The Stating Line's new 'Direction'

by Cory Jackson
Originally published: 8/2/07
The Starting Line is showing us what they call the best of them in their latest effort, Direction, released Tuesday, July 31. What remains to be seen is whether the band is on the right track or taken a wrong turn.

Recorded with grammy-nominated producer Howard Benson, the record is vocalist Kenny Vasoli's effort at making songs that "get to the point".

The Starting Line has flirted with success since 2002, when their debut album, Say It Like You Mean It, sold 300,000 copies and their single, "Best of Me", got MTV's attention. The video for the hit aired in heavy rotation and when TSL was looking to move from their home at Drive-Thru Records to a bigger label and more exposure, Geffen Records' contract offer seemed to be a godsend.

However, as is often the case, after the newly-discovered heart-throb band slaved over a highly-anticipated sophomore album, they could only watch as their new label fumbled the promotion for it and sent them careening downward like so many other bands who either fade into obscurity or break up entirely.

The Starting Line's single, "Bedroom Talk" never received radio play and the album, Based on a True Story, seemed to almost go unnoticed by even their own label.

Realize that I am one of maybe ten people that think TSL's Based on a True Story is decent album with some great songs, such as "Surprise, Surprise", "Stay Where I Can See You" and "Cut! Print It", so everything I say about the label's handling is biased, but this is a review and completely subjective. Anyone who tells you any media criticism is objective is either lying or presently employed as a media critic.

For example, if I had just broken up with my girlfriend over a stupid fight about how I'm not cheating on her, this album would seem like utterly cliche and sentimental crap.

However, if I was on good terms with my significant other and we'd just spent the day feeding each other strawberries and other similarly erotic fruit, this album would be regarded as a harbinger of truth, a certified gospel account of teenagers in love and it would be an incredible testament to the reality of those mushy and all-together embarrassing feelings you don't really like to mention around your buddies.