Siren Song of the Counter Culture

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Editorial Reviews:

Album Description
Rise Against are a political punk band from Chicago who recorded Siren Song of the Counter-Culture with Rage Against the Machine producer GGGarth and Rage and Nirvana mixer Andy Wallace. The four band members came together from punk bands 88 Fingers Louie, Pinhead Circus, and the Enemy, and the emo band Baxter, and play old school punk (e.g., Descendants) with a strong political point of view.

Siren Song of the Counter-Culture has drawn rave reviews from key publications. Rolling Stone praised the band's "rousing, intelligent fury," while Alternative Press said "the band's engrossing hardcore is an urgent siren song that's appropriate for these angst-ridden, uncertain times."

Customer Reviews: Read 96 more reviews...

4 out of 5 stars

It's a lot heavier than the whiney brat, mainstream "punk" September 27, 2004
25 out of 33 found this review helpful

What's good about it?
A faded, fuzzy punk riff establishes "Paper Wings". That far off riff is quickly replaced by a booming version of it, topped with driving drumbeats, rugged vocals, and power chords a plenty. The hook for "Life Less Frightening" evokes some of The Ramones more commercial style riffs. You know, the three-chord change and the punk style guitar muting. The dual vocal harmonies in the chorus are a nice touch. The drums hit you like a machine gun on "Anywhere But Here", and I gotta say, the vocals may be a little rough around the edges, but they are still manage to be tuneful. You'll think that Rise Against are going to slow it down on "Give It All" with its ominous opening sequence, but before you know it, the rhythm kicks into a break-neck pace. You might be a bit taken back by the acoustic intro on "Dance for Rain", because let's face it; punk and acoustic don't really share the same bed. However, intense vocals and punishing rhythms destroy that union. Little guitar licks and tempo changes really strokes this track.

Anything bad?
Nope.

Bottom Line
Overall, I would describe Rise Against's latest album as a cross between Jimmy Eat World and early Offspring. The songs are fun and easy to sing along with. It's a lot heavier than the whiney brat, mainstream "punk" that's over played on the radio.

4 out of 5 stars

The best hardcore punk album in a long time! September 11, 2005
10 out of 11 found this review helpful

Rise Against is a band I have always liked, ever since they released their first album back in the day. To me it seems like punk is getting worse and worse as time goes by, but Rise Against seems to be getting better and better with each passing album, and here on Siren Song of The Counter Culture everything seems to be working perfectly. The vocals are great and the guitar is just as amazing this time around, and the lyrics/songwriting has never been better I dont know if they will ever top this album.

The album opens with maybe the hardest song on the album, 'State Of The Union' which features some killer vocals and is a great rocker to start off the album. perfect opener! 'The First Drop' is pretty cool but nothing really to stand out. 'Life Less Frightening' is a cool song one of the better ones on the album, mostly screaming on this song instead of singing but it really works for this song, I just hope that all the screaming doesnt kill the amazing vocals the guy has. 'Paper Wings' was the first single off the album and it didnt really do a whole lot on the radio or on the charts but it is a really really good song so I dont see why. 'Blood To Bleed' is good but not really special, but the next song sure is. 'To Them These Streets Belong' is one of the best songs on the album and one of the best song I have heard in a really long time, it starts off all slow and goes full throtal in to total punk and it's just plain amazing, a truly great song. The next song is my favorite song on the album, 'Tip The Scales' is such a killer song, even though the guitarriff is pretty repetitive I still love it and this is easily the best song on the album anyone who hears this song wount be able to help but love it to death! It's gonna be a classic if they ever release it! 'Anywhere But Here' 'Give It All' and 'Dancing For Rain' all have really great lyrics and are killer songs the only problem is that they sound kinda the same, except for the intro to dancing thats pretty cool. The next song is the big single on the album and it is the most original song on the album because it is played on an acoustic guitar and it shows what talent this band has a as well as diversity. The lyrics are amazing and the vocals give me the chills, this is truly a beautifull song, 'Swing life Away' is just simply put and amazing song. The album closes with 'Rumors Of My Demise Have Been Greatly Exaggerated' and it is the absolute best song to end the album, it's hard fast and in your face and it leaves you want more, it does exactly what all album closers should do!

The Siren Song Of The Counter Culter by Rise Against is one of the better albums I have bought in a long time and is with out a doubt the best punk album in the last 10 years so do yourself a favor and pick it up!

1 out of 5 stars

Rise Against...Sponsored by Coca-Cola, Nextel and Nike... November 11, 2004
9 out of 44 found this review helpful

A band of "antiestablishmentarians" signed to a major label...do I see a contradiction in terms here? Rage Against the Machine for the new millenium masses, Rise Against is the epitome of what is wrong with the music industry today. How on the one hand can you claim to want to change the system but then utilize some of the most evil and ultracorporate tools to do this? (i.e. MTV, Dreamworks!) The music is pop-core punk at best and the message is clear: Do as I say, not as I do. If you want to incite change through music then: 1. Sign to an independent label or create your own label. 2. DO NOT under any circumstances make a friggin video for play on MTV. 3. Tour Relentlessly 4. Do Not take your fans for idiots 5. Back your message with actions not hollow words. These guys are the lowest common denominator in the music industry.

1 out of 5 stars

what? September 2, 2005
8 out of 18 found this review helpful

I bought this record for the soft acoustic-pop song "swing life away" expecting the rest of the album to sound similar. WTF! Its all screaming! How misleading is that. Download swing life away instead. (Actually, nothing i've said here is true. I really like this record and most of the songs on it. the double and triple layer vocals are awesome! but i couldn't resist, considering it was such an obvious thing to complain about)

1 out of 5 stars

Beware the Bait and Switch September 9, 2005
8 out of 33 found this review helpful

I first heard of this band with the release of the single "Swing Life Away", which I thought was good enough to merit a listen to the entire album. The album as a whole is nothing like the single. It is very punk rock with lots of unintelligible screaming, empty lyrics and poor vocals from the lead singer. After researching the band (which I should have done first) I found that they've had a few albums before this one. It's clear to me now. They were a medicore, no-name band so their record label released a "pop" sounding song to trick the unsuspecting into buying the album. So if "Swing Life Away" is what brought you here, then do yourself a favor and just download it.

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