by Kevin Fretz
Photographer

Maryland pop-punk band All Time Low released their sixth studio album, Future Hearts, on April 3. The album peaked at number two on the U.S. Billboard 200, selling about 75,000 copies in the first week and reaching number one in the U.K. The album features Mark Hoppus of Blink-182 and Joel Madden, formally of Good Charlotte.

They formed as a band in 2003 and their popularity has grown substantially since then. Expectations for All Time Low are very high. They usually meet those high standards, but Future Hearts isn’t what everyone expected. Future Hearts has some really catchy songs but something seems to be lacking from the record. People are always open for a band to grow and change their sound a bit, but this record changes a little too much.  Most of the songs have a more poppy sound to them instead of the usual pop-punk sound from their previous albums. Fans may be skeptical on first lestening, but this is only a minor detail. The more you listen to it, the more the record will grow on you and you may enjoy it.

The two singles are by far the favorite songs on the album. “Something’s Gotta Give,” is what people have come to expect from All Time Low. It grows on you to the point that you can’t stop listening to it. The lyrics are good, and the guitar sound is catchy to say the least. “The Kids in the Dark,” the better of the two singles, is faster than “Something’s Gotta Give” and has a high-energy feel. Unlike some songs on Future Hearts, the song was enjoyable from the start and it continues to be one of the favorites from the album. The guitar riffs don’t go unnoticed. The lyrics have a feel-good effect which is why people like it so much.

Even though Future Hearts may not be All Time Low’s best album, it’s still pretty good. The few over-poppy songs didn’t do it but the rest of the album made up for it. “Something’s Gotta Give” and “Kids in the Dark” are a must buy. Before purchasing the entire album, listen to it and see if it is right for you.

Future Hearts is a solid album that continues to grow on you on repeated listenings.  It may not be the best from All Time Low, but it’s definitely far from their worst. Grade: B-