All Time Low

Nothing Personal (2009)
Hopeless Records

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Contributed by: chrisafi
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Published on January 5th 2010

You almost certainly know who this band is by now, so consider this introductory paragraph over.

This album is All Time Low's third full-length, and it's pretty confusing to listen to. It's confusing because it's really obvious what's going on; this is a release consciously targeted at the huge Fall Out Boy / Hellogoodbye / Avril Lavigne market of pop-punk, as opposed to the more indie pop-punk vibes of bands like Broadway Calls.

The strange thing is that this album is pretty close to being good. Some of the compositions, harmonies and compiled melodies are excellent and often highly infectious. Most of the tracks have a good upbeat vibe and are well-executed. This is not 'bad' pop-punk by any means, and there are a number of moments where you can't help but say 'damn, that's catchy.'

But, there is a massive problem. This album is horribly over-produced. As a result, it doesn't just sound like bubblegum pop; it almost tastes of it. It also suffers from following the the terrible trend of containing massive power-pop ballads, making tracks like "Lost in Stereo" and "Too Much" pretty much unlistenable, which wrecks the album as a listening experience. Furthermore, the lyrics are bog-standard at best and pretty forgetable, which puts a massive downer across the whole release.

The track that sums up the album best is lead single "Weightless." It's quite a good song and certainly catchy. But after just one or two listens you start thinking, "Damn, this would be much better if..."

And maybe thinking like that is just a matter of taste. But personally, I think it's more than that. This band could be a very good pop-punk band on their own merits, but instead, listening to them, you get the feeling they are casually slotting into an already established groove and sound that has been done many times before.

Maybe, one day, they'll break out of their cage and release something really worth listening to.

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Fine Print: The following comments are owned by whoever posted them. We are not respon sible for them in any way. Seriously.

paulrulzdood (January 8, 2010)

this band reminds me of a really, really, really, really lame NFG with no balls and bad haircuts

fifthwheel (January 7, 2010)

this band reminds me of a less talented new found glory.

matt_vinyl_vlog (January 7, 2010)

Uhhh didn't the Westboro Baptist Church have a thing for these guys? That's fun.

Showtyme (January 7, 2010)

""This is a release consciously targeted at the huge Fall Out Boy / Hellogoodbye / Avril Lavigne market of pop-punk"

None of those have anything in common... Anyway, I'm sure 2 stars is giving this too much credit."

...They have their fans in common, which is the point he was getting at...

Morbo_09 (January 7, 2010)

"number of moments where you can't help but say 'damn, that's catchy."

Herpe's is also quite catchy

aintyourbusiness (January 6, 2010)

I don't know why, but when I listen to this I feel like 13 year old girl.

skeetopunk01 (January 6, 2010)

Ah, pop-punk.... is it over yet?

thepopeofchili-town (January 5, 2010)

"This is a release consciously targeted at the huge Fall Out Boy / Hellogoodbye / Avril Lavigne market of pop-punk"

None of those have anything in common... Anyway, I'm sure 2 stars is giving this too much credit.

icapped2pac (January 5, 2010)

When I read my monthly issue of AP on the can, I'm so tempted to wipe my ass with every picture of these guys I see...which is about 10 every issue (including ads). They're not worth the inconvenience of clogging up my plumbing with shit-laden magazine pages, though. And if I put them in the garbage, the cat would probably find it and drag it out, and then I'd have to explain it to my girflfriend. Either way it would be a shitnami. Just like this album.

kylewagoner (January 5, 2010)

I think it's a step up from their older work, based on the songs I've heard from it. And uhhh...yeah, they overdo it a lot when a simpler approach would make certain songs really good.

maverick (January 5, 2010)

While "Lost In Stereo" is a bad song, it's not a ballad.

-Scott

TheChemist (January 5, 2010)

When you're right, you're right! Hawt dawg!

mattramone (January 5, 2010)

More like All Time BLOW amirite?