The Note

Hell yeah, everyone should buy this cd. Let these guys get a couple bucks, they definitely deserve it. These guys are true, and have very meaningful lyrics as always. You can feel the heart. This is hardcore. Well, other than the Swan Song (which i actualy like...a lot) has a moment of singing. Always sick breakdowns, and every one unique. I guess the standard thing to do is compare it to Give Blood. Give Blood is better, but this gives you an awesome NEW album to remember the words to! Anyways, go see them live, preferably without barriers, and GO OFF. Just try to walk on someone else's head! Its only like 11 bucks, u would not regret it.

This CD is just great. The mainstream can listen to Underoath, Senses Fail, My Chemical Romance, and all the other post-hardcore bands (which are good and I enjoy them), but this is pure hardcore, and this hardcore will never die. Hardcore is popular now in the mainstream and it will fall off the mainstream radar, but it will never die, because of artists like this coming out with good old hardcore albums like this. Bane is one of the greats and will stay one of the greats with albums like this.

this record is even better than give blood. the recording quality is awesome, the lyrics are inspiring. this is by far banes best record yet. if you care at all about hardcore buy this record and go see this band live.

Bane is just one of those bands in hardcore that you know for always releasing a quality hardcore record and "The Note" is nothing short of that, although its probably not their best effort. Traditional hardcore, for me, has very few bands in which really stick out to to me and Bane is one of them. Mostly because Aaron Bedards unique and melodic vocal approach and their ability to write dynamic guitar riffs ala Comeback Kid (well, I suppose that comparison should be the other way around unless your new to hardcore) but like Comeback Kid's "Wake The Dead," "The Note" is a breath of fresh air into a pretty stale hardcore genre that seems more concerned with breakdowns and "being tough." Tracks like "End With An Ellipsis" and "Swan Song"(my favorite track on the entire album) find Bane experimenting areas of melody they haven't gone before. "Swan Song" has a real epic feel to it with guest vocals from the lead singer of labelmates Silent Drive (whose name escapes me at the moment). Other highlight tracks include "Pot Committed" and "Wasted On The Young." Production wise, the album feels a little weak which is probably why people don't feel this record comes across as heavy as their previous releases. The comic book-styled artwork is great and the booklet and has some really cool illustrations. All in all, a worthy purchase for someone looking to start at the top of the hardcore ladder.

Review by Tyler Wagnon: Every time you put on a Bane album, you expect certain things. Aaron Bedard's unique vocals, energetic songwriting, pounding drums, and passion. For the most part, The Note delivers, but it isn't quite what we have come to expect out of Bane. First of all, The Note has way too many slow parts. Perhaps age isn't getting to these guys, but the energy level just isn't where it needs to be. Part of it could be the rather weak production, the guitars are really thin and don't have much punch, but even the writing itself has gotten a little slower and more melodic. You can't really say the band has matured either, because they have showed countless times that they are mature writers. Regardless, The Note still has the same driving, passionate lyrics delivered in typical Bedard style, which is what really sets the band a part. Still, one would really like to see them rip out more ragers like "Hoods Up" and keep the energy up because hardcore is supposed to be HARD. The main issue on the album is the production and it's more than likely that these songs sound infinitely better live. It's a Bane album, so you know it isn't bad, but after 4 years of waiting for a new Bane album this is somewhat disappointing.

If this is going to be your first encounter with Bane, do yourself a favor and start with either "Give Blood" or "It All Comes Down To This." Hell, go for both if you can. I listened to this CD and was not intrigued some of the tracks. The sound has somewhat lightened, as some know that Bane's music always comes close to brutal. Their message is still there and that's why I gave them at least 2 stars. But, since I bought this at one of their shows, I can't even force myself to listen to this CD. Some of the songs are just boring and I'm glad I haven't been to a show where they play their new stuff. I kind of just bought the CD because I love these guys, but I surely don't listen to it.