Customer Reviews

Now You See Inside

5 star:		(93)
4 star:		(40)
3 star:		(17)
2 star:		(9)
1 star:		(15)

 

 

If, like me, you heard the song 'Right Now' on your local rock station and ran right out to buy this album thinking you were getting 11 songs of Blink 182ish pop-punk, you may be disappointed. There's a lot of pop, but not much punk. The CD starts off with 2 outstanding songs, 'Politically Correct' and 'Right Now.' Both are energetic songs and display a refreshingly snotty punk attitude that could be compared with the work of Blink 182 and other similar bands. However, the following 9 tracks are somewhat generic pop songs that don't really stick with the listener when finished. I can't fault the band for their songwriting skills or musicianship; all the songs are tight and well-produced. Unfortunately, none of these 9 songs come close to the first 2 in terms of energy or originality. That's not to say this isn't a good album, though. I've listened to the CD a few times now, and it's really starting to grow on me. This band definitely has a bright future ahead of them, and I look forward to hearing how they develop their sound. At the present time, though, they have no business being categorized with Blink 182, NOFX, Green Day, etc. This CD gets 5 stars for the first 2 songs and 2 stars for songs 3-11, for a grand total of 3 Stars. Not bad for a debut album, but if you're looking for "the next Blink 182" this isn't it.

It's been getting difficult lately to find some really good alternative/rock artists, as most of the popular music out right now is either pop or hardcore. And with SR-71's first single, "Right Now", you may think this is another pop-punk band. However, all their other songs are different....their sound is more along the lines of Stroke 9 or Splender. And they pull it off VERY well. The melodies are very catchy and the whole cd tends to have a nice flowing direction that it's moving in. When the cd starts off, it's very upbeat and happy, and by the end of the album, the sound is more mellow and very soothing. All the songs are awesome, and most of them stand out very well. Also, lead singer Mitch Allan's voice is pretty amazing, as he is able to hit some really high notes, and he definitely uses that to the group's advantage, singing in that high range fairly often. My absolute favorite song on the cd has to be "Non-Toxic"....other than that, I really enjoy most of the songs equally. A couple other stand-out songs are "Empty Spaces", "Alive", "Last Man On the Moon", and "Paul McCartney", which is a very nice softer tune to end the album. So overall, this is one of the better debut albums I've heard in a while, and I'm looking forward to hearing more from these guys in the future. A definite buy if you're into the regular rock/alternative scene.

This is a very good cd. However, the whole cd is not like Right Now. Right Now is by far the best song on this cd, with Politically Correct and Paul McCartney also earning good reviews. Politically Correct and Right Now, the 1st and 2nd song on the cd, are peppy. The rest of the cd is kind of mellow. But a good mellow. All songs have a catchy chorus, but are kind of mellow. Some of the lyrics are a bit strange, take for instance:"I'm one of those things you'll save forever, but never need like an old newspaper no one has time to read." But, this is a fantastic cd, strange lyrics or not, and i do recommend getting it. However, if you're expecting a cd full of songs like Right Now, you'll be dissapointed.

I bought the SR-71 CD expecting to find another alternative rock band along the lines of Third Eye Blind or Vertical Horizon. Not only did I find that band, but I also got a CD that I haven't been able to stop listening to since I bought it. I take it everywhere, and my discman is suffering. The songs are a nice mix of typical punk/alternative (Right Now, Politically Correct), pop/rock (Fame(What she's wanting), Last Man on the Moon) to edgy and serious (What A Mess, Alive). This is a great CD, I can't say that any song on it isn't worth listening to 10 or 15 times over. If you like Third Eye Blind, Vertical Horizon, Blink 182, Goo Goo Dolls, or Nine Days, buy this CD!!

This is definitely one of the very best albums of the year. It's got a very poppy sound, but it's got some serious rock elements to it. With some jumpy rock anthems like "Politically Correct" and "Right Now" it definitley satisfies an appetite for rock, but without being overbearing. The lyrics are mostly about fitting in and the all too familiar tale of teenagers searching for relationships, while there are some hidden messages buried in certain songs (for instance, in the song "Paul McCartney", Mitch Allan throws in some little messages about Paul being dead, much like the Beatles did way back when). This CD is an excellent one for Goo Goo Dolls fans (that's why I bought it). It is very much like "Superstar Carwash". If you like that album, I suggest you pick this one up.

