Album Review
Saves The Day - Under The BoardsSaves The Day - Under The Boards

Vagrant Records are the home to many great bands with huge potential and every year the label seems to put out an outstanding album by a band whose previous album were way below average. In 2006 the label put of Senses Fail's 'Still Searching' album which totally blew me away and put the band on the journey to big things and in 2007 the label have released the 6th full length Saves The Day album 'Under The Boards' and once again this is an album I wasn’t expecting much from but it’s simply amazing and you can really tell that the band have taken time on the album and put everything they could into it.

The overall sound to 'Under The Boards' is a lot darker sounding than any previous Saves The Day releases but at the same time it continues to be bouncy poppy rock music. The album opens up with the title track 'Under The Boards' which really sets the pace for the album, Chris Conley's vocals are dark and serious sounding showing how mature the band have grown over the years. The bass line is stunning and really stands out. The album then fires straight into the upbeat bass driven 'Radio', a song that is catchy instrumentally and vocally. 'Can't Stay The Same' is a pure poppy song that follows on well from the infectious 'Radio' in a more infectious way, you will find your self bopping along to this is no time.

The album takes a slight turn to a slower track titled 'Get Fucked Up', now this is the kind of song from the title that you would expect to be either depressing or a full assault of noise, but this is Saves The Day remember and they don’t create noise for the sake of it and never go down the depression route with their sound, lyrically the song is quite depressing and is about attempting to get over someone but forever getting fucked up because you can’t get the person out of your mind, The song is mid-paced and hits all the right bits to become a classic song that you will find yourself listening to again and again.

'When Im Not There' see's the album up itself in pace once again and Chris Conley's vocals change throughout the song from being quiet sing a long vocals to fast sing a long vocals. 'Lonely Nights' is a piano driven song with the piano work really setting the mood for this song. 'Bye Bye Baby' is a really bouncy upbeat song and in my opinion the only song from the album that I’m starting to dislike due to the poppy repetitiveness.

The album finishes off with 'Woe' and 'Turning Over In My Tomb' and this is the moment the album goes extremely dark with 'Woe' sounding really heavy and hard hitting, but a bit too much like early My Chemical Romance material for my liking, whilst 'Turning Over In My Tomb' is quite a mellow yet dark themed song which finishes things off perfectly.

Towards the end of the album it turns acoustic for 'Stay' a song that is simply beautiful sounding, once again Chris Conley's vocals really make the song and he ends up singing his heart out, on what happens to be one of the albums many highlights.

'Under The Boards' is a really impressive album and if you spend time to listen to the lyrics you will realise that the album is quite a personal album for Saves the Day, and that is probably what’s helped the band in creating the album of their careers so far. The album is a mix of infectious poppy punk with some dark moods added in; most of the songs on the album are bass driven or the extremely bouncing kind. 'Under the Boards' should please the hardcore fans whilst also brining the band a whole new bunch of fans.

4/5

Review by Trigger
 Band Members
Saves The Day - Band
Chris Conley - (Vocals, Guitar)
David Soloway - (Guitar, Vocals)
Manuel Ragoonanan Carrero - (Bass)
Durijah Lang - (Drums)
 Track Listing

1. Under The Boards
2. Radio
3. Can't Stay The Same
4. Get Fucked Up
5. When I'm Not There
6. Lonely Nights
7. Bye Bye Baby
8. Stay
9. Getaway
10. Because You Are No Other
11. Kaleidoscope
12. Woe
13. Turning Over In My Tomb

 Band Related Links
Saves The Day Myspace
Saves The Day Official Website
 Review Score Code
- Top Cheese
- Brilliant
- Pretty damn good
- Ok I guess
- What Was That?