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All-American Rejects

Live From Oklahoma... The Too Bad For Hell DVD (2003)
Universal Music Group

Reviewer Rating:

Contributed by: Scott
(others by this writer | submit your own)

Published on October 3rd 2003

The All-American Rejects have really been quite the rags-to-riches story of 2003. Two guys just out of high school sign a deal with indie Doghouse Records, and before their album is even released, Dreamworks ears perk up and sign the kids to a major label deal. Over 700,000 copies later, here the band stands, now a quartet with thousands of pre-pubescent girls wanting to lose their virginity to them. TV appearances are old hat, and sold out shows are assumed, not hoped for. The band really has made it to the big time, and to usher themselves into the complete mainstream, Dreamworks has released a live DVD of the band's homecoming performance in Tusla, Oklahoma earlier this year.

The Rejects catch a lot of flak for their live show, with many people saying they're mediocre at best. I have seen them once and thought they rocked pretty hard, but since then their live reviews have been getting steadily worse. This DVD proves all of the haters, wrong though, as the band is really, really tight for the majority of their 45 minute set. The vocal harmonies are dead-on, the extra bells and whistles are perfectly timed, and the band just plays really, really tightly. The only small disaster is guitarist Nick Wheeler's solo in "Your Star" - it's horribly cringe-worthy, but it's really the only blemish of the set.

The biggest downside to this DVD is that it's this early in the band's career. They've only released a dozen songs thus far, so one can assume that the set won't be incredibly extensive. It's not, as the band plays an 8-song set with a 2-song encore ["Swing Swing" and "The Last Song," predictably]. For a headlining band, 10 songs would make me feel rather robbed had I bought a ticket, but odds are most of these kids' parents bought the tickets anyways.

Side note - there's over 3000 people at the concert in this DVD, and based on the crowd shots, I'm pretty sure that 2900 of them were female.

So yeah, the Rejects blast through every song on their debut except for the best one, that being "Drive Away." Oh well. Even the weaker songs on the album take on a new life in concert, which is a testament to their live show.

Dreamworks also throws on the band's two music videos on the DVD, as well as a neat little feature called "Lost In Stillwater" that shows the band cruising around their hometown via their beat up old van, spending some time at local hangouts, the high school, et cetera. It comes off as sincere, instead of cheesy. Kudos.

Kung Fu Records take note - this is how you do a concert DVD. The footage is crisp and clear, and the angles are much more unique than your basic concert film. It's pleasing to both the eye and ear.

Oh yeah, and to all of you who are going to hate on this band, here's one saving grace - guitarist Mike Kennerty is wearing an Against Me! t-shirt. So there.

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Anonymous (March 1, 2004)

debate time! who is more of a pansy bed-wetter? chris carrabba or the members of the all american rejects?

Anonymous (October 9, 2003)

these guys are cool. i saw them on fuse. theyre cool.

Anonymous (October 7, 2003)

i heard some motherfuckers are knockin' supertramp on this site. i will bring down the full thunder of "breakfast in america" if i hear this again!

-sir willups brightslymore

Anonymous (October 7, 2003)

yeah, and since when does pennywise equal as much cred as against me or bad brains?

that's like "Mest182" saying "i like converge too, look at my icon", and then the fucker has a MY CHEMICAL ROMANCE ICON!!!

THAT IS YOU. pwise!

Anonymous (October 7, 2003)

your user name is pwise. i hate you and the band.

pwise32 (October 7, 2003)

an against me! shirt? that doesnt make him any cooler. the guy in new found glory wears a Bad Brains shirt and I still hate them.

Anonymous (October 6, 2003)

Hahahaha... "Too Bad for Hell", and they aren't describing their music. That's a crime.

-BSD

Anonymous (October 6, 2003)

they can swing swing on any part of my genitles for all i care

burstandbloom (October 6, 2003)

haha.

