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Catalyst

New Found Glory - Catalyst Audio CD

A fair review of the New Found Glory "Catalyst" Audio CD. Please note that the below review is the views of the authors, and authors only. You can get a complete list of all New Found Glory reviews here, or go back to the New Found Glory tabs.

Band: New Found Glory
Title: Catalyst
Rating:

Release Date: 2004-05-18
Media: Audio CD

Tracks: 1: Intro 2: All Downhill from Here 3: This Disaster 4: Truth of My Youth 5: I Don't Wanna Know 6: Your Biggest Mistake 7: Doubt Full 8: Failure's Not Flattering 9: Over the Head, Below the Knees 10: Ending in Tragedy 11: At Least I'm Known for Something 12: I'd Kill to Fall Asleep 13: No News Is Good News 14: Who Am I 15: Making of the Video /All Downhill from Here [Documentary]

An album I've listened to countless times
I've had "Catalyst" ever since it came out in 2004 and have listened to it a lot when I first got it and for two years or so. I don't know what it is about this album, but even with each repeated listen to it, I can't get enough. Then came a period where I only listened to it occasionally. However, within the past, couple of months I've dug this CD out and once again listened the heck outta it.
Now that I look back, and regardless of how long it may take one to realize, this is a great release by New Found Glory that proves awesome even after repeated listens. Here's a run through of some of the songs to give you a preview:
"Intro": A 36-second intro, showing the band playing at a very fast tempo with blasting guitars and anthemic lyrics. More in the melodic hardcore subgenre instead of the pop-punk subgenre, but a great way to kick off the album.
"All Downhill From Here": Probably most people have at least heard OF this song, but I'm sure most people will recognize the melody once they hear it. Thick, catchy riffs and a sing-a-long chorus make this one of my favorites and one of the catchiest off the album.
"This Disaster": A heavier, slower and even more melodic song than "All Downhill From Here". This one shows the band writing matured, relationship-based lyrics and accompanying them to hypnotic guitar lines, a catchy hook and an awesome chorus.
"Truth of My Youth": Not as heavy as "This Disaster" but faster and more energetic. Well-developed lyrics about reminiscing one's younger days, and great drum fills. This song has more of a modernized garage-rock sound to it.
"I Don't Wanna Know": A more acoustic-based ballad that goes towards a power ballad towards the end. Very sweet lyrics, a sing-a-long, almost nursery-rhyme sounding chorus, and some arena-rock styled guitar chords thrown in towards the end. A truly great ballad.
"Your Biggest Mistake": Because of the fast tempo and the rollicking guitar riffs in this song, it may sound a little goofier, but this is a great blast of riff-driven, heavy-drumming, sing-a-long energy.
"Doubt Full": A heavy and melodic guitar line open, with a slower verse in 6/8, giving the song a bit of a slower feel as if being on a boat in the waves. The lyrics are also very interesting, with lines such as "This letter explains everything/ The content is the truth/ Each letter could cut like daggers/ If I decide to finally give it to you".
"Failure's Not Flattering": Despite the negative-sounding song title, this song has a very poppy, catchy hook, melodic '80s sounding keyboards in the chorus, muted guitar riffs in the verse, and is overall very catchy and even empowering, with lyrics such as "Don't leave this rock unturned/ Because you might like what you find/ A sureshot hit with your name attached to it/ Will you keep me in mind?".
"I'd Kill To Fall Asleep": Once again, the band shows us their crossover style of melodic hardcore and pop-punk with huge, blasting guitar riffs with a lot of melody, and a very hypnotic, seductive-sounding chorus. The balladic-breakdown is also adds a very nice, late-night touch. Awesome song all around!
"No News Is Good News": A commentary on today's world and how all that seems to be on the news is negative, this one's a little softer than the previous track. Melodic guitar lines in D major with a laid-back drum beat in the chorus, then we kick into a garage-rock styled chorus. Overall a very listenable and loveable song, it makes for a great cruising song at sundown on the highway!

