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The Daily OrangeNew appeal: Rise Against's newest album 'Appeal to Reason' sacrifices message for catchy sound
By Joshua Kruk
Posted: 10/9/08, 8:34 PM EST Section: Feature
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"Appeal to Reason"
70 out of 100
With a band named Rise Against, a certain edge is to be expected from the music.
But, the band's newest album, "Appeal to Reason," focuses more on catchy hooks than the call-to-arms punk anthems that first made the Chicago foursome popular.
Rise Against has long been known for its political activism. The band appeared on the "Rock Against Bush" compilation disc in 2004, and its members are proud vegans. They even endorsed an animal-friendly line of Vans shoes.
While most of the band's music is full of charging riffs and jarring political lyrics, the band's highest charting single to date is an acoustic number titled "Swing Life Away." Lyrically and musically, that song would fit right in at a senior prom.
Rise Against has always fought the balance of shouting anthems and more pop-infused-punk, with the former usually winning out. With "Appeal to Reason," the band showcases a shift in the other direction, with mixed results.
The band welcomed new guitarist Zach Blair into the fold for "Appeal to Reason." He is the fourth guitarist of the band's short career.
The album's opener "Collapse (Post Amerika)" is classic Rise Against and could easily have fit on one of the band's previous releases.
Vocalist's Tim McIlrath signature gravel-throated scream is still intact. Blair makes his presence known at approximately 2:30 into the song with a squealing, emotionally charged guitar breakdown.
Lyrically, McIlrath presents more of a general, "state of things" view as opposed to attacking specific leaders or causes.
Track two, "Long Forgotten Sons," starts out with a bouncy rhythm that feels more like pop than any sort of protest music.
The two tracks that most clearly represent the band's change are "The Dirt Whispered" and "Audience of One." If it weren't for McIlrath's distinctive voice, these songs could almost fit in the catalogs of pop punk bands like Fall Out Boy or The Academy Is...
The fifth song, "Kotov Syndrome," starts off heavy, but its catchy chorus featuring "woah- ohs" from the back up vocalists is reminiscent of AFI.
There is no need to panic for Rise Against diehards, as there are plenty of bright spots on "Appeal to Reason." Lead single "Re-Education (Through Labor)" is a stomping rocker that will energize crowds at live shows.
The most intriguing song on the new disc is "Entertainment." The song's chorus takes a shot at Hollywood and reality TV, reinforcing once again the band's strong political influences. At one point, the song takes on a playful, almost circus-like rhythm, juxtaposed with more skewering lyrics. This has shades of early System of a Down and is by far one of Rise Against's best songs to date.
While the album is far superior to most of what is labeled "punk music," in the current scene, it is not quite up to par with Rise Against standards.
jekruk@syr.edu
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