Hollywood Undead "American Tragedy"

     Not only is this band is not only able to maintain their sense of humor, but come back stronger than ever. They say through suffering can great inspiration and ideas come alive. This is far from a sophomore slump, and is proof that the band can easily replace the likes of Limp Bizkit and 30H3. You may laugh at this notion because that may not be saying much to most people, but I don’t know who else to compare them to, and I can’t really compare them to Faith No More. It would be an American Tragedy if this band, or their album did not receive the recognition they deserve; a little too dramatic? Absolutely so. They still party, but their sound is a little more serious and filled with more emotion. If you have "Been To Hell" you would understand why they open the album ready to bust some balls and grab the devil by the horns. It has the voracious power and anger that could only be replicated by someone undead. These guys do not have to “Apologize” for making a song as addictive or fun as this; this is one of their poppiest songs that could have a lot of success on the radio, or should, due to the chorus full of clean vocals and its saccharine rhythm and hook. “But we can harmonize/ Even if we sound like s***.”                                                                                               Even the next song is “Comin’ in Hot.” It is definitely a party song; full of auto tune, drinking, references to a certain appendage, and girls. So the subject matter is not very different from a majority of rap artists played on mainstream radio, and that is why it would succeed. It is another hooky ode to the power of “party juice” and its many varieties; 30H3 and Toby Keith come to mind when I hear this song. A word of advice; avoid becoming a c***block, because they have ways of making you wish you hadn’t. From the first somber notes played on the piano you know this song is going to attempt pledging empathy. The majority of the human population, that aren’t suffering in some way, proclaim “I Don’t Wanna Die.”   The clean vocals of Danny succeeds at attaining empathy, and the verses by Charlie Scene and J3T are a suitable match; both are filled with emotion and imagery that would form a short film in your mind. If you cannot “Hear Me Now” then you will miss out on one of their most distinctive and thrilling songs cut to tape. It’s like a short trip into a gangster’s paradise thrown in an existential filter +44 more (especially the synths) attached to slow moving rhythm and a chorus that will stick in your head like gum on your knees after praying on the ground; it is a shame that the lyrics might be missed because of what the instrumentals offer.  “Gangsta Sexy” borrows half of the instrumental accompaniment to I saw the sun for the majority of the song; it is a definite attribute, and the lyrics can be pretty funny as well.                                                                                                               This song is almost like a simulation of what a collaboration between Linkin Park and Pitbull would sound like; with a sound that the latter would feel comfortable in being a part of the “Glory.” “The men of treason are the ones who live/They'll take what you got, what you got to give/Then pyre, a trial by fire “ may be some of the strongest lines, but you cannot help but notice their reference to making a deal with someone you know “That deal is forever; as long as you breathe.” “Lights Out” is like a lyrical boxing match, one-sided, with plenty of jabs at someone who believes he is too great to even show up, “What kind of sane person drops his own name/What kind of sane person boos his own band off stage,” or even give the crowd credit for making his name? The first single from the record had the listener “Coming Back Down” from a high, as they wait for someone special to return from the sky, this feeling you might experience can possibly make you cry, and no, listening to it will not make you wish to die. The next song’s combination of instrumentals and lyrics are pretty ironic though; you would believe the song is so happy if you did not pay attention to the lyrics. Johny 3 Tear’s daughter sings the last verse in the song, and is so cute that you forget the subject matter and decide to place that “Bullet” somewhere else.                                                               This song may not make you “Levitate” as promised, but the song will have you singing that slightly whiny/shouted chorus as you listen to a different rendition of  Usher’s ode to DJ Cupid. “What's life inside a bottle if it's gone?” Maybe that’s why Danny sings “Pour Me” to write a better song, a second chance, and there’s nothing wrong. It’s sad when someone runs to the bottle this long.                                                           Their lyrics have “Tendencies” to get a little violent, but then it wouldn’t be the same without that fire every now and then. Danny sounds like Chester Bennington as he stares “Mother Murder” in the eyes, but in actuality it is Charlie Scene who unravels a tale of deceit: “I have nothing to give, so I gave you my life!/ Didn't want to see me live, so you gave me your knife/Didn't hear you as you tiptoed coming from behind./You took away my kids, so I guess you killed me twice.” You may have heard this all before, but the instrumentals are given with such vivacity that you’ll be dancing to it before you “Lump Ya Head.”  “Le Deux” is an anthem for the purveyor of the drunken one night stand, and after listening to this song and its technorgans might give you the urge to Smash it up! The final bonus track sounds like it is an epilogue to a concept album about judgement day and the last words of an atheist  ccompanied by soaring strings, piano, and the grandiosity of FFTL, Chiodos, and/or Circa Survive; the guitar at the end of the song really improves the ending of “S.C.A.V.A.”