Silverstein “Rescue” Vinyl LP – It’s hard not to listen to Silverstein’s latest, Rescue, and think that the post-hardcore/screamo sound created in 2000 hasn’t evolved a whole bunch, other than to note the band has gotten incredibly more polished over the years. And that’s not necessarily a rip at the band. For those who loved the years when bands like Story of the Year absolutely reigned in the marketplace, Silverstein is sticking to its guns on Rescue and doing it as well as or better as anyone has. It just doesn’t appeal to this particular reviewer anymore.
That said, on Rescue, Silverstein turns out an incredibly solid, tightly produced (by Jordan Valeriote and mixed by Cameron Webb) effort on its first full-length away from Victory Records. The Hopeless debut is solid from start to finish, excellently paced and still showing an impressive vocal range from Shane Told. It also features a nice cameo from Bayside’s Anthony Raneri on “Texas Mickey” and one from Brendan Murphy on “The Artist.” Both are incredibly well-placed, perfect fits for the tracks.
All in all, Rescue may be Silverstein’s best album yet. It may not be breaking new ground, but maybe that’s the point, and maybe that’s exactly what fans want. The performances of the band sound totally energized from start to finish, and it’s hard for even the casual fan not to get caught up in it a bit.
And the vinyl release is pretty fantastic. I’m not particularly fond of the lyrics insert sheet, but the album artwork (by Martin Wittfooth) will fit very well in the collection next to the likes of A Shipwreck in the Sand, Arrivals & Departures, Discovering the Waterfront and When Broken Is Easily Fixed. It’s also a bit ballsy, in that nowhere on the front of the sleeve is the band’s name or album title, just a bird carrying a lantern over a dreary background.
The record itself comes in an Opaque Tan color (a ShopRadioCast exclusive, limited to 300) that fits the cover damn near perfectly, featuring a first aid kit on the center of Side A. It is also comes in a brown-and-white swirl option. My only complaint is that the record itself, in terms of weight, feels a bit flimsy. Still, the sound quality is very impressive, and much of that is likely due to great production and mastering. It’s damn near crystal clear.
The Recue vinyl also comes with a download voucher that gives listeners not only the album in digital format, but six additional tracks (with acoustic versions and demos), which makes the vinyl purchase incredibly worthwhile. It’s a fantastic release by Silverstein, both in quality of the album and the vinyl, and longtime fans shouldn’t hesitate to pick it up.
Review by: Bill Jones
Sound/Pressing Quality: 3/5
The Album: 4/5
Artwork & Packaging: 4/5
Buy This Album At Shop Radio Cast – Silverstein “Rescue” Vinyl LP
Vinyl Collective boards
No Comments