BLG get it right with their second album
With 'Love Drunk', Boys Like Girls follow up to their 2006 self title debut, the Bostonians have avoided the difficult second album curse and produced an album of 11 catchy, passionate tracks seemingly effortlessly. Singer Martin Johnson's smooth sensual voice grabs your attention from the get go and his lyrics are backed by solid rhythms and melodies from the rest of the band.
Johnson has given fans an insight into how much work and effort went in to this album and how much it means to the band via his blog, confirming that this is a very personal album, initially for him and subsequently for the entire band.
While there are similar themes in many songs, it is not a concept album it's a collection of tracks with very different feels and no consistency to the flow between them, however that doesn't detract from the content as each song stands alone and works well with those around it.
The foursome mix up the styles of individual songs while keeping their distinctly Boys Like Girls sound. Witness a throwback to the 80s on 'Real Thing' which channels the electro pop feel of the era, the introduction of strings to slow things down and add emotion with 'Go', clap along beats from drummer John Keefe in 'Contagious' which is just made for dancing along to and beautiful ballads like 'Someone Like You' and 'Two is Better Than One' on which Taylor Swift contributes vocals.
Boys like girls start by writing songs from the heart then turns them into anthems. This is clear as day with the title track 'Love Drunk' which uses superb fun analogies of drunkenness and hangovers. This single ready, radio friendly track is fun on the surface and meaningful underneath and one you can listen to over and over without tiring of it.
The band have said many times that this is a personal album, this is the music they wanted to make. Each song has a story and the album catches your attention from the first track and holds it through to the last. Call it pop punk, alternative rock, poppy rock or any of the other labels this style of music generates, what you can't deny is that it is the product of four talented, committed musicians who can create fun and emotional tracks that you want to sing along to.