Customer Reviews

Somewhere in Between

5 star:		(24)
4 star:		(9)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I know that some people will wonder what I mean when I say noise rock. Well a couple of years ago I was trying to think of a way to classify the sound of bands like Systematic, Trust Co. and Skrape. What I came up with was noise rock. Noise rock means that it is a CD that you put into the stereo for a lack of something that sounds more appealing. You play the first song and get into the album, but by the third song you are only aware that the album is still playing, but you aren't really listening to it anymore. What this does is create the feel of a good album that you can listen to from start to finish, with only a few standout tracks. It is those songs that make you pay attention again that are those standout tracks. Anyways I think that Somewhere in between is a prime example of this definition. I've had the album for a couple years now, and I drag it out from time to time, normally when I'm going to sleep or playing a videogame or something. What Systematic does to create the feel of noise rock is this, the song construction is based on a format of repetitive riffs, normally two or three chords, for the verse of the song. What this does is cause the mind to wander, granted it is still an enjoyable experience, but not memorable. However through my definition I must include these things. Often time on CDNOW I have read people make refernces to bands that don't quite fit, or saying that someone can sing, when in reality they just howl well. I can say with supreme confidence that this is an album with a definite melody and vocal talent. Some songs are more up tempo, but I would not say they have an edge. To say Systematic as edge is like saying a butter knife has edge, sure it's true (They play in drop D with some screaming, distortion, and darker subject matter) but it is skewing the common sense of the definition. The stand out tracks, or the songs that break you out of your comfort coma are "Deep colors bleed" "Pitch black" and "Thick skin". My personal favorite song on the record is "Glass jaw." If this record sounds like something you are interseted in I would suggest you sample these songs as well "dopesick" and "of a lesser god" to get a good feel for the album. I'm not sure whether or not I reccomend this album to anyone, if anything if you consider buying this album realize that it is more likely to fill a hole in your collection then become a staple of it. Thank you for your time.

At first listen (which was live), I wasn't too into this band. But then I heard them again after a little while and realized that they deliver the goods.

I am a big fan of hard rock...you don't find many "rock" bands anymore. They were either rap-rock, extreme metal etc...Systematic is just a flat out rocking band. Riffs, solos, riffs...and catchy, meaningful lyrics. Plus Narducci actually SINGS! He doesn't have to growl, and his screams are in a manner along the lines of James Hetfield...he maintains his vocal brilliance.

It is a shame more bands don't take an approach like this. Good old rock is what this world needs!

I was introduced to Systematic through a show HBO used to air that showed live shows of rock bands (can't remember the title), I was impressed so I rushed out and picked up Somewhere In Between. The best way you could describe Systematic's sound is just that of a good rock band, the riffs are heavy while the vocals are reminescent of the grunge era. The songs are nothing more than straight-forward rock anthems which is actually refreshing to hear because they do it so well. Systematic came out during a time when they really should've hit it big, their sound is radio friendly, but somehow they were looked over which is sad because they have so much more potential than most of the radio bands out right now.

Each and every song on Somewhere In Between is good, they just don't stray from the treaded path much, there's not a lot of experimentation going on. Dopesick is just an all around rock anthem, I mean it's got the great vocals, sing-a-long chorus and very good beat. Glass Jaw show a lot of depth however, and proves to be one of the CD's true highlights. Bedsores is just a classic rock song, something everyone is sure to like. The vocals show such depth and the lyrics are quite deep and I also like how the band plays throughout. Of A Lesser God is another great song with good vocal distortion and a nice chugging riff throughout. It's actually really hard to put this CD down, it's solid in every sense, but when all is said and done it feels kind of incomplete, like something is missing.

My favorite songs are Dopesick, Beginning Of The End, Glass Jaw, Bedsores, and Of A Lesser God. I think the only people who won't like this are the people who don't like rock, afterall this is good clean fun right here. Besides, this has been out for quite a while so you can probably pick it up dirt cheap, I got it cheap and it hadn't been out but maybe a month or so. If you're in the mood to listen to some good rock songs that are sure to remind you of days gone by, look no further than Systematic's Somewhere In Between.

