Product Description

'Ocean Avenue' is the major label debut album from Americanfive piece, Yellowcard. Produced by Neal Avron (Everclear, New Found Glory), the album sees the band update the popularSoCal pop-punk sound with help from classically trained violinist Sean Mackin.

Track Listing

1. Way Away
2. Breathing
3. Ocean Avenue
4. Empty Apartment
5. Life Of A Salesman
6. Only One
7. Miles Apart
8. Twentythree
9. View From Heaven
10. Inside Out
11. Believe
12. One Year, Six Months
13. Back Home

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #22053 in Music
• Released on: 2004-03-29
• Number of discs: 1
• Format: Enhanced

Customer Reviews

A great pop-punk album
I have to thank Ben Roberts for getting me into this band and recommending this album.
When I bought my first albums from Yellowcard, I decided to buy both of them at the same time and I'm glad I did. Paper walls is an incredible album and my 2nd favourite album ever, behind Angels and airwaves 'We don't need to whisper'. Lights and sounds took a bit of getting use to, but now I love it. It seems that with every album Yellowcard keep getting better and better.

I think the sound of this album is nicer than Lights and sounds, but musically and instrumentally Lights and sounds is much better. The drumming for example has quite a lot of rolls and is similar to punk drumming on this album, whereas on the next 2 it is much tidier. LP has to be one of the best drummers out there and I take my hat off to him with the drumming on this album. The beats are fast and it is constant, so he must have pretty tough wrists! The guitar work is also not so great on this album, whereas on Paper walls it is incredible. There was another guitarist bought on for that album and Ben Harper was replaced. The funny thing is that there's no bass player in the band, and the one that was bought in for the next album was behind the scenes. One thing that I want to say, which nobody else probably has is about the CD centre of the album, with a letter to Ryan saying that he was caught drinking alcohol underage and that he has to meet with the school governor. I think this was supposed to represent the whole teenage life aura.

I love the sound of Ocean avenue. Everything about it is fantastic and it is a standout track both musically and lyrically. It is my 2nd favourite released Yellowcard song, behind Light up the sky, which says a lot for an album that is half as good as Paper walls. This album has quite a hopeful and pop sound. It is a good album for the summer, reliving past times and dreaming. First of all, as a pop-punk album it is amazing. The violin is such a unique and tasteful touch and that's one thing I love about Yellowcard. Compared to Good Charlotte's first album, this is incredible. The songs are serious and Ryan is a great songwriter. His song writing is mature, unlike the Madden brothers' first attempt. Ocean avenue is the standout track and is certainly the best.

The opening track Way away, comes in with a darker sound to the rest of the album. It is about moving away, which was influenced by the band's move from Florida to California. It's about escaping and I love that concept. It's quite heavy in the intro and Ryan comes in emotional, saying `I think I'm breaking out, I'm gonna leave you now, there's nothing for me now...'. It reminds me of Lights and sounds, and it comes in with electronic noises, which is a nice touch. The heavy violin and guitars go real nice together. Empty apartment has a softer sound to it and throws away that pop-punk sound. Life of a salesman was played to me in my business class, by the boy I was giving a shout out to. It's obviously a take on the novel Death of a salesman. It's amazing that this song was what got me into this band! It also doesn't represent the true sound of this band. It is a fast song, and a good one though, nevertheless. The violin sounds crazy next to the constant fast drumming. Ryan's singing is also fast, and the chorus is constant thumping. I am very grateful that this song was played to me because I would never have gotten into this incredible band if it wasn't.
Only one is a song that nearly every Yellowcard fan shouts about. It's supposed to be romantic, but it's so aggressive. The lyrics `Scream my lungs out and try to get to you' really don't express affectionate feelings! Miles apart is one of my other favourite songs on here. It's about being miles away from the one you love but still holding them close to your heart. There's a bit of remorse in it, but it's an upbeat and uplifting song. Twenty three is another uplifting song about a wasted relationship. I think it's the violinist who sings in the verses, who has a pretty good voice and is a nice touch. Ryan still sings in the chorus. View from heaven sounds like a country song! The violin also sounds like it's a proper violin and not an electric one. There' s a female singer harmonising with Ryan in the chorus which is also a nice touch. It's about your own little heaven, and making it through believing in it.
Believe is the other favourite song on this album. The violin is fantastic and the song is based around that fast rhythm. It is based on the 9/11 attacks and has a speech about it in between the songs. I like 'Everything's gonna be alright, be strong believe.'. It's also good as a confident booster in your own life. A great song. I like One year, six months about thinking about your loved one, and dreaming of a beautiful place you can share together. It's a smooth song with acoustic guitars. The violin is very discreet, unlike on the other songs. Back home is a song about being in California and wishing he was in Florida, dreaming of the past and his fame. It depicts the shallowness and reality of LA; 'What you love is ripped away, before you get a chance to feel it'. It is the lead up to the next album which was all about Ryan's life in LA and the dark feelings.

A great album and I would definitely recommend it.

Gimmicky but good.
Let's face it. At the end of the day, Yellowcard are a gimmick band, and that's what they will always be remembered as where they want to be or not. A rock band with a violinist will always be most notable for that, especially in the overpopulated genre of pop-punk where they would otherwise disappear without a trace.

This would be unfortunate, as Yellowcard's sound isn't just pop-punk with a violin. They make fine use of the additional strings, adding countemelodies and harmonies to accentuate the strong hooks of the material which - fiddle or not - are as catchy and enjoyable as anything by New Found Glory or Allister.

The band's boyish feel and often well-trodden themes - teenage love, etc. - probably ensure that their audience will be limited to teenagers, with the likes of 'Ocean Avenue' unusually affecting but still of small scope all the same. When the band let loose a bit more, they make a case for them being more than a gimmick band on the lovely acoustic ballad 'One Year, Six Months' or the touching tribute to fatherhood of 'Life Of A Salesman.'

Whilst not reinventing the wheel, Ocean Avenue's pop hooks and symphony touches make it an album that'll suit those of a certain age or with a certain appreciation, and if you're looking to expand your horizons from punk outwards might be the first step.

Perfect
This album is perfect. Has everything, good guitar solos, great front man and the violinist brings a special x factor which seperates them to most punk rock bands, put it simply my favourite album of my favourite band. Album starts off upbeat, fast and then towards the end slows down with some great mellow tracks. I also reccommend 'one for the kids' and 'lights and sounds but anything before then is rubbish(different frontman). I have recently bought there new album Paper Walls and its very Similar to this and brilliant also.