Hailing all the way from Lutherville Timonium, Maryland, the young lads of All Time Low have set foot into the pop/rock scene with their boyish charm and catchy hooks with their never changing mindset of not taking anything seriously.
I’ve heard about these guys since their EP Release of “Put Up or Shut Up,” and ever since I’ve fallen in love (no homo). Their sound definitely blends well in today’s “glamour” pop/rock, exceeding those who just focus on their emo-hair styles complementing a V-neck t-shirt.
These guys are young, catchy, and about to bring back the cheesy pop/rock songs into the world.
Here’s my track to track review on All Time Low’s newest release Nothing Personal:
“Weightless” is the introduction to the album as well as the band’s first single. What can I say? After about 2 listens, I already had the chorus memorized in my head, but it’s a something you won’t mind singing mindlessly when going walking down the street. A definite solid opener for the album.
“… you were fake, I was great, NOTHING PERSONAL” is part of the first couple lines in the second track “Break Your Little Heart,” which to me, in my opinion, was the actual true kickoff to the entire album. I was a little skeptical in the intro and verse, but come the chorus, All Time Low do what they do best and deliver the in-your-face chorus that you can’t help but to love. The song definitely grew more and more on me, becoming one of my favorite tracks off their album.
No surprise that “Damned If I Do Ya (Damned if I Don’t)” would be the band’s next single. The song has all the elements to have radio listeners requesting this song over and over again. It’s absolute ear candy.
“Lost in Stereo.” This track is probably my least favorite off the entire album. I will admit that it’ll definitely be a crowd favorite because it’s so big and has that anthem appeal, specifically the part in the chorus when there’s the repeating chant,”Lost in stereo, lost in stereo!” Prepare to scream your hearts out at the next All Tiime Low show you go to, kids.
I didn’t even pick this up until my good friend told me: “Stella” is about drinking, more than likely referring to the beer Stella Artois (duh, no shit). I guess you can say the admirer for this Stella is…. love drunk?
All Time Low have a soft spot, some dark secrets, and can be serious at times…. but not too serious, don’t worry. Exposing some insecurities and the fact that things aren’t always glamorous comes from the next track “Sick Little Games.” Although it taps into what may seemingly be a touchy subject, the song still fits in well with the album’s upbeat and light hearted vibe.
All Time Low will party city after city after city…. and they don’t care if you’re there or not. “Hello Brooklyn” is the personal invite to join All Time Low in celebrating their adventures that lead them to “London, Tokyo, Boston, ‘Frisco….” and so on and so forth.
“Walls” explores young love’s journey up to when fate finally ends it. There is the realization that things change and that life and love must goes on, a message conveyed through the song’s powerful presence with lines saying,”…together we’ll move on, just don’t turn around… let the walls break down.” The song brings forth a more meaningful and emotional side to the band.
On that note, the next song “Too Much” ties in perfectly to this more serious theme that is being unveiled. This song is the most different on the album, taking on more of the electronica sound with its constant bass drum and various synthesized effects. “Too Much” again discusses the unfortunate end of young love but on a more sympathetic level with admitting mistakes and realizing the faults.  Although it’s different, the song is probably on my top of favorite songs on the album, probably for the soul fact that it IS different, and shows a newer side to what this band is capable of.
Bouncing back into the poppy rock that we all know love comes “Keep the Change, You Filthy Animal.” A solid “in-between” song in the album, one that could easily be looked over. I gave it a chance, of course, and surprisingly found that it holds one of the catchiest chorus on the entire album. But really, it’s nothing too special, but would be a good song to see live regardless.
Put on your dance shoes, grab a drink, gather your friends, and throw a party. Party. Party all fucking night. Here is your next drinking anthem; your next party karoke song. It’s cool, it’s energetic, it’s a positive atmosphere. Ladies and gents, here is when we get crunked: “A Party Song (Walk of Shame).”
You always want to leave that lasting impression when concluding an album, and I think that’s what All Time Low exactly do. In this sea of partying, drinking, love and relationships, their closing track “Therapy” shows that this band is human. They’re not perfect, they’re young, and they’re exactly like you and me.
Although it’s cheesy and nothing ground-breaking, Nothing Personal is the result of four young boys seizing the opportunity to show the music industry something that not many artists do, and that’s being themselves.  This album may not have exceeded their last album, but you gotta admit it’s a catchy and solid, solid pop rock album. You will not help but to listen from start to finish, but I warn you to try and not to listen to this album too much, because it’s one of those easy listens that you can get tired of really, really quick. Hey, nothing personal.
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