Top Tunes: December

NONONO - Pumpin' Blood

"You're a catalyst to your own happiness you know, cause it's your heart it's alive it's pumpin' blood"

You Me At Six - Fresh Start Fever

"You're just someone to the world but you're the world to someone else"

We Are The In Crowd - The Best Thing (That Never Happened)

"I let you get away with thinking you're the cure, I think i'm in too deep it's time to pull the cord"

Lorde - No Better
"And we roll in heavy summer like it's shameful to be underneath the ceiling or a roof, try come out and steal our thunder"

VERSA - Neon
"Reaching out to feel the night with eyes closed, all alone. Then your chaos came to me, feel the tension pull me closer"

YOUTUBE PLAYLIST

2013 Round Up: 10 Favourite Gigs

Fall Out Boy 

Reading Festival

Their return really has been one of my favourite things about this year. With 2 albums, a UK tour to look forward to next year and simply the fact they are around again makes me grin ear to ear. Their Reading Festival performance turned me into a sobbing wreck... to think i'd been joking about them coming back and playing Reading for well over a year. The only downside was missing City And Colour.

The Wonder Years

Cardiff, Clwb Ifor Bach 17/11

This one was a toss up between the first time I saw them this year at Slam Dunk and their actual headline show last month. I've gone with the headline show simply because I mention Slam Dunk later but also the line-up was incredible. They've always been one of my favourite bands but after seeing them twice this year they are also now a favourite live band and I intend to be at every show possible. 

Paramore

London, Wembley Arena 28.09

Another favourite band toured the UK this year and of course I just had to go to three shows. I was in shock for the first one, Cardiff, the second - Birmingham - was my birthday and the third was pure perfection. Everything about these shows was 100 times better than all the other times i've seen them. They're happier, they're better and it was stunning start to finish.

Four Year Strong
Cardiff, Slam Dunk 28/05
For the spotters out there it's probably worth mentioning that this picture isn't actually Four Year Strong but Pierce The Veil I just happened to only take the one photo that night because the rest of it was crazy. Years after the first time seeing them myself and my brother secured ourselves barrier positions to watch them again after being blown away by The Wonder Years previously.

Anavae
Plymouth, The White Rabbit 16/15
It was a last minute attempt at convincing my dad to take me to see Anavae and an even more last minute thing that they'd be staying at my house afterwards. I spent the day working out how to fit the five of them into my tiny attic room, then watched them play a brilliant set and hung out with them the next day. It'll probably remain one of my most favourite memories ever.

Jimmy Eat World 

London, Brixton Academy 19/11

After discovering the venue had a sloped floor and thus making it my favourite I also got to see one of my long time favourite bands play the most incredible set list ever on my friends' birthday. 

30 Seconds To Mars

Cardiff, Motorpoint Arena 14/11

With You Me At Six as their support - who I hadn't seen since The Final Night Of Sin - I was eager to be at one of these UK shows. Due to Natives postponing their headline tour until next year I managed to get to Cardiff for what turned out to be not only a night full of musical brilliance but an all out stunt show too. Madness.

Tonight Alive

Bristol, The Fleece 29/05

Yet another tour with a fantastic line up. Gavin Butler showing off his solo ability, Transit who i'd been dying to see live (and who didn't disappoint) and then of course Tonight Alive playing a belter of a set to an intimate crowd. What was not to like?

Bastille

Reading Festival

They've grown and grown in popularity this year which was evident from the packed out tent. The heat was high, the atmosphere was amazing and Bastille showed off their ridiculous amounts of talent.

All Time Low

Bristol, 02 Academy 12/02

This feels like forever and an age ago, in fact I almost completely forgot that i'd seen them this year! As per usual the night was fun, the set list was brilliant and the dick jokes were terrible but I couldn't help but laugh anyway. It was also the first time I ever heard 'Therapy' live which was undoubtedly the highlight. 

