Yellowcard: Lift a Sail [2014] — Album Review

Ryan Key: Lead Vocals, Rhythm Guitar, Keys

Sean Mackin: Violin, Backing Vocals

Ryan Mendez: Lead Guitar, Bass, Percussion

Nate Young: Drums, Percussion

Diana Wade: Viola

Joann Whang: Cello
Produced by Neal Avron

Tracklist:

1. Convocation – 1:56

2. Transmission Home – 4:18

3. Crash the Gates – 3:20

4. Make Me So – 3:11

5. One Bedroom – 4:35

6. Fragile and Dear – 4:04

7. Illuminate – 4:06

8. Madrid – 2:07

9. The Deepest Well – 3:57

10. Lift a Sail – 3:55

11. MSK – 3:46

12. My Mountain – 3:59

13. California – 4:11

Total Runtime: 47:25

Lift a Sail is the ninth album from Yellowcard, and marks a significant departure in sound from their pre-hiatus (Ocean Avenue, Paper Walls) and post-hiatus (When You're Through Thinking, Say Yes and Southern Air) records. Lift a Sail is much less pop-punky than Yellowcard has ever been, and this is the first album without longtime drummer Longineau Parsons.

Starset: Transmissions [2014] — Album Review

Dustin Bates: Lead Vocals, Keyboard

Ron DeChant: Bass, Keyboard, Backing Vocals

Brock Richards: Guitar, Backing Vocals

Adam Gilbert: Drums
Produced by Rob Graves

Tracklist:

1. First Light – 1:24
2. Down with the Fallen – 4:17
3. Halo – 3:45
4. Carnivore – 4:22
5. Telescope – 5:31
6. It Has Begun – 5:16
7. My Demons – 4:48
8. Antigravity – 6:09
9. Dark On Me – 5:38
10. Let it Die – 4:32
11. The Future is Now – 4:45
12. The Point of No Return – 3:39
13. Rise and Fall – 5:54

Total Runtime: 1:00:00

My oh my have I been waiting for this one. Transmissions has to be the best album of 2014. Easily. Starset is definitely one of the best acts to come out of the 2010s. Get ready for gushing because there isn't much not to love about this album.