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Review: Major League - There’s Nothing Wrong With Me

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There’s Nothing Wrong With Me is the sophomore album by New Jersey alternative rock/punk band Major League. The band’s first release after the departure of former vocalist Nick Trask, it features guitarist Brian Joyce taking the lead, but does it stack up to their previous releases? Keep on reading to find out.

There’s Nothing Wrong With Me begins with the rock-esque “Wallflower”. Right away, listeners are introduced to Joyce’s edgier voice, throwing all pre-conceived notions out the window. It’s followed by “Graves”, one of the album’s stronger tracks, which sees Major League moving toward a melodic pop-punk sound, something that’s present throughout the record’s duration. It’s quickly contrasted by the heavy “Pillow Talk”.

The album’s lead single “Kaleidoscopes” is featured next and is essentially a representation of what listeners can expect: loud vocals, screaming guitars, quick-paced drums and an infectious melody that just won’t quit. While the track occasionally delves into the generic, the band are quick to pull it back and it is overall a good showing.

“Just As I Am” is the beginning of a string of slower tracks that’ll have fans falling in love with Major League all over again. Sounding like it was recorded live with no studio effects or tweaks, its quiet sound allows for the lyrics to really be absorbed. It’s followed by the beautiful “Montreal”, which is sure to be an automatic fan favourite. An open apology to Joyce’s mother, its singular vocals and guitar really strike home the impact of the lyrics and it’s bound to have some listeners experiencing a multitude of emotions.

The poppiest song on There’s Nothing Wrong With Me is definitely “Little Eyes”. The impact it’ll have on listeners can be felt within the first minute of listening and it’s a track that’ll have fans hitting repeat over and over. It’s completely contrasted by the three follow up tracks, all of which unfortunately tend to blend into each other. They showcase a true pop-punk sounds, from the aggressiveness of “Devil’s Advocate” to the Forever Came Calling reminiscent “Recovery”.

“Rittenhouse”, the album’s closing track, is tied with “Little Eyes” as my personal favourite. Probably the most upbeat Major League get on There’s Nothing Wrong With Me, it ends the album with a bang, which symbolizes that, although they’ve gone through some changes, they’re here to stay and show the world what they’re made of.

Overall, There’s Nothing Wrong With Me is a superb release by a band who are easily one of the scenes most promising. While some of its tracks do seem to overshadow or blend into others, the majority of what’s featured is new and interesting, and that’s hard to accomplish nowadays. The decision to transition Joyce into lead vocals was a smart one, for his raspier voice gives each song an element that would have otherwise been missing, and the band’s overall ability to blend melodic-rock with pop-punk sentiments is one to be applauded. While I’m sure there’ll be fans out there who gripe over the loss of Trask, the majority of listeners will find There’s Nothing Wrong With Me new and refreshing, and it’s bound to be one of the best releases of 2014.

Download: Rittenhouse

4/5

By Clare Fitzgerald
  1. legendarykidspress posted this