Customer Reviews

One for the Kids

5 star:		(101)
4 star:		(14)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

I first saw/heard Yellowcard when I clicked unknowingly on a banner on one of their websites. To my surprise, the song I downloaded was amazing (October Nights) and I immediately fell in love with this original, innovative, and just plain talented band. I say innovative and original because this band is the first (as far as I know) to implement a violin (yes, a violin!) into pop/emo punk rock. And, let me tell you, they do it well.

I got the CD and, the second I popped it into my stereo, I knew this band was for me. The CD starts off with a cool guitar melody and great guitar throughout the entire song complimented with great backing vocals. Even if this band didn't have a violinist, they would still be awesome because their guitar work itself is extraordinary. (This is found to be proven in this first track because there is no violin).

I love the song "Drifting" because his vocals sound somewhat eerie on the long, purely melodic vocal lines. The guitar fits perfectly into the structure. I love how the bass drops out with a quiet distortion guitar bridge type deal while building up between songs. This song implements the violin at about a minute thirty seconds with a harmonic riff.

As if the originality wasn't enough, Yellowcard plays an acoustic song next called "Something of Value." There's a great chorus here, "all that I needed to hear from you, something of value but something untrue..." The violinist hums (on his violin) calmly behind the acoustic. Also, great vocal abilities are displayed in this song, which just adds to make this song a great tune which is guaranteed to stick with you for at least a few minutes if not hours after listening.

"Trembling" has an eerie feel to it when the band says the first four words or so. It gets back to the driving sound displayed in the first tracks with great guitars. A great guitar solo is also played in this one.

"Sureshot" is one of the songs available for download at their mp3 site. It's a fast paced tune with more great vocals and a simply wonderful chorus. Yet again, more prowess displayed by the band with the fast guitar/violin solo riff.

The next song, "Big Apple Heartbreak," has a clean guitar riff deal during the verse which is amazing sounding. A great amount of guitar work was done on this song, just like the rest of the CD.

"Cigarette" is another calm song with an acoustic guitar (this one is fully acoustic). With more great vocal work, there is even a layered violin solo in it. I think they might have (unknowingly?) put this song right before "October Nights" to get listeners geared up and in a sense save their energy for their "single."

Ahh, finally, "October Nights." What a great song. From start to finish, the guitars, drums, violin, and vocals continue to bless my ears. Everything works perfectly together. Nothing sounds bad. I love how the violin plays while the singer sings. The lyrics are awesome "I wish the sun would hide his head so I could watch you dream some more..." This song is simply one of the best songs of all time in the pop-punk genre. From start to finish, no one can get sick of it. AMAZING.

"Rock Star Land" is a great track with awesome dual guitar soloing and awesome work all around the band, yet again. It's about California of course and the musical and lyric work in this tune are great. I love how the violin and guitars play a line dually soloing. "California...a place they said this is gold...I want to go there and never come back home" sticks in my head forever.

"For Pete's Sake" is my second favorite song on the disc. It starts out with a clean guitar only and a violin solo. I love how the guitars are chopping away while a guitar hacks out a riff. The song is fast and with simple chords after the intro. But then after the verse it goes into yet another amazing solo riff right before the chorus. The vocalist drops out with just the drums after awhile and leads into a dual guitar/violin solo into my favorite part..."woahh, you want it...woaah, you need it." I guess you would probably have to hear it but it sounds frickin amazing.

Finally, "A.W.O.L." is a slow tempo song with great vocals. They sound really good especially on the extended vocal lines.

I know this CD review might sound just TOO GOOD. But, truly, that's exactly what this CD is: GOOD. I don't give out straight tens very often. I must say, this CD is definitely one of the most innovative CDs I have ever listened to, even when discounting the violin! So, the violin adds even more innovation making it number one on my "most innovative" CD lists. Basically, this CD adds much hope to the growingly generic pop-punk scene and I recommend everyone get it. If you need a comparison to another band, I think the vocal work sounds a lot like Saves the Day. So, I guess, Saves the Day with a violinist might be somewhat accurate. Whatever the case, get the CD, I assure you will not be disappointed.
 
Overall: 10

Sound Quality: 10
Music Quality: 10
Production: 10
Originality: 10

I first heard of Yellowcard about 3 to 4 years ago. I of course, bought their CDs. First off, an overview of their style. It's some of the best rock but with a violin, which Sean Mackin plays with much talent. The lead singer, Ryan Key, has a voice that is smooth and expressive. "One for the Kids" was the second Yellowcard CD that I bought, and I personally think it's the best. I'll go through each song seperately...

Star Struck- I love the guitar at the beginning. The lyrics are very catchy. You'll be singing "But I grew up, wishing on a star..." all day long, and that's not a bad thing, either!

