Declare a New State!

The Submarines

Product Details

• Audio CD (June 20, 2006)
• Original Release Date: June 20, 2006
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Nettwerk Records
• ASIN: B000FJA9Q6
• In-Print Editions: Audio CD  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #69,670 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com
Declare a New State is the sound of a break-up. It's also the sound of a reunion. In "Clouds," former solo artist Blake Hazard (Little Airplane), the great-great granddaughter of F. Scott Fitzgerald, sings, "Tonight I won't be coming home." Then in "Hope," John Dragonetti, who used to record as Jack Drag, sings, "I should have known you were gonna drift away." The irony is that the making of their debut helped to bring the two Boston-bred, LA-based Submarines back together. Many songs were written separately and each takes the lead on different ones: Hazard on "Ready or Not," Dragonetti on "This Conversation," etc. Then, on "Peace and Hate" and "Modern Inventions," which combine Beach Boy harmonies with Eno electronics, they trade beautifully glitch-bedecked verses. Their voices are even processed so that they merge into one. Perhaps because they were reconciling while making the album, Declare a New State is neither dark nor depressing, but rather bittersweet and optimistic, an effect reinforced as much by the reflective lyrics--"We were writing songs to make ourselves feel better," Hazard has said--as the captivating instrumental choices, like Wurlitzer in "The Good Night" and viola in "Darkest Things." Significantly, the album ends with the words, "We're coming home." --Kathleen C. Fennessy

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Yeah I know 5 stars, but I really think they deserve it., August 7, 2006

By	Ninpo "Exodus" (Mississippi) - See all my reviews

The Submarines has managed to create a very beautiful and worthwile album. I stumbled upon them while looking for artists similar to Death Cab for Cutie, (I think). Apparently in the beginning stages of the album the two are separted because each song alternates between them. But towards the end of the album must've have been around the time they got back together (you can kind of tell through the lyrics) "the Good Night", "Darkest things". The album in itself seems to be an account of their relationship during the bad times and memories of the good. I'm a big fan of mellow and lyrically upbeat music, and that seems to be one of the aspects of indie music. If you're a fan of Death Cab, the Pale/Pacific, (I know that Death Cab is completely different from the Pale Pacific, but they're both really good) Dntel etc. then you're going to love this cd, if not, then there's something wrong with you (j/k), but seriously there's something wrong with you.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Run, don't walk, to get your hands on this release!, July 20, 2006

By	Kevin R. Porter "bigshouldersporter" (Benson, NC United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This album, released in the latter 1/2 of this year 2006, is destined to be one of my favorites of the year. The band, made up of husband and wife duo Jack Drag and Blake Hazard, are proprietors of very catchy hooks and melodies. Though but a duo, their sounds fill up a room, and make even hard-hearted Indie music snobs cry in their beer with their sweet lyrical tales of broken relationships and reconciliation. It's easy to find oneself listening to this on repeat.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Best 2006, July 14, 2006

By	Rachel Lynn (California) - See all my reviews

This album has already been added to my best of 2006 list. Lovely lyrics matched with enchanting melodies; you will have no problem listening to this album from beginning to end. I highly recommend.