Customer Reviews

Billy Talent

5 star:		(122)
4 star:		(30)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(10)

 

 

Much can be said about today's state of music. Bands like The Early November and Taking back sunday are praised as being brilliant, which couldn't be further from the truth, while "billy talent" remains unknown in the US. I, personally, don't understand why people actually like the crap coming out of every end of rock these days, but they do. With that having been said, don't be quick to write off "billy talent" simply becuase they're lumped in with the used and my chemical romance (yuck!).

The first thing you'll notice is that BT's vocalist is very, VERY unique. He screams, he sings, he mostly sings, but when he screams, it's amazing. He has that amazing range i've yet to hear from any of these so-called "emo/screamo" bands, and although the lyrics maybe aren't as good as others, the music and vocals more than make up for it. thats not to say that the lyrics are bad, no, not at all. Songs like "lies" and "nothing to lose" hint at lyrical genius without being watered down in emo cliches and eloquent double speak.

Indeed, BT is able to suck the listener into anything they say with direct, to the point, no bulls**t lyrics. Think of the way Cold's skooter ward writes a song....think....OKAY, got it? Well, yeah, that's basically how BT do it. I don't need to hear william shakesphere style s**t every time i throw on a record, so the fact that BT isn't all big words with no meaning is refreshing.

Musically though, BT finds their strongest suit. Catchy guitars, atmosphereic melodies, deeply melodic vocals and a breakneck pace keep everything flowing well for all 12 tracks. Never once do i feel the need to skip tracks, and i can't say the same for atleast 40% of the records i own (or have owned).

Billy Talent is not a band to be slept on. Their music is a swift kick in the gut, waking you up from the hum drum world of "emo/screamo/post-hardcore/blahblahblah" crap.

Get it today, and hopefully you'll have time to take in all it's greatness before the follow-up hits stores next year!

I have very eclectic taste and I stay away from most modern pop music but this album grabbed me. The songs really are actually quite original (as much as is possible for a rock band these days)they have great tempo and energy and some really beautiful melodies and harmonizing. When was the last time you heard a guitar riff that really sticks in your head? For me I have to go back to Nirvana but almost all of the songs on here are as memorable with great guitar hooks, powerful vocals and a wicked rythym section and none of it is really filler. These guys are very stripped down - theres not a lot of studio wizardry happening but theyre no less interesting for it. I sort of liken them to the early to mid 60's era Beatles but modernized. Think of songs like It Wont Be Long, I feel fine, Ticket To Ride but with more of a hectic pace and a more aggressive singing style. They are the best straight-ahead rock band going right now in my opinion.

I fell upon this album on accident, and I gotta say, I'm glad I did. It has a very original sound. Kinda reminds me of Against Me!, cause you know what genre it falls into, and yet it doesn't really sound like anything in that genre. Weird :) But anyways, check it out, you'll probably like it.
P.S. Oh, and by the way, to the guy who said this sucked and then listed "real music," I gotta ask: do you have a mind of your own? All those bands are bands that are generally accepted my mainstream audiences. Not saying some of them aren't good, but you rarely find somebody who likes exclusively all the most popular bands, unless he's just being safe with his music choices so as to avoid criticism. So to you I either say "wow, somebody who is exactly what mainstream media always thought there might be out there," or, grow up and develop your own taste in music.

This is a great CD, with the exception of Cut The Curtains. That song is not so good....But the rest of the album is amazing.

Best songs on the CD:
River Below, The Ex, Lies, Nothing to Lose, Line and Sinker

Too bad the song Beach Balls wasn't on the album.

And the guy below me can suck it as well.
BILLY TALENT IS NOT PUNK!!!!!!
People who say that, obviously do not know what punk is.

First of all, don't try to put this group in a specific genre because you just can't. I won't tell you the guitar/bass riffs are awesome, the melody exceptionnal, each song different...coz I don't want this to be a classic review. If I don't want this is because billy talent deserve more than that. This group is one of a kind that stands out from any other band, any other genre...Even when you're down this cd will give you enough strength to rise again. Everything in this cd is worth the pain, everything. If u have 10-15 bucks to spend and u don't know where to spend them, listen carefully cuz this cd is calling u and telling u "buy me, buy me!"
The only reproach I could make about the band is that, even if they transmit a great energy during their concerts, they sound a little wrong but that's just a minor detail.

Billy Talent has a fresh, original sound. The unusual chord patterns, tempo changes and the powerful vocals set them apart from any other atrist.

I cant wait for the new album to be released!

I do not typically like punk rock, but I am never one to pass up a new music listening experience. I stumbled upon Billy Talent quite by accident, and now I can't stop listening to the damn CD. I recently purchased BTII, and I don't like it quite as much, despite the fact that it leans more on the rock side then it does on the punk. I definitely recommend this CD to...well, anyone. If I like it, anyone can. My favorite tracks are 'The River Below' and 'Standing in the Rain' although I must say... I like every track. The vocals are unique and rejuvenating and the music is well composed. Perhaps I say this because I'm not a punk music guru... but this CD sounds refreshingly ORIGINAL to me!

When I first saw the video for Try Honesty on Fuse, I wasn't too impressed. I put it on a mix cd though and soon I played it all the time. Shortly after I bought the album and it was one of the best music purchases ever for me. Billy Talent has so much energy in every track on here that it blows away most of its competitors in music today. This truly is a talented band and hopefully they will keep this original sound going. Favorite tracks of mine include This Is How It Goes, Into The River Below, Standing In the Rain and of course Try Honesty. This debut cd is a lot like other albums in this genre only it seems fresh and original. I highly recommend checking out this cd and I don't think you will be disappointed. Honestly it is one of the best in my entire collection.

Billy Talent is a great band. i don't know if you would call it screaming. it's just great. like high pitched yelling at some parts in songs. you should listen to Billy Talent for motivation. its crazy vocals and cool fast music.

Okay so I'll start this off by admitting that I am a mainstream fan of Billy Talent. I got into them after some well-deserved heavy airplay of their single "Nothing to Lose" on Canada's Muchmusic TV station. I got into them even more after catching them at the 2005 Juno's singing "River Below" (their first big hit).

All in all Talent is different, edgy, and fun, but not in a Simple Plan kind of way (and by the way, for those of you that think pop-punk bands like SP fight with BT - I saw them hugging and being buddy-like backstage at the Juno's after Billy Talent won their first award of the night).

The group takes no prisoners with its music - you either love it or hate it. They aren't afraid to come out and just do their thing, with their hard-hitting lyrics, jabbing guitars, and lead singer Benjamin Kowalewciz's sometimes abrasive voice (which sounds similar and eerie when speaking). One of the best things about Billy Talent is they can rock, hard, and scream, loud, but you can still understand what they are saying for the most part - despite the intense vocals, you can (sort of) sing along.

"Nothing to Lose" and "River Below" are the two best-known tracks by Talent at this point, and for good reason. Both of them have excellent guitar parts, and catchy lyrics. Who knows what River Below is about -it's just good music. Nothing to Lose has an amazing video, and talks about youth suicide (with a number for suicidal teens to call at the end of the vid), and features a strong bass line reminiscent of Eminem's "Stan".

Their latest single, "Try Honesty" is another head-banging track in the vein of River Below. Other stand outs include "Lies" and "Cut the Curtains" - but altogether this album is really strong, albeit a tiny bit formulaic (The band yells some random lyric - and Benjamin comes in with some crazy catchy and strong vocal part).

Pick up this album if you are sick of the same ol', same ol' punk rock and rock rock that is out there as they guys seamlessly blend the two genres. And while I'm "Trying honesty" I have to say - Benjamin's voice is what makes these guys what they are.