CD REVIEW | Band on the brink
For the past few years, bands such as Fall Out Boy, Paramore and My Chemical Romance have exploded to become mainstream successes.
Within the next 12 months, the band All Time Low has a serious chance of being added to the list of bands going from "scene" to "mainstream."
All Time Low's recent release, "Nothing Personal," has the makings to send a band flirting with mass popularity over the edge after years of constant touring and constant exposure from the music scene. They were named Alternative Press "Band of the Year" for 2008.
The first song off the album and first single, "Weightless," is a summer anthem type pop/rock song with a chorus that will no doubt leaving anyone listening singing along before the song is even over. Look for this song to be played constantly on the radio in the coming months and on television.
The album continues with the "Break Your Little Heart" and then "Damned If You Do Ya (Damned If I Don't)," which will be the band's second single.
Following is "Lost In Stereo," which is perhaps the catchiest and fastest song on the record. The chorus is driven by the vocal exchange of lead singer/guitarist Alex Gaskarth singing lines such as "She's out of control, so beautiful" and "She's dancing alone, I'm ready to go but she's." while the rest of the band bellows "Lost In Stereo, Lost In Stereo." The song is simple and perfect for summer drives.
The album continues on with solid pop/rock songs "Stella," "Sick Little Games" and "Hello, Brooklyn."
After the three regular pop/rock songs, the album takes a slight turn that sees the next few tracks all have different sounds. "Walls" starts with an almost techno introduction and "Too Much" is unlike the band has ever done, sounding more like Hellogoodbye with its electric/highly produced sound. "Keep The Change, You Filthy Animal" and "A Party Song (Walk of Shame)" however takes the band back to their normal sound, but with an edge not seen on their last release "So Wrong It's Right" and takes them back to the "Put Up or Shut Up EP" days in a way.
While the album will no doubt remembered for the fast-paced and memorable pop/rock songs, the band closes out "Nothing Personal" on a slower note with "Therapy." The slow paced song is more somber, beginning with the lyrics "My ship went down, in a sea of sound."
This record will not, nor will this band, blow anyone away with their musical ability. Nor will it probably end up being one of the top 10 records of the year from musical experts. But what this band does (make pop/rock music), they do better than anyone out there right now.
Three out of five stars.
studentlife@cm-life.com