2013 Round Up: Favourite Songs

We Are The In Crowd

The Best Thing (That Never Happened To Ya)

Anavae, Arthur Walwin & Charlie Bass (Violet)

Closer

Zedd featuring Hayley Williams (Paramore)

Stay The Night

Arthur Walwin

Someone Who Knows

Versa

Neon

You Me At Six

Fresh Start Fever

Lorde

No Better

Tonight Alive featuring Benji Madden (Good Charlotte)

Breakdown

YOUTUBE PLAYLIST

Reminder: Jolt Magazine Issue 2

Issue 2 here...

2013 Round Up: Favourite Albums

Anavae

Dimensions

Favourites: Anti-Faith, Dream Catcher, Bring Me Down

Favourite people + favourite band = favourite album. It's simple as really. I think i've harped on about these guys enough the past two years so it's probably no surprise that they're at the top of this list. And just in case you feel like you haven't read enough I reviewed the EP here as well.

Paramore

Paramore
Favourites: Last Hope, Ain't It Fun, Anklebiters

I stand by everything I ever said about how amazing this album is. From start to finish is pure perfection that boasts the most exceptional talent. There really is a song for everyone on this album and it's content made their shows 1000 times better, taking you on a 10 twist upside down emotional roller-coaster.  

Fall Out Boy

Save Rock And Roll
Favourites: Young Volcanoes, Save Rock And Roll, Where Did The Party Go

Every now and then I get this realisation that they're actually back and it never stops feeling like the best thing to ever happen. Save Rock And Roll opens with theatrical stomping music and finishes with the lyric 'oh no we won't go, we don't know when to quit' and I accompanied it with my own personal backing track of tears, lots and lots of tears... well, sobbing, really. 

A Day To Remember 

Common Courtesy
Favourites: Life @ 11, End Of Me, Sometimes You're The Hammer...

Battling with their former record label to release this album - and winning - is turning out to be a fantastic decision on their part as most have called it their best album to date and I can't help but agree. Everything about this album is more. The heavy songs are heavier, the soft songs and softer and the pop-punk is, well, pop-punkier. They're a band who have perfected the art of writing songs that are bound to become cherished by their fans and gain them new ones too. 

Tonight Alive

The Other Side
Favourites: Hell And Back, The Fire, You Don't Owe Me Anything

The amount this band has grown from their debut What Are You So Scared Of? to their phenomenal second album The Other Side is incredibly impressive. Darker and dripping with emotion it's gripping right the way through. Previously seen as perhaps just another pop band, the people doubting the Aussies might just start taking them for serious contenders in the industry with this stunning album. 

The Wonder Years

The Greatest Generation
Favourites: The Devil In My Bloodstream, Madelyn, Dismantling Summer
Pop-punk's finest once again presented us an amazing album that packs a punch to the 'ole emotions and would make my English teacher giddy with the clever song writing brimming with metaphors. 

Transit
Young New England
Favourites: Lake Q, Thanks For Nothing,  Hang It Up
Opinions are incredibly divided about the bands fourth full length but I stand by my original review and am still completely in love with this album. It's melodies remind me of summer and I forced the album upon my brother who found himself re-obsessed with Transit and has been green with envy ever since I saw them live and he didn't.

Bastille
Bad Blood
Favourites: Icarus, Bad Blood, Weight Of Living Pt. II
I see this album as a work of art and for a debut it's pretty impressive. Every song tells a story, one that can be seen in your mind like a film playing out behind your eyelids. Lots of clever vocal work and added touches here and there like orchestra arrangements or subtle piano to the more gigantic beating of drums turned every song into something special and soon managed to secure itself a position as one of my favourite albums of the year... or perhaps even ever.

Lorde
Pure Heroine
Favourites: A World Alone, Ribs, Team
You're all probably sick of hearing Royals or are scoffing at my choice here because you believe all the rubbish publications like to print about the seventeen year old singer but I wonder how many people have actually given this album a chance. After finding it impossible to get Royals out of my mind I checked out more music by Ella Yelich-O'Connor and discovered a gorgeous voice with a flawless range and songs that seem to completely describe being a teenager. With a poet mother her lyrics are carefully chosen and make her seem wise beyond her years whilst at the same time depicting being young and destroying this false image of teenagers at the same time.

