ALL TIME LOW: Wake Up, Sunshine (POP,Rock): review / opinion to read on Music Waves

The last time we talked about All Time Low was in 2007. 13 years and a few albums later, teenagers have grown up and have slowed down the tempo, passing from a very American punk rock to a slightly sweeter pop that still targets a fairly young audience.

If "Wake Up, Sunhsine" does not break the evolution towards a more radio-friendly and unifying music, All Time Low's music is more rhythmic and optimistic. The title of the album is a good indication of the band's state of mind. With 15 tracks revolving around the three minutes, we stay in a direct and easily assimilated content.

However, and this is where we can see a certain maturity, many tracks based on a classic verse/chorus structure have the little plan that takes the composition to the next level. This is the case on "Some Kind Of Disaster" with its bridge at the end of the song that multiplies the rhythm changes and ends with a little break, bringing almost All Time Low on the alternative rock ground. These breaks can be found to a lesser extent on "Sleeping In" or "Wake Up Sunhsine" with always catchy choruses intended to be listened to the radio.

One track clearly stands out from the others, not by the featuring with the rapper Blackbear who, contrary to many opinions read on the web, doesn't bring much to the whole with his monotonous flow and lyrics as light as those we find on the album, but by his immediate and very catchy chorus. A frank and beautiful success. Not at all in the same register and passing relatively unnoticed, All Time Low also offers us a nice melancholic ballad with "Pretty Venom", acoustic, very soft and quite groovy, with doubled (or even tripled?) choirs on the chorus and a really well found melody.

Unfortunately, after these nice songs which bring us to the middle of the album, the rest of the album is a bit slow and most of the tracks have a hard time to catch the attention. "Favorite Place" with guest Camino doesn't take off because it's too basic and the following tracks are just as mainstream.

With a very good first half of the album containing a few hits and despite another half, too wise and acting more as a filler, "Wake Up, Sunshine" remains a good record. All Time Low goes on its way, evolving in small steps, but still offers pleasant songs, certainly not requiring any particular effort of concentration. In the end, it's not what we ask them, even if taking inspiration from the first tracks, a bit more worked out, would clearly allow them to attract a more demanding audience. - Official website

ALL TIME LOW

WAKE UP, SUNSHINE

WARNER

POP