April 3/ All Time Low / Hopeless Records
Rating: 4/5 stars
All Time Low have been around since 2005 and their pop-punk aesthetic has grown immensely. The songwriting by lead singer Alex Gaskarth is nothing short of phenomenal and by tag teaming with well known producer John Feldmann, Future Hearts shows the perfect amount of progression these four “lost boys” always continue to do.
All Time Low is simply a victim of the “Peter Pan Syndrome” but each album they produce and write incorporates very new elements mixed with the well loved old ones. The experimentation with this album is shown with the composition of the music. Gaskarth can switch from the gritty, low toned voice on the album opener “Satellite” to the cliche that always works- the “oh’s” and “whoa’s” on the closer “Old Scars/Future Hearts,” with a strum of a chord. All of the songs carry the element of the acoustic guitar mixed in with that electric vibe that All Time Low is very well known for. The lyrics dabble in the classic boy-leaves-girl-he-loves-for-the-road-but-they-overcome in “Cinderblock Garden,” and the self empowerment, go take on the world screams with “Missing You.”
They also nabbed all-star guest vocalists on two different traps. Mark Hoppus of Blink-182 adds his voice on the second verse of “Tidal Waves” and this pop-punk ballad is a standout on the album. Then, Joel Madden of Good Charlotte guest appears on “Bail Me Out.” Madden shapes the song into a different mold than anything the guys have ever done- and it works for them. As it is easily catchy, it will be hit with the crowd once they start touring this spring.
The sixth studio album is so well rounded that it is hard to easily pick out the best and worst song. All Time Low is now one of top of modern popular charts as well as staying true to the alternative genre they will always be a part of. The Future Hearts era of this band will definitely be the turning point of the music scene of this year and for this band.
