This is probably the newest and most unknown band review I've done yet, and maybe will ever do. However, these guys stuck out to me because I'm from Indiana, so their Indianapolis-base makes them kind of seem like hometown boys to me. Not only that, but maybe it's because they are hometown boys who have the confidence to do what I never did: actually believe in myself enough to start a band and try to make it in the big, bad, over-saturated world of pop-punk.
So, I went to the Blank Pages facebook page and played the five songs from there. Let's just get it out there right now that you'll never see my review a band or an album of which I'm not at least fond, to some degree. I know that doesn't seem like equal journalism, but why would I want to spend enough time listening to a band or an album that I didn't like just to be able to review it? And anyway, I'm not going to put a band down just because I didn't like them--everyone has different tastes. Unless we're talking about Nickelback or Hinder in which case they are terrible.
I liked the sound of this band right off the bat. They caught me enough on the first time through the album that it made me want to listen again and actually "get" the album, and that's the first step. They have a kind of early/mid-blink sound, but softer, that comes off right away on the first song, "Goodbye." I really liked how they ended this one. Next up was "Reach For the Stars," which is my favorite of the five songs. The chorus is really catchy, and it was definitely this song that brought me back for the second time through the album. If I chose one song to download from the album, this would be the one. Next is just a clip of the song "Always," which I also liked, at least what I heard of it--seems like it might be an overall softer song. "Just Fine" is good; I'm really down for the dual voices, as always--my second favorite. "Everything and More" is also just a short clip, and it seems okay. It's not my favorite, but I like the lyrics.
All in all, I'm rooting for this band. I really like their sound and I hope that in a few years I can say I reviewed them back when. My advice to this band would be to explore the vocals--the back-up on "Just Fine" sounded like he had a pretty good voice too, so possibly give that voice a few more parts. I'm only saying this because while the current lead has a good voice, it sounds like any other pop-punk band's lead singer at this point. Not necessarily a bad thing, it just doesn't set you apart right away. Do a few more change-ups with the song order, like the bonus lines at the end of "Goodbye." Those are my opinions, take it or leave it.
Check out the band and get the album, which is apparently on iTunes, if you like them. The link to their facebook page is https://www.facebook.com/#!/blankpagesband. And to Blank Pages, good job guys. If you ever need another review, opinions on new songs, or whatever, hit me up on twitter, @noiseaboutmusic.
