| Ever since my ears got it's first burt from All Time Low's freshman effort, rising curiosity grew in me of what direction the band will move on the next album. Does the EP show a transition of sound or is it merely containing the new All Time Low? Is the music proving a point? Are the lyrics expressing a change of pace or of attitude? Has a reformation in idea honored a brief musical glimpse into the band? In this case, fans needed Put Up Or Shut Up. Quite possibly the catchiest album i've heard in 2006.
With dignified comparisons to Hit The Lights and Cartel (especially on the track Coffee Shop Soundtrack), the technical range of vocals is vastly expansive. Put Up Or Shut Up shows that even on an EP, a band can showcase different instrumentals and matching experimental singing, while layered vocals often stretch over the straightforward pick of a guitar. Whereas tracks like Lullabies and Running From Lions diddle with playful pop-punk riffs and soft melodies.
What floors me most about All Time Low's Put Up Or Shut Up is its personality. Where most pop-punk bands fail to show their diversity of sounds and vocal harmony, All Time Low are able to show they have more than what is takes for a full-length album based solely on this EP. And as vague as it may sound, I believe a good listener has a well-tuned intuition whether a band is just making music or if their heart is rooted in chord progressions, lyrics and songwriting. This alone, can be the single element for what make or breaks an album.
While there isnt anything incredibly ground-breaking, All Time Low provide a substantial album that warrants anticipation for what will come next. In such a short release, the band have created an environment that can make new fans feel welcomed and old fans looking forward to how they will evolve on the next album. The best element of the EP? This is pop-punk album that you dont feel guilty listening to. Finally!
~ Wayne
June 20 2006 |
