3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Holding their ground, Nov 13 2005
By Lysa - Published on Amazon.com
This review is from: Anxiety (Audio CD)
I just purchased this cd, and I must say I am thoroughly relieved. So many bands seem to deteriorate after an exceptional first album, but Smile Empty soul has maintained their status as an incredible nu rock band with this most recent cd. The lyrics, voice, and sound, all remain crisp and honest. The tunes are catchy and emotional, just like their last album. Those fans of SeS will not be disappointed.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
new album, same "soul", Jan 6 2006
By Andrew Olson "otaku" - Published on Amazon.com
This review is from: Anxiety (Audio CD)
As a huge fan of Smile Empty Soul's self-titled debut CD, it was a given that I would get this one... which I did and was not disappointed.
Smile Empty Soul really gained fame with two absolutely awesome songs- "Finding Myself", featured on the soundtrack for "The Punisher" and "Who I Am", featured on the "Spider-Man 2" soundtrack -- neither of which are on this CD :( Their new CD is really more of what made Smile Empty Soul famous in the first place.
A definite recommendation for any rock fan.
P.S. Get the UNcensored version. Much better than the "clean" version.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Oh, The Anxiety., Aug 29 2006
By A. Estes - Published on Amazon.com
This review is from: Anxiety (Audio CD)
You may or may not know it, but Smile Empty Soul recorded and were set to release their second album last September, titled "Anxiety." However, due to label problems and growing tension in the band, that album has yet to see the light of day. The fact that the band have now recorded a third album, titled "Vultures" (set for release on October 24th, via Bieler Bros. Records) seals the fate of this recording. "Anixety," unfortunately, is a tough find. I had to buy mine, an advanced copy, online for more than it would have cost had it actually hit the shelves.
Is it worth seeking? Most definitely. One has to wonder why this album really was shelved. Afterall, it is obviously superior to the debut, strengthening both the lyrical content and musicianship. Frontman Sean Danielsen continues on with the familiar angsty themes such as drug addiction, poverty, war and depression. Fans of the first album won't be disappointed, as there are just improvements over what the band did before, with little stylistic changes. Songs such as "Bright Side" and "Don't Need You" -- the album's unofficial single -- are just as good as, if not better than anything on the first album. Others like "Holes" and "To The Ground" show a more melodic side, while "Refill Me" "Saturday" and "Never Again" are the more standard modern rock fare. The surprisingly catchy "End Of The World," which closes out the album, remains a highlight, and goes hand in hand with the political "God's Army."
Overall, there are very few bad spots. "Fight Of A Suburban Couple" features over-the-top, cheesy lyrics, and "California's Lonely" starts off good, but ends up a dud. I guess Smile Empty Soul's strong spot never were the lyrics -- so don't expect much improvement on that end. As it is though, it would have been nice if "Anxiety" had seen the light of day. If you can find it, I recommend it.