Customer Reviews

Billy Talent III

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

 

 

Billy Talent's 3rd release finds them with the same bombastic sound they had on the last two albums, with some memorable chord progressions and riffs that harken back to past songs. But thats not to say it sounds the same, Billy Talent slows down slightly on songs like "Rusted from the Rain," and shows some growth. The regular edition of the CD contains the main songs, the special edition includes a bonus disk with 4 early versions of key songs, and all the songs minus the guitar (so you can play along) it also comes with two booklets with the guitar sheet music. All in all a great new gift from the band.

Here is my review of the most recent Billy Talent album, Billy Talent III.

Devil on My Shoulder: 4.25/5 (A good start to the CD.)
Rusted from the Rain: 5/5 (Another Top 5 Billy Talent song for me. Damn perfect in my opinion.)
Saint Veronika: 4/5 (One of my least favorite songs from the band... I'm not sure why though.)
Tears into Wine: 4.75/5 (The first single from the album, and they chose a good song. Great all the way through.)
White Sparrows: 3.75/5 (A little slower than some of their other songs - by a bit - and one of my least favorite by them.)
Pocketful of Dreams: 3.75/5 (Another song I don't particularly care for.)
The Dead Can't Testify: 4.25/5 (Finally! Another solid song pops up. Not fantastic, but better.)
Diamond on a Landmine: 3.75/5 (Nothing really bad about it, just sounding like more of the same.)
Turn Your Back: 3.75/5 (This song features Anti-Flag... once again, another song from the band that just doesn't appeal to me much.)
Sudden Movements: 3.5/5 (Probably their slowest song ever, and it happens to be their worst... at least, I don't care for it.)
Definition of Destiny: 4.5/5 (At least the album ends strong! One of the albums best to round the whole thing out.)

Overall, Billy Talent III has a handful of great songs, but there are some songs that are just very, very average. Rusted from the Rain, Tears into Wine, and Definition of Destiny are really the three worth listening to over and over.

I was afraid that Billy Talent would change their style or something and end up making bad music, as so many bands I used to love... But Billy Talent are still Billy Talent. A new collection of favorite songs.

This is a good record. Nothing unique in their style, but it sounds good. I specially love Saint Veronika, as melodic and agressive as it can get. Overall, good listening.

This is a great album I saw them in concert in Germany bad a show.

I have been a huge Billy Talent fan since i first checked them out because they were on tour with MxPx and Motion City Soundtrack when i was in High School. That was probably 7 years ago now and i still have yet to be disappointed in a Billy Talent release. Every album they make sounds different from the last but at the same time has the familiarities that we have fallen in love with as fans. Most bands change their sound completely for different albums, all Billy Talent has seemed to do is tweek their formula just to make it new, not different. The most memorable tracks on this album are Rusted from the Rain and The Dead Can't Testify. This is another quality album to add to your Billy Talent collection, and if you haven't heard of them then it is time to check them out!

Now, before I actually say whether or not you should buy this, here are a couple of things you should probably understand about this album and Billy Talent in general:
1. It's the kind of band that grows on you. Odds are when you first listen to a Billy Talent song, you won't instantly fall in love with it and realize you'll enjoy this band for the rest of your life. It might take a couple of replays to see the beautiful, unique structure of every song, with Benjamin Kowalewicz's fantastic vocals and perfectly played guitars making it nothing short of amazing; but you'll catch on eventually, much like many fans did after a few listens to their second album's "Try Honesty" and their third album's "Red Flag". Even if you don't love a song, you'll find yourself humming its tune at some point. They're all incredibly catchy.
2. "Different" doesn't necessarily mean "bad". Some older fans have been coming down on this album for being different from its predecessors, and yes, it's certainly different. But it's still very good -- the qualities that set Billy Talent apart from other bands are still there and going strong. And I find it rather absurd when critics say that the band has lost its "heart", with some songs proving otherwise pretty vehemently (such as "Saint Veronika" and the tragic "White Sparrows", which you might think is corny or whatever on first listen, but is actually quite heart-wrenching). "Billy Talent III" is just as good as "Billy Talent" and "Billy Talent II", and I'd bet money on it.
3. Billy Talent stands out for a reason, but it's hard to pinpoint it. In a time where most good rock bands have given way to boy bands that sing about nothing, this band is truly unique. It's not exactly about soft ballads and tenderness, but it's not screaming boys with bad hair who cut themselves either; it doesn't pretend to be anything, it's good music in its own right that's kind of hard to place. I've heard it said that Benjamin Kowalewicz has a "weird voice", but it's very easy to love and it manages to get places other singers don't. Especially now that he's toned down the screaming, Kowalewicz's vocals are incredibly impressive and the instrumental work that comes with it can make you sway in no time, without you even noticing. They're eccentric and unusual but still manage to fit into the mainstream, creating a nice musical avenue for people who don't want to go too crazy but don't want to settle either.
So, to sum up, you should definitely give this album a chance. It's not for everybody, but real Billy Talent fans will not be disappointed, and new listeners would enjoy it too with the right mindset. As for me, my iPod's probably getting sick of playing it by now. 5/5

Billy Talent is one of the few artists/bands I can listen straight through every album without skipping a lot of songs. I love their first and second albums, and I was excited to hear they had a third one out. With the exceptions of only Saint Veronica and maybe Definition of Destiny, I was very pleased to have this album. My favorites are Rusted from the Rain, White Sparrows, Sudden Movements and Diamond on a Landmine. BT is great at what they do, and I'm happy they keep it up. Much love for BT.