Customer Reviews

Smile for Them [Vinyl]

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I am a fan. One thing that I like about this band [there are many things to like....] is that they have a unique sound all their own, always have. Yes, the songs are deep, for some too much so, intense, sure but well crafted, not too over produced. Raw yet polished. The vocals up front, the message delivered. Punchy, solid bass and drums, great guitar tones. I am a fan of Ben's voice, again, very unique. There are so many bands right now that kind of sound "the same"....it's getting tiring....Not Armor, by any means.
The "Williamsburg" video is something I recently saw on TV, I guess it is turning some heads - it's a great song...all the songs on this disc are really well done. GET IT!!! Check them out when they come to town.

Armor's third album is definitly their best effort yet. There is no central theme around the album, as in "What to do when you are dead". Howver, all of the tracks on this album are solid.

Smile for the Camera - One of the harder racking tracks on the album, catchy lyrics also.

Williamsburg - This is actually one of my least favorites of the CD. However, Armor does bust out the guitars on this track. I thought the lyrics left something to be desired.

Somebody Else's Arms - Has a dance feel to it, yet still pretty solid.

Hold the Door - The first slower song on the CD, it is also the longest. This song may start off slow, but the chorus picks up each time and the ending is interesting.

Run Right Back In - One of my favorties. The 1:57 mark is one of the better parts of the song IMO.

Snow Globe - Very short, and slow. Seems king of like a filler track that could of had some potential if Armor would have built something off of the drum cadence.

End of the World - Love the intro. The third track on the CD that rocks pretty hard. Although the lyrics don't quite mack sense sometimes.

Stars in Your Eyes - I'm torn between this track and another one as the best track. This song is just makes you bounce in your seat, and by the second listen you will be singing along word for word.

Lullaby - As one may tell from the title, it is slower. However, this song builds up to a nice payoff at the end of the song.

Chemicals - The first thing that stood out for me when I first listend to this song were the lyrics. Lyrically, this may be their best song.

My Saving Grace - This track is probably my favorite. It starts off innocent enough, yet when the chorus busts out it easily becomes my favorite track on the CD. Yet agian, the lyrics are great here.

Stand in the Spotlight - A decent song to end the album. It just seems like somehting is missing from it...

Overall, I would give this 4.5/5 stars. Armor is much more orignal than many rock bands out there. I was a little concerned when I read that they were premiering thier video on TRL. I just hope they don'e turn into every other band out there.

This CD is almost as awesome as "what to do when you're dead."
I was mildly bored by the first song, but everything else has that great armor for sleep sound. Definitely worth the $4 you can get it for on
Amazon.

The first time I heard the song Williamsburg, I was completely hooked on AFS. Don't get me wrong, their last album was a solid hard rocking emo effort but let's face it, it was hardly original. Smile for Them ups the melody, sometimes at the expense of overall heaviness their last two albums offered, but it works here. All I heard before getting this album was how unlike What to do when you are dead it is, but that's a good thing. Unless you're Blink 182, in the music industry repetition isn't always welcome. Smile For Them is the type of album that can separate Armor For Sleep from the rest of the "emo" scene much like My Chemical Romance did with the Black Parade, Paramore with Riot and Taking Back Sunday with Louder Now. I think a listener will appreciate this cd more if they keep an open mind and resist the urge to compare it to previous AFS releases. This album belongs in a category all by itself.

I hadn't heard of Armor for Sleep before but a cousin of mine mentioned them and the name stood in my head..so when I previewed this cd I automatically fell for the music. Smile for the camera is a great song. I purchased this cd and haven't been disappointed with it as of yet. I believe everyone has different tastes in music so this might not be for some people but I love Armor for Sleep..they have a sound that I am very attracted to. I have to go back and get their older albums now!!! If you buy this cd I believe you won't regret it!!

The boys in AFS didn't let pressure get to them. After releasing their breakthrough album "What To Do When You Are Dead" in 2005 and gaining about half a million fans, they kept their cool and recorded a new record that can stand along side the rest of the catalog. While it's not really a huge departure from their typical sound, there is one thing that makes it special: it's frickin' Armor For Sleep! With amazing melodies, catchy choruses, and enchanting lyrics, the band creates music that can be enjoyed by almost anyone from punks to emo kids to even the open-minded metalheads (which are few and far between). Songs like "Chemicals," "Smile For The Camera," and "My Saving Grace" prove it. Check it out if liked anything else they've done.

