Search - This Day & Age :: The Bell and The Hammer

A Whole New Direction!! An Absolute Atmospheric Masterpiece!

D. R. Saxton | Bemus Pt. N.Y. USA | 08/28/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I did a review on WAKING ASHLAND last year and it was my favorite CD of 2005, hands-down. I honestly didn't think a CD would come along that moved me that much for a long, long time! Well, the time came sooner than I ever expected. This is the best collection of songs I've heard since the album-oriented rock of the 70's! The atmosphere created right from the first track sets the tone for all 58 minutes plus on this gem. Even my teenage son, who loves EMO- screamo styled music, said he was intrigued by the vocal harmonies and the forlorn sound of the lead singer's voice. The music is almost haunting and desolate but it pulls you in and you get hooked. My first listen to the CD was in my car and I was having a conversation so I didn't pay close enough attention to really notice all the amazing instrumentation that was taking place. When I got home and put on the head phones, that's when I was completely blown away and taken into this second offering by THIS DAY AND AGE! THIS CD IS NOTHING LIKE THE FIRST CD!!! I really liked their first CD, but this one shows a lot more maturity and musicianship. There is no question that this band from Buffalo is the real deal! Now, they just need some publicity. I really enjoyed the use of the Fender Rhodes piano and the various keyboards that are featured throughout each song. The harmonies are some of the best I've heard and the guitars compliment the music extremely well. If you like WAKING ASHLAND, MAE, ROOKIE of the YEAR, COLDPLAY, or KEANE, you will definitely enjoy this CD. I heavily recommend this CD. It is a breath of fresh air, and not the same old stuff that everyone has been conditioned to like!!"

Incredible music from an awesome band.

B. Tober | Buffalo, NY, USA | 08/28/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"well basically i wanted to write an entry on how incredible this album is. in all seriousness, it is one of the most musically inspiring albums i've heard in a while, and that's saying a lot coming from me.



despite having listened to the disc nearly non-stop on a 16-hour drive, i really don't want to comment on individual tracks but rather on the compilation as a whole.



if you have not heard of this day & age, i encourage you to check it out - you may be pleasantly surprised. if you've avoided the band because of "always leave the ground", their previous album (which was rather emo, albeit not "whiny" emo), you really should give them another chance because "the bell and the hammer" is nearly completely different in almost all aspects.



however, if you are already a this day & age fan, i can almost guarantee that you will enjoy this album regardless of how different it is from "always leave the ground". "the bell and the hammer" shows a great deal of musical maturity on the part of the band. there's a whole new set of influences apparent in this work, including a lot of ambient undertones. the whole album places a strong emphasis on tight harmonies and smooth lyrics. jeff (lead vocals) has a great, clean voice that complements the instrumentals well and is not whiny, harsh, or too overpowering.



all in all, you really owe it to yourself to check this album out."

Darker and deeper

Joshua D. Beachy | Sullivan, IL USA | 11/17/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"First off, if you caught the reference in the album's title: kudos! If not, read C. S. Lewis's The Magician's Nephew.



Moving right along, This Day & Age is one of my favorite bands. Contributing to my brooding melancholy is the fact that soon after this album's release the band left us from an indefinite hiatus. Why do the pretty ones always die young? I say "pretty" because this album is quite pretty in its own way. There is a subtle beauty to songs like "Eustace" and "Of Course We've All Seen The Sun" that reminds me of the beautiful things in life. But there is a melancholy throughout this album. It is far from a "happy" CD, though not depressing. I would say the feel of it is best described by Straylight Run's ep Prepare to Be Wrong: moody and dark. Two words I thought I would never utter when describing This Day & Age.



The best tracks on the album are "More of a Climb, Less of a Walk," "All We Thought We Could," and the title track. For the lyrics in these three songs, this album would be worth it. But if you happen to be one of those who cares more about music than lyrics, you won't be disappointed. "Atmospheric" seems to be a word used to describe this album. I think it's fitting considering that the music gives you the sense of floating.



With The Bell and The Hammer, This Day & Age have pulled away from the usual confines of their genre to blend more influences into the traditional "piano-driven pop rock" ("Walking Contradictions" "Always Strait Ahead"). It's much more of an indie album than their last album, but it is still easy to see that it is still the same band (see songs like "Sara Poor Sara" and "Winter Winter Spring.")



To be honest, I am a bit bias since this is my favorite album of 2006, but for good reason."