV is a unit that has the intricate timing of a fine Swiss watch. The band as a whole is fantastic - the music is tight and played with superb skill.

That being said - Heather Thompson is the Queen of the Tragic Divas and the God Mother of broken toys.

Her lyrics and vocals would tear the heart out of Barney and leave him weeping on the steps of Disney World. Her delivery could gut every member of Evanescence and leave them wondering what Siren it was that shredded their souls and threw them onto the rocks.

Why then haven't they broken through and simply dominated the mainstream if they are so amazing? It is simple - in this world where the music we hear on the radio is driven by what is winning on American Idol, TTV and Heather are way to real. The word visceral comes to mind.

TTV is blood and guts with a kiss on the forehead as they lay you down bleeding.

The lyrics will unsettle many people and I guarantee there are few radio stations that are going to get behind songs of neglect, abuse, rape, and other darknesses that exist but that no one wants to talk about. This music is about the dark reality that is only alluded to by many of the over the top crap Goth or Darkwave bands that are inundating those genres today. Heather isn't spooky - but her lyrics will scare the hell out of you. This is good solid hard rock with a heart of darkness that is so sincere it make you fidgit in your seat. Take a looksie here-

There isn't a delicate plan involved
I'll just copy myself a key
And then at 4:00 in the morning,
I'll come and kill you dead in your sleep.

I would, indeed, but I don't care to complicate it.
I could, indeed, but I don't care to complicate it.

Imagine! It's going to rain again!
Seems like a pretty good day to die.
Don't worry I'll offer you company
As I stare you straight in the eye.

Now - imagine it being delivered in a way that YOU BELIEVE the lyrics and her intent... Oh there is more, but in order to fully grasp the intensity of this album and this exceptional vocalist - stop reading and just buy this album while I sit here and imagine that she is singing to Justin Beiber...

When i first found out that Gregor Macintosh of Paradise Lost was involved with some of the guitar work on this album, i was instantly determined to buy it. I'm a huge PL fan. The songs all sound great, but there's one main issue i had with the whole thing...

It's too quiet. Seriously, i had it playing on shuffle on my ipod soundock, and after one of these tracks was finished playing, i thought my speakers were going to get blown as the next song kicked in, and in another case, i thought my ipod shut off on it's own while it played on shuffle, as i got closer to it, i could barely hear music and as i looked at the screen it was playing a track from "Another Day Down."

So as you know, this is quite annoying. i bought this album in mp3 format, and i'm wondering if the sound quality is any better on CD...

There are three bands that maybe could be classified under the same style (rock metal w/electronics, featured by a female singer), which I do respect much, especially because their great compositions: Evanescence, Kidney Thieves and Tapping The Vein. If you know any of them, you'd identify what I mean. Even though all of them work in music since many years ago, they have released just a couple of albums each, what has generated, indeed, excellent albums with only great songs inside.

I heard to Tapping The Vein since many years ago, at the end of the nineties, as an indie band with only two EPs released then (Undone and The Butterfly). In those years, I could hear a sample of "The Ledge", which was included later as the opening song in their first album "The Damage" (in a different version by the way). That version of the song really caught me to the band.

After 6 years of silence, finally, I received news from the band and an invitation to hear a new song, "Complicate It", from their Myspace page. Almost a year had to pass yet until the complete album "Another Daydown" was released. I was not disappointed at all. Since the first song to the last one, Tapping The Vein gave me 43 minutes of great music. "Burn", the first one, have a very good balance between moods, sometimes so expectant and sometimes so powerful. Of course, Heather's voice is a very important component to obtain this effect, even during the whole album. Some unexpected arrangements, like the use of piano in "Clean", give an extra pleasure to the listening. What I'm liking very much today, is hearing the sequence from the fifth song to the ninth, starting with "Bury Me" (my favorite), then a heavy train machine with "I Don't Feel" and then "Razor Blues", "Time" and "All My Heart". After this sequence, the title song comes starting slow and sweet, with a flangered guitar... a great and strong balad, as well as the final song "Inclined".

