What Became of Me, the recent album from the band Roses Are Red, strays away from the cookie-cutter style of most bands in the pop rock category. That’s probably why a label that is normally known for signing hardcore acts picked the band up. The heart-filled vocal styling of singer Vincent Minervino comes together with the marvelously crafted musical sounds over and over on songs like “Remember Me (It’s Happening)” and “The Last Time (Come With Me Tonight)” invoking a vast array of emotions. What Became of Me takes the traditional catchiness of popular music and runs with it to make an original style of it’s own. Definitely an album worth listening to.

Roses Are Red have been around for a few years; I remember having a copy of their last album in my closet for months. This is the band’s return to the big time. The disc opens up with “These Days”, which is a track that while having a catchy melody at points does not have quite the raw energy of a song like “Failing”. “Failing” has very confident guitar riffs that push the band forward, and the extended instrumental opening allows individuals to fully understand the ability of Roses Are Red in a way that a vocal track would obscure. The vocals are a vocal point on “Failing”, and it is this back and forth between the guitars/drums and the vocals provides the dynamic tension that keeps individuals rocking along heavily. The band comes forth as a blend of acts like Yellowcard and The Offspring, while songs like “Giving It All Tonight” add an emotion that is paralleled in the later work of bands like The All-American Rejects. Each of the tracks on “What Became Of Me” allows Roses Are Red to create a really radio-friendly yet intricate sound that is purely their own. The band may not have the immediate radio hit or anything on this album, but each of the tracks will cause listeners to be captured, with eyes locked on the band as they play each following track. The band has came forward considerably from their lat album, but their trajectory seems to be one in which this album shows individuals that the band has the talent to progress, but does not have that progression present. Thus, tracks like “Bring Me Down” may have a great increase in the tempo of the track, but there is not that one thing that clicks that can legitimately bring Roses Are Red up a few notches. As was said, the band has the ability to make themselves equals to acts like Brand New, and it will just take listeners to the next album to see if the band has been able to capitalize on the structures that they installed during the last (this) disc. I have no doubt that the band would be intense live, as some of the spontaneous elements of the act that are slightly muted here would be able to shine with all the luster with which they should shine. Pick this disc up just to see where Roses Are Red are going.

Roses Are Red are back with "What Became Of Me", one of Alternative Press Magazine's Most Anticipated Albums Of 2006. That Roses Are Red are not your typical Trustkill band was already proven when they dropped their debut "Conversations", an album that fell a bit on its back because the songs sounded too much alike. But on the Brian McTernan-produced "What Became Of Me", they take their brand of modern rock to the next level and sound catchy and poppy without ending up being cheesy. They really know how to play out their dynamics, they've got the chops, the melodic hooks and the big choruses. I simply have no idea what could stop these guys from being all over the radio!

I’ve finally figured out Roses are Red. They’re like the awkward kid in those 80’s movies who tried to hard to fit in and got relentlessly picked on. When the band releases their debut full length Conversations on Trustkill a few years ago reviewers were for the most part less than kind. While the band found a fan base by touring their asses off, the general consensus was that they were just another flash in the pan screamo cash in. Well true believer if you’ve done your home work, or ever watched a TNT 80’s weekend you know what happens to that awkward kid in round two. They go from zero to hero. What Became of Me drops every trace of screamo posturing and focuses on the bands ability to write a bitchin’ rock song. The biggest improvement comes from front man Vincent Minervino who sounds like he’s been taking some vocal lessons. There is nary a cracked note to be found on the whole record, which may be a first for the genre. Mix with the sweet as a bowl of Fruity Pebbles melodies and driving guitars and you’ve got yourself a guilty pleasure. It’s like Sixteen Candles. We all love it, but who wants their friends to see the DVD in their collection. You’ve got nothing to be ashamed of. What Became of Me is a fine rock release. Don’t think of it in terms of emo or punk or even something you would except the label that brought us Most Precious Blood or Brothers Keeper. Rock and roll is supposed to be fun, and by that standard this record should come with a beach ball. Who cares if it’s like Anthony Michael Hall in Weird Science? It’s still a party and a half.

It’s almost comical where independent music has come in the past few years. The leaps and bounds in which the proverbial “scene” has expanded is crazy, moving in ways that we couldn’t even imagine and because of it, bands like Roses Are Red can put out a very mediocre debut entitled Conversations and sell almost 25 thousand copies of it. It is also completely refreshing to see a band come into their own and outgrow their previous incarnation. It happened with A Static Lullaby on Faso Latido (even though it was a commercial failure) where they ditched most of their younger songwriting tricks and honed their skills to write songs as opposed to parts of songs. Roses Are Red has definitely learned a ton since their debut on Trustkill and What Became Of Me showcases that growth with a little help from producer Brian McTernan. Decidedly less “pop-punk” than their past, Roses Are Red basically dropped a ton of the typical song structures of every pop punk band and then developed a keen sense of rock song writing a la Thrice. It’s sensible and coherent, which is a complement in this jumbled mess of new bands in 2006. Besides the terrible artwork, this is an entirely surprising record and will hopefully give the band a new spark of life in which to continue as the exciting times have just begun for the band.

