Saint Asonia: Self-titled Album Review

https://open.spotify.com/album/70PgbB3WDDwNW9NRi35C7N

Let's flash back a bit.

Late 2012. Post-grunge band Three Days Grace just had a nasty breakup with their now-former lead singer Adam Gontier. There was a lot of drama and shit, but there were two important things this led to.

The first was Three Days Grace gaining their new lead singer Matt Walst, which of course culminated in the album Human earlier this year, and I will stand by my unpopular opinion that that album was fantastic and one of the best of 2015 so far, as well as one of the band's best albums in years.

The other was the forming of the band we'll be talking about today, Saint Asonia, a supergroup formed by Gontier alongside other members of popular post-grunge and modern rock acts, such as Finger Eleven and Staind.

Now, when I first heard of this big collaborative project, I was really excited. Said excitement only grew upon hearing the first two singles from the album, Better Place and Blow Me Wide Open, two of the best songs on the album.

So, when the album dropped earlier this morning, I knew I had to check it out.

And it was absolutely worth it.

I think the first major standout point about this album is Adam Gontier himself. His vocal performance on this album is absolutely on-point, maybe his best performance since Three Days Grace's One-X days. He's rough and angry on the more heavy tracks like Dying Slowly and of course the aforementioned Better Place, but there are quite a few moments on this album where he show some really genuine emotion (we'll get to those later). He's a really talented and passionate rock vocalist and it really shows here on this album.

But a great vocalist needs some good music backing him, and the instrumentation on this album is fantastic.

The guitar work is fantastic. Throughout this album, the guitars are chugging, heavy, and powerful, fitting the mood of most of the songs perfectly. Mike Mushok of Staind really stands out in both his riffs and his solos, especially the latter as the guitar solos make for some of the best moments on the album. From the quick shredding in Fairy Tale to the great conclusion of Happy Tragedy (which is otherwise admittedly one of the weaker tracks on the album. Still good, but a bit generic) to the incredibly powerful one on the closing track Leaving Minnesota, the guitar work on this album is absolutely stellar.

That's to say nothing of the bass work, which is actually really prominent throughout this album and really helps shape the album's heavy sound, unlike a lot of albums where the bass guitar is just kind of in the background. Corey Lowrey of the band Eye Empire shows some real talent on the bass guitar, and really helps sort of shape the album into what it is, especially on tracks like the fantastic King Of Nothing, another one of the best songs on the album.

Let's talk about some of the individual tracks on this record. I already mentioned the two singles Better Place and Blow Me Wide Open, which are two of the most aggressive songs here on this album and two of the best. This is post-grunge at its absolute finest, the vocals and instruments just coming to make something heavy and aggressive. It's pretty awesome.

But just because this album is aggressive most of the time doesn't mean it doesn't have its more stripped-back and slow moments. Let's talk about the track Waste My Time, possibly the best song on the entire album. A slow, acoustic guitar-driven love ballad with some of Gontier's most effective songwriting to date. Another great example is Trying To Catch Up With The World, a very stripped-back song dealing with fear and regret in a really powerful way, especially with Gontier's performance as he sounds almost on the verge of tears in the verses.

The mix of angsty, aggressive rock and slow, emotionally-driven ballads strikes a perfect balance, making this record an emotional experience while still being a fantastically heavy rock record.

If you're like me and actually really like a lot of post-grunge and mainstream rock, I guarantee you are likely to love this album. This is one of the best debut albums of the year so far, as Saint Asonia proves to be a great team and an extremely promising new artist, and I'm highly anticipating even more from them in the future.

BEST SONGS: Waste My Time, Trying To Catch Up With The World, Better Place, Blow Me Wide Open, King Of Nothing, Let Me Live My Life, Fairy Tale, Leaving Minnesota (especially that guitar solo... DAMN.)

WORST SONGS: Happy Tragedy

Final Score:

8/10

The Top 10 Essential Summer Songs

Summer.

I. love. Summer. The heat, the pool-going, the beach, the weather, the lack of school, everything. Three months of freedom and happiness, best time of the year.

Now, as with any time of year, Summer needs a soundtrack. Much like Deck The Halls to Christmas and Thriller to Halloween, there are quite a few songs that I feel are essential to every Summer playlist to keeps the vibes going and the times good.

Because of this, I've decided to compile a list of what I believe to be 10 of the greatest Summer songs of all time. Whether it's explicitly about the season or just has a summer-y feel, it's all about the music that captures the best parts of the Summertime.

So sit back, pull up a beach chair, and grab a fruity drink, 'cuz we're counting them down right here. Let's get it started!

#10. "In Too Deep" by Sum 41

Pop-punk has always been a very Summer-y genre in my eyes. Maybe it's the generally upbeat and shimmering sound the genre tends to have or the themes of teenage rebellion and freedom that I associate with the feeling of freedom the Summer brings to those in school, but the genre and the season have always had close ties in my mind.

Sum 41's In Too Deep is one of the best examples of summery pop-punk there is. The anthemic chorus and upbeat instrumentation give the song a very exciting feel, which helps capture the best of both pop-punk and pool party music extraordinarily well. 

It also has one of the most Summer-y videos I've ever seen with diving, Slip'n'Sliding, and general teenage partying.

Pop-punk may be a polarizing genre, but at least this song proves to be an absolute blast.

#9. "Sunshine" by David Guetta and Avicii

A delightful slice of uplifting house music courtesy of two of the biggest DJs currently working, this is the perfect Summer party song. A vocal-less EDM track that's got energy, an upbeat vibe, an explosive crescendo and beat drop that gives off the Summer feeling oh so very well.

