Marianas Trench - Astoria - Album Review

[@brynn9448]

Every MASTERPIECE I'd write again You'll always be my PORCELAIN I CROSSed MY HEART But I STUTTERed too So TRUTH OR DARE Was that GOOD TO YOU HAVEN'T HAD ENOUGH of you ALL TO MYSELF Still right BESIDE YOU in sickness and health ForEVER AFTER you will be my home THERES NO PLACE LIKE HOME It makes me so happy

[@erykagray3731]

Brynn H CRYING.

[@joyholmes254]

End of an Era is beautiful. The way that it brought back the themes of Masterpiece Theatre and Ever After as well as using a verse (or two) from Fix Me. Love it. Love the entire album.

[@amiacevedo3858]

This is one of my favorite reviews of Mark's. I just love how excited he gets here. Honestly, I'm surprised that this wasn't his first 10 given the amount of praise he showered this album with.

[@glennpicardo2339]

I have to say Mark, this might be the closest I have seen you get to flat out fangirling over an album since I started watching you. The Guardians review had a bit of fangirling in it as well (particularly the part where you said it felt like you were on the back of a dragon flying over a city which I'm still not sure wasn't a subtle reference to To Kill A Dragon) but not at this level. Now I'm not complaining about this at all, I love seeing you get visually euphoric when discussing kickass albums as much as I love hearing you give shitty albums well deserved ass-reamings but I was a bit thrown off guard by it here.

[@calebt9392]

Thank you for introducing me to this band. Never thought I'd get into something like this so quickly and also going back to enjoy their past material

[@MizuRyuu]

+Caleb Tureai Just make sure you listen to the albums in full and in order. So many of their albums are concept albums that are meant to mesh together

[@valentinere4343]

I only just discovered Marianas Trench this year-thanks to you-and I instantly fell in love with them. Here's hoping they get success down here in the states. Lord knows we need it.

[@dianaharper8430]

+Christopher H. (Musicality) more like we Canadian's neat it to get them a band that has real talent to out beat that JB blah ! and show the world music is an ART !

[@TheSymphanie]

completely agree. I didn't know how they could possibly make an album as good as ever after.... Loving it, and all the transition pieces.

[@vickis3945]

I've been a Trencher since 2009 and they are by far my absolute favourite band. This album is literal perfection and the bridge in Dearly Departed killed me. There's a fuckload of references to other songs and albums all throughout End of an Era as well. If you've been a Trencher for awhile, you'll probably catch them. Goddamn this album is perfect.

[@vgso0202]

I've been a trencher since then too and this album was so emotional, for the original fans, knowing this is the end of an era of trench music.😭great now I'm crying.

[@alexleslie2898]

End of an era samples Marianas trench songs, which samples other Marianas trench songs. Woah.

[@vgso0202]

+Alex Leslie OML wow

[@Inkspells]

Yeah like the beginning of end of an era is similar to parts of the Masterpiece Theatre 1,2&3 tracks

[@djcreeps121]

By God do I ever love this band and hope to god they gain a ton more popularity than they have.

[@cullenkarra9219]

YES THIS ALBUM IS FUCKING BEAUTIFUL!! i love every album they have released but this is the first album in a long time where i could honestly say i loved every song off the first hit...highlights being "astoria", "yesterday", "this means war" and "dearly departed" i got instantly, the section of the song you were talking about a whole verse calling back to some of their best songs....and end of an era indeed PERFECTION will be buying instantly!

[@sillykyle17]

I stumbled upon these guys by chance when I was listening to Spotify radio. One listen to Who Do You Love and I was hooked.

[@anonmusickid]

I love this review especially the intro background stuff. GREAT! Already listened to it all the way through and halfway through again! Such a sophisticated artistic music album.

[@panicatthefallout7710]

God I love this band and I will never understand why they aren't popular here in a America.

