Paper Walls

Yellowcard

Product Details

• Audio CD (July 17, 2007)
• Original Release Date: July 17, 2007
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Capitol
• ASIN: B000R7I2U6
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (34 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #23,326 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Add Yellowcard to that very short list of spirited pop-punk acts that made the transition from an indie to a major label and got better in the process. The SoCal by way of Florida band's brand of strident, post-emo pop has only improved with each release, even as their sound grew more anthemic and radio-friendly (and reached double platinum status). Their first album since founding guitarist Ben Harper split the group, Paper Walls has been described by the band themselves as a sort of group therapy attempt, an effort to "tear down obstacles and heal old scars" amongst the five members. Unsurprisingly, the lyrics are direct and honest, while they've broadened their sonic palette to allow a tad more dissonance in with their urgent and propulsive pop-punk. The songs "Shadows and Regrets," "Paper Walls" and "Five Become Four" mix thoughtful lyrics with a sped-up, catchy violin in a way that's both "mature" and the ideal soundtrack to your next extreme sports adventure. --Mike McGonigal

Product Description

The album title Paper Walls comes from the song of the same name, which begins "Let's burn a hole so we can climb out of these paper walls in this empty house." It's a reference to the barriers that built up between the band members over the years and everyone's desire to tear down the obstacles and heal old scars.

"If you really love each other as much as we do, you want to knock those walls down and get back to the place where you enjoy being with each other and making music together," says Key. "The song is basically saying let’s get back out there and remember why this is important to us, why we love being on stage and why we love making records."

Album opener "The Takedown" starts with a shot – an indelible guitar hook and ferocious drums charge forth as Yellowcard's trademark mix of airtight vocal harmonies, entwined guitar lines and flourishes of violin crackle with energy. "Fighting" brings together the band's many strengths – tight, melodic, propulsive riffs gather steam before launching into an epic, undeniable chorus. And bruised but beautiful lead single "Light Up the Sky" has an even more massive payoff, its refrain won't leave your head in this lifetime, but allows for some ringing dissonance beneath it all.

Yellowcard Photos

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See all Editorial Reviews

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Their Best Effort to Date, July 17, 2007

By	Cory T. Shaeffer "HockeyFanatic" (Pittsburgh) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Not quite as poppy as "Ocean Avenue" but more fun than the dreadful follow-up "Lights and Sounds," Yellowcard's latest, "Paper Walls" delivers something for everyone. Witness the aggressive guitar intro to the track "Light Up the Sky" and it is evident that the traces of whiny emo-pop from "Lights and Sounds" are mostly gone. In its place are catchy but fast-paced melodies, riffs (yes, I said RIFFS) and harminies made complete with the occasional violin. This band seems to have remembered where they hid their guitars. Key's vocals are typically excellent, melodic with a little attitude, and most of the melodies are good. Some of the songs don't develop a catchy hook and about a third of the tracks drag a little, but when they are on their game, Yellowcard proves that they are more than just a one-hit wonder with this surprisingly solid release. The lyrics are also good, an added bonus, not to have to hear songs about breakups over and over again. Yellowcard is way more intriguing than Plain White T's, way less self-aware than FOB or My Chemical Romance, and just might score their biggest hit yet with "Paper Walls."

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Formulaic & Lackluster Effort from an Otherwise Excellent Band, August 13, 2007

By	John Dye "P1at0" (Sacramento, CA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

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Like a great many fans, I got turned on to Yellowcard with "Ocean Avenue," their first mainstream (and more accessible) album. On OA, Yellowcard showcased a tremendous range of talent, with explosive power chords, soaring emotional lyrics, manic violin, and creative musical arrangements. I also enjoyed the diverse pacing of the album, with bold and brash tunes interspersed with more mellow and thoughtful ones. In this reviewer's opinion, the last five tracks on OA, starting with "View from Heaven" and ending with "Back Home" -- with the intense homage to 9/11 "Believe" nestled right in the middle -- are just about the best five consecutive tracks on any album EVER.

Yellowcard's follow-up to OA was last year's very solid "Lights and Sounds." L&S features more polish and more political sensibility than OA, both welcome developments. The power tracks seem a bit more "wall of sound" than on OA, but the tendency to aural monotony is still broken up with alternatively paced songs like "City of Devils" and "Words, Hands, Hearts" (a retrospective rumination on 9/11).

This sets the stage for the slight disappointment of "Paper Walls," which unfortunately rarely rises above wall of sound monotony and generic formula. The two singles, "Fighting" and "Light up the Sky," are fine, I guess, but they lack the kind of passionate distinctiveness of OA. The lyrics still show spirit; Yellowcard's heart is definitely in the right place. But musically this album just seems like an afterthought to L&S -- kindof like a collection of B-sides in the same general vein. The one standout track on PW is "Shadows and Regrets," which is somewhat reminiscent of their stunning contribution to the Spiderman 2 soundtrack, "Gifts and Curses." [If you haven't heard this song, I highly recommend tracking it down.] "Dear Bobbie" is a noteworthy aural curiosity, with spoken words of reminiscence juxtaposed with a sentimental, catchy tune.

As for PW, Yellowcard fans may find enough therein to keep them satisfied. And mediocre Yellowcard is still better than 90% of most crap that people throw their money at. But I'm still waiting for them to make their next musical breakthrough -- the kind of real innovation and inspiration so intensely evident on OA.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars 3-1/2 stars -- Decent, but they're trapped against a wall, March 7, 2008

By	Anthony Rupert "shut up, Shut Up, SHUT UP!!!" (Milwaukee, WI) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

Amidst all the punk-pop that was dominating the airwaves in the early `00s (and still is) was Yellowcard, who created a classic album in Ocean Avenue. Their follow-up Lights and Sounds was also good but it appeared that the band was slowly trying to stray away from the emo sound. But it looks like they're going back to that sound on Paper Walls.

This is far from being a bad album, but the only song that really stands out is "Shadows and Regrets". The necessary acoustic songs "Dear Bobbie" and the title track are also good, though, as is "Cut Me, Mick" (the title obviously being a reference to the famous Rocky line, but the song not so much). The thing is, even though violinist Sean Mackin is still wholly present, Yellowcard somehow changed from a great band to "just another" emo band. Paper Walls is still a good album, but if you're not a big fan of Yellowcard, B.I.F.

Anthony Rupert