David Guetta and Avicii's styles blend phenomenally, making the song as much of a banger as it is an uplifting and sonically beautiful track.

It's a bright, sunny blast of house music greatness that's sure to get any pool party up and going.

#8."Mr. Brightside" by The Killers

As awesome as this song is year-round (because let's be honest here, this song is a god damn classic in every regard), I always find myself putting it on in the late spring and summer months more than anything else.

Maybe it's the soaring synths, semi-washed out vocals, or twinkling guitars, but this song has always screamed "sunny weather, driving with the top down (even though I don't own a car but you get the point) on a hot June day, maybe having a cold drink" to me.

It's a perfect fit for that summertime hype, and whether you're blasting it in June or December, it's still a memorable and delightful 2000's rock classic.

#7. "Summertime" by The Sundays

An excellently-composed piece of 90's pop with guitar, horns, pretty vocals, and a very jazzy vibe, this alternative pop track proves to be an absolute beachside, poolside, etc. essential.

A song longing for that sort of epic Summer romance, Sundays lead singer Harriet Wheeler delivering a smooth and beautiful vocal performance, all backed up with a bouncy and shiny instrumental that just makes want to get up and have a good time, Summertime is an absolute gem of the 90's, and as the name implies, a great fit for the summertime.

#6. "Summer Jam"/"Sun Is Up" by RIO feat. U-Jean

Anyone who wants a good banger for their Summer party playlist, look no further than these two excellent pieces of club music.

Two songs that come packed with pounding production, sunny vibe, lyrics that perfectly capture the Summer party feeling, great vocals courtesy of U-Jean, and an overall excellent energy make Summer Jam truly live up to its name, and also Sun Is Up really good too.

Not too much more to say except these two tracks are just good times all the way through and definite Summer classics.

#5. "Every Teardrop Is A Waterfall" by Coldplay

One of Coldplay's most infectious tracks, Every Teardrop Is A Waterfall is a sunshiny and energetic blast of color and energy that lines up with some of the band's best work and with some of the most Summer-y songs ever made.

The electronic production and guitar work alongside Chris Martin's soaring vocals match the optimistic lyrics and give the song the energy and power needed to be an ultimate Summer anthem. It's a colorful, joyful song that exudes pure happiness, making it a perfect fit for the season and one of Coldplay's best.

#4. "Beachin' by Jake Owen

I've never cared much for or about country music one way or the other, in fact as much as I follow the pop charts I tend to ignore it completely (hence why the likes of Florida Georgia Line have never incited any rage in me whatsoever and no country songs were on either of my 2014 lists), but Beachin' was a huge exception.

From the second I first heard it in the summer of last year, I was in love with the laid-back video, reggae-inspired instrumentation, Jake Owen's smooth-as-hell vocals, and of course the very Summery music video.

It became a regular in my Summer playlists the second I heard it, and I had it on repeat all of that summer and a good portion of this Summer as well.

Beachin' is the definition of a beach song. It's chill, light, relaxed, yet still sunny and bright enough to be a delightful listen. It's bro-country done right in all the best ways, and it will be a Summer staple, at least for me, for years to come.

#3. "Young Blood" by The Naked And Famous

I love this song.

I honestly, truly, from the bottom of my heart, adore this song. Not only is the production breathtaking, the vocals absolutely beautiful, and the vibe energetic and uplifting as hell, but it is a Summer anthem through and through.

The washed out guitars, synth work, and vocals all weave together flawlessly. The verses and chorus' soaring energy contrast with the more relaxed, atmospheric, washed-out two bridges, making the song a rollercoaster of feelings, feelings of innocence, freedom, happiness, ecstasy, exactly what this season is all about.

In every conceivable way, this song is perfect. An electronic, pop, and rock music masterpiece. If this song is not on your playlist, all I can say is that you are doing yourself a great disservice.

#2. "Summer Paradise" by Simple Plan feat. Sean Paul

Summer Paradise is a Summer song in every sense of the word.

Simple Plan and Sean Paul may seem like a strange combination, but the two fit together surprisingly well, especially in the context of a Summer song, as the song is tinged with the vibes and feelings of Summer in both the smooth, acoustic, beachy instrumentation, and the lyrics.

Said lyrics tell a story of a man longing for those long Summer days spent on the beach having fun and being free, a sense of nostalgia for those happy teenage Summer adventures, and Simple Plan frontman Pierre Bouvier just sells it.

Sean Paul may seem like he would clash, but his verse is actually one of the best parts of the song.

As a whole, this is a song that just works. It's a touching story of nostalgia, a great collaboration between two very different artists, and as a whole, just a perfect Summer song.

#1. "Always Summer" by Yellowcard

I can say, with no doubt whatsoever, that this is the greatest Summer song of all time.

I can barely describe what a beautiful and uplifting experience this song is. Every element, the guitars, the vocals, the lyrics, the violin... it all just weaves together so intricately, so perfectly. The chorus is fantastic, the instrumentation is bright and almost heavenly, and that violin solo... downright orgasmic.

No song makes me feel the very spirit of Summer quite like this one. It's something special, something that I can't quite put into words.

Not only is my favorite Summer song of all time, it's one of my favorite songs of all time period. Absolute musical perfection.

And that's it for my Top 10 Summer songs! Thank you all for reading, I hope you all have the best Summer vacation ever, and I'll see you next time.