Mayday Parade’s “Anywhere But Here”
Mayday Parade’s latest release, “Anywhere but here”, is an album that could have been a disaster,-to any long time fan of the band the disaster could start immediately. Derek Sanders has taken over as vocalist, and the change could have been brutal. This is Mayday Parade’s first album without former front-man Jason Lancaster and it could easily have become a lamentation about the various rumors surrounding his departure. The disaster is averted as this album clearly moves the band forward as a catchy look at maturing emotions. This is of course standard fare for pop/punk outfits, that wear their emotions all over their sleeves.
What sets Mayday Parade apart from the rest of the pop/punksters is a maturity in song writing that shows on Anywhere but Here, but was absent on previous album A Lesson in Romantics. Although early in the album the tracks tend to blend together, starting with If you can’t live without me, then why aren’t you dead yet the blending disappears. Lead guitarist Alex Garcia finally has a chance to shine through in the closing moments of this song, with a distinctive solo moment, which carries on in to the remainder of the album. From this track forward the songs become more varied, with moments of melody, moments of bravado, and moments of depression. It is this matured sound and stronger story-telling that make Anywhere but Here a pleasure to listen to. 3.5 Stars
TRACK LISTING :
1. Kids In Love
2. Anywhere But Here
3. The Silence
4. Still Breathing
5. Bruised and Scarred
6. If You Can’t Live Without Me, Why Aren’t You Dead Yet?
7. Save Your Heart
8. Get Up
9. Center of Attention
10. I Swear This Time I Mean It
11. The End
- Reviewed by Colin Kramer 08/25/10