The Funkiest Lesson You'll Learn
Cute Is What We Aim For are unmistakably part of the luscious pop scene that currently houses Fall Out Boy and Panic! At The Disco, take the fashionable pirouetting vocals and deliberate guitarwork, which plays the vocals off in splendid harmony.
There's a youthful wisdom about the vocals with the typical American teen sound but smart lyrics that offer advice in their infinitely relevant tales; "If you lie you don't deserve to have friends" explains singer Shaant in this classroom rock of, 'Newport Living' a cautionary tale about a new girl tempted by the evils of drugs and alcohol. 'The Fourth Drink Instinct' also advises against the devil drink and one-night stands, it's a more mellow number, letting the words settle into young ladies' minds; this is all very moral but a little patronising, "She thought she could buy happiness by the bottle".
It's all produced with a captivating energy, which makes the emo pop intentions more mature, 'Sweat The Battle Before The Battle Sweats You' recalls Panic! In The Disco in more than its wordy name; the melodic guitars are a little more grungey, but just as jerky as their labelmates.
'Finger Twist & Split' is mellow mix of crashing percussion, melodic guitars and smart lyrics, "Body language is something you learn, you just don't get taught", while 'Risque' is a sweet number about a good old teenage crush. You can just imagine the video set in those twee little American houses with white porches and green, green lawns; like jelly babies, it's a little sappy and has little nutritional value, but it still tastes good.
'The Curse of Curves' features my favourite new insult, "You're shallow as a shower" and is a witty effort bursting with sparkling harmonies and crashing chords, while 'Lyrical Lies' is metaliterature at its most thoughtful and gentle.
Thankfully unlike Fall Out Boy, we know that Cute Is What We Aim For aren't taking themselves seriously and are aware of their childish, fun side. This is the kind of music that your parents would love you to listen to; although it's bouncy and melodic it has lyrics that makes it blissful to play to your granny when she asks what that racket is. If you get past the fact that CIWWAF are about as rebellious as a PSE lesson, 'The Same Old Blood Rush With A New Touch' is a catchy rock n'roll romp. Catch them in a few years time when the lyricism has progressed to politics and society and you may witness something great.