Send "The Almost " Ringtones to your Cell 
| Sputnikmusic |
 It is difficult not to anticipate The Almost's 2nd full-length release with a strong sense of deja vu. Where does this sound familiar? The drummer of a critically acclaimed & commercially successful band becomes the lead vocalist of another outfit. While taking the name of a group, this man practically plays every instrument on the project's more rock-oriented debut... And while the results are mixed, the potential is clearly apparent. Unfortunately for Underoath's Aaron Gillespie, The Almost's follow-up LP 'Monster, Monster' is no 'The Colour & The Shape'... And he has a little way to go to match up to the Foo Fighters' Dave Grohl.Similarly to debut long-player 'Southern Weather', 'Monster, Monster' begins with a cavalcade of hooks. Certain to be a live favorite, 'Hands' especially stands out. With its winning piano line, jangly guitars and super infectious sing-along chorus, it is reminiscent of Jacks Mannequin's more up-tempo cuts. With the possible exception of the opening title track and ultra-melodic 'Souls On Ten' however, nothing else could be classified as distinctly memorable in this department. Perhaps realizing this lack of distinction, Gillespie searches elsewhere for a secret ingredient. Many tracks re-explore the southern rock/alt-country vibe occasionally given off on 'Southern Weather'. Again however, only one such song stands out, with emotional six minute closer 'Monster' opening acoustically, before satisfyingly breaking out into a steel guitar led instrumental jam. The album's surprise element comes in the form of extending this sound into a slice of nostalgic Americana to lend it a stronger sense of storytelling. It helps to keep Gillespie lyrically focused, but he also has a little way to go to match up to The Gaslight Anthem....full text |
| Bloodygoodhorror |
| The Almost’s new album, “Monster Monster” doesn’t offer me a lot musically, but I like the idea. As opposed to so many faceless pop punk acts and indie rock bands that we’ve all suffered through over the years, The Almost have produced an album that’s easy to listen to, has a freer feel, and doesn’t try to push some forced and faked heavy-handed message on the listener. Rather than stress a personal anguish that the band probably doesn’t really feel, or leaden their music in an ill-advised attempt to appeal to the emotional distress of the hormonally confused teenage listener, The Almost just plays and lets the pieces fall into place on their own. On the good side, there are a number instrumental choices here that serve to make the melodies more interesting, like the piano playing softly during the verses of “Souls on Ten,” or the heavy drum intro with distorted, muddy guitars on “Books and Books.” The occasional acoustic, almost country feel lends the album a little diversity. Overall, the music is bouncy and has an airy quality that often gets lost in the shuffle of this kind of music. If there is such a thing as “easy listening punk,” this might be it. When it’s all over, “Monster Monster” is an easily assimilated album that doesn’t ask the listener to bathe in its musical complexity or dense philosophical paradigms....full text |
| Consequenceofsound |
| When your top comparisons include the names Switchfoot, Hawk Nelson, Family Force 5, and Flyleaf, it isn’t likely that you are going to receive any love from mainstream press, or anyone outside of your loyal fan base for that matter. However, on its sophomore release, Monster Monster, The Almost has crafted a record that, while entirely forgettable, is fairly accessible, and a fun listen, too. Underoath drummer Aaron Gillespie started the outfit in 2005, recording all of the instrumentation himself for the group’s 2007 debut, Southern Weather. This time around, however, the album was a collaborative effort, put together in Nashville, TN by the whole band, and it clearly helped. Monster Monster is a more polished sound that is one part Taking Back Sunday, one part The Used, and one part ear-friendly alternative rock in the form of acoustic Stone Temple Pilots and/or the Foo Fighters. The album does have a cohesive theme of sorts, though it falls well short of what one would consider a concept album (not that that’s a bad thing; who needs another lame concept album?). Gillespie penned these tunes around the theme of overcoming the monsters in one’s personal life and the tunes prosper from the positive vibes. Opener “Monster Monster” is a full-out rock track that welcomes you to the theme like a cry for help, or perhaps one for assistance, and Gillespie yells out, “What’s the use in going this alone?/It’s you and me/Let’s get out of this place.”...full text |
The Almost lyrics
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