Rochester based emo band Roses Are Red has worked with my favorite producer Brian McTernan (Moments in Grace,Don't look down,Engine Down) on their 2nd album for Trustkill records,"What became of me" perhaps ain't that much different compared to the previous album "Conversations". Less screamo and a more polished production from McTernan are two things that are significant for the new album,their 2004 effort was a nice album but didn't really stand out in the jungle of emo rock. But I feel that this quintet are better songwriters on "What became of me",I don't find any chartclimbing hitsingles on this album but that doesn't mean it's a bad cd. RAR have done what I would like to call a cd full of strong album tracks,you can listen to this 48 minute long cd and just sink into the lovely soundscape of first class melodic emo! Really,really good!

Roses Are Red’s previous full-length, Conversations was a semi-interesting release that sounded fresh but was hurt by a majority of the songs running together. Their followup, What Became of Me, has started to gather a lot of hype, with AP claiming it as one of the ‘Most Anticipated Releases’ of 2006. So with all the hype going into this release, is it really worth it? Hell yes. I didn’t expect to be blown away by What Became of Me. The opening track "These Days" comes out of the gates with a strong mix of catchy rock verses and killer choruses with unforgettable sing-alongs. The guitar work by Tom Zenns and Shaun Murphy, which is a mix of distorted rock guitars infused with a truckload of hooks, is the perfect backdrop for Vincent Minervino's vocals. Minervino’s emotion throughout the album is dead on and he easily hits every note every time. "Failure" may be one of the best songs I’ve heard this year. The song is absolutely loaded with hooks and the lyrics are something I can easily relate to: "I feel this pressure weighing down, weighing down on me / I can't complete a thought, it's hard to breathe, it keeps me awake / I'm walking fearfully through every day, through every place, but I I just can not turn away / Failing in conversation, but I wanted you to show me." On "Giving It All Tonight," Roses Are Red sound like what Matchbook Romance should have sounded like on their last album if they hadn’t abandoned their solid foundation to create one of the year’s dullest releases. This song is easily one that I can guarantee will get written down in someone’s journal, as once again the lyrics are easy to relate to and are top notch. “The Last Time" is the standout track, with the outstanding emotional singing of "so, so long my wishing well / you found me in this same hell / so, so long my sweetest day / you take the pain away" leading into the solo during the bridge. The rest of the album continues to blend in emotional lyrics with loads of hooks and even features some keys, acoustic guitars and strings to keep it fresh. Roses Are Red’s second full-length on Trustkill Records is one hell of a surprise and easily one of the year’s best in this genre. Brian McTernan’s production here is right on the money and lets Roses Are Red fully blossom into their best form. What Became of Me is one of the catchiest releases of the year and something that will easily relate to the kids today. Here’s to Roses Are Red becoming the next big thing.

Warped Tour favorites Roses Are Red play amped-up, emo-tinged punk that alternates between the muscular ear candy of "These Days," the sensitive "Giving It All Tonight," and the vengeful "Bring Me Down." "Running Out of Time" turns on a dime from metal-like riffs to a hymn of regret, while "Show Your Eyes" is a big-beat anthem that, like most of this formidable set, features the band playing to its strengths--namely, performing brawny yet nuanced musical mini-dramas with irresistible, air-punching choruses.

Besides their arena-ready live show, it's hard to pinpoint exactly where Roses Are Red might've sensed their future lies in breathtaking rock balladry - certainly not on 2004's "Conversations", the band's breakout sophomore album, which leaned heavily toward the screamo end of the post-hardcore spectrum. But, here they are, several lineup changes later, returning with "What Became Of Me", the first album in Trustkill Records history that both you and your parents will want to rock out to, however gently. After surviving those personnel moves, as well as his parents' recent divorce, it's understandable why Vincent Minervino's lyrics read like a series of soul-searching confessionals. Subsequently, "What Became Of Me" is a hugely emotional, unapologetically unironic album that's raw on the heartstrings but easier on the ears, sans the screams that cluttered "Conversations." Make no mistake: Roses Are Red are neither quiet nor revolutionary; and it's possible that they haven't reinvented their sound so much as they've just tried to recreate their own favorite rock records. But considering where they're coming from musically, they're no worse than sonic guerillas - thankfully, ones with a lot more subtlety (and a lot higher creative ceiling) than anything on the new Terror record.