Customer Reviews

Collection of Short Stories

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Let me start off by saying I'm a huge Drive-Thru fan. Years ago I got hooked on the label because of acts such as New Found Glory, The Starting Line and Something Corporate... I eagerly anticipated each acts new releases and was hardly ever disappointed. Well that was years ago and unfortunately the label has digressed in recent memory. While releases such as "Life in Dreaming" by Hidden in Plain View and "Based on a True Story" by The Starting Line were good albums, neither lacked the lasting affects of previous Drive-Thru recordings. Combine that with Something Corporate frontman Andrew McMahon being diagnosed with luekemia, it grave a dim outlook for the future of Drive-Thru with no top acts ready to lead the label.

One day I checked out the web site and saw the advertisement for Houston Calls debut CD and immediatly thought of Starting Lines "Say It Like You Mean It" (to me one of the best pop-punk/emo recordings in the last decade). When I picked up the CD and began listening to it, I was thrilled to have a new drive thru CD that sounded like their classic releases, but at the same time disappointed there wasn't more to the CD.

I have to agree with most other reviews of this that a lot of the songs sound alike. Tracks (1,2,6,8,and 10) all have a similar arrangement that disappointed me in the beginning. The only reason I kept listening to the CD are because the other tracks stood out as excellent songs in my mind. Track 3 "Bob and Bonnie" is a new twist of writing a love song, telling a story of two unknown strangers falling for each other. While a ballad by lyrical content, the sound is much more fast paced that keeps you enjoying the message. Track 4 "Elephant and Castle" has an excellent guitar setting to the song and takes you through the story of a girl moving on from her hometown to chase a dream (this is one of those rare CDs where the title of the album defines what its about... all the tracks are their own story as one can clearly see). Just a great rock song. Track 5 "Amtrek Is For Lovers" is one of my favorite songs in recent memory. A true ballad, the chorus of "No joke... she say's I'll leave you. I never meant to treat you like this, I can't believe it. I'll give you three more chances then I'm gone for good. He swears... he's really worth it. Can't have time to show it, this routine is over as he says to her, it hits her like a ton of bricks." will have you rewinding the track over and over. The drum beat and guitar rhythms to go along this song are perfect, truly a special recording. Track 9 "A Line In The Sand" is a fast paced song of moving on. Definatly a rock song... the lyrics are repeated through most of the song, which is disappointing to someone like me who loves a good lyric more then anything else, but the chorus is excellent and the instruments carry this edgy anthem of lost love and anger. The CD concludes with track 11 "The Better Part of Valor" (seriously, what a great title for a track!). Took awhile for me to like this track for some reason, but now its one of my favorite. Lyrics are excellent "... if you still have a heart to steal then I'll steal it from you." and the drum beat is superbe. Although this track will sound alot like other bands (reminds me of Anberlin's "Paperthin Hymn" which is an awesome song and even better band), it differs from what the rest of "Short Stories" sounds like.

Yes a good amount of the tracks sound alike, but please don't think they are by any means bad tracks. They are poppy and upbeat, just repititious. I wanted to give this album 5 starts because the standout songs are so excellent in my opinion, but I simply can't because of the repitition. For the Drive Thru label though, this CD gives hope to their die hard fans that the label is returning to push out CDs that made them an icon before.

All new songs on this debut CD from Houston Calls provides a fresh sound. Great drum work by Josh Grigsby on all the tracks! This is a must have if you want in on the ground floor of this up and coming group. Houston Calls rules!!

Ok so, I found Houston Calls on myspace. Listened to them and I fell in love with the music. So I of course couldn't not buy the cd. I even recorded a song of theirs for my ringtone. Also why buy a brand new cd if you can buy a used one in perfect condition? Since I don't really have a job this made it easier for me to get the cd. This band just has remarkable talent. If amazon has the cd I want it's where I buy it.

