(3.5 Out of 5)

Reggie and the Full Effect are one of those bands that is hard to figure out.  Should we take them seriously?  Does RATFE ringmaster James Dewees even take himself seriously?  Historically, each Reggie album is a schizophrenic battle of hardcore and metal vs. emo and pop and now on the fifth installment it's increasingly obvious that Dewees still hasn't figured out what type of band RATFE really is, or has he.  Perhaps that's simply the point.

Dewees isn't the best vocalist and somehow it works within the Reggie package.  On Last Stop: Crappy Town, basically every other song ping pongs from some kind of screamed hardcore track like "F" to the emo doused "E."  Yes, most of the songs are named with letters, while the piano-driven interludes are street names.  "L" is a track that will surly get kids moshing, while "J" is a clap along dance track, which could be one of Dewees' best pop tracks to date.

Overall on Last Stop, there is really no change from the band's previous efforts.  There's definitely more metal and hardcore undertones and melodics than in the past and this reviewer appreciates that.  Oh, and don't worry, for those who thirst for Dewees' finger work on the keyboards, it's all there on Last Stop, which is really the foundation of what makes RATFE what they are.

 

By: Adam K. Zakroczymski III - Senior Editor / Founder