Say Hello to Sunshine

Finch | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (June 7, 2005)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Drive-Thru
• ASIN: B0009MBCX8
• In-Print Editions: Audio CD  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (193 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #56,965 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Naysayers of hard rock and metal describe the genre as bordering on one-directional, when the truth is that great hard music is so much more than that. An amalgamation of jazz rhythms, emotive metal-influenced vocals and strong instrumentation happens when the genre hits it just right. Finch contained all of those elements on their much-heralded full-length, What It Is To Burn, and the result created a nearly religious fan base; expectations have been high during the three year wait for their new disc Say Hello To Sunshine. The strongest tracks on this release are ultimately are the most jagged, from the opening guttural growl of "Insomniatic Meat" to tracks like "Fireflies" and "Miro" which shows the group's emo-core colors brightly. Their whisper-to-a-scream tendencies are all over the disc, as the group moves from mixed tempos with deep howls to straight-up belted-out choruses. There is an obvious System Of A Down-meets-Linkin Park reference that also can't be ignored. The lead single, "Bitemarks and Bloodstains," is deceptive--the disc is consistently harder than this song. In fact, the whole is much stronger than the single. --Denise Sheppard

Product Description

Contains bonus UK only track 'Gak 2' --This text refers to an alternate Audio CD edition.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars How do you un-sell out?, February 22, 2006

By 

Nic - See all my reviews

This review is from: Say Hello to Sunshine (Audio CD)

Finch did the impossible. They started with a CD bursting with tracks just itching to be put on the radio, pop-punk everywhere with What It Is To Burn. The vast majority of it was an easy sell on the general public. But don't get me wrong, I'm not dissing it at all, I think it was a great CD. Then this rolls out. This is just my opinion, but I feel like this is a lot closer to what Finch really wants to sound like, as opposed to what they thought people wanted them to sound like. And I love it. I've worn out this CD and I don't plan on stopping anytime soon. Its a real shame they're now on hiatus.

26 of 32 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars My, How You've Changed!, July 12, 2005

By 

A. Estes (Maine) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Say Hello to Sunshine (Audio CD)

I was kind of suspicious when Finch pretty much vaporized in 2003, after receiving some well deserved success with "What It Is To Burn." Instead of milking the success like they could have, Finch took the high road, disappeared, and have re-emerged two years later with a brand new album, "Say Hello To Sunshine" and a brand new sound. When "What It Is To Burn" (and the EP, "Falling Into Place") came out, Finch's sound was still fresh. Not many bands at the time were doing what these guys did. Now, three years later, and you can't get away from the scene. Just like rap-metal was oversaturated five years ago, the current "screamo" scene is overflowing as well. So, you know, things had to change. Whereas their contemporaries in The Used counteracted the trend by making their follow-up album a poppier, more accessible affair, Finch toughened up and created an angsty and loud new sound for themselves.

So how does it work? Well, on one hand, it's a breath of fresh air, really. I know I'm not alone in my feelings that there are just too many boring bands doing the same boring things, and it's great that one of the pioneers of that sound are doing something to change things up. On the other hand, I really dug "old" Finch. "What It Is To Burn" wasn't perfect, but it was still a solid album that displayed both sides of Finch, agressive and sensitive. Sadly, "Say Hello To Sunshine" bares very little resemblance to the Finch you knew before. If you are familiar with "Worms Of The Earth," the b-side that appeared on 2003's "Underworld" soundtrack (and the "Atticus II" compilation), then you have a pretty good idea of what kind of sound Finch are going for here. Aside from the fact that they end up sounding like a heavy Incubus on a few songs, Finch still manage to carve out their own sound, which you have to respect.

So, the album isn't exactly as good as it could have been. A bit disappointing, but still a good listen nevertheless. Perhaps if I had never known this group before, I would have a much higher opinion of this album. But to me, it seems like they are stuck in an identity crisis. They obviously don't want to be pigeon holed or associated with a scene that will go down in flames soon enough, so I understand why they made this move. Just try to listen with an open mind, and give it a few listens to sink in as well.

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars What does this sound like - nothing else out there - and thats why its great, June 22, 2005

By 

This Is My Alternative (West Babylon, NY United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Say Hello to Sunshine (Audio CD)

Yeah, so we'll get past the obvious this doesn't sound like their last one BS. If bands put out CD's that all sounded the same, music would never evolve, it'd get boring, and people would stop listening. Finch was emo, and they obviously got bored of it. Good for them.

This review is really hard to write because typically you compare it to something else, but I am having a difficult time doing that. The guitars are full of energy on every song and the riffs are catchy as hell. Same goes for the vocals. One minute its whispers, the next minute its screaming, then its a beautiful harmony...and it all flows together so well. The melodies are anything but predictable and they are great. Some of the sounds almost have a goofy/video game type thing going for them, but its done in a good way. The best comparison I can think of is System Of A Down, which was mentioned in the main review.

Comparing it to System is probably the greatest compliment, but don't get that confused with it sounding like System of A Down. The similarities that exist are because of the uniqueness of the song structures and rhythms througout the album. With most songs, you can listen to the first 45 seconds and figure out how the rest of the song will go. You can't say that about this album. I'd say the guitars are even better than System just because they are layered with 2 different things going on at once. System has the unique time signatures and riffs, but tend to stay with a traditional alternative distortion. The guitars on this album have a very raw yet powerful sound to them....almost as if Franz Ferdinand got heavy. OK - so thats the best comparison I can come up with - System Of A Down meets Franz Ferdinand. That alone should intrigue you.

So - I found a few comparisons to help describe it, but it doesn't really do the album justice. My expectations were low because I just thought their last CD was OK and slightly generic to the genre. Then I heard this and was blown out of the water. I can't stop listening to it.

Any time I write a review its because a CD is really awesome or because its completely dissapointing. I think you can tell how I feel about this one.