Paper Walls (CD/DVD) [Deluxe Edition]

Yellowcard | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (July 17, 2007)
• Original Release Date: 2007
• Number of Discs: 2
• Format: Deluxe Edition
• Label: Capitol
• ASIN: B000R7I2UG
• In-Print Editions: Audio CD  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (41 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #151,731 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. The Takedown

2. Fighting

3. Shrink the World

4. Keeper

5. Light Up the Sky

6. Shadows and Regrets

7. Five Becomes Four

8. Afraid

9. Date Line (I Am Gone)

10. Dear Bobbie

11. You and Me and One Spotlight

12. Cut Me, Mick

13. Paper Walls

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Add Yellowcard to that very short list of spirited pop-punk acts that made the transition from an indie to a major label and got better in the process. The SoCal by way of Florida band's brand of strident, post-emo pop has only improved with each release, even as their sound grew more anthemic and radio-friendly (and reached double platinum status). Their first album since founding guitarist Ben Harper split the group, Paper Walls has been described by the band themselves as a sort of group therapy attempt, an effort to "tear down obstacles and heal old scars" amongst the five members. Unsurprisingly, the lyrics are direct and honest, while they've broadened their sonic palette to allow a tad more dissonance in with their urgent and propulsive pop-punk. The songs "Shadows and Regrets," "Paper Walls" and "Five Become Four" mix thoughtful lyrics with a sped-up, catchy violin in a way that's both "mature" and the ideal soundtrack to your next extreme sports adventure. --Mike McGonigal

Product Description

The album title Paper Walls comes from the song of the same name, which begins "Let's burn a hole so we can climb out of these paper walls in this empty house." It's a reference to the barriers that built up between the band members over the years and everyone's desire to tear down the obstacles and heal old scars.

"If you really love each other as much as we do, you want to knock those walls down and get back to the place where you enjoy being with each other and making music together," says Key. "The song is basically saying let’s get back out there and remember why this is important to us, why we love being on stage and why we love making records."

Album opener "The Takedown" starts with a shot – an indelible guitar hook and ferocious drums charge forth as Yellowcard's trademark mix of airtight vocal harmonies, entwined guitar lines and flourishes of violin crackle with energy. "Fighting" brings together the band's many strengths – tight, melodic, propulsive riffs gather steam before launching into an epic, undeniable chorus. And bruised but beautiful lead single "Light Up the Sky" has an even more massive payoff, its refrain won't leave your head in this lifetime, but allows for some ringing dissonance beneath it all.

Deluxe CD/DVD contains: Making of the album, making of the video, 2 bonus audio tracks and photo gallery.

Yellowcard Photos

More from Yellowcard

Ocean Avenue

Lights and Sounds

Beyond Ocean Avenue DVD

See all Editorial Reviews

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Their Best Effort to Date, July 17, 2007

By 

Cory T. Shaeffer "HockeyFanatic" (Pittsburgh) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Paper Walls (Audio CD)

Not quite as poppy as "Ocean Avenue" but more fun than the dreadful follow-up "Lights and Sounds," Yellowcard's latest, "Paper Walls" delivers something for everyone. Witness the aggressive guitar intro to the track "Light Up the Sky" and it is evident that the traces of whiny emo-pop from "Lights and Sounds" are mostly gone. In its place are catchy but fast-paced melodies, riffs (yes, I said RIFFS) and harminies made complete with the occasional violin. This band seems to have remembered where they hid their guitars. Key's vocals are typically excellent, melodic with a little attitude, and most of the melodies are good. Some of the songs don't develop a catchy hook and about a third of the tracks drag a little, but when they are on their game, Yellowcard proves that they are more than just a one-hit wonder with this surprisingly solid release. The lyrics are also good, an added bonus, not to have to hear songs about breakups over and over again. Yellowcard is way more intriguing than Plain White T's, way less self-aware than FOB or My Chemical Romance, and just might score their biggest hit yet with "Paper Walls."

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Well done pop/rock CD, even if a couple too many sound-alike tunes, March 21, 2010

By 

Padraic (East Lansing, MI) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Paper Walls (Audio CD)

Cory - I agree this is a better album ... "Dear Bobbie" is a great, acoustic ballady song, with almost a rockabilly beat, to it ... tells a good story, and the singer sings it in a melodic, strong voice. Some the tracks sound kind of alike, with that fast pop-punk sort of rhythm going ... "Keeper" is the track I really like on this. Has a great chorus, and a verse-to-chorus symbiosis about it that is the way a song is supposed to be done.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Awesome, July 18, 2007

By 

V. Lara "VeeTor" (Coral Springs, FLORIDA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Paper Walls (CD/DVD) (Audio CD)

Really great album mixing the best traits of the last two. It has the fun/funkyness of Ocean Avenue with the deeper and edgier sound of Lights And Sounds. Definitely a recomendation for anyone who's ever liked any of their songs.