Customer Reviews

Safe From the Losing Fight

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

Ok first of all most the Kids in the Ways critics are right by saying nothing groundbreaking is done on this album. The music could be on any punk album these days. It could cover for Simple Plan, or Thursday or a variety of other bands. But that does not discourage me from enjoying this spectacular debut album. First of all I do enjoy Dave Pelsue's unique lead vocals. Where can you find vocals like his? That is one reason why I enjoy this album. Another reason I like this album is the raw intensity that is shown and that was not hidden by the producers. The intensity comes out in Dave's voice especially when he lets his emotions come out in the form of a screechy scream. This aformentioned intensity is especially shown in the closing song which is appropriately titled "The End". This song starts out as a slow song of invitation inviting those who don't know Christ's love to join Him "outside" and accept Him as their Lord and Saviour. Then the song builds up to an incredible break down where the guitars are loud and Dave is screaming his head off. The screaming is appropriate because the song's words are dealing with a very intense issue so I love how Dave shows his emotions. Another reason I love this album is that I have seen them live so I know they have an awesome live performance to back this up. Let me tell you that if you ever have a chance to see Kids in the Way live please take that chance and run with it, because you will not be disappointed. Dave is all over the place on stage and the intensity from the album is apparent even live. These guys are sincere about what they are singing aboutso give them a chance. The backing musicians do nothing spectacular and nothing groundbreaking but they do enough to cover for Dave to show off his vocal chops. I hate picking favorite songs but if I had to choose a couple I would choose the rollicking "Phoenix with a heartache" and the powerful "The End" and the angst filled "Your knife my back" which talks about the church and how we as Christians have been stabbed in the back by our supporting cast. This whole cd is good and just get past the familiar music and enjoy Dave's unique voice and the lyrics and the occasional scream. Enjoy and God bless.

On the 9th of November, 1989, the border separating Western Germany from its Soviet Eastern counterpart was destroyed symbolically ending the sovereignty of communism in the far east. Many an East German celebrated that day. It was the day that they could finally read George Orwell, watch the Manchurian Candidate, and listen to U2. Such an emotion of fist-pumping glory is somewhat akin to the first album by Nashville punks, Kids in the Way.

Kids in the Way's debut album for Flicker Records, "Safe from the Losing Fight", immediately attacks on the first, and best, track on the album, "We Are". The song lays a foundation that the rest of the album slowly but surely builds on in order to produce a cohesive set of emotional punk rock. The immediate comparison for the Kids would be the new wave of emotionally-laden pop-punk bands like Finch, Thrice, and Thursday. However, glimmers of nostalgia from the past are apparent as well. Many of the tracks contain hooks and melodies reminiscent of mid-90's punk revival albums like Offspring's "Smash". Anthemic, arena rock chorus's bring back memories of early Live material and even Bono's pre-Achtung socio-political rants as well.

Lyrically, Dave Pelsue and company fit their sound to the "T". Emotionally charged lyrics to drive emotionally charged songs to new heights of truth and conviction. Especially intriguing are the few tracks that venture into relatively new territory for Christian music such as "This Fire We Started..." and "Your Knife, My Back" which speak of the invisible church's historical problems with selfish desire and the feeling of being betrayed by a loved one, respectively.

All in all, Kids in the Way isn't exactly an acquired taste. Anyone who likes shout-along chorus and the typical punk fare will enjoy this disc. These Kids have made it clear: there is nothing you can do or say to make them go away, so we may as well join them in their way; the right way.

These guys put out 12 amazing tracks in what makes for one of the best Christian rock CD's I have ever heard. This is an amazing CD that features very strong vocals. The lead singer, Dave Pelsue is the best live performer I have ever seen. He's so intense, emotional, crazy, and energetic - and he doesn't disappoint on this CD either. The dual guitars are amazing, the bass is solid, and the drumming is fast and right on.

My favorite song is "Phoenix With a Heartache," although there isn't a bad song on the whole CD. The lyrics are very good as well. Check out the powerful lyrics to "Scars that Save," which is a song about our sinful nature and accepting God's grace daily for the numerous times we screw up: "Over and over your blood covers me. How many times will It take me to see. I am so dangerous. I am so irresponsible. Here I am, broken again, but then you show me, you're wearing the scars that save. How can you see me, as something so lovely. Cause it's killing me that you took the blame. Over and over it falls back to me. My knees hit the floor and it's easy to see. I am so arrogant. I feel so unforgivable. This is my same old song. The one where I do it all wrong. And I will try (fight) with all that I am to get it right in the end."

Besides "Scars that Save," the rest of the CD also tackles some important issues (the lyrics are available at KidsInTheWay.com). "We Are" is a call-to-arms anthem for a generation of young people who have been pushed to the side and looked past for too long. "Moving Mountains" is a praise song based on the end times when our Lord returns. "Never Say Die" is song about relationships and not giving up on them when times are trying. "Hallelujah" is a song to a friend who continues to ignore the truth and turn there back on your efforts to reach them. "Phoenix With A Heartache" is a tale of love that came to save a broken heart just in time. "Love" is a song searching to find all the things the emotion of love can be. "This Fire..." is a song about the church today and how we've screwed up the original intentions by letting our own desires get in the mix. "Stars Fall On" is a love song giving love the power to control the stars. "These Are The Days" is a song about growing up and cherishing memories and learning from the experiences. "Your Knife, My Back" is a reaction to being betrayed by a friend. "The End" is a final plea to hear the truth before it's too late.