[@kaykaydecker]

I could not agree more with EVERYTHING you said. I wish they would become bigger in the US, but at the same time, I enjoy the fact that they can do club tours over arena tours in the United States. Seeing them at the House of Blues in Chicago was an AMAZING experience. I also know that when they do their tours in the US, they are not really walking away with a lot of comission. Which, is depressing to me, because they totally deserve the recogintion. *Even though money is NOT everything* With that being said, I am not ashamed to say that I would not think twice about making a trip to Canada just to see an arena show.

[@jkingisbeast]

well, I'm definitely interested in this, I'll be sure to check it out in a few days

[@jkingisbeast]

checked the album out, and thank god I did, thanks for the recommendation.

[@spencekg03]

I've been listening to the entire CD for the last few weeks and While We're Young has grown on me to be one of the best on the entire CD. Yesterday is another one of my favorites - however, Who Do You Love is the best by far.

[@andrewbianchi1294]

That chorus on Who Do You Love is so infectious!

[@dianaharper8430]

him one u listen to them/him sing it live (aka live as in a youtube of someone who uploaded it ) u really feel it !!! and now when trying to listen to their last albums now hearing this, and then there's THIS: it's because that song is so much more deeper then I think cuz... First off - 3rd of October - MT day. or... Didn’t understand it first, but then “maybe not the way we thought we’d planned, but both of us will take this hand.” THIS WAS THEIR WEDDING DATE “One final shoulder” “We’ll toast what could have been” “When all of my plans have depended on you but at least tonight we still pretend hold each other close like it’s not the end and you can send me balloons and we can laugh at the doom we both thought of that doesn’t it say something too” “Every masterpiece I’d write again you’ll always be my porcelain I crossed my heart But I stuttered too So truth or dare Was I good to you Haven’t had enough of you All to myself Still right beside you In sickness and health For ever after You will be my home There’s no place like home” So this bridge killed us. But “in sickness and health” because this was added I feel like this could have been Josh’s vows. and THEN I REALISED “We never sent the cards They’re all still on the table Wanna throw them out But I’m just not able” Hey trenchers, know what the cards are? WEDDING INVITATIONS and finally DEARLY BELOVED ! yeah ! my heart died after hearing this then I HEARD THIS "At the April 1st show he actually broke down a dearly departed and had to stop for a few seconds to recollect himself. I bawled because he did and like you could see the tears hitting the stage, his voice cracking, and even some heavy breathing." !! LIKE OML NO WORDS AT ALL!

[@jasdenyer9080]

I know very little about the technical words and concepts behind song writing, instruments, & music in general. But holy shit did I know the second i listened this album through that it was fucking amazing and my favourite ever. Every time i try to explain how much i love this band & this album in particular, i'm pretty speechless because i don't think words can describe such epicness. But your video did a great job of helping me understand some of the feelings i have about their music. You clearly have a good ear for melodies, lyrical concepts, etc. and i wholeheartedly agree with everything you said... except for your slight dislike of the "buzzier tone on This Means War" and "Cascade against the *gibberish to my musically-inexperienced brain*". Haha. I honestly wish that if the band were to hear any critic's review of their album, they'd hear this. Because they truly are talented fuckers who deserve so much in the world.

[@BahumbugFlop]

First time I have watched one of your reviews. I love the pace of it and you sound passionate and know what you are talking about. Great work :)

[@victoriagrace5134]

This has actually become my favorite album of all time. I love this album.

[@RamsayDearest1]

As a huge Marianas fan I thank you for this review! I couldn't agree more about all of what you said. Josh is a genius in my eyes and I can't wait to see these songs live from him and the boys! (once we get the dates of course). Can you review Hello from Hedley? It comes out next week and I am pretty excited about that one as well.

[@iam9991000]

This is one of the rare cases where I preordered the album just off your review. Regarding the musical...why not just adapt Astoria to a musical?

