Embracing The Inner Youth
It’s hard to not feel a slight wave of affection for All Time Low. As far as band names go its reeks of self pride, after all there’s really only two ways it can be taken. On the one hand the name suggests that you have actually hit an all time low and so anything is going to be better hence listen to these guys. Or on the more critical side, it’s a name that makes you think crikey, music really has reached an all time low. Luckily for this Maryland quartet the latter reaction isn’t one they are going to get too often. Brandishing the type of pop punk that will have you breaking out the sun cream in the middle of an artic storm or heading to the beach during a hurricane, All Time Low simply ooze feel good cheery goodness, the kind that makes you believe that you’re still a teenager and down with all the cool hip kids whilst dancing like the OAP you truly are. Quite fitting considering their latest release is titled ‘So Wrong Its Right’.
Breezing past in a whirl of pop punk fun, ‘So Wrong Its Right’ invites you to abandon any form of responsibility and give maturity a swift kick in the groin as ATL unleash contagious beats smashed alongside hook ridden vocal harmonies and irresistible chant inducing choruses. Breaking out with the mosh inciting fun frolics of ‘This Is How We Do’, ATL punch and pull at you as they cheekily invite you to “Boys raise your glasses/Girls shake those (Go! Go! Go!)” insuring that before the first beat has bounced off the wall you’re chanting along. From here on in ‘So Wrong Its Right’ is a tidal wave of irresistibly catchy tracks that jump giddily around with a youthful infectious from the hook heavy ‘Let It Roll’ to the energetically charged ‘Holly (Would You Turn Me On)’ all the way through to hyperactive escapades of ‘Dear Maria, Count Me In’ right down to album closer ‘Poppin’ Champagne’. Boasting the pop infectiousness of All American Rejects with the cheekily juvenile punk frolics of early Blink 182 before topping it all off with a touch of Jimmy Eat World feel good vibes, ATL blend uncountable energy amidst wit filled lyrics to guarantee that care free youthful buzz hits within seconds.
‘So Wrong Its Right’ needs to be taken for what it is. There’s no need to give your self a tumour striving to find the dark and deep meaning behind the album because frankly there isn’t one. This is pop punk by numbers, completely radio friendly and undeniably infectious. Sure, tracks do start to bleed into one another and you have to double check your not actually listening to the same one, but somehow it just doesn’t seem to matter as ATL help you to unwind and embrace a carefree attitude that’s been missing since Blink 182’s early years as they cheekily poke their tongue out at authority and encourage you to live like a teen once again regardless of your age.