alldaydrive - Piano Forte EP / Highpoints and Heartaches
Label: Bettie Rocket/Indie
Style: Rock, Indie, Emo
Released: 2000
My Grade: 3.5 stars (out of 5)
AMG: n/a
Sounds like: The Juliana Theory, Jimmy Eat World

Now I need to start out this review by saying that alldaydrive is one of my favorite bands, if I had to give them a rating as a band, it would be a 10. These guys really know how to rock, and don’t pretend to be anyone but themselves. Listening to alldaydrive, you feel like you’ve heard it before, you want to call it punk, or emo, or hardcore, but it isn’t really any of those. It is good Rock and Roll. Now as for my decision to write the review on two bodies of their work, I’m of the opinion that they belong together. The Piano Forte EP and Their full length album Highpoints and Heartaches have the same feeling, and seem like equal remnants of their broken alliance with Bettie Rocket Records.

Onto the music, this CD is great. It is good solid Rock and Roll with good emotional, heartfelt lyrics, and moving melodies. You might be thinking after this, then why did you only give it a 3.5? Well, my problem with the record, is that it seems unfinished and undirected. Don’t get my wrong, its good music, but I can see this band doing so much more. So my grade is kind of like, leaving them space to grow.

The shining star of these albums is “Once Again”. A song that perfectly embodies the feelings of guilt after failing God, with the hope of trying again. “Every morning I wake up, swearing I’ll get it right, every evening I’m begging for one more try,” seems to be a feeling most Christians have felt, and means so much more when pointed toward God and not a girl. alldaydrive is not limited to Christian music though, all some of their songs are about love, and most of the ones that aren’t could be. This band has something for everyone, hard rock, soft guitar picking, emo melodies, beautiful vocals, and heartfelt lyrics, put together in an earnest package of guys who really just want to play music. Expect their upcoming release, “The Quiet Life” to blow the doors off rock music.

Reviewed by: Michael @ www.allalom.com