This is an open forum for staff members, contributers, and fans alike to submit their reviews on the latest music releases and concerts. In an industry that is drowning with overprocessed, grossly overrated, unoriginal crap these days, this is our chance to allow the real stars to shine, if only on our humble, little stage; and expose you to some of our favorite talents.
Reviews are given 1 - 5 stars.
1. Thin Layer
2. Stay Away
3. Untouched and Intact
4. Stuck at Sea
5. Far More
6. Radiate
7. Along the Way
8. Apologize
9. City’s Summer
10. Only One Week
11. Wait Until I’m Gone
12. Even If
It was at the Knitting Factory in New York City that I first happened upon The Honorary Title, a lone Jarrod Gorbel standing on stage with acoustic guitar in hand and his deep booming voice conveying an honesty and truth as unique as his sound. I picked up their debut CD, Anything Else But the Truth, and was hooked from that point forward. It’s three years later and The Honorary Title is back with their second full length offering, Scream and Light Up the Sky. Since 2004, the project has since evolved into a full band effort, with the addition of Aaron Kamstra on bass, keyboards, and vocals, Jon Wiley on guitar, keyboards (live), and vocals and Adam Boyd on drums. The evolution of the band is showcased stronger than ever on their sophomore CD. By touring this past spring with Butch Walker and performing songs from Scream and Light Up the Sky, the band created a positive buzz around the album. Thankfully for fans, the album lives up to the hype created by the energetic live shows.
Months ago, the band teased fans with the album’s first single, “Untouched and Intact.” While the band has showcased some different sounds on the new record, “Untouched and Intact” could have been on their previous album, Anything Else But the Truth, and was a perfect choice to show fans (new and old) what the band was all about on their new album. Encompassing both smart, memorable lyrics and an infectious melody, it is my favorite Honorary Title song to date, with a strong assertive intro that gives way to an upbeat verse. Gorbel’s voice is deep and smooth throughout the verse, and then builds up over the chorus, as he sings, “I know that when you awake that sometimes I appear unfamiliar but these prints can’t lie.”
“The City’s Summer” is one of the most fun tracks on Scream and Light up the Sky. It begins with an undeniably catchy “na-na-na” progression and then gives way to half time verse music. The chorus reprises the “na-na-na” melody and makes for a simple, yet crucial addition to the album. Other highlights include “Stay Away From Me” and “Stuck at Sea,” a song about the ups and downs of being a touring band.
One of the most compelling tracks on the new album is “Even If,” an honest and emotional look at a man with a mental illness and how it has affected his relationship with his family. The song’s barebones arrangement serves to emphasize the importance of Gorbel’s lyrics as he sings, “Even if you left me and my brother/even if you left us and our mother/I want nothing more to catch your eye.”
Fans of “Anything Else But the Truth” will find solace in the fact that The Honorary Title has evolved as a band, yet kept many elements of the sound that fans were drawn to in the first place. For more information on The Honorary Title and further insight into Scream and Light Up the Sky, check out our interview with Jarrod Gorbel.
Reviewed by: Ryan Labbe | September 2007
