American Standard is the second effort from Every Day Life, and man, am I impressed. This is a big-time improvement over their first album, Disgruntled. With a much heavier musical sound, this album rocks from beginning to end. Throw in a lot of hardcore-styled vocals on many of the songs, and you have a true hardcore/hip-hop delight.
Don't get me wrong-it is definitely EDL pounding out these songs. The vocals are distinctively EDL; it's just that there is now the addition of some deep-sounding hardcore vocals, similar to the vocals of Training For Utopia. The music has a very thick sound to it as well. This is new for EDL, and very much welcomed.
Lyrically they get away from the overly political views that most of the rap-core scene is beating to death. Some of the songs really have a refreshing originality that lets you get into the songs. Take the song, "Log Off." This song deals with a mother who doesn't love her child, and says:
Kill yourself, kill yourself Why don't you kill yourself
The song is very personal, as this is exactly what happened to Ted Cookerly. It talks about how to deal with the tragedy of suicide, and what that parent is going to go through when they realize what they've lost.
Then they go on to songs like "Transcend," which talks directly to Christians about the struggle of staying true to what you believe in-that God will return and that we must stay focused on our goal. It conveys the reality that the life a Christian leads is not an easy life-there are struggles we all must face each day, but through perseverance we will come out the winners.
Overall I highly recommend this album to anyone who enjoys the music of P.O.D., Downset, Rage Against The Machine, or even the previous EDL album. It is a great move forward for the band, both musically and lyrically.
Other coverage for this album
7ball #13Reviewed by Chris WellDon't be scared. Seething with righteous anger, Every Day Life comes on like a reprimand from the Old Testament prophets. The band laments how far the standard in America has fallen morally, socially and spiritually. With a hardcore mix of metal and rap (which some compare to Rage Against the Machine), and with producer Michael Knott (who knows a few things about angry music himself), EDL intends…Similar sounding releases
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