When I first got this cd I was expecting a nu-metal band like Korn, Limp Bizkit, Linkin Park, Slipknot, or Static-X. When I got home, the first thing I did was pop this album into my cd player. Short to say, I was extremely dissapointed...something DIFFERENT? I shouldn't have been so ignorant. I listened to It maybe once or twice and I still didn't like it, so I put it in my cd case where it would begin to collect dust. 3 months later, I had gotten kinda tired of all the nu-metal and was craving something different. I put it into my cd player and it was so great and refreshing I didn't want to stop listening to it. It has almost sort of a MetallicA feel to it [I know Lars got them there record deal], but not the old stuff. The songs are extremely emotional. But I am sort of getting tired of all these new bands whos lead singers sing only about themselves [like they are that interesting]. Its not possible to listen to just one song on the cd, you must listen to the whole thing. So basically every song is good. Im saying this is a good alternative to many nu-metal bands, so if you are getting tired of all that stuff, get this cd, its not that much.

This is by far my favorite new release in quite some time. When I first purchased it I was expecting something similar to all the other bands that were out there now. Lots of production and no too much talent. I didn't like it the first time through because it wasn't at all what I expected. A few days later I accidentally put it in my car's cd player and, not knowing what it was, I was like "wow this is really good!" Now I can't get enough of it. It is definitely NOT over produced. If anything it is underproduced. That's certainly not a bad thing because every single song on here is awesome. If you're into any kind of rock music you ought to give this album a chance cause you're not gonnna be disappointed

I saw Systematic live with Godsmack a couple months back. After the show me and a friend of mine got kicked out of an off limits area 'cause we " Didn't have passes ". Systematic was out in the lobby signing autographs so we went to them and expresses how they should never require passes to get autographs. The lead singer gave us free ALL ACCESS passes. What a time. We hung out with the band until 1 in the morning. Before we left I promised I would get their cd. We'll I lived up to the promise and I wasn't let down. These guys are AWESOME. They will be at the top someday. Each song has so much intensity. My favorites are Deep Colors Bleed, Pitch Black, and Bedsores. Get the album if you're sick of rap-metal hybrids and you wish for a return of real music.

When I first started listening to this CD I must have listened to it three times in a row and was on the verge of pissing my roomates off. The songs Glassjaw, Deep Colors Bleed, and Bedsores are all incredible, with great instrumental work and a singer whose voice fits in perfectly with the musical themes. Its a relief to hear a band play hard rock without the singer having to scream his way throughout the album to make his voice fit. The rest of the CD is very enjoyable as well and there are no songs I feel a need to skip through. An extremely impressive debut and I hope that this is not their last effort.

This is an excellent Nu-Metal band's debut. Systematic is not lacking in anything that makes a great rock band. It's not overproduced, it's just right. This is no rap-metal band. They are not rap, for Tim Narducci, the lead vocalist, doesn't rap at all. They're not metal because they have a share of mellow songs (Glass Jaw, Bedsores, If Only). They're pure rock.
The best cuts are easily Beginning of the End, the title track, Glass Jaw, and If Only. Besides that, I can honestly say that all the tracks are awesome and all of them ROCK!
By all means, get this CD.

I first came to love the songs from "Somewhere In Between" from the band's demos. It took me weeks, but I found all of the songs from the band's 2 independent demo releases (Demonstration v1.0 & 2.0). I came to love the songcrafting... the attention to both the heavy and the melodic.

When I finally got an advance copy of the album, I was more than thrilled with the "finished", produced versions of several of the songs I enjoyed so much.

Systematic has a high attention to detail. While their music may not be the most technical, that doesn't mean they are not incredible musicians who know how to write songs that not only they love, but fans can truely love, both musically and lyrically. Songs like "Bedsores", "Deep Colors Bleed" and "Dopesick" show just how amazing Systematic can be.

And for all of you other fans... Tim from the band has been in contact with me for a long time now, and it seems the band is really trying something new for their new album. They have avoided the formula that so many bands have used before to make something different. New Vocal Stylings, Drum Stylings, Song Structures... the band has taken a darker mood to their music. They are trying to write something different... and instead of relying on reused song styles, are starting with what music is all about. Emotion... mood... atttitude. Expect great things from this band next year. All of you who did not, in fact, enjoy this album... you may still want to check out the bands upcoming sophmore release.... I think you'll enjoy it...

And to all of you who love this album... keep supporting the band. They appreciate you all.

To all of you who have not heard this album... pick it up. Check it out. Listen to some truely amazing Rock. Hard Rock... plain and simple.

-Skler Willett...

I don't care if you're down to your last 15 bucks and you've got to make a choice between feeding your family or purchasing this CD....you've got to get this music. You will not be disappointed. This is the best hard rock CD that I've come across since Full Devil Jacket. Trust me on this....once you've listened to this a couple of times, it won't leave your CD player.