[@kristinwilliams1983]

Thank you for this swelling review of one of my favorite bands ever. You are right, they goddamn deserve it! ❤

[@daltonriser1125]

so a few months after lsiteing to this and remembering that on your top 25 best albums of the year where you said this was the best you also mentioned that there is only one song that is good and not great and i whole heartedly agree it is while we're young

[@Tattbatt]

i just found you, subscribed! OBVIOUSLY

[@victoriagrace5134]

This is my favorite record of all time. That's all I can say about it.

[@RavensSarora]

Oh my god, this makes me so excited

[@caveman123ization]

Got to thank you for introducing me to these guys!

[@ThePianoSpeaks]

Trenchers, I have uploaded my piano cover for the full album! Enjoy :) kzbin.info/www/bejne/h57FhYqspLSZbqc

[@kat-pe3ym]

I saw Marianas trench perform live six days ago

[@deguesstheboxingfan]

What's up with the least favorite song being While We're Young? Happens to be one of my favorites.

[@ahri3887]

It's got one of the most raw vocal deliveries on the album

[@emmacampbell7839]

Thank you for this!

[@optimusshaw4539]

Josh Ramsay is my one love lol

[@wumpy0106]

same 😭

[@lucasb3633]

I hope we will see a Phantoms review soon!

[@yammed]

As soon as he mentioned the bridge of Dearly Departed my eyes teared up. gah

[@TheNukeGeneral]

I missed these guys.

[@DeadRedemtion111]

i like excited spectrum pulse

[@HaydenSmithElevate]

please review the new Pentatonix album! I love your reviews 😃

[@inthefurnace]

Just wondering Mark, will you ever give an album a 10/10? I've noticed you've given so many records (like this one) very high praise yet still a 9/10, not a perfect score.

[@Barbies_Angel]

+Alex North Yes It was a TITLE that ruined a 10

[@Barbies_Angel]

+TheMattGusta He said speak for yourself would have gotten a 10

[@alexl3566]

+TheMattGusta I think he would've given Masterpiece Theatre a 10/10 had he reviewed it. In his "Defense of Pop" video, he said it was one of the best albums of the decade...so I think that warrants a perfect score.

[@teddyhaines6613]

+Alex Lustig On the other hand, he's also said that he can count the number of 10/10 albums on one hand...and like three of them are from the 70's. So even that might not cut it.

[@alexl3566]

+Spectrum Pulse would you care to clarify here? I think we as loyal fans have earned an answer to this.

[@Barbies_Angel]

You should cover more canadian acts

[@vgso0202]

its out!!!!!

[@jenniferanderson9695]

couldn't have said it better myself

[@ginganinja7237]

I agree with everything you said except 9 out of ten, it is definitely10 out of ten from the songs I heard.

[@RaeganRampaul]

YESS!!!

[@MrPersianPleasure7]

not a fan of burning up, yesterday or shut up and kiss me, but the rest of the album is great!

[@Sigmundfruit]

The info button is blocking me from closing that annotation and it's making me angry

[@anayad.1289]

thank you sir

[@Ericis323]

can you please review dj chaled album review

[@SquidofBaconator]

Will you review Toby Keith's new album soon?

[@optimusshaw4539]

I don't care what anyone says it's a 10/10

[@maxwelljames5610]

Any chance we'll get Pentatonix's new album soon?

[@HaydenSmithElevate]

PLEASE

[@miticaBEP07]

A pop-but-not-exactly record known by some-but-not-many people? It's sure on the way. It'll receive a good review and it'll supposedly mean that he likes pop music.

[@HaydenSmithElevate]

+Pop Central It may not be a house hold name but its tooing charts all over the place..

[@miticaBEP07]

Hayden Smith​ Good for them. Though now I assume the review won't be as positive.

[@HaydenSmithElevate]

+Pop Central I'm looking for an honest critique, not a compliment fest

[@congsience2989]

At first I thought Shut up and Kiss me and Who do you Love were one song.I think I'm alone in this.

[@anonmusickid]

And AMEN to making Marianas Trench a hit around the world! Way too little people know them in America and it's such a shame!

