Saving face 'In Reverie'

By Jeff Renfro

Saves the Day's newest album, "In Reverie," is a drastic departure from the emo sound that has marked their last three albums. For long-time fans of the band, the initial shock of the first listen might cause them to overlook the fact that "In Reverie," while drastically different, is a quality album, full of the melodic hooks and dark imagery that have made Saves the Day a mainstay among young rock fans.

Saves the Day (Chris Conley-vocals/guitar, Pete Parada-drums, Eben D'Amico-bass, and David Soloway-guitar) released their first album, "Can't Slow Down," while the band was still in high school. The album was fairly close to a straight-ahead punk album, featuring fast, two minute songs about heartache. They followed it up with their Vagrant records debut, "Through Being Cool," arguably their best album. The band had developed a newfound sense of melody, but stayed true to their punk influences. Their third album, "Stay What You Are," came out in 2001. While slower than their earlier releases, it was nowhere near the pace of their latest album. For "In Reverie," the band worked with producer Rob Schnapf, who produced "Stay What You Are."

The drastic change is evident from the first song, "Anywhere With You," which is also the first single. The song begins with an almost Weezer-esque guitar riff, which transitions into a light melody as Conley's vocals begin, before returning to the original riff as the chorus plays. The lyrics do not break any new ground for the band. The chorus features the lines, "I'd rather be here/ Than anywhere with you."

Other standout tracks include "Morning in the Moonlight," which will prove to loyal fans that Saves the Day have not completely lost their punk sensibilities. The track "In My Waking Life" is a melancholy lament about wasted time. The album's only disappointment comes on the track "She," which is an acoustic song that lacks any real emotion or drive.

The slowed-down pace and power chords of "In Reverie" are sure to turn off longtime fans of the band. Anyone expecting the band to retrace old material on this album will be sorely disappointed. Bands are under no obligation to produce the same album over and over; diehard fans of Saves the Day who can come to terms with the new sound will be greatly rewarded with an album that is full of catchy hooks and lovelorn lyrics.

Grade: B