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Review: All Time Low - Future Hearts

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Future Hearts is the eagerly awaited fifth full-length album from Baltimore pop-punks, All Time Low. Nearly three years after the release of Don’t Panic, the guys have come back with something a little different. Overall, it shows a great deal of progression by the entire band, particularly with vocalist and guitarist Alex Gaskarth, as his skills as both a lyricist and vocalist have improved greatly compared to the band’s previous work.

The opening track is titled “Satellites”. Starting off slow with a sort of chant, it builds slowly, considering its short duration. It’s clear that the main intention of the song is to set off the album, to slowly build the listener’s tension as they draw closer to the main body of the album they’ve waited so long for.

Following “Satellites” is “Kicking and Screaming”. It’s much more aggressive than anything the band has done before, but it still sounds great. A never-before-seen energy is revealed through the guitar solos and stronger, angrier vocals.

Originally released this past January as the album’s lead single, “Something’s Gotta Give” left All Time Low fans at a loss for words (in a good way) with its catchy pop-punk nature. The single heightened excitement levels amongst listeners as they waited impatiently for more new music.

Next is second single, “Kids In The Dark”. When comparing the two, many have said they prefer it to “Something’s Gotta Give” because it has a real consistency that the latter lacks. Fan immediately made their love for both the music and lyrics clear and, as a result, the reaction to hearing the song played live was immense. The way it is arranged shows that it’s made to be played live and, so far, it has been going very well, judging from the response of those who heard the song played on some of the later dates of the band’s most recent European tour.

Track five is “Runaways”, yet another song that premiered before Future Hearts was released. This, like some of the other tracks, has more of a pop styling to it. It’s a nice song, but personally, I don’t think it stands out, especially when compared to some of the album’s other tracks.

“Missing You” is, in my opinion, this album’s version of “Therapy”. Lyrically, the song holds so much meaning; it’s one that has been greatly engaged and has reassured fans, as many feel somewhat of a connection to it. However, the music is not really sad. It’s more of a folk/pop style song that is much happier and more melodic than you would expect from a deeply meaningful track. These two minor contrasts really voice the uplifting message of the song and I think that’s why the fans have really been able to appreciate it as much as they have.

Then comes “Cinderblock Garden”. The guitar-driven track illustrates how All Time Low have matured over the past few years, with it being, on the whole, sustained and very constant in its sound while still maintaining the band’s distinctive pop-punk influences.

The final song to appear before the album’s release was “Tidal Waves”. To the excitement of many, Blink-182 singer Mark Hoppus features, but not in the way you’d expect. Obviously, both Blink and All Time Low are known for their upbeat and catchy pop-punk tracks, but this song is almost the complete opposite. Like “Missing You”, it has received a great fan response, as many resonate with the emotional undertones brought about by the heartfelt lyrics and calming instrumentals.

“Don’t You Go” returns to the upbeat All Time Low fans know and love. It possesses some of the elements of early 2000s pop-punk with its catchy lyrics and chant-worthy chorus. It has a head banging beat and gives the impression it would sound great live. It’s followed by track ten, “Bail Me Out”, which features none other than Good Charlotte’s Joel Madden. More pop-driven, it’s very simple and catchy and doesn’t sound out against the rest of the album. Both Madden and Gaskarth’s vocals complement each other nicely.

The next song, “Dancing With A Wolf”, is a completely different style. Unlike anything All Time Low have done before, this track covers new ground with its smooth, funky beat and kick-ass lyrics. Overall, it’s a catchy, toe-tapping track that will surely entertain.

The album’s penultimate song, “The Edge Of Tonight”, is another slower offering. It involves some new elements never seen in the band’s previous products. However, it still works really well. It has will it subtle dance music undertones that don’t build into anything too dramatic, allowing the track to remain mellow.

Closing out Future Hearts is the anthem, “Old Scars/Future Hearts”. This upbeat track, yet gain, showcases Gaskarth’s vocal talents and closes the album on a high note. It’s charismatic with a lot of heat and almost has a theatrical vibe to it, similar to opener “Satellites”, and really helps bring the album to a satisfactory end.

In short, Future Hearts is a really well-rounded bunch of songs that show newfound talent and maturity from All Time Low. The album is more of a pop release and, consequently, is a more reasonably easy listen. It’s a step in a new direction for the Baltimore boys, but nonetheless, they seem to be taking hold and embracing the fresh, new trajectory and, for the most part, fans  have been immensely supportive.

Download: Cinderblock Garden

4/5

By Shannon Morton

  1. legendarykidspress posted this