Good Views, Bad NewsBroadway Calls
Rating: 4 out of 5 Stars
Released: Aug. 18, 2009
Label: SideOneDummy
Review by: Bill Jones
For Broadway Calls’ latest full-length and SideOneDummy debut, the boys hit the famed Blasting Room studio with Bill Stevenson, and come out swinging with a more polished version of their usual throwback to late 1990s pop-punk, producing their best effort yet in Good Views, Bad News.
For fans of the band’s self-titled effort, Good Views, Bad News isn’t quite as diverse as the band’s previous work, but Broadway Calls has polished a sense of great melody working to perfect a style of music this reviewer grew up loving – taking influences from bands like Green Day, New Found Glory and maybe even a touch of Lit in songs like “Basement Royalty.” The lack of diversity, instead of hurting the band, actually adds a bit of stability to Broadway Calls’ latest.
Every song is filled with a variety of sounds, included some slight harmonized vocals between guitarist Ty Vaughn and bassist Matt Koenig, with a tight drum performance by Josh Baird. Toss in some poignant and well-sung lyrics about everything from being in a band (“To the Sheets”), to a blast of military recruiters (“Be All That You Can’t Be”), to an anti-self-pity self-pity song (“Give Up the Ghost”), and Broadway Calls has a great album on their hands. If the album cover – a girl flying a burning kite in an industrialized area as the sun goes down – is any indication, there are some intelligent, dark themes to be found in these subtle and catchy hooks.
Good Views, Bad News doesn’t necessarily evolve the genre or the Broadway Calls sound. It is the most focused effort they’ve put together, however, and rather than hopping trends, finds the band honing in a particular sound that the band and its fans can enjoy. Another great album from Broadway Calls.
For fans of the band’s self-titled effort, Good Views, Bad News isn’t quite as diverse as the band’s previous work, but Broadway Calls has polished a sense of great melody working to perfect a style of music this reviewer grew up loving – taking influences from bands like Green Day, New Found Glory and maybe even a touch of Lit in songs like “Basement Royalty.” The lack of diversity, instead of hurting the band, actually adds a bit of stability to Broadway Calls’ latest.
Every song is filled with a variety of sounds, included some slight harmonized vocals between guitarist Ty Vaughn and bassist Matt Koenig, with a tight drum performance by Josh Baird. Toss in some poignant and well-sung lyrics about everything from being in a band (“To the Sheets”), to a blast of military recruiters (“Be All That You Can’t Be”), to an anti-self-pity self-pity song (“Give Up the Ghost”), and Broadway Calls has a great album on their hands. If the album cover – a girl flying a burning kite in an industrialized area as the sun goes down – is any indication, there are some intelligent, dark themes to be found in these subtle and catchy hooks.
Good Views, Bad News doesn’t necessarily evolve the genre or the Broadway Calls sound. It is the most focused effort they’ve put together, however, and rather than hopping trends, finds the band honing in a particular sound that the band and its fans can enjoy. Another great album from Broadway Calls.
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