[@paulvenn4447]

Aussie here, have to wait one more day arrghhhhhhh

[@braydenstevens2408]

I

[@duke86fan]

I give this 6/10 too much Canada

[@duke86fan]

+music and band obsessed dude ok. it's joke a joke

[@miticaBEP07]

The frontman's name is Ramsay. And just like GOT's Ramsay, he likes to skin stuff. However as Ramsay Bolton skins Theon Greyjoy, Josh Ramsay skins pop music. These guys made that pop parody, right? I remember them, I never forget singers. And I'm pretty damn sure that people love them because of that. I haven't seen it because I don't see stuff like this, just like I'm not going to read a certain review of a certain 2013 album. I keep then away from me, possibly in an attempt of keeping my confidence from being tore to pieces. Let these guys keep their shakespearian purity. I don't need that. If the only way I have to go on is wear my lack of purity like a badge... than that's it.

[@miticaBEP07]

I add one thing. Eighties references? A singer that sounds like Freddie Mercury? An instrumentation that reminds of Queen? GEE, I WONDER WHY HE LIKED THAT ALBUM!

[@riley6801]

u onli lieke it becuz their frum canandia hurr Except not really.

[@enricc1]

He gave Justin Bieber 5/10 The Weeknd 6/10 and Drake 6/10 does he likes it that much?

[@riley6801]

I wasn't being serious though

[@raina9872]

Very disturbed about the amount of spit that gradually became more and more around your mouth as you talked. 😂

[@mossycryptid6446]

I came here all ready with insensitive insults and was prepared to give you a lesson on Marianas Trench and their beauty

[@ryelizabeth8082]

Fangirling

[@amediumhorse]

First

[@airtwo2270]

i love how diverse this channel is, but frankly, i'm sick to death of this poptimist bullshit. can we go back to being snobs, please? the dissolution of the mainstream is so much more interesting than those who try so desperately to coast down it. this 'good for what it is' mentality is so bizarre to me. look at this band's recent videos. the comment sections are positively overrun with posts from users with selfie avatars. none of these people look a day older than 15. this is children's music, pure and simple. the lyrics never reach beyond platitudes, and there is as much gloss added to the production as there is to josh ramsay's hair. the fact that they have a video called Pop 101 showing their ridiculous formula step by step--the same formula used in their two new singles--should be enough to seal this band's fate. but nope! it's 2015, and we pretend that YA is literature, comic book movies are cinema, and pop music is worth critique. this, to me, is even more cynical and troubling than Miley Cyrus and her Dead Petz. i would have loved to see one of your rants here - this time about how this music serves no purpose except to satisfy clickbait journalists, and the laziest of mainstream audiences (and dentist office lobbies). but instead it's the exact opposite: a glorification of the tamest mainstream pop i have heard probably in years. blarrghh

[@ForbiddenFruit73]

+air two Like he said in the subtitles, "Pop 101" actually inspired him to do a whole video dedicated to the defense of pop as a genre. You should check it out.

[@kadencemotley8005]

Dude, I went to one of their concerts, and I was the youngest there. Most of the people there were 20 or over.

[@miticaBEP07]

Another one of them purists, we got here. I don't know, the fact that some people actually like pop and think that it's a genre with dignity and depth never crossed your mind?

[@airtwo2270]

+Pop Central of course some people like it, and i even get why people like it. it's no different than astrology, for example: people dig the shit because it's vague enough to relate to, and it latches on to base emotions and instincts, and.. well, that's it. but this isn't astrology, this is music CRITICISM(!). that a music critic can listen to a song like Wildfire and call it "masterful" songwriting that does not rely on formula is, to me, absolutely absurd. first of all, because pop music is almost by definition formulaic--if not by definition, then certainly by routine, and it's a routine that is not broken here. second of all because this band does not shy away from its formula and we know it (Pop 101)--again, the song in question certainly doesn't, either. and finally, the lyrics do not offer a single unique metaphor, clever line, or even valuable insight into anything, least of all love. the music just sounds like your typical pop rock, so what about it is masterful? I don't get it. i do not get why this is any different from any other pop album or group. it's the same emotions, same metaphors, same music, same production, same formula, same everything. and again: though Mark says it's great, i could not hear a single example or argument as to why or how that is the case it's cool that you dig the band/review, but I think I am entitled to gripe just as much as you are to gleam, so we will just have to agree to disagree.