Panic! At The Disco
Too Weird To Live, Too Rare To Die!
Favourites: This Is Gospel, Girls/Girls/Boys, Nicotine
Fourth effort was once again something completely different and equally intriguing. Using the darker side to their hometown, Las Vegas, as his muse Brendon Urie once again told a simple story with a lot of long words and unforgettable melodies.

Honourable Mentions:
City And Colour - The Hurry And The Harm
Man Overboard - Heart Attack
Mayday Parade - Monsters In The Closet
Jimmy Eat World - Damage
Bring Me The Horizon - Sempiternal

Top Tunes: November

The Wonder Years - Living Room Song

"This week is gonna swallow me but when it spits me out I'm landing on my feet"

Real Friends - I've Given Up On You

"You used to make me feel like I could walk on water, now most nights I'm just sinking down and down"

Jimmy Eat World - Sweetness

"I'm still running away, won't play your hide and seek game"

30 Seconds To Mars - Alibi

"We faded faster than the speed of light, took our chance, crashed and burned"

Lorde - Bravado

"It's in your bloodstream a collision of atoms that happens before your eyes. It's a marathon run or a mountain you scaled without thinking of size"

YOUTUBE PLAYLIST

Take Me Back: The Wonder Years (17/11/13)

My one dodgy photo of the night...

Ever since Slam Dunk Wales earlier in the year myself and my brother have been dying to see The Wonder Years again and were stupidly excited for their headline tour. I've found that over the years not only are Cardiff crowds the best but 'pop-punk' shows generally are a lot crazier and this show was no exception. 

First two bands Handguns and Neck Deep had the crowd going with such enthusiasm the floor was bouncing - like literally bouncing. Slightly terrified that the place was actually going to cave in, I mentally prepared myself to accept that after this gig pain was to be inevitable and waited for Real Friends to take to the tiny stage. Wilder than before with masses of stage dives, human pyramids and people swinging from the beams Cardiff bellowed the lyrics to songs such as 'Lost Boy' and 'Anchor Down' but it was when everyone put their arms around each other and sung along to 'I've Given Up On You' that I got goosebumps. Swaying back and forth with my arms around total strangers was the moment I truly fell in love with shows like this. No one knows each other and yet we are all there for one reason; you fall down and you'll be picked back up; the sheer passion from everyone there. Everything about these gigs makes them incredible... i've been to too many where people will let crowd surfers purposely be dropped and seen a lot of unnecessary arsehole behaviour. Anyway, all cheesiness set aside Real Friends put on a fantastic show and I gained several bruises to prove it. 

Making a quick dash to the bar to get a drink I made it back into the main room just in time for The Wonder Years to set off the Cardiff crowd into an all out frenzy. Fists pumping and cramming into the tiniest gap possible I'm sure I didn't imagine Soupy's look of fear when he realised just what we were capable of. With their set consisting of fan favourites and new tracks from The Greatest Generation it was a pop-punk singalong from start to finish. Opening with 'Passing Through A Screen Door' the band and crowd alike were flawless all night. The Upsides tracks like 'Melrose Diner' and 'Washington Square Park' brought back the trampoline-like floor; Suburbia had deafening singing particularly on 'Local Man Ruins Everything' and newer songs like 'The Devil In My Bloodstream' provided moments of softened crowd harmonies until that two minute mark where the loudest cry of "I bet I'd be a fucking coward" took place. To everyone's delight the band played 'Living Room Song' which was just meant to be played at shows like this, it felt like we were just in our "living room with good friends." Fingers pointing sky high everyone yelled "fuck the world and what it wants me to be" with so much sincerity, it's comforting knowing everyone else in that room feels the same way. Closing with 'All My Friends Are In Bar Bands' the epic night ended with all the bands on stage defiantly exclaiming "I'm not sad anymore..." when somehow the entire crowd ended up there with them. One second we were yelling in unison on the floor and the next I'm yelling in unison with Soupy and tripping over spare microphones... 

