Hollywood Undead “Five”
Label: BMG Rights Management
Genre: Rap Rock
Release Date: October 27, 2017
Vocals: 9
Instrumentation: 6 (when it is there)
Creativity: 3
Originality: 2
Production: 9
Flow: 5
Composition: 5
Lasting Value: 3
OPENING THOUGHTS: I have listened to every HU album, except Day of the Dead, since they have come out. I very much respect the music they make, because even though they get classified in the Rap Rock genre, a lot of their songs vary in style and they provide a lot of differentiation. But, I have yet to hear an album of theirs and actually say “this is something I would listen to a lot.” Maybe this one will do it.
Track-by-Track:
1. California Dreaming
Coming right off the bat with a heavy rock track. It reminds me a little bit like Fire From The Gods just without screaming and more rap. This is definitely one that I would recommend as first song to represent the band if someone was asking and had never heard any of their music. 4/5
2. Whatever It Takes
A good anthem song, but also a pretty standard HU track. It’s mostly centered around the rapping, making it pretty boring. 2/5
3. Bad Moon
This song is pretty much like the last, just with more singing. This track doesn’t even sound like it’s part of a band. 2/5
4. Ghost Beach
This song would be a good for listening at night on a drive home. It’s slow, and the beat is pretty repetitive, but it isn’t boring. 3/5
5. Broken Record
Another song dedicated towards lyrics than actual music ability. This track sounds like something they would play on christian rock radio, which I can almost guarantee that that is not what they wanted. 1/5
6. Nobody’s Watching
I get the feeling that this band is trying to go towards a certain sound now, as this track sounds just like track 4. By this point, if listening to this wasn’t for my review, I would immediately assume track 1 was a red herring to the rest of the album and delete this whole album, without listening to the rest of the album. 2/5
7. Renegade
FINALLY another rock song, and NOT another stupid pop song. This track beats everything that came before it (minus track 1), enough that it easily separates itself among what I have listened to. 3.5/5
8. Black Cadillac (ft. B-Real)
By this point I just feel like giving up because a lot these songs keep sounding just like other songs too often for me to try and differentiate between them. It really makes it hard to review this when you keep getting songs that are sounding the same over and over again. 1/5
9. Pray (Put Em In the Dirt)
Something different now? I don’t know. By now it’s all blending together. The very beginning of the song starts off with differentiation, then quickly mixes into oblivion. 2.5/5
10. Cashed Out
This doesn’t even sound like a band! I’m not reviewing this song exactly the same as most the other songs, and it bores me to death. 0.5/5
11. Riot
At least with this rap song, it tries to make itself known by adding the electronics and gang vocals. I will give it props for that. 3/5
12. We Own the Night
AGAIN, finally, another rock song. Definitely the heaviest on the record so far, adding in the flair of SOMETHING DIFFERENT. 4/5
13. Bang Bang
Probably the most interesting track on the record. A great rock radio song, but also the one that takes in a bunch of influence from other Alternative Metal bands. 4/5
14. Your Life
After listening to this whole record, I am very surprised that they decided to put a pretty decent song as the album closer. 3.5/5
ENDING THOUGHTS: I feel like to take the full effect of this album I would have to care more for types of music that lean more on lyric ability than musical ability. Other than that, I felt like I was going insane trying to get through this. This album takes serious dedication, and fandom, to get through all 14 tracks unscathed. If it were not for the few tracks that made me not want to break down and give up on this, then… exactly that. I would have given up and called this garbage. For everyone out there, listen to Track 1 then skip all the way to Track 11 and go from there.
Songs (Maybe) Kept: 6 out of 14
Final Score: 51/100% | Grade: D
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