Vice On Victory – Glitter & Gold – Review

Release Date: March 31st, 2009
Record Label: Standby Records
Genre: Pop-Rock

Emerging from the heart of Ohio, Columbus’s own Vice on Victory emerges from their DIY roots to release its debut for Standby Records. Vice on Victory has been playing their version of catchy pop rock since 2007. Believe me it’s catchy, I tend to stray away from pop punk but I can not help but tap my foot to this. With a little help from producer John Burke (Driver Side Impact), Vice on Victory has put together a twelve track debut for Standby entitled ‘Glitter & Gold.’ With the vocal styling’s of Dany Melette with some assistance from guitarist Trevor Boggs; Vice on Victory belt out their pop rock anthems for the masses. All to the beat provided from guitarist Marko Skugor, bassist Patrick Stockhausen, and drummer Billy Arnett.

‘Glitter & Gold,’ starts off with what may be the catchiest song on the album entitled “Straight Jacket Strategy.” Dany’s vocals remind me of one other pop rock behemoth that everyone has heard of. Now with that comparison out of the way, Vice on Victory creates very addicting melodies that will be implanted with you for weeks. The great thing about Vice on Victory is that easily ever song on the album can easily make it onto the college radio circuit and beyond. The band shows a softer side with a deep message with “Life Worth Living.” ‘Glitter & Gold,’ has all the right elements of pop rock to please fans of the genre and beyond.

At the same time the album can become, a tad plain. While again alluding to the obvious comparison of the pop rock behemoth’s Paramore it becomes a double-edged sword. For fan’s of the genre and Paramore they will love Vice on Victory, while others will write it off before they even give Vice on Victory a chance. All in all it’s a pretty standard album for the genre with a few small surprises here and there but nothing that blows you away.

The bottom line, if you like the genre pick this album up. If you are on the fence at least give the myspace tracks a listen you may get infected with the overall catchiness and want to pick ‘Glitter & Gold’ for further listening. You’ll most likely being hearing some of these tracks on your local college radio station so I advise you to be ahead of the game and check out Vice on Victory now before hand. The album drops tomorrow so if your already addicted to the myspace tracks be sure to pick it up. ~Staff

Score: 3.5/5

Track Listing:
1. Straight Jacket Strategy
2. The Getaway
3. Sidelines
4. Ivy
5. Hearts Like These
6. Glitter & Gold
7. Sirens
8. Hit The Ground
9. Leave Love Alone
10. Life Worth Living
11. This Way