RICKY BOBBY EP
I've been meaning to review this one for a while. Here goes:
Ricky Bobby play modern melodic hardcore in the vein of Comeback Kid, This is Hell and Casey Jones. Which means I can't really rely on my usual "they not really my style" line. Their EP stands out as a very solid first release with some pretty well written songs.
The guitar melodies stand out as the one of the main strengths of the EP with some clever harmonics contributing to some thoughtfully written songs. In this some of the guitar work reminds me of Dead Hearts. The breakdown riffs however are more repetitive, with pretty similar patterns (and palm muting) used on From Here On Out, Then We All Died and Give Blood. The sub-drops seem a little unnecessary, and the breakdowns in these songs seem more functional than inspired.
Lyrically, while in some of the songs are definitely said with tongue firmly in check, they also lack they punch or satire of the bands which they might be inspired by ( I'm guessing Casey Jones or Evil Priest ). However, that being said, the intention of the songs ring true. In this, lyrics seem slightly juvenile, but by no means insincere. The vocals cut through the mix throughout, in a similar pitch to Comeback Kids Turn It Around album, making audibility and intelligibility easy - something which I appreciate, there's no growling demons in this recording, nor is it necessary to look through the lyrics book accompanied with a dictionary. My only criticism is that by varying the vocals pitch, they would also add energy to the song and lyrics. Anyway, my favourite song is the final track - Callum James Stewart.
The recording itself is tight and clear, precise, but with room for improvement, it's loud, but lacks a little in punch. The EP packaging is neat and tidy with a cute zombie adorning the front of the plastic sleeves fold out package.
I really like this band, and while this EP will not join the ranks of my most played, it will stand as a marker of great things to come. If Ricky Bobby continue to find their feet and develop from this material I'm sure they will be one of the stand out bands of New Zealand Hardcore, with potentially bigger things to follow...
3.5 / 5
Ricky Bobby: 09 Demo
Mike handed me one of these when they played Zeal, and since I just reviewed the EP I thought I may as well review this one as well.
There is already development from the EP, punching above the waist both lyrically and musically. While the EP felt a bit immature, the immaturity of the demo doesn't extend too far beyond the opening audio clip: Will Farrells "Im Ricky Bobby and if you dont chew Big Red then F*** you"
Materialistic starts off a bit more aggressively and holds the aggression more convincingly than the EP did. The only real downer in this recording is the weird tom roll thing before the breakdown.
(Hypocrite Warning) In Over privileged my main criticism is they borrow quite heavily in some areas from Comeback Kids new album -Broadcasting - with their guitar high breaks and lyrical approach. However the song itself is their best, being both well written and having a catchy as half time ring out at end:
you get out what you give
so give it everything you got kid
you get out what you give
so give it everything, give it everything
The guitar work again caries this demo, (although they sound a bit pro tools plug-in distortion) with the lyrics adding more to the overall feel of the demo.
I'm not rating it, but its an improvement from the EP - onwards and upwards.
www.myspace.com/rickybobbypnc
I've been meaning to review this one for a while. Here goes:
Ricky Bobby play modern melodic hardcore in the vein of Comeback Kid, This is Hell and Casey Jones. Which means I can't really rely on my usual "they not really my style" line. Their EP stands out as a very solid first release with some pretty well written songs.
The guitar melodies stand out as the one of the main strengths of the EP with some clever harmonics contributing to some thoughtfully written songs. In this some of the guitar work reminds me of Dead Hearts. The breakdown riffs however are more repetitive, with pretty similar patterns (and palm muting) used on From Here On Out, Then We All Died and Give Blood. The sub-drops seem a little unnecessary, and the breakdowns in these songs seem more functional than inspired.
Lyrically, while in some of the songs are definitely said with tongue firmly in check, they also lack they punch or satire of the bands which they might be inspired by ( I'm guessing Casey Jones or Evil Priest ). However, that being said, the intention of the songs ring true. In this, lyrics seem slightly juvenile, but by no means insincere. The vocals cut through the mix throughout, in a similar pitch to Comeback Kids Turn It Around album, making audibility and intelligibility easy - something which I appreciate, there's no growling demons in this recording, nor is it necessary to look through the lyrics book accompanied with a dictionary. My only criticism is that by varying the vocals pitch, they would also add energy to the song and lyrics. Anyway, my favourite song is the final track - Callum James Stewart.
The recording itself is tight and clear, precise, but with room for improvement, it's loud, but lacks a little in punch. The EP packaging is neat and tidy with a cute zombie adorning the front of the plastic sleeves fold out package.
I really like this band, and while this EP will not join the ranks of my most played, it will stand as a marker of great things to come. If Ricky Bobby continue to find their feet and develop from this material I'm sure they will be one of the stand out bands of New Zealand Hardcore, with potentially bigger things to follow...
3.5 / 5
Ricky Bobby: 09 Demo
Mike handed me one of these when they played Zeal, and since I just reviewed the EP I thought I may as well review this one as well.
There is already development from the EP, punching above the waist both lyrically and musically. While the EP felt a bit immature, the immaturity of the demo doesn't extend too far beyond the opening audio clip: Will Farrells "Im Ricky Bobby and if you dont chew Big Red then F*** you"
Materialistic starts off a bit more aggressively and holds the aggression more convincingly than the EP did. The only real downer in this recording is the weird tom roll thing before the breakdown.
(Hypocrite Warning) In Over privileged my main criticism is they borrow quite heavily in some areas from Comeback Kids new album -Broadcasting - with their guitar high breaks and lyrical approach. However the song itself is their best, being both well written and having a catchy as half time ring out at end:
you get out what you give
so give it everything you got kid
you get out what you give
so give it everything, give it everything
The guitar work again caries this demo, (although they sound a bit pro tools plug-in distortion) with the lyrics adding more to the overall feel of the demo.
I'm not rating it, but its an improvement from the EP - onwards and upwards.
www.myspace.com/rickybobbypnc