Customer Reviews

Tomorrow Come Today

5 star:		(23)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Boy Sets Fire's last release "After The Eulogy" garned itself a great deal of support from the punk scene, and solidified BSF a place in the political puck roster. Mixing a blend of hardcore, melodic punk, and plain ol' rock, it was a powerful release but after a few weeks of listening you sort of lost interest and eventually it began slipping down to the bottom of your album collection.

Several years later we now have "Tomorrow Comes Today," which blows itself onto the map as one of the strongest and most brutally powerful albums in recent years. What's so impressive about this release is that the band has managed to retain it's hard, rough, raw sound while simultaneously adopting absolutely huge volumes of melody and hook. Songs such as "Last Year's Next" (which even incorporates a brilliant piano bridge) and "Handful Of Redemption" model this extremely well. However, fans of the bands previous releases will still be pleased by tracks such as "Release The Dogs" and "Dying On Principle" which still possess their old hardcore edge. Regardless of which style of track you prefer, they are all similiar in that they surge forward with epic proportions and explode with a dynamic intensity that few bands out there today can replicate. You can't help feeling overwhelmed by this bands power.

Lyrically BSF still have a primarily political focus. However, unlike many other politically spurred bands that are popular today, BSF manages to present their ideas with a mature approach that is to be taken seriously rather than dismissed as youthful ignorance or naivity. You can tell that Nathan Gray is dead serious when he sings "And what gives us the right / to judge without reprisal / To strike retaliation / and wash our hands with blood / And who gave us the crown / to claim that we're devine / Without needed repentance / and drive them into hell"

Whether you enjoyed the band's last release, or this is your first time checking them out, "Tomorrow Comes Today" is a tremendous album that is well worth your time and money. Even if you aren't interested in the views of the band, or politics in general, this is still such a good release that you owe it to yourself to atleast take a peek. Highly recommended.

So what if this band signed up to Wind-up records with a bunch of Creed wannabes? They still kick ass. This CD proves it. Very underrated. "Handful Of Redemption", "Last Year's Nest" and "Eviction Articles" are the best songs on this great record. I bought this about 2 years ago and I have no regrets buying it. No regrets at all. This is some great hardcore for when you get tired of the metalcore scene. (Metalcore is a great genre as well, and Underoath and Avenged Sevenfold aren't that bad.) Also, as Victory records alumni, you know this will kick ass.

When the words "political" and "music" are put together, one's mind seems to unavoidably drift to bands like Rage Against the Machine and System of a Down. It's time, however, to add a new name to that short list: Boy Sets Fire. Aggressive, hard, and addicting hardcore rock, with sprinklings of punk, emo, and even maybe a little progressive all blend to form a perfect mixture of pure, sweet alternative that can't be turned down.

1. Eviction Article: (9/10) A lot of screaming, yes, but an astounding chorus saves this great opener and promises so much more.

2. Last Year's Nest: (10/10) One of the best tracks here. Hardcore-punk with a poetic chorus make this song a real highlight.

3. Full Color Guilt: (7/10) After 'Last Year's Nest,' this track is nothing spectacular. An infectuous chorus, though, no matter how you look at it. Something I like to call "filler."

4. Bathory's Sainthood: (9/10) Sounds like a slow song at first, but quickly picks up and turns into a real rocker. Awesome song, overall.

5. Dying On Principle: (7/10) Not great. The verses are annoying, and mixed with a mediocre chorus, it's nothing stunning.

6. Handful of Redemption: (10/10) A powerful, smooth song with great lyrics. If anything on this CD is "emo," this is it. One of my favorites.

7. Release the Dogs: (4/10) My least favorite song here. I can't even say I like it. It's a lot of screaming, not enough to hold my attention. Angry and aggressive, no doubt, but not my cup of tea.

8. Foundations to Burn: (8/10) Very cool, spinning intro. The chorus is a bit annoying, but overall an enjoyable song.

9. Management Vs. Labor: (9/10) Great song, all-around.

10. High-Wire Escape Artist: (7/10) More filler. I'm not a big fan of this song, the chorus is poppy and it gets on my nerves. Not as bad as 'Release the Dogs,' but nothing noteworthy is here.

11. White Wedding Dress: (11/10) Here we go. The icing on the cake. The absolute best song here. Fast, tearing, rapid and addicting, 'White Wedding Dress' is one of my all-time favorite alternative songs.

12. On In Five: (10/10) With 'White Wedding Dress' as a tough act to follow, BSF successfully "closes" the CD with a worthy song. Not too long, but just long enough, 'On In Five' is a really sweet song.

Hidden Track: (8/10) The only "ballad" BSF offers on the CD, and a great way to close it off, the hidden track is slow and almost sad. Fade out.

Overall, <Tomorrow Come Today> is an extraordinary CD from an underrecognized band. It is likely you've never heard heard a song by these guys before, and whether that's true or not, be sure to pick this CD up. It's an essential crowd-pleaser.

