Categories : Music Reviews, Rock + Pop.
 |
Rating: 3/5 Released: June 27, 2006 Reviewer: David Coats |
After the runaway success of their 2003 debut, which contained several hit singles, won 2005 Juno awards for Group and Album of the Year, and established Billy Talent as the new kings of Canadian screamo/punk, the pressure was on to create an equally successful follow-up. The band has refined things a little for their second studio effort, but for the most part have adopted a philosophy of don’t fix what’s not broken.
The songs are catchier than on the debut record, but the band hasn’t really sacrificed any of their intensity, which likely can be traced back to the influence of producer Gavin Brown (Three Days Grace, Thornley). The songs themselves are generally slower (lead single ‘Devil In A Midnight Mass’ is actually about as ‘punk’ as it gets), oriented more towards rock, though songs like obvious single ‘Red Flag’ will result in a fist-pumping live performance. Lead singer Ben Kowalewicz’s ever-distinctive screaming is also used more tastefully this time. The lyrics are typically angst-ridden, focusing on subjects such as insecurity and asserting oneself; every good lyric (“Speak for yourself or they’ll speak for you”) is seemingly balanced by a clichéd one (“Baby I don’t need you / you’re fading in my rearview”). By far the deepest song is ‘Where Is The Line?’, an examination of the dangers of conformity.
Billy Talent II takes a baby step in the direction of growth. Half the songs could easily slide into heavy rotation on MuchMusic, and it’s that target audience that will make or break this record (no coincidence, then, that included is a Much truetones advertisement). If you’re eighteen you’re going to be on to something else; but if you’re between the ages of twelve and sixteen, and are looking for something that seems rebellious and communal, and that has some lyrical passion and depth, this will likely work just fine – and it’s still light years better than Simple Plan…
Buy Billy Talent II from iTunes >> 
