This is a great band. Although I live in their home town of Columbia and I did hear about them back in their Sugardaddy Superstar days, I only actually heard about this CD through Taxi - which is the independant A&R company that got them signed. And I have to say, they deserve every bit of the success that will surely come their way. They are absolutely terrific songwriters with catchy hooks, great musicianship, and smooth dead-on vocals that really come through on this CD. I have read the other reviews that say this band lacks originality and, I have to say that I don't totally disagree on Tracks 5-10. But it doesn't really bother me because it seems to me that the band is still trying to find themselves, and they certainly have a lot of talent to work with. So let them be a little unoriginal at first, as long as they progress as they grow. That said, tracks 1-4 really define this band. These are, by far, the strongest tracks on the CD featuring an original songwriting style that, if drawn upon for future albums, should give them the long musical careers that they deserve. On tracks 5-10, there are obvious influences from other bands - most notably, in my opinion, P.O.D. and Linkin Park. Again, I think this is OK for their first release because the songs are just that good. My complaint is that they don't pull off the styles as well as the original bands that defined them. For example, on a few tracks, they try to mix a bit of rap rock into the choruses - a task better left to Linkin Park or Limp Bizkit. This vocalist just doesn't have the right style for it. But, all of that aside, the talent and songwriting ability of this band shines through any "start-up" problems that they may have. And if they continue to draw upon the totally original and self-defining style that they establish on tracks 1-4, their future looks very bright indeed. So, overall, for the songs, I would give it 5 stars.

So why the 4 star rating? Well, it has everything to do with the production. The CD was recorded in their basement studio and the record label picked it up, re-engineered it, and released it. And although they obviously did a good job on the original basement recording, and the mixing engineers up in Canada did an even better job on the re-engineering, I think this band deserves better. The album features some VERY powerful songs. And powerful songs deserve a powerful recording. Because it was recorded in a home studio, the drums sound flat and the mix sounds a bit lacking. Don't get me wrong, everyone did a great job and the recording is immensely listenable. But I just think that the record company could have sprung for the few extra bucks and put these guys into a real studio. With songs like these, it would pay them back twenty-fold. I know the recording industry isn't in the best shape right now, but they should still be willing to invest in their talent. And I think they did these guys an injustice by not giving them the best recording they could possibly deliver.

My second problem has to do with the length of the CD. With 10 songs at just over 3 minutes a piece, the entire album clocks in at just over 34 minutes. That's fine for a demo CD, but not for a major label release. With the rise of music downloads, consumers expect to pay NO MORE than $0.99 per song. At a list price of $12.98, this album just doesn't add up financially - especially given the fact that the recording was done in a basement. Again, this is not the band's fault. It's just that consumers deserve better and, by not delivering it to us, the label is putting the band at a disadvantage.

So, overall, this is a great band with a great album that should have been longer and better produced. But the future looks bright as long as the record label gives them the proper support that they deserve. Let's hope for more next time...

Crossfade had a pretty big year in 2004, thanks mainly to their catchy hit "Cold" that just kept getting bigger and bigger. They seem to have come out of nowhere, with a self-produced album recorded back in 2003 while the band went under a different name -- Sugardaddy Superstars. This ten track debut attempts to encompass a variety of genres. Crossfade bends between melodic modern rock (in the same vein as Staind) and rap-rock (sounding a bit like Saliva), and as far as this debut goes, these sounds mix about as well as oil and water. No doubt, it's a commendable effort from a bunch of guys who did it themselves, but the album doesn't deliver on a promise that the excellent "Cold" made -- quite frankly, the rest of the album is just weak by comparison. It's easy to see why "Cold" is so big, it's catchy, it's something everyone can relate to and it hits all the right notes. "So Far Away" is almost up to par, and "Starless" would be great if it wasn't afraid to bust open in all the right places, making for a very weak start. "Disco" and "Death Trend Setta" are instant throwaways, cheesy, stale rap-metal at the best. "Dead Skin" and "The Unknown," the mellowist moments, are about the only two tracks I find myself coming back for more. These two songs definitely get better with each listen, but the rest of the album doesn't. If you loved "Cold," I can't promise this will live up to it. It's got a few good songs, but overall, a very disappointing effort. I think the band will get better though when they make another album. I mean, this was self-produced, and on that merit, it's good. But they just can't hang with so many bands that do this sound better right now.

