My Darkest Days – Sick And Twisted Affair (Album Review)

My Darkest Days – Sick And Twisted Affair
(2012,  Mercury Records)

1. Sick And Twisted Affair … 3:41
2. Save Yourself … 3:43
3. Casual Sex … 3:16
4. Stutter … 2:45
5. Nature Of The Beast … 3:03
6. Perfect … 3:51
7. Again … 3:38
8. Gone … 3:33
9. Love Crime … 2:59

Band:
Matt Walst – Lead Vocals, Rhythm Guitar
Sal Costa – Lead Guitar, Backing Vocals
Brendan McMillan – Bass
Doug Oliver – Drums, Percussion
Reid Henry – Keyboard, Backing Vocals

Additional Musicians:
John 5 – Guitar (“Casual Sex”)
Barry Stock – Guitar (“Again”)

Producer: Joey Moi

Well, when something is working, why change it? Just like My Darkest Days’ self-titled debut, Sick And Twisted Affair has he same producer (sans Chad Kroeger), guest musicians and dirty catchy club-worthy hard rock numbers that deal with sex.

There is a deluxe edition that features extra tracks a few alternate mixes and the same cover art but colored differently (I prefer the deluxe edition’s color scheme). I haven’t heard the deluxe edition but I’m really loving the fact that there’s only 9 songs on the regular edition. Always leave ’em wanting more, never overstay your welcome. Helps to cut down on filler too.

Speaking of filler, the only track I would consider to be just that is the band’s cover of Joe & Mystikal’s “Stutter”. I loved their take on Duran Duran’s “Come Undone” on the last album but this one doesn’t work, IMO.

So getting to what does work, let’s start off with the lead single “Casual Sex”. Definitely the follow up to “Porn Star Dancing” and meant to appeal to the club scene but that’s okay because it rocks at the same time (and just like “Porn Star Dancing” there are pop and rock mixes available). With that song and others, I’m noticing keyboards being used a lot more. There’s very much a synth sound found on “Sick And Twisted Affair”, “Love Crime” and “Again” where the band comes across like a sexier version of Orgy (not that orgies can’t be sexy).

More in the typical modern hard rock style there is “Nature of the Beast” which I would place as the weakest original track on the album.

It’s really hard to pick the best tracks because I find myself repeating each song 2 or 3 times. On this day alone I think I’ve listened to this album 6 or 7 times total. Virtually every song will stick in your head and take up space. There’s so much single potential here. “Love Crime”, “Again”, “Save Yourself” and “Gone” are ready for rock & pop stations. “Save Yourself” and “Gone” are the two ballads on the album, great songs and I can definitely see them blowing up big on the pop stations.

As with the debut, this album is going to be one of my favorite of the year. Great collection of hard rock that has broad appeal. If you were a fan of My Darkest Days’ first album, you’re going to be a fan of this one as well.

Highlights: “Sick And Twisted Affair”, “Save Yourself”, “Casual Sex”, “Perfect”, “Again”, “Gone”, “Love Crime”

http://www.mydarkestdays.com
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Buy the regular edition at Amazon.com Buy the deluxe edition at Amazon.com

My Darkest Days – My Darkest Days

My Darkest Days (2010, Mercury Records)

1. “Move Your Body” … 3:13
2. “Porn Star Dancing” (feat. Zakk Wylde & Chad Kroeger) … 3:19
3. “Every Lie” … 2:56
4. “Like Nobody Else” … 3:41
5. “The World Belongs To Me” … 3:42
6. “Save Me” … 3:41
7. “Set It On Fire” … 3:27 (feat. Orianthi)
8. “Come Undone” (feat. Jessie James) … 4:08
9. “Can’t Forget You” … 3:53
10. “Goodbye” … 3:59
11. “Porn Star Dancing” (feat. Chad Kroeger, Zakk Wylde, & Ludacris) … 3:55

Band:
Matt Walst – Lead Vocals, Guitar, Keyboards
Sal Costa – Guitar, Backing Vocals
Brendan McMillan – Bass
Doug Oliver – Drums

Additional Musicians:
Zakk Wylde – Guitar
Chad Kroegar – Vocals, Percussion, Acoustic Guitar
Ludacris – Vocals
Orianthi – Guitar
Jessie James – Vocals
Joey Moi – Percussion, Backing Vocals, Acoustic Guitar, Keyboards
Ted Bruner – Backing Vocals, Keyboards, Guitar
Scott Cooke – Backing Vocals

Producer: Joey Moi and Chad Kroeger

My Darkest Days is a post-grunge act. So why am I reviewing them? Well, I had read a few positive reviews on Amazon a few months ago and put the CD on my wishlist. I never got around to buying it but saw it at FYE the other week for $8 or $9 and knew it’d be cheaper to get it right then. If it sucked, well, I’d only be out a few bucks.

Does it suck? NO! This album is awesome and I can’t even explain why I like it! My Darkest Days is firmly entrenched in the radio-friendly post-grunge format but I think they are just a lot more melodic and hooky than most other “modern” acts and a bit more poppy. All of these songs are getting stuck in my head. There’s a good mix of the typical rock ‘n’ roll bravado with “Move Your Body” and “Porn Star Dancing” but I also dig the lovelorn moments like “Save Me” and “Can’t Forget You”, “Goodbye”. But never fear, there’s actually a POSITIVE love song called “Like Nobody Else”. I’m finding that I’m enjoying the lyrics to these songs as much as the music itself.

Here’s a fun fact: this group is apparently another pet project of Chad Kroeger (Nickelback). He co-produced and co-wrote all but three songs on this album. If I knew that before hand, I probably wouldn’t have bought the album. I’m not a Nickelback fan, they’re the #1 band to blame for the bland acts on radio these days and the last time I went for one of Kroeger’s “finds” it was Theory of a Deadman and they suck.

Kroeger definitely called in some favors for this album though. Lots of guest stars lined up for this one and I think that’s pretty cool. Zakk Wylde, Ludacris, Orianthi and Jessie James on the same album? What, is this a Slash record? With the guest stars, a cover of Duran Duran’s “Come Undone” and two versions of “Porn Star Dancing” it looks like the band is giving their all to become a success in the mainstream. There’s the “rock version” of “Porn Star Dancing” and then an alternative version featuring a part by Ludacris. It isn’t rap-metal or a hip-hop remake but I guess that version’s for the clubs or pop stations. There’s really only one dud in the whole bunch — The Police-influenced “Set It On Fire”.

This is definitely a band worth checking out for anyone who has a taste for modern hard rock that’s NOT influenced by the classic rock bands. I don’t really fit into that category but I’m enjoying it anyway so if you’re in the same boat as I am, you may end up enjoying this one too.

Highlights: “Move Your Body”, “Porn Star Dancing”, “Like Nobody Else”, “The World Belongs To Me”, “Save Me”, “Can’t Forget You”

http://www.mydarkestdays.com
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