Story of the Year
Story of the Year was not yet in place. Big Blue Monkey played frequently in and around St. Louis, issued a few EPs, and endured the lineup fluctuations typical to any struggling combo. Creative and persistent self-promotion caught the ear of producer John Feldmann, who in turn brought Maverick Records into the picture. By 2002, Big Blue Monkey had become Story of the Year, moved to Southern California, and toured with Feldmann and Goldfinger. The lineup of vocalist Dan Marsala, guitarists Ryan Phillips and Phillip Sneed, bassist Adam Russell, and drummer Joshua Willis entered the studio with Feldmann, emerging in spring 2003 with the full-length Page Avenue. Story did some Warped Tour dates that summer, and issued the record the following September.
Until The Day I die - Story Of The Year
ANTHEM OF OUR DYING DAY - STORY OF THE YEAR
Take Me Back - Story Of The Year
Razorblades and Cupcakes - Story Of The Year
Story of the Year Lyrics
Razorblades And Cupcakes Lyrics
From the chaotic opener, "And the Hero Will Drown," until the complete frenzy of "Falling Down," St. Louis' Story of the Year show a persistent flair for the dramatic on their debut disc from Maverick Records, produced by John Feldmann of Goldfinger. Taking influence from a variety of modern rock, the quintet delivers a solid, Dashboard Confessional-like spirited first effort from beginning to end. They slow down on crunchy ballads like "Anthem of Our Dying Day," "Swallow the Knife," and "Sidewalks," showing that Story of the Year can be graceful and melodic as well as relentless. Energetic outbursts like "In the Shadows," "Razorblades," and the title track, "Page Avenue," show a band hell-bent on composing youthful anthems for the 21st century and hitting the target more often than not. Dan Marsala's unyielding vocals certainly highlight the disc, along with the band's steady and layered instrumentation. Story of the Year's energy feeds off of agitation and frustration, and while they don't really offer anything new, their solid execution of the 12 songs on Page Avenue certainly impresses.
