Hello Good Friend Review

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Hello Good Friend ReviewTotal Grade: 93
Vs Calendar Days: 91
The votes are in. The new CD is better than the first. Bryce very well could be on his way to becoming the next Billy Joel, assuming that his voice deepens within the next couple of years. But if you are like me, then you are looking over your shoulder to make sure no one sees you reading a review about the Rocket Summer. If you are like me, then you have been embarrassed to associate with this band since day one. And if you are like me, then you didn't look the clerk in the eye as you slid the album across the counter at the music store. You may have even tucked the case in your pocket as you walked out of the doors, making sure no one spots you with a copy of the most metro-sexual emo outfit on the market.
I over-exaggerate. But come on, not only does he sound fifteen years old, but his piano-driven dance rock ranks up there with something corporate and Mae for the competition to see who can write the cheesiest happy-go-lucky tight shirt wearing woo all of the ladies with coy lyrics and sweet, saccharine melody lines music. Yes, I said it: Coy. Basically the flaws in this album lie in the semi-predictable lyrics, although most are about his wife which I find to be a step above most emo today; and his voice is very likely to strike you the wrong way. But please don't categorize Bryce into categories like Good Charlotte or Simple Plan. He may not have much vibrato, but he sure can cover up the high notes well with those vocal stretches. I know that's just his way of making sure he can sing his notes live, but I like it and it works. Otherwise, this album is immaculately polished, the drum and guitar tracks are clear as a bell, and I was very pleased with the amount of creativity that went into these songs. I'll be more specific later, but I was shocked to read that some people out there think this album to be less creative than Calendar Days, and I am a terribly tough music critic. Simply not the case.
Some of my friends have more or less fallen off the bandwagon because they have graduated from cheerful fun music to depressing chilled out music. To you I say, I don't understand how you can drive to that stuff. If ever there was an album to serve as the driving soundtrack to your summer, this is it! Let your hands go wild all over your steering wheel, you'll be beating your air drums as hard as you can in no time, I promise. Plus Tracks 2 through 7 are a straight shot of uninterrupted addicting sing-a-long gems. Its rare to pull off a stretch where no song needs to be skipped for that long.
After meeting Bryce and seeing him shoot his confetti canon into the crowd at the high point of "skies so blue," I am pretty much sold. The kid can do no wrong. In person, Bryce is legit. He might seem a notch too happy on his albums, and he might sound a little too precious and cute when he talks, but this guy is smart. And personable. And a music prodigy. Recording every single track on every single instrument on an album with this much talent is a work to stand back and behold. The bottom line is if you aren't into dance rock or if you can't get past only superficially immature vocals, this album is not for you. So now without further a due, I present my opinions and the musical synopsis of each song.
Move: 2.5 Stars (out of 5)
It's alright. It's a predictable opener. Soft piano climbs down the chord progressions from I - vii- vi- V - IV, in a Vanessa Carlton sort of way. I was surprised by the guitars, my first impression was just the quick piano ballad that you don't exactly need to listen to. Does anyone hear him say "Dave Chapelle" somewhere in the middle section? I guess I could open the lyric book and check, but I don't want to ruin what I've got going.
I Was So Alone: 3.0 Stars
This would have been a better opener in my opinion. Here's what's creative about this song. The opening chords attempt the same I - bVI - bVII progression that turned out to be such a disaster for Mae's new album, but somehow it works here. Bryce loves the Mixolydian VII, and he uses it all over the place in this CD, but most noticeably in this song. Next, how cool is that break where he goes "hhha-a-hhha-a". Many bands forget about what they can accomplish when the cut the instruments out and rely simply on silence and your voice to produce cool effects. Nice touch. Plus if you ever need an energy pick up, say you're driving to the local rock show and you need a song to get you bouncing out of your seat, this is the one. The piano slide near the end also adds to the ingenuity here. Very nice ending.