Drifting- It has a mellow style with lyrics about a father's regrets. At least that's how I interpret it.

Something of Value- This is probably the song that I like the least, but it is still good.

Trembling- This song is very emotional. The violin and guitar fit toghether very nicely. I think it sounds great, but it doesn't "get me" emotionally, although I have friends that it does.

Sureshot- I love the upbeat rhythm of this one! The words are great, too. It has a lot to do with being on your own.

Big Apple Heartbreak- One of my favorites on this CD. I love the way it starts in kind of slow, and then goes into the faster guitar part. The chorus and two verses are great, but my favorite part is after that. "I never wanted us to fade out, resting on a love that fell apart. Where are you? I need you. You still have, still have my heart." This part GETS me. It makes me think of my life, and the guy who has my heart. I'm sure lots of you can relate to this as well.

Cigarette- This song gets me as well. I love the acoustic sound. The words are perfect. "And I would wait for you, if you would wait for me..." I think of it as waiting for the person you love, and you're willing to wait for them to love you back.

October Nights- This song is nice and fast. More than anything else, I love the beginning. It comes in prompt and quick with "Warm October nights..."

Rock Star Land- The violin part at the beginning is GORGEOUS. I keep forgetting, but I HAVE to learn that on my violin. I like the speed transitions in this song: faster at one part, and slower at another.

For Pete's Sake- The first few times that I listened to the CD, I didn't pay too much attention to this song. But when I listened to it more carefully, I realized that it's good. The lyrics are about a fight or perhaps a breakup. This song has a great tune as well.

A.W.O.L.- This song is kind of monotonous, with basically the same tune with different words. But luckily, it's a good tune and there's somthing about the words that I can't put my finger on, but I like it.

Rough Draft- The phrase "saving the best for last" doesn't even BEGIN to describe this song! The first time I heard it, I FELT it. I listened to it about five more times in a row, and still could be amazed by it. I love the acoustic sound throughout it. The words are so... perfect for me. I can't relate most of them to my life, but somehow they still seem to be almost a part of me put into words. Everyone I've told to listen to this song just can't get enough of it, either. I've listened to it so many times, and still it sounds like the first every time.

That's the CD. I've listened to it, probably more than hundreds of times. And the songs never seem to get old or annoying. I know, everyone has their own tastes. But many people, including myself, have been absolutely enchanted by a taste of "One For the Kids" by Yellowcard.

The first time I heard Yellowcard was at a concert about 3 years ago, they were amazing and they have been one of my favorite bands since. When I told my friends about Yellowcard, they all laughed when I said that they have a violin. But after listening, they were just as amazed as I was. One for the Kids is an AMAZING album. Every song is awesome and the cd never gets old. Some of the best songs on the cd are "Rock Star Land", "Sureshot", "Starstruck", "For Pete's Sake", and my favorite is "October Nights". It is amazing that you can listen to the songs and barely hear the violin sometimes because it sounds so good with the guitars. The lead singer, Ryan, puts so much enegry into the vocals that you can't help but sing along. LP is an amazing drummer, and helps make this band sound so good.

If you like this album, then you have to see them in concert. Yellowcard is my favorite band to see live. They have tons of enegy and get the crowd into the show. Also, at every show, the violin player, Sean, does a backflip and when he hits the stage, the whole band starts rocking.

Buy this cd, you won't be disappointed.

As I read through some of these reviews, I realized I had to write my own. A lot of people are saying how Ocean Avenue is a cd you can listen to over and over, and how this one isnt.
I couldnt disagree more.

I love Ocean Avenue, dont get me wrong. But once I listened to the complex melodies, intertwining rhythms, and heatfelt lyrics in One For The Kids, I knew that this cd was going to be one of those cd's that cannot get old. I have listened to this cd probably hundreds of times, and I never get sick of it. It is so refreshing and so complicated that it feels new everytime. The complexity of the melodies is the key to this album, and thats what makes it, in my mind, one of the best albums in the past decade. Not that many people know about it, which is a real shame, because I think that this cd could have blown up the indie rock scene even more drastically than it did if the right advertising had been used.
I'm not gonna rate each track, because I honestly rarely skip any of them. Each of them has its own elements and ingrediants that make it very refreshingly original. Even the 3 acoustic tracks are all extremely unique. When you listen to this album, listen closely, and if your like I am, you are in for a real melodic treat. It isnt often that so much complexity mixes just right.
I also recommend The Underdog EP, which has fantastic layered and overlapping vocals. I hope that YC brings back a little bit of the complexity that these cds had that I felt Ocean Ave. lacked for their upcoming album.

