Armor For Sleep – What To Do When You Are Dead

Despite my somewhat optimistic review of Armor For Sleep‘s debut album, Dreams To Make Believe, I really did not like that album. I found it boring and never listened to it, even though people were claiming it to be one of the best releases of the year. Fast forward a few years and the news slips that they are releasing their sophomore album, What To Do When You Are Dead. Immediately the hype starts up again, but I just am completely and totally disinterest with it. Then I get the album, not expecting to like it, but decide to give it a chance nonetheless. And one thing’s for sure, something changed in those few years between albums. Maybe they changed a bit, or my musical tastes evolved, but I could actually listen to the album this time.

Now, this is by no means me stating that I love this CD, in fact I’m still not a huge fan of it, but it does start showing some more promise. There seems to be a bit more emotion in it, and more power. The songs – which cover a interesting story line following someone from death into the afterlife and all the things that happen there – have their ups and downs. Songs like Awkward Last Words and Stay On The Groundare able to be replayed over and over again, while others you feel like skipping over every time they come up. Lyrically, I was expecting a bit more, especially for a concept album. They had some great lyrics in their debut, but only an odd few standout here in their sophomore album.

Since Dreams To Make Believe was released, they have changed quite a bit. They are more grittier, and the vocals are so much stronger, which really helps the album and makes it a bit more enjoyable.

The standout thing about the album is the artwork and the small guide to the afterlife book in the CD case, but I’m still not sure if the entire album would be worth purchasing just for the artwork. Despite having one or two good songs on the album, I sincerely doubt it will find its way into my CD player often. They did out do their previous album since it is a tolerable release, but still nothing too extraordinary to necessitate all the fuss the band has gotten.