Reviewing Sleeping With Sirens' "Madness."

Madness Emerges

The squealing has returned for another album, and if you don't know what I mean, then you may not have heard the vocals of Kellin Quinn of Sleeping With Sirens.

"Madness" is the fourth studio album by Sleeping With Sirens, succeeding "Feel" the previous sweat stain of an album that in my opinion caused their guitarist Jesse Lawson to leave.

Before "Feel" came the hit post-hardcore albums, "With Ears To See And Eyes To Hear" and, "Let's Cheers To This" that brought Sleeping With Sirens their fame and fortune.  These two albums represent the fast-paced, no holds barred, post-hardcore sound that Sleeping With Sirens is sneaking away from.

"Madness" is Sleeping With Sirens’ first album signed under record label Epitaph. Epitaph houses classic bands such as Bad Religion, and Operation Ivy, but also the new faces of rock and metal such as Bring Me The Horizon, and Escape The Fate. “Madness” is produced by hit-maker John Feldmann, who is known for working with Good Charlotte and Panic! At The Disco.

“Madness” is a good sign of the band’s transition into pop-oriented music.  

“With their latest album, Sleeping With Sirens have tried to appeal to every group that has ever taken an interest in their particular sound, creating a disorienting, cluttered set of songs that lacks any definitive direction,” wrote Branan Ranjanathan in Exclaim! Magazine. Ranjanathan gave, "Madness" a four out of 10.

Sleeping With Sirens may be trying to appeal to every end of their fan base, however, “Madness” has had more pop songs in an album than any other album before. With fewer punk songs in each album, the evidence shows the band is working towards becoming pop.  Rather than forgetting all of their previous fans and jumping into the pop scene, Sleeping With Sirens has chosen to work their way into it.

“Madness” isn't a bad album and it isn’t their best, however, it shows improvement from the disappointing “Feel.”   Sleeping With Sirens fans are bound to buy it, and pop fans, but the punk fans might want to steer clear of this one.

If you enjoy synthesized violins then you will love “Madness.” The pop songs of “Madness” have monotonous electronic drums that can make a punk listener want to stick drumsticks deep in their ears. On the upside, Kellin’s vocals are still as serene and attention grabbing as ever.

The rock songs in “Madness” are inconsistent in intensity. “Fly,” for example, uses a great driving guitar at the beginning, only to let the synthesizer takeover, but then the chorus prevails and creates a great mixture of both rock and synthesizer. In these tracks, the guitar gives a wonderful rock sound.

Sleeping With Sirens just can’t get enough acoustic. Though there are only a few acoustic songs – one being a bonus track – they give the listeners a moment to relax.  Veteran fans may complain about the synthetic strings and simplistic theory, but everyone can appreciate an acoustic guitar and pretty bells.

Thank goodness that there are still some punk songs. Sleeping With Sirens jumped on making the fast-paced “Kick Me” the hit single for “Madness.”  Kellin is back to screaming, the double bass pedals are kicking, the guitar is driving around your head like NASCAR, and the bass is booming in the back. These songs hold the values from "With Ears To See And Eyes To Hear" and "Let's Cheers To This" and keep the fans coming back for more.

In their own words Sleeping With Sirens said, "‘Madness,’ frankly, is an unashamed masterpiece of melodic pop rock perfection, driven by an undercurrent of punk aggression and beautifully tempered by an overwhelming soulfulness and sensitivity." 

“Madness” may be melodic pop rock, punk, and soulful, but not a masterpiece.

 Rating: Seven out of 10.

Check out "Madness" here.

Pop songs:  Gold, Save Me A Spark, Left Alone, Heroine, November.

Rock songs:  Go Go Go, Fly, Better Off Dead, Don’t Say Anything.

Acoustic songs:  The Strays, Madness, 2 Chord.

Punk songs:  Kick Me, We Like It Loud, Parasites.

Nearest show:  "We Like It Quiet" acoustic tour in San Diego, CA 

Current lineup:  Kellin Quinn: Vocals.  Jack Fowler: Lead guitar.  Nick Martin: Backing unclean vocals, rhythm guitar.  Justin Hills: Bass guitar.  Gabe Barham: Drums.

Studio albums' discography:  "With Ears To See And Eyes To Hear" (2010).  "Let's Cheers To This" (2011).  "Feel" (2013).  "Madness" (2015).

LBCC undergoes April Fools' Day shenanigans

Tales of the April Fool

On April 1 there are no holds barred.

April 1 is the time of year where all the merry pranksters and joking tricksters come out and play.  Some perform slapstick humor, as others test the power of their poker face.  You must expect the unexpected when the fools of April have their day.

Some people get their kicks with the same prank every year, but others may spend months concocting the perfect one.  Fake break ups are made, fake fights start, and plenty more is possible.

Pranks are to be expected, but many may wonder if anyone at Linn-Benton Community College had been pranked brutally.

LBCC student Holly Lucas had her own small prank to share; the dreaded Saran Wrap over the door.  On April 1 Lucas told her little brother that his girlfriend was attempting to Skype him.  With the news of the faux incoming call he ran quickly in his room, and took a veil of Saran Wrap to the face.  Lucas chuckled, “he definitely toppled.”  Lucas ensured that her little brother is okay.

Apparently it is all fun and games even after someone could get hurt.

LBCC student Tobiy Berrey had found the formula to get a good prank without the violence.  Berrey stated “I’ve got my dad with the same prank three years in a row."  Every April 1, Berrey wraps a rubber band around her sink dish sprayer, and every time her father falls for it with water to the face.  Berrey said it may not be the best prank, but it works every time.

Students may have some good pranks, but the teachers have a few stories of their own.  Biology instructor John Klock opened his April 1 classes with his “quite cute” April Fools' story.

“I woke up and walked out of my bedroom door and there were six balloons standing in my way” said Klock.  Klock said his 15-year-old daughter seemed quite suspicious the night before, and the next day showed why.

“I went to the kitchen and noticed the coffee pot was full of corks… and then the coffee filter was full of red peppers” says Klock.  Both Klock and his wife’s shoes were also filled with corks that morning.  “I went to check my phone, and my phone was covered with about 100 rubber bands… it was all around, everywhere” said Klock.  The phone’s language was also changed to Chinese that morning.

That morning also included a purse containing two cans of tomato sauce, and Klock’s laptop being Seran Wrapped completely shut.  Klock said he got his revenge by putting lotion on the bathroom door the next morning, impeding his daughter’s ability to take a shower.

Klock’s April 1 morning didn’t only inspire payback, but it also inspired a joke of his own.  The next chance he got Klock told his students “Domino's just invented the edible pizza container."  The joke was nearly foolproof, except one of his students who works at Domino's said he never saw that at his location.

April 1 may bring many lighthearted jokes, whether they are old or new, but there is always a great story to be made out of it; just don’t try and eat the pizza box after Biology.

At a Glance:

 If you want to know more about April Fools' Day check the History Channel.

 Need ideas for April Fools' Day pranks for next year?  Fox17 has the answer.