- Artists:
- Billy Talent »
- Label:
- Atlantic »
Whilst playing Guitar Hero for the first time last week, I suddenly became overwhelmed by a unyielding sense of shame. I said to myself: "I am a twenty five year old man pretending to play a plastic guitar." During a struggle through ‘Misery Business’ by Paramore I thought, "well I suppose at least I’m not in a band playing this pop-punk shit live. Wouldn’t it be embarrassing to be in my 20s and earnestly sing songs about how much I want to feed Robert Pattinson my filthy pretzel?"
Billy Talent have been chasing the game since the mid Nineties, though back then they were attempting to ape such luminaries as Sublime, No Doubt and The Mighty Mighty Bosstones by playing a horrific brand of ska under the name of Pezz. The band we know today came about via a combination of legal action forcing them to change their horrific candy-coated moniker, and a sudden moment of realisation whilst sitting in their trailer park homes watching bands like The Offspring and Green Day explode on MTV, leading to an abandonment of ska and a boarding of the pop punk bandwagon.
Massively popular in their native Canada, mildly so everywhere else, Billy Talent’s impressive ability to sell records to the boys and girls of The True North strong and free has produced what you might call a ‘Celine Dion effect’ where enough cash money has allowed the Canadians to spread their muck far and wide.
If you look at the much maligned genre of pop punk you will see how the most successful bands have evolved to attract a new audience, developing their sound, building ambitiously from a limited template. Green Day went from singing three minute songs about wanking to rock opera’s detailing the alienation of America’s Youth, and still they only used three chords!
The cringe-worthy cod politics of ‘Turn Your Back’ and ‘Rusted From The Rain’ - with a sort of Soundgarden drowsy grunge feel - were uneventful singles. They set up the downfall of Billy Talent III, an unfocussed and erratic album. For those who haven’t heard BT, be prepared as the vocals of Benjamin Kowalewicz are likely to annoy. How to describe it? Well it is certainly a divisive vocal style, imagine Johnny Rotten intaking a gob full of helium and then getting his head put in a vice Joe Pesci from Casino stylee… in front of a microphone.
To flip the title of a well known album from their fellow Canadians Sum 41, this album is All Filler No Killer. Tracks like ‘Diamond On A Landmine’ and ‘Tears Into Wine’ are atrociously bad efforts, the weight of average songs make Billy Talent III a distended listen, the lack of variety means the album becomes torrid and ill thought out, with no pacing whatsoever.
Brendan O’Brien’s production gives the record a polished sound, but musically Billy Talent III is not substantial; O’Brien is used to working with mainstream heavyweights that are at least a little bit diverse, but Billy Talent are completely one dimensional. To be somewhat kind, there are odd glimmers of hope; the neat bass heavy opening of ‘Saint Veronika’ allows the track to leap from the speakers but all too often it’s the same repeated guitar interspersed with brief impotent riffs. Even the band's usual trump card, the call and response harmonies between Kowalewicz and guitarist Ian D'Sa are barely in evidence.
Billy Talent are banal revivalists unsure of who they are, but making a living churning out a pale imitation of what is neither punk nor rock. They aren’t the only ones, but the fact that they can make the same sounding record three times suggest they are careerists riding the fuse until it blows. Ridiculing the band's own influences, they are Refused without the admirable political rhetoric, Fugazi without the ethics and the awareness of the wider scene, the Buzzcocks without the cheek. The intensity on Billy Talent III feels the same as the intensity of the band's live show, awkwardly forced and absolutely repellent.
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Billy Talent
Sigh
I sort of liked their first album, though possibly it was just Stockholm Syndrome bought about by watching too much Much Music
i quite like their last one
i've heard a few bad points about this album, but starting from a viewpoint of, "well I suppose at least I’m not in a band playing this pop-punk shit live", it's fairly clear that you aren't a massive fan of pop punk, so this is perhaps an overly critical review.
Try Honesty
was a chune!
Try Honesty
was a chune!
On the contrary
I had a soft spot for the band's first self titled release. And the genre of pop-punk has always had a place in my heart, Asian Man Records, Drive-Thru and Fat Wreck Chords provided the soundtrack to my teens.
Bad review
Why write a review for a band on a genre you don't like? Biased from the start and massively exagerrated - it's not 2/10. It's no progression from the first two albums - the same tricks are used. Two outstanding tracks - opening track and Saint Veronica. 6/10 overall.
