Artist: Passenger
Label: Century Media
Release Date: 6/17/03
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Title: Passenger Artist: Passenger Label: Century Media Release Date: 6/17/03 |
Judgment Committee Reviews | Rating |
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Abyss's Review:
So, you wanna know about the debut Passenger record, huh? Let's put it this way, they named their band Passenger for crying out loud, how good could it be? Quick, name a worse idea than naming your band Passenger? Time's up, the only valid answer was naming the album Passenger as well.
"This might be the first album I've ever heard where the musicians were actually playing to the complete opposite of their strengths, literally making the worst sound they could as a unit." In all honesty, I listened to this album long before I looked at any of the promotional material. I was visiting friends out of state this weekend and took the album along to get myself acquainted with it, but I didn't take anything but the disc itself. Not the band synopsis, not even the tracklisting. By the time I got back home, if you had asked my opinion of the record I would have simply said that it sounded like someone heard In Flames' Reroute To Remain and decided it wasn't quite crappy enough. Because this album sounds like the worst parts of the new In Flames and Soilwork records, without any of the (very few) saving graces.
Of course, once I got home I realized that there was a damn good reason that this reminded me of crappy In Flames, their singer is in the band! Yes Anders Friden is a co-creator of this band (which has apparently been around since '95, I didn't even know they made this kind of crap way back then!). If you liked the vocals on Reroute, you pretty much know what to expect here. Anders still hasn't realized that his clean vocals just plain suck, and he's pretty much abandoned any harsh vocals on this record. In the few instances where he does get a little aggressive in the throat, the overall effect is more like the average nu-metal band rather than anything you might remember from his past.
"For those of you who really liked the last In Flames record, you could probably use the same reasons to defend this - that is, if you don't get distracted by something shiny on the way to the record store." The vocals aren't the only thing softened on this record, as most of the metal riffs you might expect to hear are gone as well. This literally sounds like someone took the last In Flames record and decided to purge every iota of metal out of it. Now many might think I just hate this record because it isn't heavy enough, but that's not true. I didn't dislike Reroute To Remain because it wasn't heavy; I didn't like it because it sucked. This album sucks worse, and might be the first album I've ever heard where the musicians were actually playing to the complete opposite of their strengths, literally making the worst sound they could as a unit.
For those of you who really liked the last In Flames record, you could probably use the same reasons to defend this (let me guess- their sound is growing, it would be boring if they stagnated and still played kick ass metal! - or something like that.) - that is, if you don't get distracted by something shiny on the way to the record store. Want a good point to the album? It's produced pretty well, but that does nothing to change the fact that it's a tepid, diluted, and tedious collection of 10th rate hard rock. One word review: Craptacular.
Death's Review:
"Ultimately, it's the songs that hold Passenger back. They're mostly just good, not great." It can be said that the modern-day In Flames is one part Dimension Zero and one part Passenger, the former being the classic, thrashy, melodic death side, the latter being the catchy, commercial hard rock side. But that doesn't tell the whole story. Truth be told, Passenger is not that much less heavy than ReRoute to Remain, at least not enough so for it to be called "hard rock" while the ReRoute is called metal. Bottom line? If you like the newest In Flames material, you may like Passenger too. The most obvious similarity is vocalist Anders Friden, who sings in both. I actually think Anders has a good clean voice, although a lot of you out there may disagree. I find it charismatic. And his screamed/heavy voice kicks ass. Anyway, he sings both on the Passenger material, and mostly just sounds like, well, modern-day Anders a la In Flames. Passenger is a hard rock album, but the riffs are distorted and metal-sounding for the most part. Yes, there are some uber-catchy parts and some sing-along stuff that - while it doesn't exactly make me cringe - isn't really my thing. But while Passenger has keys in the production, there's perhaps a bit more of a guitar-riff centered vibe going on as there is with some of the newer In Flames material. The bass playing is first-rate too and stands out in the mix. When the keys are prominent (and such an aesthetic definitely is noticeably present) they used organically and effectively. This is rock, plain and simple, and it is more about the songs than anything else.
"I recommend Passenger to both big In Flames fans and fans of the generally expansive direction modern-day In Flames is heading - mixing Swedish death metal with Depeche Mode." Ultimately, it's the songs that hold Passenger back. They're mostly just good, not great. Not because they aren't heavy, or don't sound like the Jester Race, but because they don't stick with me enough, and when they do, I'm not sure I always want them to. Opener "In Reverse" (starting with a sound like something from the Wipeout video game soundtrack right out of the box) is fucking sick, and makes me want to break things. This is probably the best song on the album, and it gave me high hopes for the rest of the material upon my introductory listen. It might be called slightly nu-metalish, but it sports Anders' killer screamed-vocals on the verses and sounds pretty cool overall. But "In My Head" quickly shows us why Passenger is different. I find this song a bit much, too commercial and pretty boring overall. "Just the Same" though is pretty killer - heavy riff, cool vocals, and a catchy feel. The same can be said for "Carnival Diaries," another song that is heavy and sports both styles of Anders' vocals effectively. Parts of "Circus" make me want to give this one 4 skulls, and then the other, cleaner parts kick in. "I Die Slowly" has some cool riffs too. In the end, I recommend Passenger to both big In Flames fans and fans of the generally expansive direction modern-day In Flames is heading - mixing Swedish death metal with Depeche Mode. If that sounds like you bag, check this one out. You'll probably be surprised to learn that this one isn't as "out there" as you might think. There's definitely some cool stuff on here.
Hel's Review:
Take everything you disliked about In Flames' last effort, ReRoute to Remain and place it in a nice, tidy pile. Now slap the label "Passenger" on it, and you're starting to get the general idea. Sure, that's not entirely fair, but consider that the centerpiece for both is Anders' clean vocals, and you'll at least be getting near the ballpark. Passenger has many a catchy melody line to couple with his vocal melodies, and overall this is an extremely accessible sounding album. Good for some, but few of those are the metalheads who would otherwise be interested by this side project/band.
"Good for some, but few of those are the metalheads who would otherwise be interested by this side project/band."
"What some may view as musical shortcomings are really more philosophical differences. Unfortunately, this will not help bridge the divide for those who are not onboard with the philosophy." While songs like, "In My Head," feature some heavy riffage, the mood of the album as a whole is mellow, just like the chorus accompanying the aforementioned heavy riffs. The musicianship is actually quite excellent, and the songs, for what they are, are very well composed. The goals this band has set for themselves are perfectly met. The very philosophy inherent in this band's goals is my issue, and I imagine will be the issue of every metalhead who does not wholly embrace it. This philosophy is accessibility, and is in direct conflict with the basic tenants of metal music: inaccessibility.
So really, what some may view as musical shortcomings are really more philosophical differences. Unfortunately, this will not help bridge the divide for those who are not onboard with the philosophy. Me? No, I'm not onboard. However, I can appreciate that the band has met their goals admirably. So, at the end of all my debating, my score falls right in the center, for I appreciate the argument on both sides, and believe that neither is fully correct. Wishy washy? Perhaps, but that's my choice, just as Passenger has chosen the road less heavy.
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