The Promise Ring Album: “30 Degrees Everywhere”

regardless of the previous reviews, i thought it was a great example of emo. i think they did awesome on this record, and i couldnt ask for anything more. this is what emo is all about.

The Promise Ring has changed. This album is really all you'll ever need. I used to think the power of failing could sate all of my tastes, but this is it. I love the promise ring, and this is the best that they have for me. The horse latitudes is awesome too. The new stuff definately keeps my head bobbing and my throat scratchy from singing my lungs out, but 30 degrees really has all the range of emotions. Sea of Cortez, My firetower flame. All of these songs are great!! I could talk about them for a while, but i'll stop. I hate to see the division in the fan base of the promise ring, but it's true they are different now, but I still like them.

This record took me a long time to appreciate. After months and months of on-off listening and being baffled, one day it all started to make sense.

What makes the album a turn-off at first is not hard to discern at all: whiny, back-of-the-mix vocals (talk about a mixed blessing there), songs that seem to drag, strange lyrics, relatively sub-par production, often familiar guitar riffs ... the list goes on. But SEVERE repeated listens reveal some profound qualities: first, the vocals and lyrics grow on you; second, the song structures, chord changes, and instrumentation are really pretty amazing; and finally, the record as a whole inspires a variety of emotions which, in retrospect, neither the Ring's later records, nor very many records whatsoever, can achieve.

A key point here is that TRYING to find greatness in a record that others praise can create problems. If you are determined to figure out why this is a tremendous record, then you may never succeed; I only began liking 30 deg. after giving up on this exact goal several times.

That said, I would not recommend this to everyone. If you're looking for catchy punk/pop/emo/indie/whatever music, check out "Very Emergency" or "Nothing Feels Good" (certainly not terrible records :). If you want a real challenge, try this album.

This is the CD that so many current emo bands were inspired by [and frequently rip off of]. The Promise Ring remain one of the foremost pop-punk/emo bands around, and this debut CD is still their best. Straightforward, catchy, and undeniable -- this CD moves from deeply emotional melodies [the wonderful "A Picture Postcard"] to the kind of frenetic punk beats that dare you to jump up and down ["Red Paint", "Everywhere in Denver"]. This band is automatically likeable, and this CD is the best indication as to why -- very highly recommended.

The Promise Ring manage to sing about any weird thing to mexican chocolate to cherry coke to their favorite sweaters to cortex. Some may say it's irrevelant, but I call it funny lyrics with gentle indie riffage and what some coin "emo". Buy it if you like.