I should have written about this album ages ago. To be truthful, I don’t think I wanted to admit how much it meant to me. I had heard of Senses Fail in the past – and loved one of their first singles “Buried A Lie” - but it wasn’t until I read a review on absolutepunk that I decided to give their second full-length Still Searching a try.
I had an idea of what to expect – straight-forward punk rock with a fair amount of melodrama. And, that’s pretty much what I got. I think a lot of my hesitance stems from the band’s lyrics which are a tad ‘high-school.’ They deal with things in a very ‘emo’ over-the-top way. That said, the songs have some gravity to them.
The album is based on the skin cancer that Buddy Nielsen, the lead singer of the band, suffered in the years before the album’s release. The story is told from the point of view of a character's stress and anxiety, including his battles with faith, alcohol, and depression. So, it’s certainly nothing to laugh about. I guess the overall tone is a little much for me at times anyway…
Why do I like this collection so much? I think I’m attracted to the ease of listening. Some of the choruses are simply just too catchy not to sing along with. I also like the combination of singing and occasional screaming. It adds enough bite for my taste. Last, I feel there’s something about the guitar work that is haunting and memorable. Oh, and I must like a bit of melodrama from time to time…
The thing is, I just downloaded Senses Fail’s newest disc Life Is Not A Waiting Room. I’ve only listened through a handful of times but it doesn’t have the same sense of atmosphere. I believe Still Searching will forever define Senses Fail for me and a good portion of my time spent on buses and trains here in Korea. Maybe I’m still searching as well…
Senses Fail official site
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