I really love pop-punk shows. 

Album Review: Anavae - Dimensions

Two years ago almost to the date of this post I stumbled across a little band called Anavae. Immediately falling in love and downloading every song possible - I think there were no more than three at the time - i've watched them grow, being continually impressed along the way. Unafraid it seems, or at least determined, to try and put into the music their deep rooted questions and ideas about our existence has made for intriguing listening over the last couple of years that's stood out amongst break up song after break up song and Dimensions, the bands' second EP/mini album, is no exception to this.

Opening the EP is Anti-Faith making it quite clear from the get-go that it's going to knock you off your feet. With a big sound and drums that make your floor vibrate it takes all of 30 seconds to forget that other music actually exists so by the time second track Storm Chaser and it's brutally relatable content hits, you find yourself well and truly lost to the masterpiece Dimensions is shaping up to be.

Not knowing the name of The Wanderer when I first heard it months and months ago during Anavae's first StageIt performance and then again back in May on one of their mini tours I had dubbed it I Won't Return due to the soaring chorus bound to be stuck in your head for days. Disguising itself as one of the more tame songs on the album it's the 2:40 mark that sets the song off with Anavae's signature dubstep breakdown.

With a frenzied guitar pattern opening Hang-Man the word psychedelic is brought to mind until it slows down when the verse kicks in. Drawn out, lazy day vocals lead the song towards another of those larger than life choruses just dying to be played live to a room of sweaty kids. Aeon pulses it's way into your mind and finds you questioning the universe with this other worldly track showcasing Becca's flawless high notes and Anavae's ability to incorporate electronics into the music with purpose and not just because they could - a trap many bands seem to fall down. If you're acquainted with the bands' first EP Into The Aether - if you're not what are you doing - you'll probably be reminded of Invaesion and it's withdrawn pace which escalates into a perfect breakdown courtesy of that clever dubstep injection.

Melody wise Dream Catcher is brilliant with a chorus to end all choruses it's bound to become a firm favourite to a lot of fans. The vocal control shown is impressive and in areas shows off a grittier vocal that adds a fierceness to the delivery of the lyrics much like the bridge on Anti-Faith. However one of the true highlights of the album is Bring Me Down which is gorgeous start to finish. The opener lyric 'I sometimes see the shadow on my back, I don't know his name but he sometimes loses his way' made the hairs on the back of my neck stand on end when I first heard it - and it has done ever since. Sung with such beautiful desperation and accompanied by weighted music that matches the tone perfectly I challenge anyone not to like it. By now I feel Anavae deserve some kind of award for writing some of the best bridges ever, as just like every song before it, the bridge is yet another fantastic one that builds on itself and offers a striking climax to a hell of a powerful song. Dropping the bold drums from full band Anti-Faith the acoustic version holds an eerie calmness. Where the album opens strong and fighting it closes with an unsettling fragility. The arrangement is possibly one of the most stunning i've ever heard and has found me hitting repeat over and over.

Overall Dimensions is a fantastic example of pure creativity unhindered by the bands' ever growing talent and obvious vision. With all eight tracks being above and beyond the exceptionally high expectations I had it's truly impossible to pick a favourite and put it this way, if you don't know who Anavae are yet, you soon will. Forget taking over the world these guys are headed for unknown galaxies.

Take Me Back: Paramore (21/23/28.09.13)*

An assortment of dodgy photographs of Paramore live at:

Cardiff Motorpoint (21.09.13)

Birmingham LG Arena (23.09.13)

Wembley Arena (28.09.13)

Review here.

