The Calling - Two (Ii - The Calling)

Member Name: ManUtdBoi

Product:	Ii - The Calling
Date:	24/09/04 (1325 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: melodic, thoughtful, energetic

Disadvantages: nickelback comparisons

For a band that have found their way onto numerous movie soundtracks over the last couple of years, as well as releasing a fine debut album ‘Camino Palermo’, The Calling remain largely unheard of by the majority of people that I speak to. Despite having an assortment of back-up musicians at their live shows, the band is simply made up of vocalist Alex Band and the multi talented Aaron Kamin. The thing that I find hard to stomach is that I have heard (and read) many people compare them to Nickelback, whereas the music that the two respective bands make is far from alike. Where as Nickelback make a brand of rock so dated it’s untrue, The Calling are a hard-working, honest band that make majestic melodic rock that will brighten the blackest heart.

2002 saw the release of their debut album ‘Camino Palermo’. From that album came a track that would tear up the singles charts as well as give them that first sweet smell of success. ‘Wherever You Will Go’ became one of the highest selling singles of the year and also managed to knock all that manufactured rubbish off it’s perch and take residence at #1 on the chart (for some time to come). You would therefore believe that they would instantly become the next big thing, a fact that still is yet to materialise. I’m by no means a die-hard fan, but do realise that they have the skills, and talent, to be very big in the UK, as they are in the States.

As said previous, when you consider the mediocre modern bands that fill the chart as well as British bands attempts at being rock when in fact they are blatant pop (Busted anyone) makes it even more surprising that a genuine rock band have to work doubly hard for minimum respect. Alex Band would be right up there in a list of best vocals, as he is a man that finds it unable to hit a note to complete precision. Where as ‘Camino Palermo’ was an introduction to the band, ‘II’ is the next chapter to what is already becoming a very interesting tale …….

Opening track ‘One By One’ is probably one of the finest efforts here. It uses the typical rock method of slow verse followed by fast chorus, to produce a track that instantly brings to mind ‘Wherever You Will Go’, with its thoughtful lyrics and similar sound. One thing that cannot be thrown at The Calling is that their songs have no meaning, because all you need to do is stick this in your CD player, turn it up and really listen, and then tell me it has no meaning.

“One by one
We stand beneath the sun
With arms high wide open
Two by two
He’s getting you
To watch him as he leaves this life he knew”

Next track ‘Our Lives’ was the first single to be released from the album, and correctly so. Where ‘One By One’ had the message of suicide, ‘Our Lives’ is about how we should make the most of how long we’ve got, rather than take it for granted and waste it. From other bands you get things like ‘I hate mum, I hate dad, I want to die’ etc, The Calling have genuine messages of hope and survival behind them and if you really listen and take it in then your onto something very special indeed.

“These are the days worth living
These are the years we’re given
And these are the moments
These are the times
Let’s make the best out of our lives…….”

‘Things Will Go My Way’ is a song of how when things aren’t going your way, just hold on and get through because someday things will go your way. Despite the message to the song, it is a very up-tempo track that is obviously on a mission to get the message to you with a smile. The lyrics really do say it all and the music just makes you truly understand the talent that this band have, but most are yet to recognise. Alex Band also has the perfect smooth voice that fails to ruffle any feathers and makes every song a pure joy to listen.

“I came to tell you
How it all began
Nothing seems to work out right
I’m broken down again
So hold me now
And say it’s not forever
Cause maybe someday
In time
Things will go my way…..
Things will go my way…..”

‘Somebody Out There’ is the story of a little girl who is all alone with no-one to comfort her or be there for here. Of course this could apply to any number of people around the world who are alone and in need of a helping hand, but for the instance of this song, the lyrics are based around her. The thing with The Calling, is that their ballads don’t really sound like such. Where other bands bland them down to appeal to the heart, The Calling keep it up-beat as to not leave you with a tear in the eye. There’s always a happy fell even to the lowest lyrical moments …..

“Well she’s on her knees
And begging please
She wonders if there’s somebody out there
To make things wrong
To make things right
It might be
That there’s somebody out there”

Every song conveys their own respective message, and each does it to perfection. There is also a cover of The Clash’s ‘London Calling’ stripped down to its bare acoustics and performed pretty well if I must say so. However I’m not a fan of The Clash, but I do understand that it was a classic and that there is probably a lot of people that feel The Calling haven’t done it justice, but each to their own as they say. All in all this is an album of 13 fantastic songs, and regardless of whether it’s with a good message or otherwise, it’s always fun !

www.thecallingband.com
www.rcarecords.com

Tracklisting

1. One By One
2. Our Lives
3. Things Will Go My Way
4. Chasing The Sun
5. Believing
6. Anything
7. If Only
8. Somebody Out There
9. Surrender
10. Dreaming In Red
11. Your Hope
12. For You (acoustic)
13. London Calling (live)

Summary: