There probably hasn't been a record in recent months that has garnered any more whoopla than Blacklisted's No One Deserves to be Here More Than Me. My word, once people started getting in their pre-orders there was numerous threads and Facebook statuses either for or against this album. If anything, Blacklisted created probably the most talked about album of 2009.
So what's the big deal? Why did this one record polarize so many of their fans? Well here's the thing; Blacklisted decided against everything and released a grunge album. Yup, you heard me, a grunge album. No One Deserves to be Here More Than Me sounds like it could have came out on Sub Pop in 1990 and no one would have batted an eye about. "Everything in My Life is for Sale" sounds like a Bleach-era Nirvana and the whole album just has a cold, rainy, flannel, coffee drinking feel to it with its heavy guitars, thundering beats, and good slathering of 70's rock growled yelled vocals propelling the tracks.
Lyrically is where I thought Blacklisted always shined. George Hirsch's lyrics about alienation, depression, anxiety, etc. have always resonated with me and No One Deserves to be Here More Than Me continues with the same themes as previous Blacklisted releases. However, with the new grunge-filled Blacklisted, the lyrics just hit home more than they would if a fast hardcore band was backing them. I don't know the reasoning behind it; it feels more personal this time around. And with everything slowed down, the words just make that much more of an impact.
So yes, Blacklisted released an album that will alienate their fans. It didn't alienate me though and actually turned Blacklisted into a band I've always enjoyed into my favorite hardcore band going. A slot that's been left vacant for quite some time. The slow burn, the tune down guitars, the hammering drums, the uses of non-hardcore instruments like a piano, a trumpet and whatever the hell a rain stick is, the personal lyrics yelped by George; I love it all. I usually don't care when a band progresses this far but when it is done right, it can be awesome. And No One Deserves to be Here More Than Me is awesome. So please let go of all your preconceived notions you've had about Blacklisted and listen to this album with an open mind. You will realize that not only did Blacklisted release one of the most talked records, they also released one of the best albums of 2009.