I finally went out and bought this CD yesterday, because I live in the same city that the band is based in, Columbia, SC. The funny thing is, I've never heard of them untill one of my friends told me he was the drummer's cusin. After buying the record I listened to it, and all I have to say is, WHERE IS THE ORIGINALLITY. I know Nickelback is pissed. The music is good, I give the effort 5 Stars, but as far as being original i have to keep the 3 1/2 Stars.

Songs:

COLD - ONE OF THE MOST ORIGINAL SONGS ON THE CD (good song)

COLORS - SOUNDS LIKE NICKELBACK & SALIVA WROTE THIS ONE TOGETHER (good song though)

DEAD SKIN - SOUNDS LIKE SALIVA & SEVENDUST MIXED TOGETHER IN A STIFF ASS DRINK.

DEATH TREND SETTA - SEVENDUST ALL THE WAY (I KNOW THEY'RE PISSED)

DISCO - DISTURBED MIXED WITH NICKELBACK, IT SOUNDS THE SINGER FROM DISTURBED SET IN FOR THE SESSION IN THE STUDIO (well you heard it first, only in SOUTH CAROLINA)

NO GIVING UP - P.O.D. Satelite Style mixed with NICKELBACK

SO FAR AWAY - SALIVA & NICKELBACK AGAIN

STARLESS - SEVENDUST, NICKELBACK, AND SALIVA ALL IN ONE (WOW..not)

THE DEEP END - POD, LIMP BIZKIT, NICKELBACK, SEVENDUST, SALIVA, AND SOME HINTS OF KORN.

THE UNKNOWN - Exactly that, its unknown.

THIS IS A GOOD RECORD AND TOTALLY WORTH 13 BUCKS AND I HIGHLY PRAISE IT FOR WHAT IT IS. I JUST THOUGHT MUSIC LIKE THIS ONLY CAME OUT OF CANADA, WELL WHATEVER SELLS, GO LUCK TO THEM, AND TO PUTTING THE SOUTH ON THE MAP.

I HAVE TO REPRESENT FOR MY HOME TOWN, & MY STATE.

What does "Crossfade" sound like? I would have to say the guitars and beats etc sound more like disturbed than anything, and the vocals....WOW, nothing like I've heard before!!!!! I Heard "Cold" on "HardDrive" with Lu Brutis, and I was instantly HOOKED, I downloaded, and listened to it for a month...waiting almost dieing for april 13th to come...I went nuts. Then Crossfade came out, and WOW ITS AWESOME. "Cold" "Dead Skin" "So Far Away" "Colors" "Starless" "Disco" and "The Unknown" are the best songs I've heard on an album in forever!!!! I've supported this band since the first time I heard "Cold" I've goten 3 people to buy the cd, and countless to download the single...EVERYONE LOVED them!!!!!!
Crossfade is going to be HUGE, I only PRAY that someday they come around here in IOWA to play a show...that would be totally FUMore than the music...the vocals are what realed me in..I used to be a big alcoholic, til my girlfriend came and told me that it was either her or the alcohol..i chose her OF COURSE i LOVE HER....then i listened to "Dead Skin" and i cried, that song fit my deliema so well...listen to the words, its GREAT
CROSSFADE RULES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Well Crossfade may just be another modern rock Alt Metal band but that doesn't make them bad. Sure, they don't really add anything new to the music out now but that shouldn't take away from the music itself. All I know is from what I heard they have some really good tracks. I first heard the track "Cold" on the radio and it was just one of those songs that I love instantly. I just had to go out and get the album. After getting the album It turned out to be pretty good. I pretty much enjoyed everything on here. Although, my favorite tracks would have to be "Cold", "Starless", "Colors", and "Dead Skin". Here's the track ratings...

1. Starless - 9.5/10
2. Cold - 10/10
3. So Far Away - 9.5/10
4. Colors - 10/10
5. Death Trend Setta - 10/10
6. The Deep End - 9/10
7. No Giving Up - 9.5/10
8. Dead Skin - 10/10
9. Disco - 7/10
10. The Unknown - 9/10

Overall: 93% A-

Sure, it's not really anything new but It is good and a nice listen. I enjoyed this album very much and am very curious to see what Crossfade has done with their new album that was just released. Anyway, anyone who's into this style of music will probably end up finding a bunch of other good tracks for their music collection.