Top Tunes: October

Panic! At The Disco - This Is Halloween

"I am the one hiding under your bed, teeth ground sharp and eyes glowing red"

All American Rejects - Jack's Lament

"Oh there's an empty place in my bones, that calls out for something unknown"

Anavae - Zombie (The Pretty Reckless)

"I'm not listening to you, I am wandering right through existence"

Mayday Parade - 12 Through 15

"Lucifer just might be your middle name, you're the only angel that got away"

Anavae - Invaesion

"Won't you come out from wherever you are? Oh you don't need to be afraid"

VersaEmerge - E.T

"You're so hypnotizing, could you be the devil? Could you be an angel?"  

YOUTUBE PLAYLIST

Reminder: Jolt Magazine's First Issue

Album Review: Fall Out Boy- Save Rock And Roll

Album Review: Natives - Stand For Something

Live Review: Tonight Alive, Transit And Gavin Butler (The Fleece, Bristol)

Introducing: Cold Summer

Album Review: Cold Summer's Debut Self-Titled

Introducing: Undervienna Skies

Our first ever issue... (includes my Paramore review) 

The Most Anticipated Music (Part Two)

You Me At Six

It was no surprise to a lot of people when it was revealed the band were planning on ending their career after the most epic gig at Wembley Arena last December. I remember actually being at The Final Night Of Sin and waiting with dread for them to announce a hiatus but the news never came. They were fairly quiet for the majority of 2013 - apart from a tour in America - until the summer when they headed out to LA to record what will be their fourth studio album. A summer full of photo's followed for You Me At Six fans and on the 2nd of September they premiered  new song "Lived A Lie" which subsequently blew up the fandom. Now we all sit and wait for Cavalier Youth to make it's may to our eager ears.

We Are The In Crowd
Dual vocal bubblegum pop-punk outfit We Are The In Crowd teased with new song "Attention" over the summer which at the moment sounds as though it could be the bridge between their debut Best Intentions and their second album. Playing the song at gigs and festivals since has stirred up interest and the five recently finished recording that much awaited second album.

Taking Back Sunday
Recently signing to Hopeless Records long time favourites of mine Taking Back Sunday have been playing a couple of new tracks on their current tour. With line up changes a frequent thing in the bands' past each of their albums have sounded very different, but with the last couple releases it's definitely seemed as though they've found their own signature sound to come back to and experiment with. Spring 2014 is what we're being told in terms of their new album so Spring 2014... if you'd kindly hurry up please.

Arthur Walwin
The ever lovely Arthur Walwin has a voice so smooth it'd give Galaxy chocolate a run for it's money and when you combine this with his song writing skills he's a force to be reckoned with. We've heard his newest song "Someone Who Knows" and seen his chitchat about the new album and I for one cannot wait until he charms everyone's socks off all over again.

PART ONE 

Album Review: Panic! At The Disco - Too Weird To Live, Too Rare To Die!

What astounds me the most when I read reactions to Panic! At The Disco's new album is the amount of people complaining that they've changed. I'm sorry... what? Too Weird To Live, Too Rare To Die! is the bands' fourth album and every single one of them has been quite a bit different to the last. Frontman Brendon Urie is somewhat of a genius when it comes to music, combine this with his fearlessness and ta da you have a new Panic! album. And it is always different, Panic! are always changing.

This time around Urie's inspiration was Vegas and the not so lovely side of it. Opening with second single 'This Is Gospel' a bridge is made between previous album Vices & Virtues with a big chorus and dramatic vocals followed on by 'Miss Jackson' which really starts to show off their new direction. R+B influences are distinct with yet another big chorus and a well placed feature from Lolo. It's not until third track 'Vegas Lights' kicks in that the departure from Vices & Virtues is well and truly clear. The electronic, 80's disco vibe of the album starts here and Spencer Smith's pulsing drum beat carries the track through to the dark 'Girl That You Love.' Lyrically, it's quite simple - 'girl that you love, know you don't' - but here it's the moody synth line and again the drumming that picks it up.