Well as you can see I definitely love this album. There's lots of great songs that I've listened to repeatedly, and haven't gotten tired of. This is one of the few albums that I've listened to more times that I can think of. With "Catalyst", New Found Glory shows that they can combine the intensity of melodic hardcore with the catchiness of pop-punk and throw some great music your way. This album seemed to be a big influence on such more recent bands as Escape The Fate and A Day To Remember, both great bands in my opinion. Well that about sums up this review, but if you want an awesome album that hopefully you'll listen to at least almost as much as I do, get this! Thanks for the time, and peace.

Classic and Innovative, But Slightly Forgettable
They were unapologetic in their style, and they had fun. Picking up where Blink-182 leaves off in the world of pop/punk, New Found Glory was one of the first in the genre to really bring an accessible album to the masses without a 'parental guidance suggested' on the label. "Catalyst" was their first with a major label, which of course made them more "radio-friendly. " The result is a huge step forward in the genre, and even though they never had a bona-fide radio hit to the caliber of "Yellowcard," it still left an impression.

Nowadays, one could define this as the 'NFG sound,' where the music never slows, because the band never wants you to turn down the volume. It's more punk then pop, and it mostly stays this way the whole record. Unfortunately, it gets monotonous after awhile, which is fine if you absolutely love the sound, otherwise, not so much. Also, if you try to remember half the songs and hour later, it's very hard. Maybe it's because they're short, or maybe it's because it blends after awhile. Either way, I wish they'd switched it up a bit every once in awhile.

But not all is lost, as the radio single "All Downhill From Here" is still a classic, and it really defines the sound of the album. Then there's arguably the band's best song, "No News is Good News. " Why is this one of their best? Because lyrically not only is it totally different then anything the band did or has done, but when did you ever hear Yellowcard, The Starting Line or Blink-182 talk about politics like this? It's blatantly political, but also insanely catchy, and it has some awesome music and guitar work to go with it. If nothing else, it's their most underrated song.

Overall, it may not rock the hardest, or win the most Grammy's, and it may not even sound all that great now, but there are some true highlights, and this classic is certainly worth a listen. Sure, you may be laughing at the very idea of calling this a classic, but call me up in 20 years and tell me otherwise. .

An Album that Hits the Mark
My favorite moments here are when Jordan begins singing a song slow, then the band explodes into a fast-paced frenzy, like on the last track. This 2004 release by New Found Glory has it all: energy, emotion, meaningful lyrics, blasting riffs, and a few more mature, pensive tunes. The sing-along choruses of "This Disaster" and "All Downhill From Here" provide some catchy, energetic melodic bliss, and the absolute masterpiece is the track "Truth of My Youth. " This track is sonically flawless, where the melody and harmony mix with the instruments and show just how pop-punk is done. This track along with Rufio's "Still" are perhaps the two greatest pop-punk songs ever written. Some of the material on the CD drags a bit, but with 15 tracks on the album, one could expect that. This album is packed with more singles than a Las Vegas Night Club, and as of 2007 has proven to be this band's high water mark so far.

not much new to be said...but this IS a great album
They're never let me down and every CD is different and great. I've always been a fan of New Found Glory, since nothing gold can stay to coming home. Though this album may sound a little bit higher pitched than past albums, it is in no way worse. Almost every song on the album is great and I listen to it often.

theyre a 3 star band. bottom line
i say this. . because. . . while they can be musically powerful. . . the vocals have always been. . and will probably always will be. . . a little weak. sounds like hes trying to force too much sound out of his mouth and some goes out of his nose. it gets annoying, no matter how catchy the song is. this is one of those bands that will have a constant 16 year old fan base. i remember when i got their first album. . . it was ok. got their seecond album thinking. . . "hey. . . they can only get better" but. . they just got more experienced and not much better. this album would have been so much better if he took some voice lessons. whining aint so hot no more. .

You can see a complete list of all New Found Glory discography, or go back to the New Found Glory tabs. There is also a good guide on how to read guitar tabs here.