Saosin - Saosin

Saosin is a consistent, well-produced, but certainly contrived effort; it stretches the emo/pop genre on occasions but is seemingly content with using by-the-numbers formulas as a substitute for breaking genre norms

One of the biggest criticisms that anyone can volley over at the current crop of post-hardcore/emo outfits finding their way onto greater pastures is their seemingly unrelenting self-importance either bestowed upon them by their own mouths, or by those who blindly follow in every song leaked, every MySpace bulletin released, and just about anytime a band member celebrates their birthday. Sure enough, much talk has surrounded Saosin ever since they burst on to the collective psyche of every swoopy-haired kid, propelled more than anything, by former lead vocalist Anthony Green’s incredible vocal prowess. And of course, all the talk turned to them again when he surreptitiously departed the group to do Circa Survive, leaving a rather large hole to fill and lingering questions about whether the group was really anything but a rather ordinary band with a great singer. Sure enough, they did what any intelligent ordinary band would do and recruited someone whose voice bears an uncanny resemblance to that of Green’s.

Several releases on, Saosin embark on the perilous journey of the major label game and living up to the expectations held close to every scene kid’s heart. And upon initial consumption, Saosin is at least a far more interesting listen to anything they’ve previously done. The music itself, rooted deeply in the heavily melodic side of post-hardcore, still trots out to a more mid-tempo tone; building upon some solid instrumental groundwork seen previously in acts like Armor for Sleep and Glassjaw. While the rest of the band seem content in being the backdrop in which (current vocalist Cove) Reber’s vocals flail from one side of the range spectrum to the other, they do enough to maintain some level of energy through the songs- so that the slower paced ones (like “Finding Home” and “Come Close”) can keep up with those exhibiting a bit more exuberance (“It’s So Simple” and “Follow and Feel”).

The first single, the aptly titled “Voices,” is the benchmark for the album’s heart-carved sentiments; an anthemic tune in which the best of the band’s cathartic outpouring and musical abilities mesh together in almost perfect synthesis. It is however, not the album’s apex- that is reserved for “You’re Not Alone,” undoubtedly the current standard for youthful naiveté and poetically sound music coming together for a skin-tingling, “walking off into the sunset” homage to hope and positivity wrapped up in theatrical emo monster-balladry. It’s the “Jack & Diane” for the Laguna Beach generation.

These highlights aside, the rest of the album is done convincingly enough- even if it never really excels. A lot of the material seems to blend together and after a few listens, the choruses and verses, along with Reber’s singing, mesh together so much that few moments stand out as remarkable. Saosin is a consistent, well-produced, but certainly contrived effort; it stretches the emo/pop genre on occasions but is seemingly content with using by-the-numbers formulas and vaudevillian romance as a substitute for breaking genre norms. They are certainly on top of the pile, and the kids are going to love this one- but it would be hard pressed to believe that they will somehow break free from the chains of unlikely possibilities. Even though Saosin are one of the best at what they do, they seem destined to forever chase the ghosts of lofty expectations.

(Capitol Records)