[@miticaBEP07]

Actually I'm not a Marianas Trench fan. I don't think I'll ever try them because of Pop 101: sorry, I already see common people making fun of my favourite genre, I don't need an actual band to remind me that if I wasn't a pop fan my life would be better. I'm a pop fan that's proud to be. I like my songs to be on top of the charts but I still enjoy them regardless. I once wrote a Greek Mythology-esque short story about how one day, all the music genres received a gift from a god, for example rock was given the guitar skills, punk the rebellious nature, EDM the technology, and so on. When it's pop's turn, there's nothing left, so all the other genres give it a bit of their own gifts. Does that explain my vision? Pop has all the best elements of the other genres at once. Pop isn't just some corporate plot trying to pander to people's minds and sell as much as possible with no regard to quality or effort. It requires the work and the care all the other genres require, and calling it "formulaic by routine" isn't just an insult to the intelligence of the listeners, dubbed ONCE AGAIN as mindless sheeps who won't ever bother to try something better (usually the given example is metal or classic rock) but also to the people who work on these albums, the effort they put in them to try to make them appealing and interesting, to craft a good piece that can be enjoyed by people. Saying that it's not worth a critique is also an insult to the fans. We deserve the same treatments metalheads and rockers receive, and if receiving critiques is part of that treatment, we deserve them. We aren't stupid or brainless, we aren't victims of brainwashing. We are music fans like all the others, who appreciate what we listen to and think it's good by technical standards. Finally (allow me to be rude here), we don't need more "snobs" around. The ones that exist can honestly kiss my pop loving ass and leave me alone without reminding that if that night in December 2010 I bought The Dark Side Of The Moon instead of The Beginning I would not be a part of the "lazy, mainstream audience" and I would have pure tastes, and in the end, the hating I receive as a pop fan is my fault. HELL NO. Stop shaming on us and on pop music.

[@mskcrc]

it hasn't caught on in the U.S. because it's FUCKING BORING seriously, it is lowest-common-denominator radio pop, there's nothing exciting or real about it... it's a fucking TJ Maxx commercial band

[@mskcrc]

+Spectrum Pulse "tighter melodies" what the fuck does that even mean you can call it "radio friendly" and what I call it is "paint by numbers," it's the same kind of boring-ass cover band of a U2 cover band pop that populates Christian radio in 2016 I'm trying to figure out how you could possibly try to speak meaningfully about Kendrick Lamar's album (which I don't quite "get" even though I recognize its ambition, thematic scope and artistic prowess) and think that Astoria's derivative bubble-gum is the best music released in 2015 IT DOES NOT COMPUTE

[@mskcrc]

+Spectrum Pulse I really cannot believe that someone who's a purported reviewer could listen to this and say it sounds different from anything you'd hear in Planet Fitness. I really can't believe it. I can't believe you just said this would have a bigger cultural impact than To Pimp a Butterfly. I'm speechless. I just have nothing to say. The four-chord structures, the over-compressed and quantized production, the mid-tempo shit that was meant for Disney radio.... I cannot believe someone who runs a critical music vlog thinks this has artistic merit. I'm fucking dead.

[@mskcrc]

+Spectrum Pulse "weird tastes" = "I like Top 40" that's not weird that is the antithesis of weird

[@mskcrc]

+Spectrum Pulse and yet this is #1 I have no words

[@mskcrc]

+Spectrum Pulse you seem like a nice guy and I wish you all the luck in the world once you head to an audiologist and make sure you're not deaf