Ok, as I mentioned in the review
progression is key for pop-punk bands. Look at how Brand New evolved from Your Favorite Weapon to The Devil and God Are Raging Inside Me. Getting serious or maturing can veer from cutting out the references to sex toys ala Blink 182, or getting heavier as for example Propagandhi have done. Billy Talent have spectacularly flatlined on this album, hence the low score.
meh.
not a very well throught out review. the musical progression is maybe not overwhelmingly evident as their first three albums are a trilogy. they write some outstanding catchy singles and the guitarist has a very unique sound and style for the genre.
good point
Ok, I get you Rich
Why was this album ever reviewed?
It seems like everyone would just know that it's terrible inherently.
I disagree
I like Billy Talent, always have, probably always will, they'll never top their first album. The second album had quite a few good songs on it and so does this. Not masterpieces, but I definately agree with the statement above that Billy Talent have their own sound and style. I'd give the album a 6 myself.
Poor album
I wouldn't say it's 2/10 but it's pretty dull. The second wasn't up to much either, but the first album is pretty much perfect for what it is.
Knew the score before I even opened the review
Utterly predictable review from DiS. As soon as anything wavers from underground indie/experiemental with a bit of reverb, it's shit.
Or maybe
it's just rubbish.
I kinda liked that song
called White Flag, or Red Flag. Something like that. Even though it is clearly complete shit.
i agree
witht he majority that the first album was good and that will never be topped. Does seem like they have severely fallen for grace with their ideas as well.
fuck everyone billy talent are good!
this album is not 2/10! why would we want BT to change their sound? it's distinctive...they did spend years developing before the first album was released...ska to punk not a big enough change for you?!
Standing in the rain
is a great song.
Sanity
Every single review is subjective, I hope we're all intelligent enough to realize that. The one above is about as subjective as they come. Clearly not a fan of Billy Talent, nor their genre (which no one can exactly specify for me -- which is awesome?). But that's okay. You do not need to be a fan to write a review, but to those who read any such review... Beware: Your writer is completely biased. Next... For me, anyway, in order to review a band's album, you must see them live... At least once. The only reason I find this to be relevant, especially in Billy Talent's case, is that upon seeing this band live, the majority of people change their opinion for the better (through my experience). This applies to those who claim this band has no talent. They out-preform thousands of bands out there today. You really do not need to know the music or lyrics to enjoy their show. The energy, the atmosphere is addictive yet uncomfortable and raw. Now as for III, granted, there are some mis-cues in this album. Some lyrics may be labelled 'lame' or 'laughable', but how is that any different than the other albums? May I remind you of Nothing to Lose from 'Billy Talent' - "... Now I've become lifeless just like my telephone..." A few odd lyrics and the rest of the album is no good? Please... III is no II, nor is it Billy Talent but it's a masterfully done album. Tracks like Devil on My Shoulder show the improvement of Ben's voice while Ian continues to impresss with his guitar skills. Sure it sounds similar --- IT'S SUPPOSED TO! In my view, Saint Veronika and The Dead Can't Testify are the band's attempt at a slightly different sounds, seems darker and more personal, yet with traditional Billy Talent style in regards to tempo changes, guitar, bass and lyrics. Pocketful of Dreams is super catchy, reminds me of their older stuff during their transformation from Pezz to Billy. Diamond on a Landmine is also very interesting. I can hear the Police as many others have mentionned, and it seems to work as a template. The final song, Definition of Destiny is astoundingly done, at least lyrically. "Well a long time ago, we had passion, we had goals.. why is life so set in stone? It doesn't have to be..."
These guys can rock hard. Slow things down and write some pretty unique lyrics, both good and bad. Most importantly, don't ever believe idiots on the internet when it comes to music reviews. Clearly I am a huge Billy Talent fan, and I hide nothing in my review. Buy the album for yourself or check these guys out live to get your own opinion. One thing I can tell you... These guys are not dead. Not even close. They are exploding in Europe (debut at #2, #3 in Germany and Austria respectively). Supposed to hit top 10 in Finland, among other countries as well. Of course a #1 debut here in Canada. Like it or not, Billy Talent is here to stay and the reason why is unknown.
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