Album Review: Billy Talent - Billy Talent III
When I first met my wife she introduced me to Billy Talent, and despite her taste in pop punk such as Simple Plan or Sugarcult, I felt inclined to give this band a fair shake. Reason being that Billy Talent seemed to break away from the cut-and-dry pop melodies of its predecessors. Sappy love songs and broken hearts did not saturate the Canadian band’s first release, in fact it held the anger of punk contemporaries while keeping an alternative edge with Ian D’Sa’s guitar and back-up vocals edging to a fast paced forefront (simultaneously donning his signature pompadour in music videos). On first listen, Billy Talent’s eponymous debut came off as hardcore meets punk in a high energy destructive force to reckon with.
This was the early stage, featuring singles “Try Honesty”, “Nothing To Lose” and “River Below” - all of which make for solid songs but also comprise the icing on a much tastier cake. Issues like disgruntled workers turned suicide bombers were not prevalent but appreciated, and so we move forward to the second release, Billy Talent II. The band’s sophomore album could be likened to the turn The Offspring and AFI took in their respective careers: first phase, heavy and passionate; second phase, more relevant and culturally observant but featuring cleaner production; third phase, changing stripes from punk to modern rock.
Billy Talent did in the course of three albums what normally takes other punk bands years to accomplish - they went from hard and passionate to what the band might call experimenting and the fans might call compromising, depending on your perspective. Billy Talent III represents a band which considers itself a success (namely in Canada) and is now trying to reach a broader audience elsewhere with radio-playable songs. I refuse to sling about terms like “sell out” because the whole thing about musicians is that they do their art for a living (it’s the label we blame for commercialization). The problem with trying to reach a broader audience comes down to sincerity, i.e. whether or not when one hears the album we feel like the passion has been compromised to sell more records for a demanding label.
Recently, the album’s first single “Rusted From The Rain” came off very Soundgarden-ish and ’90s alternative. Before that, “Turn Your Back” enlisted Anti-Flag for a very punk-rock atmosphere. Honestly, this left me clueless as to which direction the new album was going in, and then came the end result and all in all it feels forced and somewhat disjointed. There is absolutely nothing wrong with trying on new sounds to reach a wider demographic, but lyrically the band seems to lack a punch that coated songs like the anarchic “Red Flag” or the scream doused “Covered In Cowardice”. Gone are the days of raw power behind every song, and in its place is mediocre songwriting about feeling lost or abused.
Does this mean that the best days of Billy Talent are far behind? Not necessarily, as one could argue the group’s in a temporary state of feeling out a new audience. The unfortunate fact here is during the band’s attempt to expand, they inadvertently traded in quality penmanship. That’s not to say the music is bad, because there are gems present, such as the scathing celebrity critique “Pocketful Of Dreams” or the Salem Witch Hunt storyline in “The Dead Can’t Testify”. Save for these two tracks and the original two singles, there are seven other songs that feel like weighty filler with no real inspiration aside from being more accessible to new fans. That being the case, do they really want their new listeners to perceive them as run of the mill modern rock wannabes?
In defense of Billy Talent, they tried their best it seems to be more enjoyable to others and that’s fine. The downside here is sincerity has been virtually scrapped, considering I once felt like the band represented something whereas now Billy Talent appears to be drifting along, looking for a new muse. Billy Talent III is virtually the band’s answer to Sing The Sorrow, only less successful. While the album is not bad in terms of tangibility, the weight seems to be more quantity than quality and that is a trade off any band should probably avoid. Listeners should seek the band’s previous releases first and then make their own judgments — after all, one is entitled to make up their own mind.
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Billy Talent III
While I can see where you are coming at with this review, I disagree. Billy Talent and Billy Talent II were amazing albums that gave us much punk rock enjoyment, but this rock sound we hear in Billy Talent III began to shows its head a little in Billy Talent II. They expanded on this sound to create something new. When you are in a band to keep playing the same style of music over and over for every album can really get to you. You have to branch out and try new things and hope your audience will support it. This new sound also brings a variety to their live shows. I enjoyed this album a lot and I really do believe Billy Talent will only get better and better as they continue on their careers
I completely agree with this review. I and II totally blew me away, I mean how could you compare with “River Below” “Try Honesty” “Nothing To Lose” “Fallen Leaves” “Surrender” “Standing In The Rain” and so on. The third is not Billy Talent anymore. It’s just another raw band turned mainstream to please the music industry. Damn shame.
This is the first review i’ve read that i totally agree with! I too feel the convinction is lacking, and while it still sounds like them (D’sa is one of my guitar idols). Its just alot more bland than the other 2 albums. They are still one of my favourite bands though and i hope they see the error of their ways.
Theres still 2-3 good songs on this, but Billy Talent II is on a different level.
Even if I like BT III, I think I & II were FAR better because of their energy.
I listen mainly to metal and Billy Talent is one of the few “commercial” bands I really like so maybe the new album goes in the opposite direction of my taste.
My own impression of the new album is that the band used the same riffs and melody of BT I & II but without the previous energy. The result is an “already-heard” album that isn’t as catchy as in past.
What saves BT III from being a bad album is Benjamin’ performance: he’s the only one in the band who shows some energy and experiments something at least close to a new style.