Anonymous (October 6, 2003)

i think the best review of this album I've read was in wonka vision

"swing swing on my nuts"

simple yet accurate

Anonymous (October 6, 2003)

Sure this would be better quality than the Show Must Go Off series. I think Dreamworks has a little more cash at their disposal than KF.

Oh, and this band sucks.

Kurt_F (October 5, 2003)

About the "cool guitarist with good taste" thing:

Before Mike was in AAR, he was in a band called Euclid Crash, which is basically a female fronted synth-indie-punk band. They were really good. In fact, AAR used to open for them here in Oklahoma City when they were still a 3 piece. Anyways, One time Mike was working at Guitar Center and overheard me talking about Propaghandi, and freaked out and told me how much he loved them and proceeded to show me his Propaghandi tattoos. A few months later AAR got signed to Dreamworks, and decided they needed another guitar player, so they asked him. Keep in mind the cd was already out, so he's not even on the cd. I wouldn't have passed it up either. So I guess what I'm trying to say is, he really doesn't fit in with this band, and I still think it's funny that he plays in them, but oh well, he's rich now. And he likes really good music.

If you want to hear Euclid Crash mp3s, then here you go: euclidcrash.iuma.com

Anonymous (October 5, 2003)

i like the diversity of reviews. you got strike anywhere, avail, tsol and stiff little fingers. then you have this.

ElVaquero (October 5, 2003)

hehehehehehehe i have this cd hehehehehehehe

Anonymous (October 5, 2003)

Honestly, this is the worst band i've ever heard...

i'd rather listen to supertramp.

-jv-

maverick (October 5, 2003)

My bad about the Hennerty/Kennerty thing. It's been changed.

-Scott

Anonymous (October 5, 2003)

Tyson Ritter (vocals/bass)

Nick Wheeler (guitars/keyboards/programming)

Mike Kennerty (guitar)

Chris Gaylor (drums)

- Scott
http://www.local-felons.com/
(Guess he was right)

Anonymous (October 5, 2003)

If their guitarist likes No Idea Records he'd be better off showing that in the music than on his t-shirt, since that might redeem this terrible band.

Anonymous (October 5, 2003)

hahah, these guys are funny. pretty brilliant if u ask me, they craft ready for radio pop power poop hits. its great. i wish i could become a millionaire as fast as these guys have. i bet the dvd is funny too. haha. fuck.

Strewtho (October 5, 2003)

No Idea is good but taking a while with that Rumbleseat discography, grrr.

Anonymous (October 4, 2003)

I don't think I would buy a DVD for 10 songs, videos I could see on TV, and some random hometown feature, no matter what band the DVD was for.

...and I believe the guitarist's name is Mike Kennerty, not Hennerty.

thenick (October 4, 2003)

i dont care eithere way about these guys.... but i just dont get why they have a drummer. everytime ive seen them, 3or more, they always have the drum-synth thing playing. its not like its even playing hard drum beats. so i have yet to see why they have a real drummer

FortyMinutesWest (October 4, 2003)

This band is just terrible, no other way of putting it. Frankly, I don't see how anyone can listen to this. I'm usually willing to keep an open mind, but come on people! It's been a rough week, can you tell?

Anonymous (October 4, 2003)

id still like to think theyre COMPLETELY better than simple plan.. and i think theyre lots better than the newer nfg stuff... i mean.. id always want taking back sunday over them.. but for pop punk.. or pop i guess... its not that bad.

Anonymous (October 4, 2003)

Not to nitpick or anything but what's up with the "Too Bad For Hell" title? Since when are they playing the badass angle? Doesn't seem to fit their music.

maverick (October 4, 2003)

Ramo-
The AAR guitarist did wear a Combat Wounded Veteran t-shirt on their Jay Leno performance. He's got a bit of a thing for No Idea, methinks.

-Scott

Anonymous (October 4, 2003)

AM! rocks. We can all atleast agree on that.

Anonymous (October 4, 2003)

i think they aired this on MTV. i saw the same dude wear an against me! shirt too. and then another time wearing a combatwoundedveteran shirt. i hate AAR but the guy has good taste.

Ramo