They've done it again. BSF are one the most inspirational bands around right now. This album is awesome. Energy, power and raw aggression but with a reason. And a healthy dose of melody and serious musical thought. Take your time with it, it's a grower. But who doesn't know that's the best way. Those albums that are instantly likeable are so rarely listenable months later. The depth of this album takes time to get through and trying to grasp every nuance in one or two helpings is never going to show you the true power of this record.
This however is what one reviewer (CHRIS) seems to have done. What's the point of reviewing albums you don't like, I've read all his reviews and they're all negative except The Get Up Kids!! Enough said, no offence. And if you will so readily take any abuse about your appalling reviews why don't you show your e-mail address clearly.
And people reading this, stop likening BSF to emo, jees! It's not the same. Dashboard, Juliana theory, etc, that's emo. True emo came from the word Emotional, and this record has it aplenty, I agree. But it does not conform to any single genre, certainly not Emo.
Luckily I think BSF have found a niche that very few bands have even been near. And they are no RATM either, that's just madness. Shoes never to be filled, and no-ones trying, especially not BSF so please stop the analogies. There's no element of the funk that RATM had, its just different. Sure the powers there and even the political agenda, which is neither here nor there, considering a vast majority of mainstream bands are Christian but we don't hear them grouped into a genre.
The political thinking behind BSF is a catalyst for the music, just like love/heartbreak (emotion)is for emo, or death is for certain types of 'death metal' (of which I am sure I am ignorant and will receive abuse for). It's just what they are most passionate about, and that makes for damn good listening-passion.
I have seen BSF three times now, in both huge venues(reading '03) and tiny ones (Brighton seafront bar!???) and every time they have got better. And upon talking with Nathan, he seems like a down to earth guy, happy to talk with the guys watching him play. An honour for me, he actually seemed a bit overwhelmed!
Anyway, a SERIOUSLY solid album if not a bit different from After the eulogy (one of the finest albums ever), but bands do that,(CHRIS), they change, otherwise they become stagnant, like some bands I could mention!
The music is different compared to In Chrysalis or This Crying....both much rawer and edgier maybe. But the cleaner sound that had been called "Nu-Metal' by certain people is their ignorant take on good production. Well done.
Songs like 'the abominations of those virtuous' and `my life in the knife trade' (after the eulogy) really stop me in my tracks sometimes and songs that stand out on TCT include 'Management vs. Labour' 'On in five' and 'foundations to burn'. and the rest as well really, Can't recommend this album enough. Awesome!! also try everything else they've done, and take your time, it's worth it.
I'll end on a quote:
"All the worst enemies are somehow always friends that used to be"
BSF 2000.

Boysetsfire is simply an artistic, agressive, perfected approach toward music... They have a range from heavy chords and screams to surprisingly talented vocals and melodic guitar and bass riffs. I saw them live in July of last year, and then i decided to pick up a copy of Tomorrow Come Today. It was addictive... I still havent gotten this out of constant rotation in my cd player. This is one band that will be around for a long time, as far as i can see. If you get the chance, see them live.

Boy Sets Fire follows up the groundbreaking 'After the Eulogy' with this very nice album. TCT is a lot harder than AtE, but this doesn't detract from the album as much as one would expect. Lead singer Nathan Gray has an an exceptional voice, and it's a pity he doesn't use it more on this album. But the harder tone is very understandable. There's a lot more anger on this album, Release the Dogs being a great example. The song is about the rollback of civil liberties accompanying the 'Patriot Act' and the bands passion for their politics shines. All in all, this is a very good album from one of the best bands out there.

This was my first BSF experience and i have to say that bsf is such a great hardcore/emo band. And they became one of my favorite bands. Especially, Nathan is the best vocalist in the emo world. He sings powerfully with huge EMOTION.

This cd is amazing, one of the few that I can listen to the whole way through. BUY IT.

4.25 stars if possible.

This is new sound for BoySetsFire. Their previous releases were more punk with a touch of hardcore/metal. This is the opposite; it has more of a hardcore/metal sound with some punk mixed in (somewhat like that of Thrice), but has more melodic parts as well. Vocalist Nathan Gray has a nice melodic voice as well as a somewhat mellow scream. This is one of those political albums that many bands are doing these days. In fact, there was a sticker on the outer wrapper that said "Wind-up Records supports the right of all artists to have their opinions heard, however the views expressed in this record are strictly those of BoySetsFire. This recording does not represent and endorsement of the content herein by Wind-up Records, its associates, affiliates, distributors, or any related party other than BoySetsFire." The CD comes with a free DVD, which is cool.
As previously stated, this is a political album. For example, the opening track, "Eviction Article", begins with a man giving what sounds like speech. He says "Who are the real patriots? Who are the real traitors? Who will stand up, who will be out new leaders? If you love this country take it back from those that would destroy it. Protest is patriotism." Some of my favorite tracks are "Last Year's Nest" (the albums first single), "High Wire Escape Artist" (featured on the DareDevil Soundtrack), and "Release The Dogs". Almost all of the lyrics on the album are political in some way, but they really make you think.
Change really is good. The new sound is great and this is a big evolutionary step for the band. This is my favorite BoySetsFire album to date. This is a must if you like old BoySetsFire, though this is different. Fans of Thrice, Atreyu, Shai Hulud, Killswitch Engage, and The Used may also enjoy this album, as far as vocals and music goes.

i have to say that i love this album. i think it's a great blend of different types of rock and with the amazing lyrics and delivery of them by nate it makes the music even more remarkable. i don't think in anyway they've gone pop at all. there's no way that mtv or anyone big would play them because they're too much against what mtv and everyone else is standing for right now. another thing other fans must remember is that they're getting older and so they'll more than likely want to slow it down a little and do more melodic things and things that are less edgy and hardcore. it's bound to happen. as for those who haven't heard of them though i say you should definatly get the album it's in no way a disappointment.