Group of heartbroken 19-year-olds start a band and eventually make it big with their debut record in a multinational label. Sound familiar? Course it does. You heard it all before: Arctic Monkeys, Sum 41, and about a gazillion other punk-pop and new-rock bands over the last two decades. So what makes The All-American Rejects different? Nothing in particular, but the fact is they’re good. Damn good.
When they released their self-titled debut in 2003, the Rejects were actually just a duo. Tyson Ritter (bass/vocals) and multi-instrumentist Nick Wheeler had met in high school, when both had attended the same party. They found out they had the same musical interests and decided to start their own band. The AAR were born.
At this time, no drummer or keyboardist had yet entered the picture. As such, Wheeler took it upon himself to record both instruments, partially programming the drums on the band’s upcoming album. By 2000, they had finally assembled their formation with the inclusion of guitarist Mike Kennerty and drummer Chris Gaylor. By this stage, most of the album had already been composed and recorded for release in 2002. The following year, the group attracted the attention of DreamWorks, who teamed up with Doghouse records to re - release the album.
On this album, Ritter is credited with bass and lead vocals, while Wheeler is credited with guitar, keyboards and drums. Furthermore, a drum machine adds a new dimension to many of these tracks, to the extent that it becomes hard to tell when it’s Wheeler and when it’s the drum machine playing.
As for the style, it is easily traceable: punk-pop, in its most melodic persuasion, bordering on pop rock and bringing reminiscences of Sum 41 and American Hi-Fi. However, the record is nowhere as lineal as the description would have you think. There are some pretty unexpected influences and details throughout the 11 songs that compose the album.
When one first listens to the album, his or her immediate impression will be that TAAR have chosen to throw all the potential singles in at the beginning of the album.
My Paper Heart,
Your Star and
Swing Swing all have radio potential and should please both fans of the genre and occasional listeners. In fact,
Swing Swing, the actual single, is one of those tunes that you can listen to – and sing along to – on your way to work. However, once you look at it from a music lover’s perspective, you find out there’s so much more to it – a church organ, for example. And on the bridge, Ritter’s voice sounds eerily like Morrisey’s – whoever thought a teenage band would have Smiths influences?!
However, probably the best thing about this album is how the band let loose after track #4. Once all the singles are done with, Ritter and Wheeler really loosen up and start showing their true personality. Sure,
One More Sad Song is so Sum 41, it borders on plagiarism, and
Drive Away has shades of Blink 182, but on the overall TAAR manage to come across as a band in their own right.
Another good thing – which, unfortunately, was not taken advantage of – is the group’s margin for progression. Both members were in their early 20’s at time of recording, and a bright future seemed to lurk ahead. Unfortunately, the band mellowed out considerably for
Move Along, their sophomore record, thereby losing some of that potential.
But of course, as much as it has its strong points, this album also has its weaknesses. The first, and most blatant one, are the lyrics. Sure, the band members were very young when they wrote the songs; but doing an entire album about a girl who broke your heart seems puerile and immature. This ultimately hurts the songs themselves, lowering their quality a notch.
Furthermore, not all the songs have the same standard.
Time Stands Still,
Why Worry and
Happy Endings seem somewhat blander than the rest, and don’t really attract our attention.
However, none of this derides from the fact that this is a great album – it’s fun, it’s fresh, it can appeal to both casual and hardened listeners and it has amazing staying power – at least for the first couple of weeks. Afterwards, it becomes a little tiredsome, but it will still rank as a frequent visitor to your CD set. Recommended.
Pros: - Songwriting
- Production
-Choruses
Cons: - Stupid Lyrics
-Filler
Recommended Tracks
My Paper Heart
Swing Swing
One More Sad Song
Drive Away
If you like this, check out:
– Blink 182, Enema of the State
- Green Day, Dookie
- Sum 41, All Killer No Filler
- American Hi-Fi, both
- Fall Out Boy, From Under The Cork Tree