The only weird thing I'm not happy with, especially for this kind of music, is this low level audio during the whole album, I don't know if caused by either a production problem or a media printing fail. I have to turn volume level up to 8 (while I usually use to leave it at 4) to enjoy it.

The passion and emotion behind this album is amazing. Heather's vocals are even better than on The Damage. I hope they come to Phoenix sometime. I recommend this album highly! This is an incredible sophomore effort! It would be great if they started to get some recognition.

I loved TTV's first album 'Damaged' and while Another Day Down couldn't top it for me it is still a solid album, bit more polished and therefore maybe lacking the rawness of the first album but there are some really stand out tracks. Pity it was sooooo hard to find in Australia and most other people that would love this style of music will miss out!

First off a huge thank you goes out to Tapping The Vein for this phenomenal release. I happen to love them all- I cannot think of one song that I do not enjoy the heck out of, really! I realize that it is an understatement but WoW, what a voice!Every word, every beat, every syllable out of Heather's mouth is the most incredible nectar ever imaginable! Dip me in it, roll me in, slather it all over me, make me feel like I have found home. Yes indeed, mesmerizing connecting, and introspectively haunting. To me, all songs on this cd "beg attention" I cannot listen to the whole cd through for sake of having to hear them all over again countless number of times. If you buy one cd the whole year, this should be it!

The song listing - I really love them all

Burn - Wicked, absolutely one of my top favorites on this cd, it is hard to sing to without tilting your forehead back during one particular phrase

Complicate It - Wickedly brazen, also a favorite but a little more commercial

Party Favours - this one took a little longer to grow on me, a bit more commercial but charged

Clean - Precise, connecting, a favorite

Bury Me - Starts slow but builds to a great song, relative

I Don't Feel - Ok, this one is not so slow but it did take a little while to grow on me, furious

Razor Blades - I have to say it reminds me a little of the title song from their cd "The Damage" that I also love! Anthem type with the build and crescendo, aggressive

Time - Ok now, this one -- tied with favorites for first, persuasive

All My Heart - potent, tied with favorites for first

Another Day Down - "I Could get my head around this, don't you think I would" ... convincing

Inclined - Tender, and poignant, hoping it isn't a warning please

(Btw nice write-up incubus1)


But
-- For the one who wrote

"However, the album quickly careens away from empowerment and dives headfirst into a pit of depression and bleak observations. I understand that she's seen dark times and has gone through horrible things, but so have other musicians, so have I. Purge yourself of it through catharsis, but don't waste two WHOLE albums bleeding over it!"

How dare you! Think you are capable or worthy to tell anyone when to get past something! I love the cd because it does go through it! There is no fricking bubblegum to give you, it just isn't there!

--- Now

For the rest of us, if you have not listened to the cd please do yourself a favor and listen! I cannot wait until there is another one, please someone tell me there will be another one!

No, I don't like this as much as The Damage, but it's still definitely worth it, complements the first album, and is a strong record. It's not the same as the first one, as some users have said; I don't think that's possible with a seven-year break between albums. I think it has a more mature, cleaner sound in a way, but that doesn't make for a better record. Some of the raw power of The Damage is lacking here. There aren't as many very strong songs like "Broken" off The Damage, ones that really stand out. But they don't really "meld" into the same thing, either; there's still a good bit of variety. Heather's voice is a little softer, clearer, and sweeter in this one; she goes into blowout, screaming mode less often, and none of it is as driving and forceful as some of The Damage, I think. But she has a phenomenal voice, so of course it's still very impressive, and that's always been the strongest part of TTV. And despite some people saying Heather hasn't made any "psychological process," I think this album does have a more positive sound, and less of a hard edge than The Damage. And overall less of a goth feel. If you're a Tapping the Vein fan, you'll probably still like it. If you're a newcomer to Tapping the Vein, you might want to start out with The Damage, but it would be best to listen to them both, in either order, to get their whole body of sound.

So, bottom line is, it's not perfect. But neither was The Damage. You might miss some of the incredible emotion on that album, but there's still something to be had here.

I think my favorite tracks are "Burn," "Complicate It," "Razor Blades," and "All My Heart."