Stavesacre


Stavesacre

Stavesacre's storied, all-star cast garners huge expectations with each new album. Their latest self-titled work is their first for Nitro Records/XS Records. Already being raked over the coals by critics, this is no Speakeasy. But it's still better than your typical modern rock drivel. With production stripped back courtesy Dave Bianco (Buckcherry, Mudhoney, Ozzy Osbourne), Mark Salomon's vocals are left out to dry. And while the well thought out, look-what-we-can-do-with-Pro-Tools outcome of Speakeasy served that album well, the bare and vulnerable sound of Salomon's voice here proves he's one of rock's great vocalists. Ryan Dennee and Neil Samoy bring the usual Stavesacre guitar sound, yet display a newer touch with some nice guitar solos. Sam West and Dirk Lemmenes show their usual airtight rhythm section more than well enough.
Downsides? "Island," "Night Town," and "The Sad Parade" are included in rerecorded format from Split/e.p., two of them also having been on the Tooth & Nail greatest hits disc, Collective. So that makes only eight new songs here. And, Jeff Bellew's songwriting talents are somewhat missed throughout. In light of these complaints, Stavesacre is still one of the better bands around, and there's no need to give up on them now. [Nitro/XS /Chad Olson]

This album review was originally printed in ISSUE 98 of HM Magazine. Order the Print Version of HM for tons more reviews of new albums.
©2002 HM Magazine - All Rights Reserved



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Comments


i've seen stavesacre twice since this album came out (including the cd release party) and will be seeing them again tomorrow... (with living sacrifice.. it'll rock)... anyways... i like the minimalism feel to the production, i think that it lends itself well to salomon's voice. i think comprably to many bands out today stavesacre definetly deserves points for both a consistency to their work and to keeping a higher standard. unfortunately it seems the rumour mill would have them on the brink of extinction lately.. so we will see what happens with that.

//spunj13

I've only got "Friction" and I think it's awesome. Mark is an amazing, powerful singer. "At The Moment", "Suffocate Me", and "Devil" are all great. The music is great too. Great riffs and grooves. If "(stavz'a'ker')" is anything like "Friction", then I'm sure I'd like it.

These guys definitely miss Jeff Belew, but they continue to march on like soldiers; the kind of soldiers who have never gotten the kind of recognition they deserve. Much like Tedd Cookerly and EDL, they have stood on the sidelines and watched as a spectator while a majority of their more unseasoned peers received huge breaks. They have kind of been left out in the cold, but I for one do not measure success by commercial appeal, major label fame, or money. I don't know how much Stavesacre has left in the tank, but I for one am rooting for them.-Noah

I saw Stavescare live 3 summers ago. They had big amps and a big drum sound. The huge crunch Samoy delivers is unmistakable. After listening to this newest CD, I think the band has reached a comfortable plateau. Don't look for them selling out and trying to play arenas and open for Creed. That drivel can be found elsewhere.

Man, these guys are getting it from all sides. However, they're doing what they need to do to be successful. In my opinion, there's no better band out there right now. I wish other bands would take initiative and step up to the plate like Stavesacre has and continue to raise the bar. I've seen Stavesacre 3x, and each time I just get blown away. These five men are amazing, and no other person added, or taken away can do what they do as a team.

the new stavesacre sucks.

A perfectly pathetic response (see bob's, above). if you have an opinion of that sort, at least attempt to validate it somewhat so it shows that at least one brain cell was at work - otherwise, not only is your opinion derided and dismissed but so are you. a blanket statement like that is ridiculous, and this album, while by no means my favorite, has to be taken into the context of the band as a whole - Absolutes is still my favorite, with Speakeasy a close second, and it'd take something earth-shattering to change that, but the self-titled album is another step toward the freedom the band has been longing for, and who am i to deny them?

I think this band ISNT worth giving up on defenitly. There material is all worth the money and they put out their best efforts. however, this latest album lacks the strength of their previous. i mean,
tracks like Shiv from Absolutes with the lyrics "its like i'm back from the dead" and so on, vary alot from the new lyrics like the ones on Night Town "lets stay out all night". This could be claimed the typical "lets cater to the materstream" approach but I don't think it is. I trust these guys and I just hope their next album has a little more of their roots and they embrace it.

i love stavesacre but have never seen them in concert i stumbbled upon one of their cds last year a a christian book store going out of business. i really like their style of music. its unique.