Saves the Day: Through Being Cool [1999] — Album Review

Chris Conley: Vocals

Vocal Era: Through Being Cool

Dave Soloway: Guitar

Eben D’Amico: Bass

Ted Alexander: Guitar

Bryan Newman: Drums
Produced by Steve Evetts

Tracklist:

1. All-Star Me – 1:44

2. You Vandal – 2:28

3. Shoulder to the Wheel – 3:20

4. Rocks Tonic Juice Magic – 3:28

5. Holly Hox, Forget Me Nots – 2:38

6. Third Engine – 3:40

7. My Sweet Fracture – 3:52

8. The Vast Spoils of America (From the Badlands Through the Ocean) – 3:08

9. The Last Lie I Told – 2:24

10. Do You Know What I Love the Most? – 1:35

11. Through Being Cool – 2:04

12. Banned from the Back Porch – 3:00

Total Runtime: 33:31

Saves the Day's sophomore release, and the release that gave them a footing in the genre where they'd become a huge influence—Through Being Cool is a staple not only in StD and Conley's career, TBC is a staple in music itself (or at least it should be), and was the main catalyst for third wave emo.

TBC begins with an upbeat, catchy opener, "All-Star Me", which sets the tone for the lighter tracks on the album. Next we have fan favorite "You Vandal", which with its heavy guitars starts out a heavier song. Conley's lyrical imagery shines much better here than on Can't Slow Down. "Shoulder to the Wheel" returns to the upbeat without breaking flow, and bangs out another solid track. "Rocks Tonic Juice Magic", one of the more popular tracks off TBC, contains dark, somewhat horrific imagery, with lines like "And if not I'll take my spoons/Dig out your blue eyes/Swallow them down to my colon/Gonna burn like hell tonight". The guitars compliment the vocals perfectly.

"Holly Hox, Forget Me Nots" is next, returning to the upbeat, which is basically the pattern for the majority of the album, but it works well because unlike most other bands, the tone of the song doesn't affect the tone of the instruments, but they don't clash—Saves the Day are experts with album flow. "Holly Hox" opens with some killer drums, and lays down another great track. "Third Engine" and "My Sweet Fracture", which will forever be a double-track in my mind, are another heartfelt song followed by heartbreak. Conley's masterful lyricism continues to shine with lyrics such as "Could you tell me the next time that you're choking?/'Cause I'll rush right over/To shove some dirt right down your throat" in "My Sweet Fracture". Written by Dave Soloway, and debatably the weakest song on the album (though, that's not saying much), track eight is "The Vast Spoils of America (From the Badlands Through the Ocean)". The guitars are a little boring and the vocals aren't Conley's best.

"The Last Lie I Told", one of the shorter songs, along with "Do You Know What I Love the Most?" (which was written by Ted Alexander), have more interesting guitars and the vocals are great. Our title track, "Through Being Cool" is also among the shorter tracks, at only two minutes and four seconds, but it gets its point across. Conley's dark imagery returns with lines like "The next time you see Nick/Tell him I'm gonna stick some needles in his face". Our closer is "Banned from the Back Porch", with the heaviest guitars on the entire album. Conley's imagery isn't dark, but is just as vivid as ever.

Overall, Through Being Cool is an amazing album, and definitely one of the best sophomore albums of any band.

All-Star Me: 8/10

You Vandal: 9/10

Shoulder to the Wheel: 8/10

Rocks Tonic Juice Magic: 10/10

Holly Hox, Forget Me Nots: 8/10

Third Engine: 9/10

My Sweet Fracture: 9/10

The Vast Spoils of America (From the Badlands Through the Ocean): 6/10

The Last Lie I Told: 7/10

Do You Know What I Love the Most?: 8/10

Through Being Cool: 9/10

Banned from the Back Porch: 10/10

Subtotal: 101/120

Bonus Points:

Killer Choruses: +2

Total: 103/120

Score: 8.6 Excellent

Genres: Pop-Punk, Emo, Melodic Hardcore

Last Week's Review: The Artist in the Ambulance by Thrice

Next Week's Review: The Heart is a Monster by Failure

Next Saves the Day Review: Stay What You Are (hooray!)