Back and ready to party 'Nicotine' and it's opening guitar riff is one of the best on the album. Musically it's up-beat and dancy but listen closer to the lyrics and you'll discover not only brilliant songwriting but something that's actually quite gloomy, 'cross my heart and hope to die, burn my lungs and curse my eyes.' The same goes for 'Girls/Girls/Boys' which made me go fucking yes Brendon when I heard perhaps the most important lyric i've heard in a long time, 'love is not a choice.' The only word I can think to describe the song is mellow but not even that is right. The opening is like something you'd hear on a Gameboy, the bass line thrums, the drums are steady and Urie's vocals are contained and put it like that it makes it sound terrible and boring but it's far from the truth - 'Girls/Girls/Boys' is a fantastic song. It's not upbeat and it doesn't make you want to dance but I think it's still one of the strongest on the album.

'Casual Affair' sounds like a song that's been plucked from space, fitting the lyrics that talk about, well, a casual affair that 'could go anywhere' and laying 'in the atmosphere.' Creepy and foreboding the synth line layered underneath Urie's faraway vocals extends the other-world vibe. 'Far Too Young To Die' wants to be a disco-esque song but actually remains in the corner with 'Nicotine' and co. And that's how it should be. Ominous keys open the song before poppy, but not too poppy, electrics join in. The chorus is faster but not too fast, the vocals are dark, but not too dark and the last thirty seconds sound like they're taking place underwater.

Second to last track 'Collar Full' is a fun, dancey song with no disguise. Despite a lot of the album having a cheery synth line the majority have been far from sunny, choosing actually to be more like three in the morning, but with this song it is sun through and through. Bouncy foot tapping music and a chorus of 'show me your love' makes this infectious. Last but not least 'The End Of All Things' is a ballad with weight and emotional ache. Distorted vocals, strings and a simple piano line is all it has and it's all it needs.

Overall, Too Weird To Live, Too Rare To Die! is yet another solid effort from Panic! At The Disco. The influence and the theme works well for musicians so keen on the weird and wonderful. Experimenting with more synth on the album has laden it with disco dance vibes but with Urie's lyrics providing the darkened edge. The first listen might leave you questioning what just happened but I promise the second time around you'll see this album as the masterpiece it is.

The Most Anticipated Music (Part One)

So far 2013 has been an incredible year for music with a lot of big name bands releasing new albums that have blown their predecessors out of the water. However, there are always those bands that you are just dying to hear new material from or perhaps they've been teasing us for a few months now but there's still no definite release date. Here's just a few of those that are guilty of the accused...

VersaEmerge

The success of their debut full length Fixed At Zero saw the band touring their hearts out for a couple of years before starting the writing process for album number two. July 2012 brought us the much awaited 'Another Atmosphere' preview EP which had three fantastic synth-heavy tracks and a StageIt performance with a further two tracks from the album. Now, in October 2013, the news that the duo are no longer on Fueled By Ramen and the uncertainty of when exactly we can expect the second album is beginning to die down but for the fans the wait is one of pure torture. 

Anavae

The UK's much needed alternative rock outfit have blown everyone's expectations out of the water the last couple of years. With every release so carefully thought out and the level of attention put into all they do it's safe to say that the bands second EP 'Dimensions' will grow their already large aermy even more. Roll on November 10th. 

Natives

Unless I missed something i'm 100% sure the pop-rock quintet were supposed to release their debut album back in September, but for reasons unknown it hasn't made an appearance. Their last two EP's have been popular and made for great gigs but we're all getting pretty desperate to hear a full album of Natives goodness.

Brand New

To me, and to a lot of other people, this band are absolute legends. When I saw them live last year it was like a religious experience. They truly are incredible. The intensity, the angst, the talent and oh, yeah their really annoying habit of being inconsistent just keeps me coming back for more. Tour announcements - actually, ANY announcement - is hard to come by from these guys and yet all us die-hards sit and wait with tears in our eyes, our tattooists on the line and watercolours in hand just waiting for another new album. 

