Where We Stand

Album Review

Where We Stand reappears in 2004 via Takeover as a reissue of Yellowcard's 1999 sophomore effort, in the wake of the Florida combo's major-label debut, Ocean Avenue. The sound here is a respectable sketch of what would come; while vocalist Ryan Key had yet to join up, original frontman Ben Dobson doesn't really sound that much different, and his harmonies with Todd Clary are pretty impressive. There's a heavy Offspring influence here, along with some Green Day and 311; the latter group's influence can be heard most on tracks like "Lesson Learned" and "Time Will Tell," where Sean Wellman's violin adds a dynamic instrumental layer to the usual pop-punk power chords and rapid rhythmic pace. "Kids" is another highlight, with its cross of hardcore aggression and cool heavy metal changes, while "Sorry Try Again" keeps thrash in the picture. Fidelity is a bit of an issue here, especially if fans are comparing it to Ocean Avenue, which was mixed top-shelf style by Tom Lord-Alge. But Where We Stand is still an interesting look at Yellowcard's formative past for listeners made curious by the Capitol release.