"Smile for them" is a solid follow-up to their "what to do when you are dead." The first five songs smoulder, then "snow globe" gets stoked. Each subsequent track keeps the fire up through "stand in the spotlight."

I don't care what anyone else says this album is great!!!! Just like all their others!....I love them....and it doesn't matter if it doesn't fit into the other stuff they write about...people change and mature and it's great to see that their music has grown with them!....Love it and would definitely recommend it to anyone who loves Armor for Sleep......AMY

Before I went and picked up "Smile For Them" by Armor For Sleep, I checked out some of the previews available on [...] and read a couple of the reviews... I was disheartened at best. But, like the good fan I am, I decided to pick up the CD anyway. I just have to say, it's ever so rewarding to be a fan. I was pleasantly surprised by this album.

Perhaps it's the lack of a central theme that could be easily picked up on in WTDWYAD, or maybe it's the somewhat new sound that's come from the band's junior effort that has made some people's opinions sway towards negative. Personally, I like the changes. The album still thrives on Ben's voice and still rocks hardcore with their unique sound. It's still the same Armor... They've just amped up a little bit. What did you expect to happen when they got a major record deal?

Smile for the Cameras (8/10) - The chorus definately shows off the "amped up" sound I referred to. Pretty decent pick to kick off the album.
Williamsburg (6/10) - Not my favorite song but still solid.
Someone Else's Arm (6/10) - Kinda sounds a lot like Williamsburg.
Hold The Door (10/10) - Favorite track. Slow verses, Amped chorus. Awesome sound.
Run Right Back In (8/10) - Much better than Williamsburg/SEA
Snow Globe (7/10) - Okay song. A little slow, but good.
End Of The World (9/10) - Very solid song. Lyrics are really good in my opinion.
Stars In Your Eyes (6/10) - Decent song, better than average chorus. "Na Na"s get kinda old.
Lullaby (10/10) - Slow but beautiful. Lyrics are amazing. Another favorite.
Chemicals (8/10) - More of the amped up goodness. Chorus is above average and the lyrics are really good.
My Saving Grace (8/10) - Beat has a remnant of the techno-ish vibe that was on Basement Ghost Singing from WTDWYAD. Chorus shows off more of the new sound found on the rest of the album.
Stand In The Spotlight (8/10) - Song starts off a little shaky, but the bridge/chorus make it a very solid closing song. Really though, Ben's voice can make any song better than it could be...

I don't know quite when it was that I got the distinct vibe this wasn't going to be my new favorite album, but it might have been around the time I heard clips of Williamsburg. As a fan of their previous albums, I decided to give them a chance anyway.

This cd really doesn't sound like Armor for Sleep. I'm not saying I need to hear about dreaming and/or dying in each of their albums, but those were themes I could associate. Alright, Smile is about material things- fame, being hip, etc. The previous two albums had things I could connect with- feeling alone, dreaming (I'm an artist so I get some of my best ideas from dreaming), loving someone without being loved in return; this one I just don't. One third of the country is made of hipsters, the second part make fun of them, and the third just don't care/know about things like that. This is an attempt to connect with the people who don't like hipsters/scene-kids. It just doesn't work for me. Other bands who tried to do that worked, here, it fails.

This sounds like it should be their first cd, or even their first cd before they decide to change their name and come out of the basement/garage.

There are a couple of good songs on it, but that is because they sound like repeats of previous songs, only second-rate. There is some good music on here, but it is either marred by bad lyrics or not being quite strong enough.

The concept doesn't even stay consistent throughout the cd. Sometimes there is mention of death/dreaming on here, but considering those were already done, it sounds misplaced and rehashed.

I love Ben's voice, but on this cd it more than once manages to come across as whiny and annoying.

From what I've read, they restarted all their studio work after LA. It's apparent they needed more time, as this cd sounds raw during a few songs, both with the music and Ben's vocals. It might not have improved the lyrics, but the music might have at least been strong enough that the lyrics could be ignored.

Hopefully with the next album AfS will return to what made them great rather than trying to befriend the kids making fun of other kids.