It's been two years since I last heard these guys on "Life Under the Gun" .When this album kicks in , they are more punk than I remember from the last time I checked them out. It sounds big and dumb, but is fun like some male cheerleaders gone wrong. "Fill Me With Paint" finds the shouted , double tracked vocals capturing a similar vibe as the previous song, as you can hear how the West Coast sound is changing .
"Throw Me Away" has a sing song vocal hook that works really well. There are hints of 90s punk in the veins. But rather than hitting you with speed and anger, they are more relaxed thanks to the ample sunshine. "God Owes Me Money" has a more shimmering new wave melody in the back ground as the almost rapped vocal flows over it. They ride the line between being more of a an alt rock band and punk on this album , but I think the attitude is still there.
The ballad 'Daydream' does cross the line into radio rock. The roar back to redeem themselves with "Maybe I'll Burn My Life Down". It shuffle into a clapped groove. There is a more anthemic alternative feel to 'Kick" but it works well. They indulge in a more chipper version of pop-punk for "Laugh at Me", though the guitar get more sonic on the chorus. His singing has improved on this album for sure. "Wake Up and Smile" sounds more like the Pixies to me, which is a great band to be compared to.
"I Won't Murder Your Friend" takes some interesting turns. They take a more blatant turn into pop-punk with the Blink 182 sounding "Thought You Were Waving". The title track closes the album with something more in line with the pop punk side of what they are doing on this album. I will give this album an 8.5, it's a solid performance though more pop-punk than I prefer.
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