Customer Reviews

Staring Into the Sun

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Sometimes when bands go for broader appeal, they make horrible mistakes (Celtic Frost's Cold Lake comes to mind). And then there's the case of Uniform Choice's Staring into the Sun.
UC was a full-on, straight-edge hardcore band, that fit in more with Minor Threat and Agnostic Front ... until they released this. Call me crazy, but this thing rocks. It has soul, it's about love, the songs still have a hardcore feel, but they are organized in more of a pop structure that really works (just skip over "She's Locked In"...it's the only song that really blows). It's not Blink-182 or Green Day (bands that just won't admit they're radio-pop-punk). It's just good music, and it's different. Maybe this is the album that killed UC ... but at some point, you've gotta take a chance. Listen to Avenged Sevenfold and Atreyu - do you hear hardcore melodies? Maybe they bought this album. So should you.

In the late 80's rumors began circulating that straight edge vanguards Uniform Choice were looking to cultivate a more mature, polished sound. The rumors were true; Staring Into the Sun was the result. Perhaps no other hardcore band has released a follow-up album with such a resounding THUD. Fans of hardcore and sXe music in 1988 were absolutely befuddled by this release, and rightfully so. Gone was the split-second drumming, furious guitars and straight edge anthems so brilliantly executed by Uniform Choice in its previous incarnation. In its place a bunch of guys with long hair were playing alt.rock (and only doing that half-convincingly, even if lyrically the output was still articulate and thoughtful). The sound was such a departure from earlier UC releases it became almost an overnight flop.

If you are a fan of U.C.'s "Screaming for Change", don't buy this. You'll hate it. However, if you don't like hardcore at all, this album is for you. It's almost pure rock with some alternative thrown in. It's kind of sad to see a cool band make this kind of mistake. Note: After this album came out, the U.C. was never heard from again.