Overall, this CD would probably fall into the hard rock genre. Even the more worshipful, reflective songs get pretty hard at times. They don't scream hardly at all, although it's sometimes hard to say how Dave Pelsue is singing. A lot of times he is pretty much yelling at the top of his lungs. Pelsue's vocals are packed with so much emotion throughout the whole CD. It gets pretty intense especially in the 9 minute, 53 second song "The End" that closes out this amazing CD. It is definitely one of the many highlights of this CD. Pelsue gets so emotional in his voice that he is almost crying at some point towards the end. Unlike most bands who sometimes put long instrumental songs at the end of a CD, this song is full of hard hitting vocals the whole way through.

Other major highlights of the album besides "Phoenix..." (which was the 2nd Christian rock single off the album) and "The End" are "Your Knife, My Back," "Hallelujah," & "Love." "Your Knife..." is an incredible hard rock song, while "Hallelujah" is a more melodic rocker with more worshipful lyrics. "Love," another great melodic rocker, happens to be a cover of Justin McRoberts from his 2002 release, Trust. While I've never heard the original, I've heard that this is an excellent cover that definitely does the original justice. More notables include the first Christian rock single, "We Are," the melodic "Moving Mountains," the hard hitting "Never Say Die," & the diverse rocker "Scars that Save." Despite the fact that these are my favorites, I'm sure everyone will have different favorites because this album is that good. While most albums have a clear seperation between the great songs and the okay songs, this album does not have that. All of the songs are on the same great level, and there really isn't much distinction between the best and the worst. Well I think you should know enough about this CD now to know that it is definitely a must-have for any fan of any kind of rock. I would advise you to get your hands on this masterpiece immediately. You won't be disappointed.

I am more of a christian heavy metal, punk and rock type of person but I really like the music that Kids in the way makes. I think that this is their way of showing their worship towards God and that if some people don't like it thats ok. I like it though and I think that they are a great band. I like their type of music and I think that they rock.

since i dont feel like typing a lot in order to convince everyone to buy this album...just go out and buy it! it will rock your socks off!

Ok These Guys Are Awesome This is nothing groundbreak yet it is great they Play a brand of Emo/Punk that is comparable to Taking Back Sunday and AFI plus add in some influences from Nirvana.Blink 182.Weezer and Sunny Day Real Estate to make it more creative yet it's nothing that hasn't been but it's worth the price and I also recomend this short list(LOL) of CD"s Anberlin-Blueprints For The Black MarketThe Beautiful Mistake-Light A Match,Blindside- Silence.Blindside-About a Burning Fire Cool Hand Luke-Wake Up O Sleeper Cool Hand Luke-Fires Of Life.Copeland- Beneath Medicine Tree,Dead Poetic-New Medicines,Demon Hunter-Self Titled,Demon Hunter-Summer of Darkness,Disciple:Back Again,East West- Hope in Anguish.Falling Up-Crashes,Further Seems Forever- Moon Is Down,Further Seems Foreve-How to Start a Fire.Holland,Holland-Photographs And Titlewaves.Kutless-Sea of Faces,Lucerin Blue-Tales of the Knife.Number One Gun-Celebrating Mistakes,Pillar-Where Do We Go From Here.Project 86-Songs to Burn Yout Bridges By,Relient K-Two Lefts Don't Make a Right,Sanctus Real-Fight the Tide,Skillet-Collide,Spoken - A Moment Of Imperfect Clarity,Staple-Staple,Subseven-Subseven:The Ep,Tree 63-The Answer to the Question,The Swift-Today.Thousand Foot Krutch-Phenomenon,12 Stones-Potter's Field,Underoath- They're Only Chasing Safety plus anything by Ace Troubleshooter and Bleach's last 2 CD's

I've only recently become a fan of Kids in the Way, but they have quickly become one of my favorite bands. Their debut cd, "Safe From The Losing Fight", is awesome. Dave Pelsue's vocals are one of the things that stands out. It's very unique and emotional. His lyrics are also very emotional and graphic, which I like because being "Christians", they are more bold than most bands out there. Some of my favorite songs are "Hallelujah", "Phoenix With A Heartache", "Stars Fall On", and "Your Knife, My Back. "Hallelujah" is probably KITW's most "spirtually open" song. The lyrics are really good and they derive the album title from this song - "If it all came down tonight, safe from the losing fight...". "Phoenix With a Heartache" really shows off Dave's emotional and powerful voice; the song is really catchy too, I've had it stuck in my head many times, but not in a bad way. "Stars Fall On" is your typical "love song" but I just really love the guitars, they sound almost "poppier" than the rest of the cd and I really like the lyrics too. I think "Your Knife, My Back" is the best song on this album. The lyrics are amazing and I love how Dave sings the chorus. All in all, this is one of my new favorite cd's and I think a lot of fans of emo/indie rock will enjoy this album.

i love this cd and it can be related to they likes of my chemical romance...unfortunately i still dont know who came out first....so one or the other is a big copy cat...yeah im done.

I bought this album without real high expectations, but even my low expectations weren't met. This album fights just to be decent. The first two songs get it going right, and the fifth song "Phoenix With a Heartache" is great, but *all* of the other songs sound the same. And I thought they were supposed to be a hard rock band. Well, if they are they need to get out and show it, cuz this cd sounds like another Christian rock band leaning way to hard on the praise and worship scene. The lead singer has a very unique voice, but I'm not exactly sure if I like it or not... and his screams sound a little to much like a squeeling pig at times. The guitar is lack luster.

If you want to get some truly unique punk-rock-hard-rock-emo check out Blindside, Anberlin, Skillet, or Showbread. This will only disappoint you if you want to listen to some quality music. If you don't care about listening to something that sounds like everything else, go ahead.

Have you ever heard of Thrice, Story Of The Year, The Used, Thursday, Taking Back Sunday and every other emo out there? If so, then Kids In The Way is nothing new. It's a good record it just sounds like everything else that is out there. I would go buy an original cd by Thursday.