Customer Reviews

To Whom It May Concern

5 star:		(21)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

Splender's "Halfway Down The Sky" is easily one of the most underrated and underappreciated albums of the modern era. While they did manage some minor success with "I Think God Can Explain" and "Yeah, Whatever", but Splender still exists as a relative unknown. Still, there's no doubt in my mind that "Halfway" is a masterpiece and one of the best current examples of what rock music can be in today's era of nu-metal.

"To Whom It May Concern" is Splender's 2nd release and first under new label J Records. I've had a pre-release copy of "Whom" since early August (but still will get the release version for support's sake) and have put many hours into listening, and only one thing keeps playing in my mind - this record is outstanding. From the very first riff on the opener "Happier This Way", you can tell the record is going to be special. And it is. With standout tracks like "Happier", "But, Anyway", "Here I Am, There You Go", "No Big Deal" (the loudest song Splender has ever done), and the 1st single "Save It For Later." However, the truth is all 10 tracks on "Whom" are simply outstanding, with not a bad song in the bunch, very similar to the 13-13 effort on "Halfway". The record is unfortunately short, clocking in at around 40 minutes, but the 40 minutes contained within are 10 times better than 90% of the music put out today.

Waymon Boone's voice is outstanding as always, even more emotional than before, getting across the dark, self-depreciating lyrics penned to outstanding musical effort. Splender has talent, no question about it - way more talent than most bands in their respective musical genre.

To sum it up, don't "Save It For Later", instead run out to your local record store and buy Splender's "To Whom It May Concern" - the dead-on album of the year. While you're at it, pick up "Halfway Down The Sky" if you haven't already and prepare for 23 tracks of pure rock & roll bliss. Forget supporing mediocre bands like Creed and Nickelback and support Splender - a band that actually deserves to be one of the most popular in the world.

People waiting for a new splender cd can somewhat rejoice. Waymon Boone the singer is in a new band called Headrush. Their album will be relesed in June 2005 on Digital Musicworks International, a digital only label. check them out on purevolume.

This is by far the most talented song writing group to emerge from the crap being put out by the major labels in at least the last 8 years. Songs are well crafted, melodic, memorable, thoughtful, and the production is flawless. Raw energy mixed with control and finesse. You will not be disappointed in this album or the debut, which was also excellent. These guys should have been huge and returned the music industry to profitability and respectability. Unfortunately, the band got little support. This is the direction music should be moving in.

I have been listening to this CD for the last several months, and the more I listen to it the more impressed I am. This is a great,great,great cd. This is one of those cd's that you want to listen to every song on, where every song is incredible and quite unique, quite a diversity of style. I am very impressed - certainly one of the better recent cd's I own - ranks up there with Forty Foot Echo, Hoobastank, and a few others. Definitely worth buying. Hope to hear more from them.

After listening to "Halfway down the Sky", I just couldn`t wait for Splender to release another album. It`s always hard to follow up a superb first release, but I really think they have managed to create a classic yet again! I rate this album as a a very strong four-star.

Their first single from this album was "Save it for Later", which in my opinion is perhaps the weakest track on the entire album. Don`t get me wrong, it is still an ok song. But other songs like "But, Anyway" and the opening track "Happier this Way" is almost magical. Splender has matured from writing rather melancholic songs, into more edgier rock, an appropriate term would be "songs with an attitude". Just listen to "The Loneliest Person I Know"....wow, such sad lyrics, but with such a "happy" melody, it`s just great! That kinda runs through the entire new album....they are "Happier this Way"!!!

Given that "Halfway down the Sky was the best CD I had ever heard, I couldn't wait fot "To Whom it May Concern" to come out. Before it did, I listened to a few of their new songs and was disappointed. Nonetheless, I bought the CD and was amazed! All the songs were excellent. If you went on their site like i did and didn't really like the songs, still buy it because the sound quality is awful on their site. The only song on this album that I don't love is "But Anyway" but it sounds much better on the CD than online.

If you were a fan of songs like "Monotone", "Yeah Whatever", "I Apologize", "Wallflower", and "London" (those are my faves from HDTS) then your favorites will probably be "Good Evening", "Happier this Way", and "Save it for Later". "Good Evening" is the only song on this CD that reaches the same level of intensity as those songs previously mentioned from HDTS. Though the rest of this CD doesn't reach the same amount of energy, it has improved melodies and drumming ability.

This CD has taken a week to really grow on me, but now I think this is the 2nd best album ever recorded. Splender is amazing. If you haven't already bought this CD then do it right now!

I have had this CD for two days, and must say that if you do not own it yet, you are missing the best sophomore effort by a band that rocks as hard as Splender. I had the opportunity to hear Splender live at the House of Blues in Chicago, and three songs from this album were featured in their set.

When you first start the CD, you will be immediately drawn to the guitar riff of "Happier This Way" (the opening song of their set at HoB). But this is only the beginning of another set of songs that make this album a must have in your collection of CDs, next to "Halfway Down The Sky."

One of the things that works well for this group is the hard rocking melodies of Waymon Boone. As mentioned with "Happier," Boone knows how to drown the listener into each opening guitar riff (play "But, Anyway" and you'll soon be jamming along with the song.) One of the songs that caught my interest at the HoB performance was "Maybe Someday," which tells you how much a person will try for the affections of another, only to be shot down.

Two of the best songs on this album are featured in the last half. "Here I Am, There You Go," one of the most heart wrenching songs that Boone knows will hit you where it hurts. But then you're immediately led into "No Big Deal," and you realize how hard this band rocks. Co-written with Jonathan Svec, "No Big Deal" proves without a doubt that this band will always rock.

If this isn't enough to warrant you to order this CD, then you are going to miss out on one of the most rocking CDs in a long time. You will not want to stop playing it.

This years greatest album from a band that you've probably never heard of. This is of course they have not sold out to huge companies or the ever popular MTV. They are what a true rock band is like. Ever since their first CD came out, "Halfway Down the Sky" I was hooked as a fan. I couldn't believe how little reconition they were given for producing some of the best songs ever to grace our ears.

Most people have never heard of this group. I was introduced to the about two years ago when my friend was digging around her CD collection and found a mixed CD she got free in the mail. She gave it to me, since she knew at the time I was broke. Months later I actually listend to it. Track number 8 on the CD was Splender's "Yeah, Whatever." I remember listening to that song over and over again all day. It was so unblieveably soulful and strong that I ran out and bought the whole CD the next day (Halfway Down the Sky). That's the story on how I got hooked.

Since then, I've been counting down the days until the second CD, which has finally come out. Once again, each song was compelling and amazed me to the core. I noticed that Splender has a way of making each and every one of their songs meaningful, yet none of them are the same. You hear all these one hit wonders ::cough Sum 41 cough:: and most of the time they just attract attention for a little while. You buy their CD's and each song sounds the same. Splender is far from that. Each song tells a story and each song is unique.

If you were to ever buy a CD this year, get this one. And if you can get two, pick up their first CD, "Halfway Down the Sky." You'll be hooked as soon as you hear them.

When I heard their first album I was totally hooked. I think this album is equally great, but I am still hooked on the first one :) I don't know why they aren't very well known. They need more air time on the radio. Can't wait for the next album. If you haven't gotten any of their albums GO GET THEM!!!

if you like melodic alt rock buy this CD, you won't be dissappointed, for me it was a really pleasant surprise, the songs are top notch and the production quality is awesome, a lost gem ...