(3 Out of 5)

The All-American Rejects have followed up their excellent album, Move Along, with a great half an album. Their inventive sounds come through in about half of their songs with that emo-pop-rock sound they created in their last album. The other sounds fall blandly into a category of generic adult contemporary emo that is mostly flat.

“Gives You Hell” is the first single, but has no catchiness like “Move Along.” Its chorus is about the only hooky part similar to their first pseudo hit “Swing, Swing.” Don’t get me wrong, it is one of the better songs on the CD, it just is not something that will be around for too long.

Remember “Dirty Little Secret?” That song had amusing lyrics with an eclectic sound and great sing-along ability. Nothing on this album even compares. It provides some interesting sounds from time to time found in “I Wanna” (which is probably the next single), “Fallin Apart” and “Real World.”

The rest of the album falls into a slow disconnected meandering through some place that seems to have no ending. You start to wonder if you are still listening to the last song or a new track. Very little stands out even after multiple listenings. The Rejects at least have a little more kick than the similar Plain White T’s, but if this is the album to bring with you when the world comes down, I will just move along instead.

Suggested Listening: “I Wanna,” “Fallin Apart,” “Gives You Hell” and “Real World”

By: Josh Wheeler - Contributing Writer