The Classic Crime – Vagabonds

Band: The Classic Crime
Album: Vagabonds
Year: 2010
Label: Tooth & Nail Records
Myspace

Best Song: Different Now
Score: 8.5/10
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In 2003, guitarist Justin DuQue, drummer Paul Erickson, and bassist Alan Clark placed an advertisement in the Seattle weekly newspaper that stated, “Rock Vocalist Wanted.” As soon as Matt MacDonald, lead singer, noticed the advertisement, he decided to sign up for the audition and successfully became their vocalist, thus creating The Classic Crime. The well-known indie record label, Tooth & Nail Records, then signed them and they went on to release two full-length albums that set in motion the production of their latest record “Vagabonds”, which is set to release on April 6th, 2010.

The record “Vagabonds” is filled with eleven energetic, catchy and melodic tunes. Bearing this in mind, it is no surprise that their lead single was “Four Chords.” This musical composition of this track was well organized in the way that it begins with a medium slow tempo and then progresses into a fast paced rhythm and upbeat melodic tempo, which will trigger you to dance and clap your hands to the infectious guitar and drums riffs. Besides instilling a well-composed musical texture, this track delivers an essential message about the importance of music and how it influences our lives. More specifically, this track alludes to the fact that composing music it is not about financial needs, instead it’s about being passionate of playing music and to the extent that “If I die tomorrow, I’ll be glad my life is filled with songs.” and “Even if I die tomorrow, these four chords will keep me living on.” Also, music itself is like preserving a photograph or souvenir in the way that it will always have the same value, despite changing circumstances in our lives.

Another great song is “Solar Powered Life”, it is rich with a fast rhythm tempo accompanied with catchy guitar and drums riffs, which will inevitably, make you tap your feet and dance. This track sarcastically alludes to the seasonal affective disorder, which is characterized by symptoms of depression that occurs during the winter season, especially in the months of January and February. With this in mind, it is no surprise that during sunrise “she’s got a solar powered life” because she filled with positive emotions and thus sings “Oh my what a beautiful day outside.” However, when dawn strikes “My baby gets depressed at night” and therefore “She dies without direct sunlight.”

My favorite song is “Different Now”, because of the musical composition and the message that it transmits to the listeners. The musical texture of this track is filled with melodic catchy tunes accompanied with infectious guitar riffs and lyrics that reach to the core of your heart. This track deals with the theme of love in the way that at some point in our lives we have been in a passionate relationship, where intense feelings are involved and thus make you feel like that person is like “A ray of sunlight penetrating my apartment.” However, we are not perfect and we are prone to make mistakes that might lead to the termination of that relationship. Thus, we tend to regret making those mistakes and as a result, we wish we can go back in time and fix those mistakes, because we “Don’t ever want to go back to being alone” without the presence of that special person, but in reality everything is “different now.”

“Broken Mess” is another well-composed and thought out song that will transcend your listening experience due to the passionate vocals and melodic catchy chorus. The opening of the track begins with finely tuned acoustic guitar chords and then gradually progress to a fast rhythm with a combination of infectious lyrics, guitar and drum riffs. This track includes a theme of infidelity. One of the most frustrating and disappointing moment in one’s life is when you realized that your partner or wife has broken “her vowels” and thus “parades her disgrace” to your face, despite that you passionate love her to the extent that you will give your life “in more ways than she knows how.” As a result, you feel like a “Broken Mess” in the way that “He can’t sleep, he can’t eat, he keeps thinking about her behind the locked door of her bedroom.” Thus, love is a “Beautiful thing, she can make your heart sing, when you’re walking on broken glass.”

“Vagabonds” possesses a more mature and different perspective compared to their previous albums. This record is filled with vigorous catchy melodies and chorus that will compel you to stay hooked on it for a while. Also, this record transcends the listener experience in the way that you will have a fun experience because it elicits positive emotions and will make you wants to dance and tap your feet. With this in mind, The Classic Crime is not another rock band that is trying to fit in with similar rock bands because their music has a great deal of integrity and they write about different situations that at some level one can relate, which I believe is the fundamental objective of this band. As a result, it makes this record absolutely unique and therefore distinguishable from other bands. I highly recommend this record for fans of Emery, Anberlin, and Ivoryline.

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