Bands are created by the second nowadays, so it’s hard to make an impact. Anyone with a guitar, a drum set, a basement, and a friend can have a band. Oh hell, anyone with an iMac and a MySpace can have a band. It’s just that easy. And you’ll find that a lot of emerging artists tend to fall in to the generic high-pitched power-pop punk sound group (*Cough* All Time Low, Boys Like Girls, My Favourite Highway, Forever the Sickest Kids, The Maine; catch my drift?)
But the question is: does A Rocket to the Moon fall in that group? To be honest, I can’t really say; not because I’m a selfish music fiend, but because I’m on the fence with this one. My ears tell me to stop writing and conclude with the “Generic” stamp, but for some reason I keep typing. There’s just something there. Perhaps it the intertwining electronic intervals, or maybe it’s the one-octave-higher vocals; I’m not sure, but I like it.
Nick Santino really found a unique way to incorporate his choreutic voice in to the debut Fueled By Ramen records album, On Your Side – set to drop in stores and online October 13th. It’s almost like he set a goal to sound generic, and then kicked the goal in the head, so now it’s just knocked out for a while; so don’t worry, it’ll show up eventually.
On Your Side does sound pretty generic, as per the power-pop intro tracks, the occasional acoustic love song, and that catchy dance beat the persists throughout. I mean, really? What does this album have to offer that hasn’t already been done, and done again. The transition in sound since their first independent release hasn’t been too great, except for the fact that he has a band backing him now and he doesn’t use so much god damn auto-tuner.
And still, the lyrics have found a connection with me, somehow, in my head, and I admire the gutsiness of the album, seeing as it’s their debut full-length under a professional label. Who knows? Maybe this could take them further?
Take a listen to the album, and decide for yourself. There’ll obviously be those who are fanatics of ARTTM, but try to be honest with your self: is it really a good album, or is it just meaningless filler until the next pop-punk stars arrive?
Listen to the full album on Shockhound
(October 8th until the 13th)
