Story of the Year - The Black Swan

This St. Louis-bred five piece's Epitaph debut is an artistic triumph in every sense. The beloved, million-selling band's third studio album is their finest, building on the strength of past accomplishments. Known for their kinetic live shows and ridiculously catchy songs, Story Of The Year have always been famously ballsy in their mixing of glossy production, big rock hooks, and honeyed melodies with searing metal riffs and intense screaming. The band has garnered a passionate following, thanks in large part to lead singer Dan Marsala's signature vocal style and heartfelt lyrics. Product Description

Best Album Yet

Page Avenue was excellent. In the Wake of Determination was decent. The Black Swan will leave you winded, exhilarated, and slightly disappointed, because I currently doubt anyone's ability to top the Black Swan. It employ's Dan's wide range of vocal talent with powerful lyrics that weave perfectly into their music. With a good balance of hard and soft songs (soft being very relative), it brings the best of Page Avenue and adds some of the edge and complex lyrical themes from In The Wake of Determination.
Dont judge the album based on the first song - it happens to be my least favorite. Listen to Wake Up, We Aren't Gunna Make it, and Terrified. If you get a chance, download their bonus tracks "Never Let it Go" and "Save One".
This might be the best album in my library. The music is versatile, works for any mood, and doesn't wear out.
If you get a chance, see them live. I saw them at Warped Tour in 2008 and opening for Linkin Park in 2003. Awesome shows. August 5, 2008

3rd time the charm

Well, I have been a SoTY fan since I first heard "In wake of determination". After that I went out and got their first record, Page avenue, as well. The albums are quite different. The first, Page Avenue, is soft, radio-friendly and catchy tunes with the occasion hard song. Their 2nd album reversed the roles, having a heavy rhythm the whole way with a few relaxed songs.

With the Black Swan, they tried to put it all together, and the result is an amazing post-hardcore album. NOTE, that this will appeal MUCH more to the fans of Wake of Determination than Page Avenue. However, If you are just a SOTY fan and enjoy both their previous albums (like myself) then you will absolutely love this. Better riffs, catchy songs, MUCH more thought-provoking lyrics, and you have an album worth keeping in your car for months. June 13, 2008

Fanominal record!

This CD is amazing on many levels. First of all, anyone who was a fan of this band before will only be impressed. They have really stepped it up on this record. The song writing is better than ever, the hooks are catchy, the guitar work is brilliant, and the overall 'theme' of the cd is perfect. For every heavy part of the album there is an equal soft side. They managed a perfect blend of everything. There is def. something for EVERYONE on this cd. If you like HEAVY music - Choose Your Fate; if your looking for something a little calmer and soft - Terrified; Looking for more of the modern radio rock? - We're Not Gonna Make it.

Story Of The Year has this amazing ability to give something new that fits with everything that is going on in music today without blending in with everyone else. My hat is off to the band for this record. I am a die-hard fan and a professional musician, and just from a musical stand point alone; I would have to say I LOVE THIS ALBUM. If your sick of the same crappy music you hear all over the radio and MTV (bands like Seether, Daughtry, and all the c@ck rock bands like Buck Cherry and Hinder and MANY MORE) then this CD is perfect for you.

The production is great and you'll be humming the hooks the second your done listening to the album. Every song on this CD is a hit. I wouldn't take any song off the album, though after listening to the CD you only wish that there were about 47 more songs, unfortunately there aren't. Its great to see a band that is about the musis and not just getting paid. I'm sick of bands putting out the same songs crying about their ex and how they got hurt or whatever, if I want to hear someone whining I'll watch Dr. Phil. So if your gonna spend any money and support a band, why not a band that actually stands for something and does what they do for the love of music? You WILL NOT be dissapointed. May 16, 2008

Simply amazing

I respect all of the people who have voiced their opinion on this album. However, now is my time to let you knwo why this is the best album of the year by far.

Look up the lyrics to each of the songs. NO album over the past couple of years has taken on all of the problems that the world is dealing with nowadays and said were going to tackle all of these problems to music.

It is utter bliss.

Altough everyone things Page Avenue was the bands "best" record it must be noted that the reason people think this was becaus at this time Story of the Year greated that new rock sound.

In the Wake of Determination went back to rock and people were like...this isnt Story...this isnt there sound.

Here in the Black Swan they mix it up satisfying both sets of fans and I couldn't be more pleased with this record. If you have the opportunity try and find someone who pre-ordered the album on itunes and has the extra track "Never let it go" its one of the best songs on the album by far May 14, 2008

BETTER THAN THEIR LAST CD, BUT NOT THEIR FIRST

Overall a fairly good effort with SOTY's newest cd, Black Swan. I don't know if they'll ever match the quality of their first cd, which as absolutely fantastic. With this cd they seem to have gone heavier on a handful of the tracks and I do mean HEAVY! Personally, I think the best songs are The Antidote, Tell Me(P.A.C.), and We're Not Gonna Make It, which is my favorite. I really dislike the first track titled Choose Your Fate. It just seems too heavy for SOTY and doesn't sound good at all anyway. There are 12 songs and 1 interlude on this album. In my opinion, there is only 4 really high quality songs that you'll want to listen to over and over again. A bit of disappointment, but still not bad. Maybe they'll do better with next effort. Hopefully when that time comes they will stay away from the heavier stuff. Overall I give it 3.5 stars because the songs on their that are good are really good even if the majority of them are bad. April 30, 2008

More reviews at Amazon.com ...