The Pointer UW-Stevens Point Student Newspaper
Too often in our society, beautiful art, which has the potential to change lives, sculpt individuals, and alter the ways in which we think, goes unnoticed.
This is especially true regarding music, whose more thoughtful messengers are often overshadowed by a maelstrom of cookie-cutter acts all strumming the same four- chord progression. For this reason, we at The Pointer present you with Need-To-Know Tunes, a weekly column dedicated to highlighting not necessarily the newest releases, but rather the totally awesome ones that, for one reason or another, you may have missed:
Common Courtesy
A Day to Remember
For Fans of:
Four Year Strong’s “Rise or Die Trying,” The Story So Far’s “What You Don’t See,” Fall Out Boy’s “Take This to Your Grave”
The Scoop:
Unless you’ve been living under a rock for the past decade, you’ve likely heard of ADTR already. Founded in Ocala, Florida in 2003 by guitarist Tom Denney and drummer Bobby Scruggs, the five-piece quickly made a name for themselves within the local music scene for their expert fusion of poppy-hooks and chugging, metallic breakdowns.
In 2007, the group signed to Victory Records to release their debut album, For Those Who Have Heart, which sold a modest 20,000 copies in its first week. Today, following the release of two more full-length efforts, A Day to Remember has become synonymous with both the pop-punk and post-hardcore genres, prompting worldwide fame and consistentlysold out venues.
The group’s newest release, Common Courtesy, already dropped digitally last month, though hard copies won’t hit stores until Nov. 25, thanks to a recently settled lawsuit with Victory over the band’s recording contract. Regardless however, I assure you, it rules nonetheless.
Why It Rules:
I, like many others, was quite disappointed with the ADTR’s last release, What Separates Me From You, as I felt the album was made-up of more filler than actual music
As a long time fan, I am pleased to say that this is not the case with Common Courtesy, which features 13 infectious tracks, each of which could stand alone as a single. The album opener, “City of Ocala”, is notably punk in origin and propelled forward by uplifting, introspective lyrics that flow seamlessly into the equally enjoyable “Right Back At It Again.”
The album’s two acoustic tracks “I’m Already Gone” and “I Surrender,” are both beautifully reflective in different regards, while McKinnon’s diverse vocal range is showcased during the gritty “The Document Speaks for Itself.” Metalheads will feel right at home during “Life Lessons Learned the Hard Way,” which is easily one of the group’s heavy releases to date, along with “Violence is Violence,” which is impressively catchy despite its lack of clean vocals.
In my opinion though, “Sometimes You’re the Hammer, Sometime’s Your the Nail” is undoubtedly the album’s best song, as it perfectly illustrates the unique blend of heavy and catchy that first put ADTR on the map.
Stand-Out Tracks:
“Sometimes You’re the Hammer, Sometime’s Your the Nail”, “I Surrender”, “City of Ocala”
Kyle Florence
