What I've heard from these guys in the past has been fun. They are fine-tuning their take on nu-metal. They are more deliberate on the first song, with a more Linkin Park-like formula kicking in on the chorus, while they rap like Limp Bizkit on the verses. The sung parts do show he has been working on his vocal range. This time around, they built up the song into a more metalcore-like breakdown. It feels like they are throwing more at you over the course of the first song as well. His rapping, however, feels more dialed in like Poppa Roach. "Neighbors" highlights this fact.
"Traffic" feels more Limp Bizkit meets Sum 41. This song works more off a variation of the formula employed on the first song. The title track feels better, as there is more room for him to rap on the verses. The sung vocals work well with the effects slathered on me. "The Great Dino Escape" is pretty silly lyrically and musically. "Now Dance" is heavier with more aggressive vocals. Then things begin to feel a little dialed in, so I have to go back and give the songs another listen, and here is what I decide.
"Give Me My Money" just feels like generic nu-metal and doesn't offer anything we have not heard previously on the album. "Playing Games" works better, and his more aggressive vocals have improved on this album. Things are too happy on "Split," which feels like it could have come from Sugar Ray's first album. The last song is darker and more aggressive, but lacks emotional urgency to sell me on it.. To be fair the whole Limp Bizkit side of nu-metal that these guys have aligned themselves with was never my favorite side of the genre, but I can hear where the vocals have improved and the overall sound is more nuanced so I will give this one a 9.
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