United By Fate [Import]

Rival Schools | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (April 1, 2002)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Import
• Label: Universal
• ASIN: B000063S1M
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (41 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #107,231 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Travel By Telephone

2. Everything Has Its Point

3. High Acetate

4. Undercovers On

5. Good Things

6. Used For Glue

7. World Invitational

8. The Switch

9. Holding Sand

10. My Echo

11. Favorite Star

12. So Down On

13. Hooligans For Life

14. Grunge Model

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Approaching greatness, November 8, 2001

By 

punkviper (Pittsburgh, PA USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: United By Fate (Audio CD)

Walter most likely capped his indie/punk/hc hall-of-fame status back in the Quicksand days, and could have easily faded away and still have been thought of as a legend in his field. But the fact that his new group still has the same flair, shifting power, and striving nature as his previous outfits is certainly heartening.

So much good music of the last few years has been sucked into the "emo" whirlpool, resulting in a curious dilution of quality, while at the same time not really advancing any ground. But when I hear this, I hear music being done on its own terms. No self-conscious sap, no saccharine twisted love songs, no wallowing in various stages of self-pity. Just real conviction manifested in an angular power-driven sound. I really don't see too much groove-oriented material that would compare directly to Quicksand's final effort (Manic Compression) but at the same time the layers inherent in this Rival Schools effort make the music deeper and more durable to repeated listens.

The galloping yelling stride of previous days might be gone, but don't think that the fellas have gone soft yet. While the tunes might not make you wanna holler and jump, they just might make you think. Though I can't say I don't totally wish for maybe just one track of stomping beat work. But this certainly qualifies for a "Best of 2K1" list. If only bands like Rival Schools and Jets To Brazil were the rule instead of the exception to aging indie superstars.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Third time is a charm!, August 28, 2001

By 

Brently C. Davenport (Missouri City, TX United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: United By Fate (Audio CD)

Sometimes the demise of a great band is just the birth of a new one; when Quicksand called it quits (again) I thought for sure I had seen and heard the last of one of the best in the genre of what has been termed "emo-punk", "post hardcore", or "emo-pop," but ex-frontman of Quicksand Walter Schreifels must have had a backup plan. Joining forces with ex-CIV members Cache Tolman and Sammy Siegler and adding in Ian Love of Burn rounded out a fantastic cast who all bring unique flair and stylings to Rival Schools. Just like in Quicksand, Walter has written a superb album; emotional and heartfelt lyrics express gut-wrenched pain ('Undercovers On', 'Favorite Star', 'World Invitational' all standout) and yet do not browbeat the listener with trite and mundane power-pop crap (see Blink-182 for that.) I don't want to belittle or assume I have some keen insight into the lyrics, so I will spare you the requisite "I am the reviewer, let me tell you what he means" analysis. Each song has some fantastic elements: Tolman's driving bass lines with power chords from Walter and Ian, Warped-tour drumming from Sammy that drives home the feelings being pushed by the lyrics, and the pure precision of the quiet stanza-loud chorus didactic pair. I am a huge fan of Quicksand and always will be, but I think I must point out that the style started in Quicksand has been perfected here in Rival Schools. Just an opinion, but the songs feel tighter, the lyrics more full, and the music is almost unparalleled...

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Easily one of my favourite albums of all time, October 12, 2004

By 

Nicholas A. Keller (Columbus, OH USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: United By Fate (Audio CD)

I loved Walter in Quicksand and didn't expect United by Fate to be anything but extraordinary. I just got back from seeing Walking Concert in Cleveland, and I am again amazed. Definitely a good wholesome album for those of you who like good music. Walter does it again.