Around the Clock: 4.0 Stars
At the beginning, I admit the vocals sort of hurt your ears. I think he just picked the wrong note to start on. But this song is a winner beyond that. First, how sweet is the drum beat. Triplets on the high-hat with a little syncopation in the bass drum. Very charming. And how about the break with the Major to Minor quarter note chords. An interesting effect, anyone with music experience can tell you. And if you haven't heard it yet, turn up your volume around 2:40 right after "I am not into that idea" to hear the barely audible "oh...". He left that little secret for his close listeners. This song is one of the best on the album, which he obviously wrote for his wife (who is a rather attractive young woman, I might add.)
I'm Doing Everything: 3.5 Stars
A very original opening guitar line. Let's see you come up with something like that, Mr. "I can't find anything creative about this album." It's hard for me to diagnose without playing, and I didn't bring my guitar with me, so you'll have to figure it out on your own. But he has plenty of flat VI's throughout, those small chromatic steps leading to the Minor center. Around 2:04 is another shining moment where he syncs up the guitar and his melody line with the "whoahs." Please don't say you wouldn't sing along here. The lyrics are way corny, unfortunately. Especially "I could go buy a ring right now, well actually I don't have any money, but that's okay because I can figure it out." Makes me cringe.
Tell Me Something Good: 4.5 Stars
I'm having a hard time deciding, but this could be my favorite song on the cd. It really impresses me, and inspires me to try to write a song as successful as this one. It's a mountain climb, really. The beat from the start is nice and smooth, with the finger snaps on two and four. He establishes his motive of "tell me something good" early, and it winds its way in and out of choruses on its way up to a climax. It's just a great melody. The guitar work around 2:00 is very Jimmy Eat World, but "easy" doesn't mean bad. The song drops and chills out at 2:30, letting you catch your breath before the quarter note crescendo climb back to the top. It delivers a ton of emotion. The ending fades down and returns to the quiet guitar strumming found at the beginning, wrapping it up nicely.
Never Knew: 4.0 Stars
I've read that this seems to be the most popular song. And its great, it is. I'm just not sure it's the best. It mainly relies on the piano, which is fine, but I give bigger points to songs orchestrated a little more interestingly. The chord progression follows a minor vi- I - ii - IV pattern, which on the fourth go around hits a major II right after the minor ii, giving you a leading tone (sharp five) back to the Minor vi. It's an interesting decision to go major, and its harder than you think to make those sorts of switches work. This song is also deceptively catchy, when you find the title of the album subtlety hidden in the chorus. Another great sing-along.
Brat Pack: 4.0 Stars
Clearly the single to be released if this ever hits radio. And it packs a punch. This is a party song, and given the right circumstances, I might try to pull it out at UVA next year. The baseline drops deep, and heavily clunks the song along for the first couple of measures. Bryce hangs on that dominant V for a good while, creating an underestimated amount of suspense. Then the "come on, oh oh, get on the floor, dance until you've got no more." It spreads like wildfire, and you know it. If you're someone who is displeased with this album, I double dog dare to you to put this song on in your room with the door closed, pump the volume, and stand motionless in the middle of your floor. It's impossible. Humans were created to dance to music like this. It's in our DNA. This is simply a case of a smart musician capitalizing on the human genome. Brilliant.
Treasure: 2.5 Stars
I don't want to spend time here. This song has its moments, but unfortunately, isn't needed very often. It's rainy day in doors sort of song. I skip it, but that's just because I'm impatient. I think it needs a maraca or a tambourine in the background or something. At least its got a solid message.
Story: 4.0 Stars
This song makes me laugh, but not AT the song. Its just funny. It doesn't seem like anything special is going on in the I-IV-V beginning. It really needed something to separate it apart from all of the other songs, so they don't start to blend together. Well, I believe it achieves that something in the chorus. Rhythms like these aren't exactly easy to come up with, and especially difficult to sing the way he does. It's a fast paced shotgun shell of lyrics that makes you want to take a deep breath before it starts, even if you are just listening. And the ending's gotta make you smile, the walkup from V- V - vi - VII - I. Cliché, but humorous.
Goodbye Waves and Driveways: 4.0 Stars
I know I keep giving songs 4's but that's because they are each deserving of high marks, but nothing masterful or...Read more›Hello Good Friend Overview

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