If It Burns Too Bright: Anavae - Anti-Faith

Finally, finally months after I first heard this song - letting bands crash at your house has it's perks - Anavae's single 'Anti-Faith' is available for everyone to hear and download over on iTunes and along with it is a fantastic music video i've been dying to see. So much effort goes into everything they do - I don't think I know anyone else who has quite the level of perfectionism as Jamie and Becca - but it pays off as everything they release is truly stunning. The song itself is a brilliant demonstration of vision, creativity and growth. Everything about 'Anti-Faith' is better than anything else they've ever released. The music, the lyrics even the vocals show diversity, with my personal highlight being the slight growl to the bridge,"if it burns too bright it'll burn too fast," which gave me goosebumps the first time I heard it - and every time since. 'Anti-Faith' is another reason on the long list of mine why everyone needs to hurry up and jump on the Anavae train, they're about to explode and I for one cannot wait until their second EP Dimensions is unleashed on the world on November 10th. They're a constant source of inspiration to me - heck, my blog is named after one of their songs - and i've said it before and i'll say it again: the day they stop making music is the day I stop believing in music.

Album Review: A Day To Remember - Common Courtesy

Long time favourites of mine, A Day To Remember, have been through the wars of a long court case with their (former?) label Victory Records or more specifically the owner Tony Brummel. Unsure as to whether they were going to be allowed to release the long awaited album Common Courtesy, it feels as though the world has been holding their breath, but finally the band won their case - for the time being anyway - and the album was put up on their website for download yesterday. I sat listening to the album over and over and watched the internet explode only second to the way it did when Fall Out Boy came back. Many have called the album their best yet and it's really not hard to see why.

Opening with a defiant "fuck yeah" on 'City Of Ocala' could have come across unnecessary and horribly cliche but with all the utter crap that they've been dragged through we're all right there with them, fists in the air yelling in unison. A Day To Remember have their very own sound - which a long time ago no one believed in - and this album is plastered with signature ADTR traits. Mosh calls on tracks like 'Right Back At It Again' will no doubt have Jeremy McKinnon unleash hell at live shows with "BRACE FOR IMPACT," or the "NO FUCKING RESPECT" on the best titled track of the album 'The Document Speaks For Itself." The first ten minutes of the album are all go, go, go pop-punk with the heavier breakdown worthy riffs and catchy as hell choruses that make ADTR songs. One of the best examples of this is "You wanna take, take, take, take, take it away from me" on 'Sometimes You're The Hammer, Sometimes You're The Nail' which also includes a shiver inducing bridge, "I reserve my right to feel uncomfortable, reserve my right to be afraid. I make mistakes and I am humbled every step of the way. I want to be a better person, I wanna know the master plan," that ends in an all out breakdown.

Surprisingly, what makes this album so different from previous releases is that it is broken up with softer acoustic numbers that are uncommon in ADTR's repertoire. We've had 'If It Means A Lot To You' and 'You Had Me At Hello' but now we've got 'I'm Already Gone' which gave me goosebumps and also made me double check i'm still listening to Common Courtesy. For some it may be too different, too acoustic for them and they'll write it off and whinge about how they've changed but in all honesty it is a truly gorgeous song and the same goes for 'I Surrender'  and 'End Of Me' which isn't strictly all acoustic but rather builds like Paramore's 'Future' into something altogether epic. 

Common Courtesy isn't groundbreaking musicianship or anything crazily different - albeit the acoustic tracks spread throughout the album. It's taken the formulaic outline of typical ADTR and perfected it. The pop is poppier, the heaviness is heavier and that seems to be the general theme throughout. What the band do, they have honed in on and are geniuses at it now. 'Best Of Me' demonstrates this with total head-banging, sing-a-long brilliance whilst tracks like 'Life Lessons Learned The Hard Way' will show you by blasting you onto another continent.

Closing with three minutes of tour stories on 'I Remember' almost felt like the band were saying goodbye to everything but with one look back on the album it's clear that they're saying goodbye to the old ADTR. The one where people doubted them and took the piss. The one where Tony Brummel thought he could control them. Hell no not anymore. A Day To Remember are far from over and Common Courtesy with all it's fight is going to catapult them even further into easycore - if that's even a thing - stardom.