Number 66: Stand Up and Scream by Asking Alexandria
Release: September 15th, 2009
Genre: Metalcore
Favorite Tracks: If You Can't Ride Two Horses at Once...You Should Get Out of the Circus, Not the American Average, The Final Episode (Let's Change the Channel)
Where I heard it:
Some of the more interesting entries on this list for me to write about are the albums that have appeared multiple times throughout different periods of my life. The first time I listened to Asking Alexandria, I looked up their song Not the American Average on YouTube because a girl I had a crush on in middle school said it was her favorite song at the time. She would constantly reference the song's final "fucking bitch" with heavy British inflexion, and crack herself up every time. Coincidentally, Not the American Average would also be the song that helped form a bond between me and one of my first friends in high school my freshman year. We'd blast the entirety of Stand Up and Scream over his dinky car speakers, and he'd scream every verse while unleashing an unforgettable air drum display, all in the driver's seat mind you. Who'd have guessed that such a polarizing band like Asking Alexandria would be the source of such great lifetime memories?
What I wouldn't give to live this night again
I knew when I first saw you
You'd fuck like a whore
I can hear you scream for more
Your thighs were made for cheeks to graze
My lips, your poison
~ Not the American Average
What to expect:
Understandably, there are several elements to Stand Up and Scream that the general listener may find unappealing. These qualities include but are not limited to gratuitous volume, overembellished lyrics, and aggressive vocals. All of which, for better or worse, can stereotypically define the ambiguous genre known as 'screamo'. Historically, screamo has received such an unfavorable reputation that there exist memes about its universal dislike. However, the terminology itself is a highly misunderstood label that has morphed over time to define any kind of music with screams and growls from its vocalists, which are especially prevalent in a genre like metalcore. There exist some pretty egregious examples of screamo-metalcore intersect in bands like The Devil Wears Prada and As I Lay Dying, but I feel Asking Alexandria carefully toes the line between sincerity and hyperbole in their songwriting. Stand Up and Scream shows the band's awareness of common metalcore tropes, but practices immaculate execution within their own delivery of those same tropes. This relies heavily on the outstanding production value on Stand Up and Scream, ensuring every channel is balanced perfectly between one another. You really get both the resonance and the clarity of a deep growl, while cleaner sections in tracks like A Single Moment of Sincerity are smooth as butter. The jarring contrast in tone is only further divided by the multiple tempo changes and breakdowns that interject between the majority of verses. These segments of Stand Up and Scream allow the talent of the rhythm section to flourish, especially from drummer James Cassells, who uses every piece of his kit to create a vast spectrum of sounds from high cymbal bell dings to low double-bass blast beats. Notably, the subtle use of electronics like synthesizers throughout Stand Up and Scream adds both texture and impact behind some of the more repetitive rhythmic sections. Don't let the unintelligible screaming put you off: there is a ton of nuance to this album that helps set it apart from other bands in the dreaded 'screamo' category. Stand Up and Scream cleverly integrates impressive harmonies and chord progressions into the metalcore formula, promising a theatrical performance that's truly one-of-a-kind.
So now this is over and the world falls upon me
I never expected to be here alone
The shadows are forming as we burst into flames
Why does this end this way?
~ If You Can't Ride Two Horses at Once...You Should Get Out of the Circus
Why it's my favorite:
Late 2000's metalcore bands provide an interesting time capsule into the culture and ideas that were popular around that time. The era of emo fashion was riding its last waves of popularity, slots on the Warped Tour were the ultimate symbol of status, and it seemed like bands like Asking Alexandria were a dime a dozen. There was fierce competition between fanbases to make a case for your favorite group as the best of them all. There may have been more successful bands like Bullet For My Valentine, but I can't overcome my own personal biases in crowning Asking Alexandria as the most talented act of their time. Although it's been over a decade since I've regularly listened to Stand Up and Scream, I'll still catch myself humming choruses from some of its tracks. The pacing of the album's energy induces so much hype leading up to the breakdown, you can't help but bob your head a little before launching into a full headbang. There are forgettable moments within the album, but the highlights stick around in your head for years. Ultimately, I enjoy that Stand Up and Scream doesn't take itself too seriously, having fun with silly track names like I Was Once, Possibly, Maybe, Perhaps a Cowboy King and I Used to Have a Best Friend [But Then He Gave Me an STD]. The catchy phrases, the band unisons...all of it is just a lot of fun. It may be a guilty pleasure, but you won't see me ashamed of vouching for it.
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