I liked BT I and II, the speed of their music was nice, but the third one is not comparable, its almost comparable to a modern black sabbath, some of there riffs are defiantly amazing the fist half of the album is truly amazing i think its there best album so far, yea its not as fast but the riffs are more impressive all the songs sound great let the guitar do the talking
I like Billy Talent 3. I don’t think you can compare this album as a whole to their first two. The band was obviously going for a different, more mature sound, and I think they did a good job. Individually I don’t think any of the songs are as epic as Red Flag or Nothing to Lose. They do however pull together nicely and create an easily listenable album.
lyrically the album lacks compared to 1 and 2 but The Dead Can’t Testify proves that Ben can really write good songs. Also Bens signature scream is missing.. The dead can testify showcases all the classic billy talent. they should have more songs like that. scream “in a perfect world this wouldn’t make me SICCCCKKKKK”. :p
I WAS KINDA DISSAPOINTED WITH THIS NEW ALBUM. NOT SAYING ITS BAD BUT THERE IS ROOM FOR IMPROVEMENT. NUMBER 1 AND 2 TOTALLY BLEW ME AWAY BUT THIS ONE LACKS SOMETHING THAT MAKES BILLY TALENT, BILLY TALENT AND KEEPS THEM DIFFERENT THAN OTHER CRAPPY BANDS.
I am not so sure I agree entirely with this review. BT has that unique sound that not many have. People are expecting oranges when Billy Talent continues to produce apples.
What’s wrong with a band that sticks with what made them successful in the first place.
Stop expecting a evolution of Punk mixed together with Hardcore rock, with Billy Talent’s music. Sit back plug in the headphones and crank it, like it’s meant to be heard.
Hello guys,
I am completely a BT fan, but I am completely disappointed with this disc. They were one of the most alternative and particular rock with a really good variety of songs, some of them fast, another slow, but each one a huge masterpiece.
This last disc is only a commercial disc, with some commercial songs, commercial sounds, and commercial rhythms, it is not Billy Talent, I am sorry… I don´t like this new sad and Off type of music…
Pd. Tobi, they where thinking only in the money…
I aggree that this album is much slower paced and very different sounding than the other albums but it’s still pretty damn good. If they sounded the same as the old albums it would get old and boring so they had to do something different. I don’t see how there are so many reviews bashing the album because it’s catchy and is good quality.
I will admit, after my initial listen of this album I was a little concerned. However, I decided to throw it on in the car and just play it - loud. This is the same process I went through with the original Billy Talent release - I didn’t even like Ben’s voice at first.
Quickly however, I became addicted and what has followed has not disappointed me. Billy Talent 3 has some amazing tracks that will rival many they have put out before - my faves are hands down: “Saint Veronika”,”The Dead Can’t Testify” and “Devil on My Shoulder”.
Granted, there are some similar sounds present, but what bands don’t do that - U2 has done that for years. I can only imagine how well this release will compliment their highly energetic shows…great job guys and take your time getting into the studio, this will tide us over quite well.
Im pissed bt 1 and 2 are sick, 3 is really shity and slow. Im a huge fan of the last 2 cds but this one is pretty bad.IF UR A BILLY T FAN DONT GET THIS ALBUM
I really wish I could say the new album is great, but it’s not. It’s okay…but compared to I and II it sucks. Some of the songs are beginning to grow on me, but not very quickly. The music is boring, unlike the unpredictable sounds of the first two albums. The only song I liked was Tears Into Wine, but still, not amazing.
I hope they make another album soon, and I hope it’s much better.
This album is an insult to themselves.
Its bad, it feels empty, it doesn’t feel like it delivers anything, it just feels like a random crappy band that makes your average crappy music that all sounds the same.
I am (or should I say was?) a big fan of Billy Talent. But there is nothing to be happy here, for a fan, its an horror.
I didn’t know Billy Talent could fall so low in one album, actually.
I’m really dissapointed with this album. It has only been my first listen, maybe it will grow on me… maybe. I think most of the lyrics are lame, and some of the riffs are just plain boring.
I say again, I don’t believe they “sold out”.
I cannot deny they put something into the album, but in my opinion that “something” feels either a tad diluted or may have just gotten lost somewhere between recording and release.
The weakest part to me wasn’t divided by a latter half, more like every other song came off as filler while the rest had a punch.
Hence why I gave it EXACTLY half of 5 stars.
If my review as a whole came off a little too harsh in terms of chosen vocabulary, it is because me as a reviewer takes precedence over me as a fan.
That, and while not everyone will agree I felt a bit let down overall even though there are definitely some good songs present.
tobi’s right through and through. It’s a totally new sound and it definitely caught me off guard (moreso than I to II) too, but it’s a well polished damn good album. When it leaked over a month ago I gave it three listens in a row and immediately fell in love with dead can’t testify, diamond on a landmine, white sparrows & tears into wine. If anything I’d say the latter end of the album is lacking, but I definitely think the songs still have ‘power’ — just in a difference sense than we’re used to with Billy Talent. Like tobi said, definitely check out billytalent3.com and reconsider this album. They poured a lot into this one and I think the ’sellout-ness’ you’re feeling might just be how refined/polished the final product ended up because they spent so much time in the studio…
This whole new album just feels empty.
The only song I can say I truly enjoyed
and I can listen to over and over is
“Tears into wine”. I really don’t know what
they were thinking when they made this.
I’m not saying its bad music…but it just
seems there is something wrong in the world
of Billy Talent. I hope they realize that this
is really not the way to go.
Billy Talent: Nobody in the band is named Billy and they have “No” Talent. Discuss.
Pretty good review, of course it’s not as good as the 2 preceeding records. You forget good tracks though: devil on my shoulder, veronika, the dead can’t testidy, definition of destiny.The problem is you judge too fast, listen to the record more and you’ll understand. It’s been 1 month and 2 weeks since i first heard it and my opinion changed + if you checked out billytalent3.com , you’d understand that some of your statement are wrong. Gather more information before saying these stuffs.Although in the end the last record is not as good as the last ones.( better than watoosh though: hohoho , it’s a joke)
i have to say, i agree with everything you state.
Surrender and Pins And Needles proved that emotional music can
also be good without aggresion. but this album just doesn’t cut it and your review is absolutely perfect.