Your Majesty

The Anniversary | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (January 22, 2002)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Vagrant Records
• ASIN: B00005Y227
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (41 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #231,229 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Smart Change of Direction into 60s pop..., March 31, 2002

By 

Alec "Alec" (Los Angeles) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Your Majesty (Audio CD)

Taking steps backwards into psychadelic rock, The Anniversary have taken steps forward since their debut cd, Designing A Nervous Breakdown, and have become an anomally on their label, Vagrant. This isn't a bad thing; it's actually the best thing that has happened in the band's short history: reverting from being in the abysmal "emo rock" catergory and writing clever and witty pop songs in the vein of Spiritualized and even the Beatles.

It's not a bad comparison, as it is: instead of reverting towards contemporary pop themes and stereotypes, the writing duo of Berwanger and Roelofs have chosen to spice it up a bit and orchestrate in a classic way: using the instruments within the band and making the most out of them. Adrianne Pope's presence on the keys gives this album a real bluesy, psychadelic vibe, while Berwanger and Roelofs trade between classic rock licks and arpeggated chords, making this 5-piece band sound larger and more vibrant than you'd expect. Songs like "Husam Husam" show their great orchestration and use of chord structures. Albeit rather tame progressions, the vocals are exceptionally interesting and harmonized perfectly.

However, the band emits the 60s swagger-rock feel with songs like "Sweet Marie" and "Crooked Crown", both of conveying this feeling that instead of listening to a reformed emo-rock band, you're listening to a coked-out John Lennon. Music like this is reinvigorating for not just the listener but for rock as a genre, bringing it back to its roots and reviving old motifs in clever and tricky new ways.

So far, one of the better releases of the year and a great change from their debut. Pick this one up and prepare to have a frolicking good time to this music. It's a great fresh thing to hear amongst the rock of today and a worthy purchase.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars glasswerk review, April 9, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: Your Majesty (Audio CD)

This is B-Unique's The Anniversary with their new LP, 'Your Majesty'. Opener 'Sweet Marie' shimmers with gleaming guitars, and the effect is doubled up by the contrast between Adrianne Pope's innocent and childlike vocals and Justin Roelofs' yearning requests. The summery pop feel of the album continues with the next couple of tracks, 'Crooked Crown' and 'Peace, Pain & Regret', although the dark subjects of the titles suggest otherwise. 'Husam Husam' is a fist clenching, rallying call, and 'The Siren Sings' is beautiful as it is melancholic. The sequence of breezy numbers continue to bounce along one after the other, with 'The Ghost Of The River' being a highlight of the record, acoustic guitars supplemented by the layers of vox and keys. The darker side of the band is revealed in 'Devil On My Side', gnarling guitars very much in the forefront. When the epic 'The Death of The King/Follow The Sun' reaches its close, the uplifting effect of the record is felt throughout. An album full of youthful assurance and exuberance, The Anniversary's joyous outlook is quite infectious.

Ricky

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars majesty indeed, January 31, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: Your Majesty (Audio CD)

this is the kind of record you will have glued to your player for weeks, and your mom and dad will wonder why your listening to "good" music for once. but don't let that comment fool you, it's just sounds like the kind of album they have not made since the 70's. seriously screw all the labels: emo, indie, pop punk... this is simply a great rock and roll record, and if it weren't for being lumped together with "emo," these guys would get alot of attention. "Your Majesty" is textured, beautiful, and plays out like a story with a hopeful ending.