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6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Don't even waste your time reading this, go buy this cd now, July 13, 2002
A few days ago, I was flipping through my ever expanding CD collection, and came accross one of my first "emo" CD's, Save the Day's "Stay What You Are." I decided to give my old favorite a spin. Within seconds of hearing Chris Conley slowly singing, "This song will become the anthem of your underground...." to a single guitar, I quickly remembered why this album used to be my favorite.The album opens slowly with "At Your Funeral." A minute into the song the band just starts rocking out; filling you with energy and preparing you for the rest of the album. While this album is an emo classic, it's subject matter tends to stray away from the typical "the-girl-left-me-i'm-such-a-worthless-looser" type lyrics you hear on other emo albums. Yes, relationships are talked about on this album, but along with that are songs about depression, death, and anorexia. SWYA shows how much the band has matured since, "Through Being Cool," their previous, and in my opinion, better album. However, not only is this album more mature, but it's sound is more polished than on TBC. Every song on this CD is catchy and well written. Another great quality that this album possesses is the fact that you can listen to it any time of day in whatever mood your in. I disagree with those that say that STD sold out on this album. While it does have a poppier, more radio-friendly sound than their previous efforts, it proves to us that STD isn't afraid to expirament with their sound, which I believe is a quality that all bands should possess. I highly recommend buying this CD, it's worth whatever you pay for it. I guarantee that it will be in your CD player for a long time.
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8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
The Third Album, July 10, 2001
Saves the Day has risen to become one of the most popular acts on the Vagrant Records label and is headlining their Vagrant Across America summer tour. Such popularity is not a mean feat when their label-mates include the likes of punk mainstay Face to Face, and Hey Mercedes, the reconstitution of emo gods Braid. Their first album, on Equal Vision Records, `Can't Slow Down', was true to their Lifetime-esque, New Jersey roots; delivering pop-punk with heart. Their second album (the first on Vagrant), `Through Being Cool', showcased the band's more polished sound, with more hooks and lyrics that were more subtle, though they didn't lose an inch of feeling. Truth be told, they had grown up. In the time between their second and third albums, Saves the Day rode the wave of unforeseen popularity, joining several of Vagrant's summer tours and releasing an acoustic EP in the winter (`I'm Sorry I'm Leaving') that was merely a taste of what was to come.And now that sound is here. Without false modesty, Saves the Day delivers an album that actually lives up to its own hype. From the first timid notes where lead singer Chris Connelly effortlessly emotes, "This song will become the anthem of your underground," it becomes evident that this album is dependant on his voice, his words. The poetry of this album is clearly as far above `Through Being Cool' as that album was to `Can't Slow Down'. The upbeat tunes contrast heavily with the self-destructive lyrics which betray an inner fragility and sensitivity ("See You"). The stand-out track is clearly "Cars and Calories". It has a different sound from the rest of the album, which looks through a window into another's life, instead of inward. If you ever think that StD can't still rock, songs like "Certain Tragedy" recall their earlier work which is catchy and sing-a-long-able. "Freakish" is a slower, yet inexorable, rock song, and it, coupled with "As Your Ghost Takes Flight" and "Nightingale" are my favorite trio of songs, and, consecutively, make the most enjoyable part of the album. Actually, I have to admit that's a lie, because the very next song, "All I'm Losing Is Me", is just as undeniable. It's hard to decide on a "favorite song", because every single one is equally compelling. The words of "This Is Not An Exit" recall those first words, the claim to be "... the anthem of your underground" in their lyricism and harmony. Although this song makes a perfect ending to the album, StD elects to rock out with "Firefly" recalling a more pop-punk beginning. Overall, StD creates a good mixture of the emotional pop-punk that is familiar to them, and the slower, more soulful, lyrics and chords that are still uncertain. Although StD's main demographic is, of course, the young and reckless (re: high schoolers), this is album is also aimed at those young'ins who, like the band themselves, have passed through an age of rebellion and regret and have a bit more perspective. Saves the Day have truly come into their own with this album, and these words from "This Is Not An Exit" couldn't ring truer: "... you walk across the stage, take a bow, hear the applause, and as the curtain falls, just know you did it the best you knew how and you can hear them cheering now..."
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9 of 11 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Growth as a band, growth as musicians, April 16, 2002
When I gave "Stay..." my first listen I was unsure if this album made the cut as a 5 star release. And how I did try and try again to find a fault that would bring this one down to 4 stars. But, I'm glad to say there wasn't a reason for me rate Saves The Day's new album any less than a 5.Something that may suprise many older Saves The Day fans is the musical maturity heard on this album. Instead of their emo/punk sound that was common on previous releases, "Stay..." offers an alternative and emo split. I've heard many people compare the new style to Weezer, and while I don't completly agree, I can see their point, especially on the track "Certain tragedy". And, as many have said already, the lyrics are much more personal, even daring enough to step a way from the emo sound a bit. This a very rare occurance in the emo community, and as Saves The Day has proven, it's sometimes for the better. Normally I don't name my favorite songs on the album, but once in a blue moon I'll take the time to do it. The opening song "At your funeral" has stood out as my personal favorite. Not only because its a great song in general (loved the guitar work), but it hammers the point home that Saves The Day is beginning their evolution as a band. The only thing I regret is that more emo band's don't take time to do what these guys have done, and grow up. I'm not saying that other emo bands are immature, because I love my emo just as much as the next fan. What I am trying to state is growing up musically can only mean one thing, better music. Great job by Saves The Day, definetly one of the top albums of 2001.
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