Ok, first one thing i have to get out....ppl, it doesnt matter if u dont like the type of music, it matters if its a good album for what u want....

ok, this isnt a punk band, its classified as punk/pop (YC, blink182, NFG...etc), and for a punk/pop band, this is awesome

Personally i dont think its as good as ocean avenue, but it is still totally YC, and considering that YC rocks, this album rocks also...I would definately go out and buy this album again if i had the choice.

Overall i give it 4.5 out of 5 stars (i would give ocean avenue 5), but considering i cant do that il give it 5 also :)

For anyone who hasn't heard of Yellowcard yet what are you waiting for? YC is originally from Jacksonville, FL but now are based out of California. YC is a very original band that can't be pinned down to one genre. Most call them emo but one thing is for sure...they definitely rock. I know no other punk band that can mix violin into every song beautifully...much less one song. I recommend this CD to anyone but definitely fans of any Lobster Record band as well as Inspection 12 and Craig's Brother. Yellowcard is sure to be the next big hit.

"One for the Kids" is Yellowcard's first full length album and is a huge success. Sometimes it takes bands a couple of albums before they find their groove but this debut album is fantastic. Yellowcard offers their own variety of emo/punk and accentuate it by adding their flare with the electric violin. If you are familiar with Yellowcard's latest album "Ocean Avenue", this one has a different sound to it. It is more raw and unpolished but don't let that discourage you. Also, I'd say that "Ocean Avenue" is more in the pop-punk genre and "One for the Kids" would be better classified as emo-punk.

"One for the Kids" offers 12 great tracks (not including bonus ones) and no filler. Musically this album is tight and the vocals are great. Yellowcard keeps it pretty upbeat with their fast-paced punk. The subject matter of many of the songs deals with being a teenager/20 something year old in the southern states and discusses the usual topics such as relationships and finding your way in life.

Finally, while all of the songs are good my personal favourites are:
Struck
Sureshot
Big Apple Heartbreak
Rock Star Land

If you liked "Ocean Avenue" and want to check out their first album or you're just getting into Yellowcard, I highly recommend this album.

I can't help it, I just have to write a review. I admited that this cd was good but after listening to it some more I have realized that it's great. At first Yellowcard sounds like anyother popular emo/punk band around like New Found, The Starting Line, Sugarcult. And if that was the case then that would be fine with me cause I love those bands but Yellowcard is so much more.
The addition of a violin is amazing! It is so original but it also creats an effect that really speaks to you. There is some awesome acoustic songs and some awesome drums as well throughout the cd. And I love the lyrics in every song. Listen to October Nights and get a glimpse of what the band is all about but listen to the rest of the cd to understand the depth of their lyrics. Where did this band come from and why aren't they making it huge is all I want to know?

Nothing makes me happier than seeing bands try new things and succeed admirably. Yellowcard is one such band. While the time-tested formula for a band is vocals, guitar, bass, and drums, they've decided to add something else: a violin. And rather than try to be a gimmick band and base their music around the violin, they've done an amazing job of blending it in with the rest of the music. On most of the songs, you can't even tell it's there unless you're specifically looking for it. The presense of a violin alone makes them worthy of praise, but then you get into it, and you realize that Yellowcard has some incredible lyrics to go along with it. From lovestruck pop-punk songs such as "October Nights" and bouncy tunes like "Drifting" to acoustic ballads like "Something of Value" and "Cigarette", the lyrics are both poignant and easy to relate to. As the singer croons "All that I wanted to hear from you, something of value, but something untrue." on "Something of Value", you can't help but be reminded of long-lost loves that fed you a steady diet of false promises and lies. This quality makes this one of the best cd's I've ever bought. Highly recommended.

Yellowcard represents all that is positive in a genre associated with the likes of NFG and the Starting Line. Yellowcard stands out for their originality and just for the quality of their music. One can tell that they spent time on the album, as evidenced by the excellent lyrics and complex msuic arrangements. Many bands put together a cd every 6 months just to keep up interest, substituting quality for quantity. However, while prolific song writers, (this is already their 3rd lp)each song retains individuality and sincerity seldom heard. "One for the kids" benefits from Lobster's excellent recording quality, indeed the band has never sounded better. The tracks also boost more diversity, from bouyant power anthems, to slower paced acoustic songs. However, no matter what song, each has outstanding vocals and overall harmonies. But the thing that really sets Yellowcard apart from the rest is the fiddle. Very few bands would have to guts to attempt it, but even fewer could pull it off so effectivly. Although all tracks would be excellent in their own right, the standouts are "Starstruck", "Sureshot", "October Nights", "A.W.O.L.". These guys deserve all the sucess they receive, but hopefully their style won't change with their move to capital.