Music Review: Seether - "Holding onto Strings Better Left to Fray" (2011)

Seether's debut album made me a fan, however, I am a fan that did not stay dedicated. Aside from the first album I have never listened to a Seether album and "Holding Onto Strings Better Left To Fray" is my chance to catch up. At the time of this writing this is Seether's new album, I made notes song by song as I listened through.

"Fur Cue": I assume the title is a play on profane words. Yes. This song mixes a little bit of metal with a Drowning Pool flavor, little bit of hick rock ala Nickleback, and then some hard pop rock chorus discipline. He seems angry that there is not compromise, but still seems to want the one at which he is angry at to stick around for some smiles. Nice, basic hard opener of a song, gives me hope that there will be goodness ahead.

"No Resolution": No compromise in the first song, (no fur either for that matter) and now no resolution, which rhymes with pollution, and solution, so lyrically that's what they go ahead and do. At one point after the two minute mark the singer was channeling some Chris Cornell sound. Overall this song isn't a stand out in any way.

"Here and Now": The title of the album gets slipped into the lyrics of this jingle along, slower rock song. Chris Daughtry would have enjoyed getting his mitts on this song I think, the Seether singer's voice is a little better than an American Idol rocker though, even if the material doesn't rise above that frame of mind exactly.

"Country Song": Angst growl vocals against guitar, toe tapping country twang, that then turns into heavier rock riffs for the chorus. I think the song title detracts from the song itself, seems like a comedic nod to some of the sound achieved, but doesn't seem like it's the actual theme for the song itself. I guess the lyrics "take what you want, just leave me alive" does relate to country music songs where everything, but the dog is taken.

"Master Of Disaster": For some reason this song makes me think about rock music being played during a medieval scene, bearded guys in chain mail drinking out of chalices; "A Knight's Tale?" Of course the lyrics do not paint such imagery, it's just the opening took me there. The song accuses someone of stealing all of his dreams, and that goes into the brain in a sing-songy way to where it is semi-catchy, sliding under the folds of gray matter. However, it's slipping in without really causing any bruising thought or leaving a sharp trail for memory to revisit the song later on. Kind of a sad song, not sad as in bad, but sad. Okay stuff, I'll give it a B.

"Tonight": A harder edged Jimmy Eat World feel.

"Pass Slowly": The singer and the music both have great presence in terms of setting the mood for this ballad, but lyrically I just did not get into it.

"Fade Out": The guitar riffs that run the song are catchy, but the lyrics and singing were a bit awkward to me. Another song that would get Seether put on the shelf next to a Nickleback album, though I think Seether is better than that.

"Roses": Boring. The repetitive chant of lyrics doesn't keep the roses from wilting and don't really work in the hook manner to reel my attention in fully.

"Down": Seether has gone numb with the c*** rock sound. Nothing exciting here either.

"Desire For Need": Busting out of the gate with a heavy guitar riff lead, much needed and appreciated here. This song sounds similar to a Days Of The New song.

"Forsaken": If Master Of Disaster earned a B grade, this one gets a B+, decent end to the album, but still not rising to my apparently high expectations. I am wanting a rock band to destroy the current pop rock scene of crap and Seether has the elements to help fight the good fight, but this album wavers too much.