Customer Reviews

Few & Far Between

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

 

 

This is a good release by Shutdown. Heavy, straightfoward hardcore with some breakdowns and great technical playing. Lyrics are standard "don't tell me what to do" HC lyrics. Basically this record has 2 faults. The first is the production, which is overdone with vocal effects, fadeouts, etc. Roger Miret needs to stop overdoing it. Second, there are a few songs from their last EP - but they are slower on this CD, which is annoying once you have heard the EP. Anyway, for my money the first one was better despite the crappy production values, but this is still one good record.

I think we've all heard much worse music than this, but its easier to point out all the much better bands we've heard instead. Shutdown is one of those semi-posi-core youth crew bands that, although they have good intentions, sometimes tries too hard to fit the hardcore mold set up by guys like Vinnie Stigma or Raybeez. Don't get me wrong, the aforementioned hardcore pioneers are legends, and deserve their status as such, but too many bands out there aren't using the old school as a stepping stone; instead they're either forgetting the lessons the old school taught, or they're copying it all together. Shutdown belongs to the latter of the two. Good messages, simple lyrics, even simpler, more predictable music. Its not bad, not as bad as some reviewers have said, but a band that is fortunate enough to be on Victory and have the likes of Roger Miret produce their album could try a LITTLE bit harder, for originality's sake. The old school is old for a reason; its been there, done that, and had its time. I love old school Hardcore, and the lessons they've taught and the songs they've sung. But, we're in a new era--hence "new school." Things aren't, and shouldn't, sound the same as they did 20, or even 10, years ago, not by a new, younger band anyway. Shutdown has what it takes to be great hardcore, but falls short because it almost seems they want to show that old school influence, at least on this album. But hey, thats just my opinion. I could be wrong...

why do people get suckered into liking this band?i couldmaybe understand if you were 13 and this was your first taste of hardcore but if you have an iq over 40 and ears then you should not like this at all. every song is about not compromising, not compromising what? selling out straight edge? having horrible music? please please please i beg everyone to stop liking this band. there are so many better bands out there.

Shutdown are purveyors of an ultra-familiar brand of New York hardcore that=s enjoyed crossover success with the metal scene ever since the breakthrough of Biohazard in the mid-90's. AFew and Far Between@ is chock full of Acan do@ anthems designed to instigate a venue-by-venue uprising, and though in cases like these the intention is always superior to the actual message, Shutdown do manage to bring an urgent energy to their brand of sociological bravado. If there=s any liability here, it=s not the production by Roger Miret or the earnest cover of Warzone=s ADon=t Forget the Struggle, Don=t Forget the Streets@, but the straining vocals of Mark Scondotto. I=ve heard more macho hardcore screeching from the Beastie Boys camp, a statement most bands wouldn=t take as a compliment and probably shouldn=t. But at the end of the day it=s the songs that count, and on that count Shutdown prove themselves something more than armchair rebels. So as long as I don=t have to hear Scondotto=s voice demanding justice in the streets through a megaphone at three in the morning, I suppose I can manage to content myself with his crew=s recorded efforts.

When I got this I didn't hink it would be this damn good! I can't stop listening 2 it if You like "Against All Odds" then You will love this cd to Me its the 2nd best cd of the year! next to Slither by Earth Crisis GO OUT AND BUY THIS CD NOW!!!!!!