Student Rick: Soundtrack for a Generation [2001] — Album Review

Adam Reiter: Vocals, Guitar

Brett Jones: Vocals, Guitar

Jason Pavilanis: Bass

Zach Davis: Drums
Produced by Bill Stevenson

Tracklist:

1. Monday Morning – 2:43

2. Hideaway – 3:44

3. Falling for You – 2:51

4. Please Forgive Me – 3:54

5. I Wish... – 4:05

6. A Child's Cry – 4:30

7. Meet You Halfway There – 1:59

8. Yesterday – 3:34

9. South of Blackford – 5:09

10. Through the Window – 3:32

11. In the Cold – 3:09

12. Midway – 4:07

13. October Skies – 10:58

October Skies – 4:23
[silence] – 3:44
Jewel – 2:51

Total Runtime: 54:13

Student Rick never got the chance to be the band they had the potential to be. Victory Records barely advertised Soundtrack, and the band broke up after only one album. Adam Reiter has had a few bands since, none of which have gotten very far, unfortunately, but Say Say seems pretty promising. As for what happened to Brett, Jason, and Zach, they've faded out. Brett still lives in Student Rick's hometown of South Bend, Indiana, and as for the other two, they might as well not exist. Finding info about this band without having a primary source (my best friend is friends with Reiter on Facebook) is nearly impossible.
Student Rick was signed to Victory at a time when Victory didn't have many "softer" rock bands like Student Rick's perfect emo/pop-punk blend. Taking Back Sunday wouldn't come around for another year and Thursday was in the process of getting Full Collapse out the door. Speaking of Thursday, just about the biggest promotion for Soundtrack for a Generation was a 4-track CD split with Thursday, including "Falling for You" and "October Skies" by SR and "Cross Out the Eyes" and "Standing on the Edge of Summer" by Thursday. Which is hard to come by, I might add.

Thursday: Full Collapse [2001] — Album Review

Geoff Rickly: Lead Vocals

Tom Keeley: Guitar, Vocals

Steve Pedulla: Guitar, Vocals

Tim Payne: Bass

Tucker Rule: Drums
Produced by Sal Villanueva

Tracklist:

1. A0001 – :36

2. Understanding in a Car Crash – 4:25

3. Concealer – 2:19

4. Autobiography of a Nation – 3:56

5. A Hole in the World – 3:28

6. Cross Out the Eyes – 4:08

7. Paris in Flames – 4:33

8. I Am the Killer – 3:35

9. Standing on the Edge of Summer – 3:42

10. Wind-Up – 4:23

11. How Long is the Night? – 5:45

12. i1100 – 1:40

Total Runtime: 42:26

Full Collapse was the breakout hit for Thursday, even though they got screwed over by Victory Records (which was a trend back in the early 2000s). That album cover is not what the band wanted, and the inside of the booklet was supposed to have artwork and the lyrics, but Victory made Rickly choose between wither just artwork or just the lyrics (he chose the lyrics). But did the screwing over have any effect on the recordings? No. Full Collapse still came out great.

Hawthorne Heights: The Silence in Black and White [2004] — Album Review

JT Woodruff: Vocals, Rhythm Guitar, Piano

Micah Carli: Lead Guitar

Casey Calvert: Screams, Rhythm Guitar

Matt Ridenour: Bass, Backing Vocals

Eron Bucciarelli: Drums, Percussion
Produced by Sean O'Keefe

Tracklist:

1. Life on Standby – 4:11

2. Dissolve and Decay – 3:44

3. Niki FM – 3:59

4. The Transition – 4:04

5. Blue Burns Orange – 3:19

6. Silver Bullet – 4:03

7. Screenwriting an Apology – 3:41

8. Ohio is for Lovers – 4:04

9. Wake Up Call – 4:02

10. Sandpaper and Silk – 3:36

11. Speeding Up the Octaves – 4:09

Total Runtime: 42:53

(No, I'm not going to review the re-issue)

Hawthorne Heights are one of my favorite bands of all time. Their debut, The Silence in Black and White, just so happens to also be one of my favorite albums of all time.

Silence has a lot of strong points, such as opener "Life on Standby", closer "Speeding Up the Octaves", and tracks like "Ohio is for Lovers", "Silver Bullet", and "Niki FM", all with great screams from Calvert and excellent vocals from Woodruff, as well as great instrumentalism.

Woodruff's writing ability is showcased on songs like "Blue Burns Orange" and "Ohio", with awesome lyrics like "Spare me just three last words./"I love you" is all she heard./I'll wait for you, but I can't wait forever." from "Ohio".

Silence starts on "Life on Standby", which has some great guitar work, awesome lyrics, and Calvert's screams sound great. "Dissolve and Decay" is a catchy, fun tune. "Niki FM" is one of Hawthorne Heights' more popular songs, and I can see why. The lyrics "I'm outside of your window/With my radio" really can hit home (though every time I hear it, I think of the video for "The Best of Me" by The Starting Line).

"The Transition" is a heavy-hitter, reminiscent of "Life on Standby", with great lyrics, and is followed by a song with even better lyrics: "Blue Burns Orange", which is yet again followed by another song with even more stellar lyrics: "Silver Bullet". "Silver Bullet" is probably my favorite song on Silence, with its awesome lyricism and excellent guitar work.

"Screenwriting an Apology" is the song I always forget's there (as well as "Sandpaper and Silk", but let me get there first), it's just not a very memorable track.

"Ohio is for Lovers", which I'm pretty sure is a play on words of Virginia's state tourism slogan "Virginia is for lovers", is Hawthorne Heights' most popular and well-known song. It's easily the most well-written on the record, with absolutely stellar guitar work and perfect lyricism. Everything about it works just right.

"Wake Up Call" follows, and no, it's not a cover of Relient K's song, it's another song entirely, which, probably only 'cause it follows "Ohio", feels like it falls short (The Artist in the Ambulance by Thrice has this same problem), but it's not a bad song. "Wake Up Call" just doesn't live up to "Ohio". "Sandpaper and Silk", as I mentioned before is also a little forgettable, but not as much as "Screenwriting an Apology", the guitars are decent and the lyrics are good.

Our closer, "Speeding Up the Octaves", is one of the best on the album. The vocals mesh expertly with the guitars, the drums are great as well, everything again just works great.

Overall, The Silence in Black and White is a freakin' amazing album, which you should definitely check out. Hawthorne Heights have a lot to live up to on their second effort.

Life on Standby: 8/10

Dissolve and Decay: 7/10

Niki FM: 9/10

The Transition: 7/10

Blue Burns Orange: 8/10

Silver Bullet: 10/10

Screenwriting an Apology: 6/10

Ohio is for Lovers: 10/10

Wake Up Call: 7/10

Sandpaper and Silk: 7/10

Speeding Up the Octaves: 10/10

Subtotal: 89/110

Bonus Points:

Awesome Screaming!: +2

Killer Choruses: +2

Total: 93/110

Score: 8.5 Excellent

Genres: Post-Hardcore, Emo, Pop-Punk

Last Week's Review: Life is Not a Waiting Room by Senses Fail

Next Week's Review: The Room's Too Cold by The Early November

Next Hawthorne Heights Review: If Only You Were Lonely