Zombies! Aliens! Vampires! Dinosaurs! Review

Release Date: Aug 8, 2006
Label: Drive-Thru
Genres: Rock
Number Of Tracks: 11
Most young Southern California bands sound very much the same, but Z!A!V!D! is a good change up from high pitched whiney seventeen year old bands that seem to dominate the clubs lately.

Sound:	7
Lyrics:	5
Impression:	7.3
Overall rating:	6.4
Users rating:	8.6
Comments:	16

overall: 6.7

Featured review by: Ely Rosetta, on august 01, 2006

Sound: I was very surprised when I first heard this CD because I thought the album would sound like Shimmy Shimmy Quarter Turn, their first single which is a third-wave emo/synth-rock song (aka, pop music crap) That gets occasional play time on MTV 2. To my surprise and delight, Z.A.V.D. is nothing like that at all, it is instead a delicious music speedball, one part new wave electronica, and one part indie rock and roll. Most young Southern California bands sound very much the same, but Z.A.V.D. is a good change up from high pitched whiney seventeen year old bands that seem to dominate the clubs lately. // 9

Lyrics and Singing: The lyrics are fairly generic through most of the album. There’s nothing to midblowing or original but that nothing to mind blowing or original. The final track “Two Weeks in Hawaii,” a song about loneliness and despair in paradise, shows that later in their careers, they might turn into a serious band with some fairly deep lyrics. For now however, the lyrics are fairly shallow. // 4

Impression: Hellogoodbye is a “new” new-wave band that is influenced by eighties and nineties music as opposed to the old new wave bands that were influenced by sixties music like The Who and The Beatles. I recommend this album to people that are getting tired of the high-pitched whiney bands dominating the so-cal rock and roll scene and are sick of the classics. It’s a very refreshing new sound. Although I have a bootleg, I will definitely get the actual album when it comes out (go to hellogoodbye.net to hear the first two minutes of all the songs on the album). // 7

overall: 4

Reviewed by: Gerard Way Jr, on may 10, 2008

Sound: I first heard Hellogoodbye's one and only radio single, "Here (In Your Arms)" when it came out, and I did not like it. My feelings were unaltered as I took a listen at the rest of their work. The sound is largely crazy techno-esque computer-generated noises mixed with electric-piano drum machines, as well as simpler electric guitar chords. The result is a rather poor album. // 3

Lyrics and Singing: The lyrics are really, really pathetic and whiny. I think I prefer The All-American Reject's debut album to this. In fact, I'm sure I prefer it. The music is compliant enough with the lyrics and vice versa, but I don't like the music in the first place. If the songs are all about guys crushing from afar on girls, why not make Zombies! Aliens! Vampires! Dinosaurs! (2006) appeal to all audiences, especially those of the male gender? 4/10 for lame, whiny lyrics. Sorry, guys. // 4

Impression: Lyrically, Hellogoodbye remind me a bit of the All-American Rejects. Musically, they have a long way to go. This is alright for a debut album, though I feel that it appeals largely to young women more than guys. I recommend this album to girls wanting to better understand those nerds crushing on them, but guys really will not enjoy it in the least. The best songs, though, are "Touchdown Turnaround," "Homewrecker," and "All Of Your Love." I don't really like this album, so no, I would not buy it again if it were destroyed. In fact, I would most likely have thrown it out or broken it myself. Or maybe I'd just give it to a girlfriend. Guys looking into emo, try The All American Rejects. 5/10 for narrow appeal, poor lyrics, and lame music. Though if they're looking to suceed with computer-generated pop/emo, then they nailed it. // 5

overall: 8.7

Reviewed by: unregistered, on february 19, 2007

Sound: The sound of the album and band is quite good. It is a mix of '80s electronic stuff and the pop bullshit you hear today only better.I Listen to mostly metal like Metallica Trivium Lamb of God etc. but for some odd reason I really like this band. The use of a vocoder and keyboards really fill out the bands sound which I must say is awesome! // 9

Lyrics and Singing: The lyrics are pretty goofy and retarded but that's wat makes them so awesome. They say certain things just for the sake of ryming. LIke in Here (in your arms) "I like where we are when we drive in your car". It's probably one of the most retarded things I have ever heard but that's why it's so good. Most of the albums lyrics are just fun and goofy like that but the final track on the album Two Weeks in Hawaii is much deeper. It reminds me of oldschool Weezer like their album PInkerton. The song is basically about lonliness etc. As for the vocalist Forrest Kline. He has half decent but when he uses the vocoder he sounds really really awesome. that's all I hafta say about that. // 7

Impression: I really really like this album. The band reminds me of Weezer who appear to be down the shitter sadly. They are definately one of my new fav bands and being a metal fan it says something. I love the lyrics and keyboards on the album and I can't think of anything I hate. If this album was lost or stolen I would definately buy it again it's worth every penny! // 10

Comments

yeah but, the lyrics are what make hellogoodbye so ****ing awesome

[bropark08]

sounds good to me, ill buy it after that review! id prefer buying that new slightly stoopid live cd coming out. stoopid is f'ing awesome

[Stop Messin']

I'm not sure what the hell this is, but i sure like the album name lol. Maybe i'll give them a listen.

[toobsok]

name of the band is a bit of a turn off.
havent heard their stuff though.

[kyle5000]

Hello Goodbye is a good song... This album sounds interesting though.

[electric7]

the review for this is reallyu hard hitting and i agree with it. most band's lyrics are shallow today, not really baised of anything. hellogoodbye is just another quickly-signed-radio-pop-
friendly band, and if this is all they can offer, then its not going to last long.

[Ely Rosetta]

thank you electric, your my hero

[Kiotaka]

I dunno, I like Here (In Your Arms)

[DOOdooroCK]

the album sucked, theres only to good songs; Here(in your arms) and touchdown turnaround.

[Cheezy]

Shit. Sorry but i've lsitened to them enough though my girlfriend and they're just the same as many emo bands out there.
And i like synth pop ala panic! at the disco etc.
but this is just a poor effort

[Hello_Goodbye10]

I really like this CD and I love this band (obviously look at my account name) and "cheezy" I dont agree with u. I think they have awesome pop sound, and really easy chords/tabs/watever for us guitar players.

[Hello_Goodbye10]

Here (In your arms) and Dear Jamie...Sincerely me are my favorite songs ever made basically. and i think all you people who dont like the band can have your own opinion...we cant make u like them, but if u look up the chords/tabs/watever they are pretty easy and fun to do. So if your a novice guitar player check 'em out. I also made a review on HelloGoodbye but its still pending so if it gets aproved you can check it out.

[Ca1am1ty]

lol for some reason i really like this band,and i usually listen to like metallica,lamb of god,slayer,behemoth,stuff like that lol,for some reason hellogoodbye is just awesomeness

[Glam-Hammer]

electric7 :
the review for this is reallyu hard hitting and i agree with it. most band's lyrics are shallow today, not really baised of anything. hellogoodbye is just another quickly-signed-radio-pop-
friendly band, and if this is all they can offer, then its not going to last long.

Agreed.
I think its pretty stupid that it's 'cool' to use electronica now with the mainstream whereas stuff like Genghis Tron have being using it for a while.
If you're gonna use electronica in rock music, be intense..not shitty, lollipop music like this band

[richard_edwards]

i used to like hellogoodbye, then they went all mainstream and i got fed up of always hearing here (in your arms).

[HFR]

Never listen to HelloGoodBye Maybe I should give this album a listen.