Geekscape Music Reviews: Hollywood Undead

This week’s review is for the sophomore album from California based Rapcore band, Hollywood Undead. Titled “American Tragedy”, this is a much more serious and political album than their first (which was ironically titled “Swan Songs”). Says vocalist Johnny 3 Tears about the album’s title, “The “American Tragedy” refers to the concept that many American youth grow up believing in certain ideals which are discovered to be false upon entering adulthood”
 
Their reasoning for the album’s growth in style is quoted by Johnny 3 Tears as “”When you write songs, you’re very sensitive to what is happening in the world, and I would say that we have incorporated into the song much more than what we see around us at this time. It is hard to write happy, cheerful songs, when 14 percent of the population [is] unemployed.”
 
This is the first album without former vocalist/bassist Deuce, who was kicked out in early 2010, and features more of a rock oriented feel than the humorous rap that was on the first. Critics have compared it to “Downward Spiral” era Nine Inch Nails, but I believe it falls more into the early Linkin Park style due to its balanced mix of both rap and rock, its hip-hop beats layered over metal-ish instrumentals, and just the overall feel of the album.
 
The album opens with one of the heavier songs on the album, “Been To Hell”, a song that’s a great example of the style change, and just one of the many songs that stuck out. However, just because they’ve gotten more serious doesn’t mean that they haven’t left the old Hollywood Undead behind. For those of you who were fans of that style, “Comin’ In Hot” and “Gangsta Sexy” are the songs for you.
 
Also, this album features many guest spots, including guitar work from John 5 of Rob Zombie, and drum work from Will Hunt of Crossfade/Black Label Society and former Drummer for The Used, Dean Butterworth.
 
Pluses for the album? Great example of positive style change, they kept their sound while getting heavier, the album actually has a decent amount of tracks (14!), and it keeps the listeners on their toes. Very much worth a listen or two.
 
Downsides? The slower songs, “Pour Me” and “I Don’t Wanna Die” are a bit dull, and a bit angsty, and the vocals don’t flow as smoothly as they could’ve.
 
One other notable point on the album is the track “Bullet”. It doesn’t have any of the elements they ever used before, and I found it to be a very…odd track. It might just take time to grow though.
 
Overall rating – 4/5, just barely missing out on the 5
 
Key Tracks: As hard as it was to narrow it down, I’d have to go with “Been To Hell”, “Hear Me Now”, and “Coming Back Down”.
 
Part of the American Tragedy,
-JC