Write This Down - Lost Weekend Review

The second album from the Minneapolis, MN based hard alt/rock foursome WRITE THIS DOWN is entitled ‘Lost Weekend’ and is set to be released on June 5, 2012 on Tooth & Nail Records. Following the release, the band will head out on a string of show dates beginning June 9 at Bash On The Farm in Garner, IA.

WRITE THIS DOWN is comprised of Johnny Collier (vocals), Chad Nichols (drums), Nate Rockwell (guitar), and Nick “King” Lombardo (bass). The band launched in 2010 with a self-titled debut and received some pretty strong response both locally and nationally. With two years of wall to wall touring under its belt supporting the likes of BLINDSIDE, PROJECT 86, DISCIPLE and THE LETTER BLACK, the foursome has grown its sound with influences from RATM, FOO FIGHTERS, and TAKING BACK SUNDAY crossed with a blend of some pop/punk-ier stylings akin to BLINK-182 and FALL OUT BOY....full text While much of the record inconsistently explores various genres, Lost Weekend does prove Write This Down can experiment while still remaining true to themselves. Closing “Song And Dance” is an ideal portrayal of this combination – Collier gets to exercise his clean vocals, yet he screams his lungs out at times when energy is needed. Although this formula works well for the band, the best moments on the record are when Collier lets loose and screams.

Maybe Write This Down will prove the third time is the charm with their next record, but for now, Lost Weekend unfortunately does not bring much to the table than their debut did. Highlighted pieces convey growth – the musicianship is stronger than ever and Collier’s scream kills – but parts of the record – the incongruous clean vocals and ballads – detract from this growth. Write This Down clearly have talent, they just need to hone in on a sound and perfect it....full text "Lost Weekend" is an explosive collection of songs featuring intricate vocal interplay, massive riffs and towering percussion, thanks in part to production from Pete Stewart, the legendary lead singer/guitarist for alternative rock pioneers Grammatrain. In other words, the project should have no problem falling in line with a diverse influence pool that includes rhythmic heavyweights like Rage Against The Machine, Foo Fighters and Korn, the dueling vocals of Taking Back Sunday and Brand New, crossed with even the pop/punk stylings of Blink-182 and Fall Out Boy.

And while the band might easily be associated with the likes of the above, their sound and style remains all their own. Amongst Lost Weekend's raging riffs on tracks like "Crash and Burn," "See Ya Never," and "I'll Make You Famous" Write This Down lyrically inject positive messages in their music that listeners can relate to and which further separates them from the pack. ...full text Lost Weekend cranks it up a notch in the muscle department, gone are pop-rock anthems like “Center of Attention” and “We Shot the Moon” being replaced with heavy guitars, raspy vocals and minor chords. Bells and whistles need not apply, Write This Down reminds us what rock was like before synth and polished string ensembles became the norm. Right out the gate, “The Older I Get, The Better I Was” sets the tone for the whole album; it’s loud, it’s big, and it’s in your face. “Red 7″ has that signature gang screaming that I have come to associate with Write This Down and just enough double-bass to keep it interesting. Even their cover of No Doubt’s, “Don’t Speak” is Write This Down-ified to the point where it’s recognizable to the original but has enough added grit that it feels like a different song. Matt MacDonald, lead singer of The Classic Crime and former labelmate to Write This Down, makes a guest vocal appearance on “Touch and Go” that gives the song a two-sided feel, like he’s coming at it from a different perspective which adds depth to the song. The only two tracks that stray from the unruly rock are “Cheap Affairs” and “Minnesota Interlude.” Both of these tracks rely heavily on an acoustic guitar and smooth vocals which create a stark contrast from the rest of the album, a stunning dichotomy....full text