Silverstein - A Shipwreck In The Sand Part 2

by Matt
(Canada)

6. I Knew I Couldn't Trust You 2.5/5
This song initially seems to be a great mode of elevating the album back to greatness, however it quickly becomes the most frustrating song on this album. The verses sound like exact replicas of many songs on "Arrivals and Departures", including mundane guitar riffs and less than stellar lyrics like "your poker face concealing all the cards that you're not dealing". The most frustrating part of this song is it's chorus that's so close to being one of Silverstein's best, but is lacking something and sounds like simply another verse. However, at the 2:32 of the track, this song gets back on it's feet and sounds pretty darn good. Unfortunately, with a little more work on the chorus and lyrics "I Knew I Couldn't Trust You" could have been one of Silverstein's best, but instead will likely remain a song that is skipped by many.

7. Born Dead (ft. Scott Wade) 2/5
Think Anti-Flag or even old-school Rise Against. "Born Dead" has some good lyrics and a fun up-tempo flare to it but likely won't be a song that grows on you. Scott Wade's input does not add a whole lot to the song's appeal, and his voice sounds a bit to whiny for the track. A sound more like Andrew Neufeld of Comeback Kid may have been a better choice. This song has some really cool guitar riffs and a nice little break-down for the hardcore fans out there, but other than that fans may grow tired of it fairly quickly.

8. A Shipwreck In The Sand 2.5/5
This somewhat schizophrenic album seems to be summarized by it's eighth track. "A Shipwreck In The Sand" includes an intro of a story being told, then moves into more of an actual verse, and finally into an epic sounding final 2 minutes. The split-personalities of this song seem to project the split personalities of the albums theme (fire, shipwreck, mutiny, adultery, etc.). It also features some mundane aspects, some decent sections, and some absolutely amazing sections portrayed in the final 2 minutes of this track. The epic lyrics, "this union, a battle fought and lost, this union, was not about the cause, this union, was never about love" sound great and will definitely be stuck in your head after hearing this song.

9. I Am The Arsonist 3/5
This song has really grown on me since I first heard it, and will definitely grow on fans as well. Starts off with a really cool, powerful guitar riff and indeed projects the images of arson. It includes a fairly catchy and decent chorus, but this song is clearly about the break-down. "I Am The Arsonist" will be a favorite among hardcore fans who won't be able to get enough. The awesomeness of this song becomes apparent at 1:39 of the track when it breaks into a simple but powerful guitar riff and carries forward some of Silverstein's best lyrics yet, "I am the light that warms up your body, that sets free the demons inside. I am the one that never ignores you that never will let you down." The best break-down on this entire album and potentially in Silverstein history occurs at 2:15. Hardcore fans get ready, I can't wait to see it at the next Silverstein show.

10. You're All I Have 1.5/5
This song screams mediocre. It almost feels like the band got tired at track 10 and just threw "You're All I Have" in as a filler. Nothing about the track is gripping at all, and most fans won't be able to skip over it and get to track 14, "The End" fast enough.

11. We Are Not The World 1.5/5
The mediocrity caries on through "We Are Not The World". The verses are less than inspiring and the chorus' sound very amateur. The song attempts to send a very valuable message (think Anti-Flag and Rise Against again) but it fails to inspire. The bridge is a slight improvement but, like the track before it, "We Are Not The World" will likely be skipped over by most fans.

12. A Hero Loses Everyday 1.5/5
Like the two tracks before it, track 12 may only be good for one or two listens to most fans. The one advantage "A Hero Loses Everyday" has over track 10 and 11 is that it's chorus is a bit catchier, but other than that, it's much of the same.

13. The Tide Raises Every Ship 2/5
The second little interlude on the album, "The Tide Raises Every Ship" leads us into the final track on the album, and one of the best ones, "The End".

14. The End (ft. Lights) 3.5/5
The last song of the album, "The End" is certainly the most mellow one. This track has a great acoustic feel and really sounds great. It features fellow Canadian musician Lights, and her touch on this song is very well done. Lights fits in perfectly and her duet with Shane sounds absolutely amazing, it almost reminds me of one of those duets in old Disney movies like Beauty and the Beast. When Shane and Lights come together at 4:08 it sounds spectacular and is a powerful ending to the album. With Silverstein and Lights both performing at this summer's Van's Warped Tour, lets hope for them to collaborate once again.




Go Back To Part 1