I’m Beginning To See The Light.

I mentioned a few posts ago that I had seen Fall Out Boy in concert for my birthday, and recently found myself wanting to explore one of the bands that had been there with them. I picked up a copy of Hey Monday's Hold On Tight, and it was a pleasant surprise. The band did a good job in concert of involving the crowd, and that night I did enjoy hearing their songs. After listening to the album itself, I think I've found a new summer favorite. I wouldn't say that it would qualify for album of the year, but it definitely has some really good songs on it. My biggest criticism is that, go figure, the songs are all very similar sounding. The singles How You Love Me Now and Homecoming are both very fun songs, but they could be hard to differentiate to a casual listener. My personal favorite from the album is Candles, which is the only song that I distinctly remember from the concert. That night, lead singer Cassadee Pope came out with just her acoustic guitar and began the song, only to be joined later by the rest of the band. The recording is very good, and one of the triumphs of the album. Josey is another great track, and one of those that I had heard before the concert. Overall, the album is filled with fun, power pop anthems that boast the high vocals of Pope and in places some very nice guitar parts as well.

Key Tracks: How You Love Me Now, Homecoming, Obvious, Candles, Josey, Hurricane Streets, Run, Don't Walk


Another new favorite that merits mentioning is the new single from All Time Low entitled Weightless. This was also played at the FOB concert in April, but at the time I did not know it. I finally got around to getting the single, and it is my song of the moment. The song is more reminiscent of the Put Up Or Shut Up era that it is of So Wrong, It's Right, which is a relief to me who was scared that they were fast becoming just a pop band rather than keeping with the idea of pop punk. I recently read in an interview with the band that the same worry was one of theirs following the release of So Wrong, It's Right, specifically I believe it was Rian Dawson who expressed the concern of the pop sound dominating them. But with Weightless, ATL has proven that they aren't losing touch with their roots, creating a single that is decidedly pop but boasts some stronger punk beats. The single has the makings to be the song of my summer, and it excites me for what is to come from their upcoming album Nothing Personal.

Currently Listening To: "Arizona" by Hey Monday from "Hold On Tight"