Just because the record companies want to make money and market all new rock bands as the next Blink 182 pop-punk band, don't blame the artist..don't be fooled by corporate packinging. This album is not about punk, it's about rock. No not N Sync or "sissy bands" or whatever those reviews were supposed to mean.. Do you like real songmanship? Storytelling meshed with harmonious vocals and craftfully constructed pop-rock songs? Do you miss incredibly talented bands like Jellyfish? Then this CD is for you. This band is influenced by the Beatles and Cheap Trick, not the Sex Pistols or whatever led to Green Day ad nauseum. Mitch Allan has a unique voice reminiscent of Andy Sturmer's (Jellyfish) that wraps around these melodies wonderfully. Live, Mitch is an entrancing frontman who makes the rock star poses believable, Jeff Reid provides great backup harmony along with the bass, Dan Garvin keeps the beat, and Mark Beauchemin is incredible to watch in action whether just running around in circles or reviving Slash guitar riffs by injecting Paradise City into Go Away. Please give this band and this album a chance...REAL music fans will NOT be disappointed.

sr-71 are a very strong band because of two factors, one the songwriting is strong, two the songs are varied, some fast,some slow, some loud, and some soft.

1.pollicially correct: great opening track,fast and ultra catchy.

2.right now: best track on album, fast, amsome guitar riff

3.what a mess: slower, murky,but very catchy

4.last man on the moon: upbeat, great chorus

5. empty spaces: great pop song,sweet and sour thing going on here.

6.another night alone: one of the best,loud

7.alive, good, but not the best

8.fame, very popy, bit too popy for me

9.go away, good tune,good verse guitar riff

10. non-toxic: very upbeat, catchy, good vocals

11. paul mccartney: slow but still good.

buy this if you like, sugarcult,blink 182,lit,less than jake, american hi-fi.

I like to think that I have a broad musical taste. I listen to everything, from crust bands like Dystopia and Anti Product, to HarDCore (Minor Threat, Dag nasty), to Emo (Braid, Casket Lottery), and even to country. But one genre that I traditionally dislike, is the whole radio friendly "pop punk" family. But one day I heard the song "Right Now" on the radio, and found myself, although ashamed, tapping my steering wheel and bobbing my head to it. Then while at a record store, I heard more of the album played, and was so impressed that I had to buy it. While it DOES have a bit of a pop-punk feel to it, especially on the first two tracks, the rest of the album has a very different feel. Still very radio friendly, but kindof cool. I'm not gonna say this was a groundbreaking album that changed my life or my personal views, like say "Feeding of the 5000" by Crass or Gorilla Biscuits' "Start Today", but its a fun album to listen to while doing something else, like typing up album reviews on amazon.com... hmm...

When I first heard the song "Right Now" by SR-71, I was assuming that they were one of the new pop-punk faces on the scene. However, that's before I took a listen to their album...there are only about 2 or 3 other songs that resemble the catchiness and attitude of the single. The rest of the CD would be categorized as just an alternative pop sound, a la Splender and Stroke 9, two bands that in my opinion generate that sound much better. I recommend that you listen to this album before considering purchasing it, and please do not be fooled into thinking that the rest of the album is similar to "Right Now."

The newly released CD "Now You See Inside" by RCA Recording Artist SR-71 is a great find. You may have heard the first single from the Baltimore, MD foursome, "Right Now" on a rock radio station near you. "Right Now" has a very upbeat, punk/alternative sound (think Blink 182), however, just when you think the entire CD is going to be all "Blink-like", you are in for a pleasant surprise. The CD runs the gamut from the punkish "Right Now" to the upbeat, pop-rockish "Man on the Moon", and "Another Night Alone", to the edgier "What a Mess", to the serious lyrics and rockin' music of "Alive", to the AMAZING power ballad "Paul McCartney" which is the last track on the CD and rightly so. The song is complete with violins, moving vocals, guitars and french horns! Lead singer, Mitch Allan, polishes off each tune on the CD, not only by writing most of them himself, but by singing each one in a unique way with much conviction. His voice is powerful, playful at times, emotional and refreshing to hear in a musical world where most lead singers don't actually SING anymore. This guy CAN SING and his voice has a very different sound to it, almost like he has an English accent with a pleasant twist. Each of the four members (all in their late 20's, with a clean cut, casual look) of the band play an instrument, including Allan, which provides each song on the CD with much musical content. The members harmonize well and provide just the right backup sound for each tune. When listening to the CD, you will surely find yourself banging your head at times, humming one of the contagious tunes to yourself or simply contemplating the meaning of some of the more serious topics. The CD is sure to bring out a pallet of emotions. The best way to describe their sound would be perhaps to take bands like REM, Blink 182, Oasis, Goo Goo Dolls,Third Eye Blind, with a little Beatles added in and toss them in a Blender, sprinkle in remnants of the 80's and 90's music sounds and TAH-DAH---SR-71 is born! There is truly not one bad song on the CD that you would want to skip past---this CD truly has it all. Start with track one and just let the CD play!