Where Yellowcard Once Stood (Where We Stand - Yellowcard)

Member Name: rleigh

Product:	Where We Stand - Yellowcard
Date:	29/01/08 (63 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Some fantastic tracks, much harder hitting than their new material.

Disadvantages: Newer fans of the band may not appreciate the harder edge of this Yellowcard of the past.

The 'Where We Stand' album was re-released through Kung Fu Records in 2005, however it was originally released in 1999 on the Takeover Records label. 'Where We Stand' was the second album ever released by Yellowcard, a band who have now gone on to record and release a further four albums since. The Yellowcard we know and love today is not the same Yellowcard that was around back in 1999, with a different vocalist in tow the sound of the band back then was very different indeed. Despite the differences with the sound of the band today, the 'Where We Stand' album is still a great album to listen to and hearing the vast difference in sound between what the band are like now and what they were like in 1999 when they released this album is really very interesting.

With a different singer, and less top heavy violin work this band certainly do sound completely different. Ok, so this album's never going to be your favourite album, but still - for what it is, it's certainly very good. I have a feeling that some Yellowcard haters may even enjoy this record if they listened to this and didn't know who the artist was - it truly is that different. It can be a very interesting process when a band change vocalists as it can completely alter the sound and direction of a band, and listening to the 'Where We Stand' album, it is clear that this is something that happened to Yellowcard when they changed vocalists from Ben Dobson (the vocalist on this album) to current front man Ryan Key.

In 'Where We Stand,' Yellowcard created a far more edgy Punk sound, a far cry from the highly defined, perfectionist recording approach of the Yellowcard of today. Instead of being led by the violin, it is very guitar heavy with some good violin work and the occasional violin solo which show that even at a young age this band were highly creative and trying to do something a bit different. One thing that is extremely noticeable from listening to this album is that Yellowcard were a lot faster back in the day and in turn had a much heavier sound. The drum work throughout this album is particularly impressive - it is hard, fast and really does shine through and stand out.

I'd imagine that there's a fair amount of die hard Yellowcard fans out there that would absolutely hate this album and never consider buying it had it been recorded by another band. I much prefer this album to 'One for the Kids,' the bands breakthrough album which I thought was out of tune and extremely dull to listen to. Although this album is far from being perfect, I really think that the band could have had something with this singer - I doubt they would have had the chart success that they've been with Ryan Key at their helm, but they almost certainly would have been a Punk sensation. There's definitely something distinctly charming about this album which makes its rawness loveable and almost adorable.


Released: 1st August 2005
Label: Kung Fu


Originally posted by me on my website Alt-UK.com
Source: http://www.alt-uk.com/modules.php?name=Reviews

Summary: Yellowcard's second studio album is hugely hard hitting, a far cry from the Yellowcard of today.