The record company who produced this band is SMART! I heard the song "Bob and Bonnie" on a demo CD that was included in some magazine I bought, and liked that song so much I bought the CD. I have found EVEN MORE incredible songs on the whole CD. I like every song...a lot! I ripped all the songs to my PC and listen while working in my home office. Then, when I go out, I have the CD in the car and jam while going down the road. There are no favorites...they're all awesome! I will say that "A Pen and a Piece of Mind" is a real standout, however. I love the synth work toward the song's end. I can't wait for them to put out another CD. I have high hopes that they can keep up the great story-telling and pop-rock sound. It really is one of the best CDs I've heard in a VERY LONG time. I was in high school in the 80's, so I'm a "pop-rock-music expert", and these guys truly rock. The songs, instrumentally, are complex, and the lyrics are intelligent and express things we can all relate to. All in all, an absolutely fantastic, fun, upbeat album that will have you movin' and grovin' throughout whatever it is you have to do that day. They remind me of Third Eye Blind without the edgy moodiness. As sung in the first song on the disc "Sunrise Goodbyes"...the music moves you like good poetry! Don't miss this CD...it will boost your mood and have you enjoying the pure gift of music again!

I'm an avid Drive Thru Records/Rushmore Records fan so I pretty much like all their bands, but this CD really stands out as one of their best releases. The whole CD has a great variety of sound: great harmonies, synthesizer effects, guitar work, etc... It's like a collaberation of all the good things of bands like Bouncing Souls, Hellogoodbye, Bottom Line all mixed into one cornucopia of delight for the ears.

Usually I listen to a CD once and then change it to another one, but this one has been played 7 or 8 times and hasn't been taken out of my player until today. Do NOT hesitate to buy this CD if you like any of the bands mentioned previously! Another idea is to go listen to some singles on purevolume.com as well, that's where I heard them for the first time!

randomly decided to check out what rating this awesome band got, and only a 4?? theyre definitely a 5!
their sound is really unique, and their songs are really good. exit,emergency is my favorite song on the entire album, sunrise goodbyes is really really good, bob and bonnie is such a sweet song and one of my favs also, one more won't hurt is definitely one of my favorites, basically all the songs are all really unique and sOOO good. houston calls has been one of my favorite bands ever since they came out

"Pancake Repair Man" is like that guy at a party who gets in your face and talks to you with turd on his breathe. You know the guy; won't shut up, talks s**t (so to speak), and really does nothing except turn you off. Please don't listen to him, as it will only further your misinformation about an awesome band.

Although I will admit the HC doesn't do anything out of the box, they still do pop-rock better than 80% of what's out there. Their knack from writing infectious, over the top pop songs is nearly perfected on this 11 track collection (of short stories), and the flawless production is also a nice touch. Led by the single "exit, emergency", "collection" is one of the best summer records I've heard since NFG's "sticks and stones". Each song is as good as the next, and unlike so many CD's where you have to skip tracks, "collection" is killer the whole way through.

I love pop-rock, but there hasn't really been anything coming out to make me excited for the genre again. Houston Calls' "a collection of short stories" has been shi*ting all over my other CD's, and if ever there was a pop record to restore your faith, this would be it.

Anything less than 5 stars just wouldn't be fair.

The debut CD by Houston Calls is AMAZING. It hasnt left my player since I bought it. They are definitely going to be a band that gets really huge, really fast...Check this cd out! In my opinion its one of the best cds of 2005.

First off, this album is definately worth the money. All of the songs are good, and the band plays them really well. Also, considering they're a newer band, the production is pretty much flawless (at times maybe a little over-produced). So why four stars instead of five? Because just because the songs are good doesn't mean that they're original. While the lyrics are well written so that they are good to listen to, the subject matter is the same old thing. The use of some piano and some actual guitar playing (can actually hear 2 distinct guitar parts)helps keep things interesting. So should you buy this CD? If you like The All-American Rejects, Motion City Soundtrack, and The Starting Line then you really should. If thats not what you're into its a bit more of a risk but it was worthwhile for me since I like a lot of heavier music.

Houston calls is a pretty good band, and this cd is pretty alright too, but it isn't worth more than 3 stars. Alot of the songs tend to sound the same, and the lead singer has kind of an annoying voice. "exit emergency" and "Bob and Bonnie" are the standouts here. If they'd take a few more chances and mix it up a little bit, houston calls would be one of the best bands out there. they have the potential, they just need to take some more chances. This one's only for avid DTR fans.