The All American Rejects 
Label: DreamWorks
Rating: 
 

Tracks: My Paper Heart  Your Star  Swing, Swing  Time Stands Still  One More Sad Song  Why Worry  Don't Leave Me  Too Far Gone  Drive Away  Happy Endings  Last Song

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The secret of the musical success for the All American Rejects is their mix of two distinct forms of music; “good” modern pop-punk like Jimmy Eat World and 80’s era alternative like The Smiths or The Cure. 

That formula may win you over or it may turn you off; all depending on your musical taste. But when they win you over, they do it in a big way. The commercial appeal of The All American Rejects' songs can’t be denied. At every turn they are hooking you with melody and you find your ears glued to the stereo waiting to see what they will come up with next. Yes, it’s ear candy but damned if it doesn’t go down great. 

So what is it that that sets this group apart from all of the other “pop-punk” and “emo” groups that are flooding the airwaves with redundant dribble?  Aside from the hooks and the group’s ability to stay within the confines of the pop-punk formula for the most part, they also have an amazing ability to put a new spin on the tried and true formula with each track. But it goes beyond that, instead of relying solely on the simplistic mix of fuzz guitar riffs and nasally vocals, The All American Rejects step into the past and capture the best elements of 80’s alternative with their use of keyboards, beat boxes that sound like they are on speed but it’s Tyson Ritter’s vocal approach that ties the sound to the heyday where John Hughes films were plying the airwaves with classic alternative from groups like the OMD, New Order, The Smiths and Psychedelic Furs.  Ritter has managed to combine the vocal styling of the before mentioned groups with the standard pop-punk slant.

If you loath pop-punk then this CD may not be for you but the heart of the matter is the All American Rejects go along way in legitimizing the genre and help to break it out of the rut it’s currently in. I personally don’t care for too many pop-punk groups and when I first listened to this CD I wasn’t prepared to like it as much as I did. The heavy pop leanings here may be a bit too much for some as well but on the other hand it may be the secret ingredient that makes you an addict who can’t switch it off. 

If you’re looking for something that is comfortably familiar with the sound that dominates the Warped Tour but also has enough of a new and different perspective that helps it break it away from those other groups, then The All American Rejects may be just what the doctor ordered.  The bottom line is they are rejects only in name. 

Hear it for yourself Check out the All American Rejects player to hear some of the songs and watch the video for "Swing, Swing"! 

Listen to sound samples and Purchase this album online

Listen to the first single from the CD "Swing, Swing"