Story of the Year Albums (4)
What The Critics Say
Story of the Year claim to have finally found their musical identity with The Black Swan, their first indie release via Epitaph after two studio albums over on Maverick Records; it sounds to be basically a fusion of the band's prior releases, a happy middle ground somewhere between the soul-searching alt rock anthems of their debut and the harder, gutsier In the Wake of Determination. But as self-assured as that may sound, all it really means is, well, The Black Swan is another Story of the Year album. This predictability doesn't necessarily make a tiresome set -- exhilarating closer "Welcome to Our New War" finishes the proceedings with a nice adrenaline rush -- just one that's pretty much expected, which will probably comfort some, but do nothing to convert anyone still sitting on the fence. Fans will bask in the familiar rise and fall sing-scream dynamics of songs like "Wake Up," "Choose Your Fate," and "Apathy Is a Deathwish," while elsewhere they'll appreciate relatively softer moments, as in the soaring emotions of "We're Not Gonna Make It" and the piano-embossed ballad "Terrified," which comes complete with gentle drum rolls and sweet vocal harmonies. Songs build, crash, chug and crescendo as expected, proving that Story of the Year's new home on Epitaph does nothing to alter or influence the quintet's take on emotional, accessible rock music with hardcore flourishes. It's superficially an odd pairing of label and band, but one that ultimately affects little more than the logo stamped on the album's back cover. ~ Corey Apar, All Music Guide
'In the Wake of Determination'
Release Date 10/11/2005
Tracks 13
Label Maverick
See Album Tracklist and Review
What The Critics Say
Story of the Year sounded way too clean on their debut for Maverick, 2003's Page Avenue. You could tell there was a heavy sound behind the emo overtones and Goldfinger impresario John Feldmann's sugary mix and production, but good luck finding it. The St Louis quintet was lost inside a formula. But the band more than remedies that with 2005's In the Wake of Determination, a rewardingly heavy record that still keeps things accessible enough for fans of Page Avenue's overdone power ballad "Anthem of Our Dying Day." Producer Steve Evetts (Hatebreed, Dillinger Escape Plan) brings out the hardness without shutting down Story's melodic sensibilities -- in a song like opener "We Don't Care Anymore," glowering riffs meet soaring choruses and even some keyboard for just the right balance of darkness and light. The similarly strong "Take Me Back" is saved from Hoobastank territory by its modified hardcore rhythms. Hardcore actually figures into most of Determination, fueling "Our Time Is Now," "Stereo," and the triumphant chorus of "March of the Dead." There are hundreds of bands in the mid-2000s who blatantly slam hardcore into metal and other elements. Story of the Year do, too -- they counteract their yelling and anthem-making with layered harmonies that still sound too sweet, and there are parts lifted from old Maiden and Metallica records. But Story of the Year aren't rocking a formula. And even if they are, In the Wake of Determination still sounds like exactly the record they wanted to make, so it doesn't really matter. It's clear that this time around, they believe in it. ~ Johnny Loftus, All Music Guide
'Live in the Lou/Bassassins'
Release Date 3/29/2005
Tracks 13
Label Maverick
See Album Tracklist and Review
What The Critics Say
Live in the Lou follows over a year of touring for Story of the Year's debut LP Page Avenue, and sets up a sophomore studio effort. It's a "gift to the fans"-type package, capturing a gig in their hometown of St. Louis and including a DVD with live, behind-the-scenes, and home video footage stretching all the way back to when Story was still called Big Blue Monkey. That was before they moved to LA to record Page Avenue with Goldfinger impresario John Feldmann, before their ease into a sort of cross between Deftones and Dashboard Confessional, and before the strings of Warped Tour dates. That's the sound they feature on Live in the Lou, where post-grunge guitar lines are amplified by metal flourishes and periodically reigned in by stretches of chorus channel introspection. And Story of the Year prove to be a capable live band. Still, while the sound mix is strong and Story's guitarists hit their marks, they nevertheless sound a little muddled. Instead, it's drummer Josh Willis and vocalist Dan Marsala who drive the raucous set standouts "Divide and Conquer," "Dive Right In," and "Burning Years." Marsala makes up for some slips in key with his vigorous screaming and numerous crowd shout-outs, and Willis controls as best he can Story's ambitious, but occasionally too-ambitious songwriting dynamics. The hometown crowd certainly doesn't mind the slight missteps. Marsala is accompanied by a fawning teenage girl chorus for the suicide melodrama "Anthem of Our Dying Day," and everyone responds heartily to "This is the best show of the tour!" and "What up St. Louis?!" exclamations. They're also treated to a brand new song, the promisingly raw "Heart of Polka Is Still Beating." Fans will recognize everything else in the set as coming from Page Avenue. [Live in the Lou's accompanying DVD also included the videos for singles "Until the Day I Die" and "Anthem of Our Dying Day"."] ~ Johnny Loftus, All Music Guide
What The Critics Say
From the chaotic opener "And the Hero Will Drown," until the complete frenzy of "Falling Down," St. Louis' Story of the Year shows a persistent flare for the dramatic on their debut disc from Maverick Records. Taking influence from a variety of modern rock, the quintet delivers a solid, Dashboard Confessional-like spirited first effort from beginning to end. They slow down on crunchy ballads like "Anthem of Our Dying Day," "Swallow the Knife," and "Sidewalks," showing that Story of the Year can be graceful and melodic as well as relentless. Energetic outbursts like "In the Shadows," "Razorblades," and the title track "Page Avenue" shows a band hell-bent on composing youthful anthems for the 21st century, hitting their target more often than not. Produced by John Feldman of Goldfinger, Dan Marsala's unyielding vocals certainly highlight the disc, along with the band's steady and layered instrumentation. The band's energy feeds off of agitation and frustration, and while they don't really offer anything new, their solid execution of the 12 songs on Page Avenue certainly impresses. ~ Stephen Cramer, All Music Guide
