Do you guys have some of those songs that just transport
you back to a certain place or time or a memory? And it's really vivid? Like you're
right back there in that moment when you hear it. She asked while Air Supply's
All out of love plays on her iTunes. Shut up, I love that song. A song by All
time low came up ''Backseat serenade'' and even if they are one of my absolute
fave bands, I haven't heard that song in a long while. So while it played, I
was transformed right back to the first time I saw them. ''Krieau Rocks festival'' Vienna Austria in
2013. Shit that's so long ago already…they played with Green Day. Just nine
songs though, but still it was such a cool show. BTW boys, I am still upset
that the last TWO FUCKING ALBUMS never got a proper EU tour. The fuck is that
about? We miss you too…
So the song. The memory. Suddenly it felt like I'm back
at that huge open air venue, I can almost smell the beer in the air and the
warm summer night. I can hear the screaming, I can see Alex and Jack smiling,
being huge dorks that they are. I can feel what I felt in that moment, that one
moment when you know everything is okay. And that everything will be okay. And you're
just…dare I say happy? Yes, happy. SO happy.
Seeing ATL for the first time was something special, I really
went to the Green Day gig just to see ATL, honest to god, I remember also being
covered in bruises because let me tell you, fan pit is not a place to be with
crazy Green Day fans, but hell it was worth, every bruise and broken – lost voice.
I can faintly remember basically touching Jacks hand before I probably floated
away on a fucking cloud. Yes that ''crush'' is still going strong, but really,
who wouldn't love Jack Barakat? Did I tell you about that story of a history
lesson in first year of high school? Professor goes on and on and on about the second world war and clearly notices I am
NOT paying attention so she goes ''Nikki, what do you think about it?'' and
flat out, I the idiot that I am, doodling Jacks name in my notebook I go ''Jack
Barakat'' and she looks at me funny going ''what does this Mr. Barakat have to
do with our topic?'' and I'm like ''probably nothing but I always think about
him''. You can just imagine how much that helped with my ''popularity'' in
general.
Either way, I saw All time low two more times after that,
another solo concert in Vienna, which also had a meet and greet and if you
think I lived through that one with Jack giving me a high five you are so
wrong, I cried for good 30 minutes after. Crazy is crazy. And then the third
time was in Milano Italy but also years ago. Sigh. Actually in honor of them
doing something crazy on their social media accounts these days….(I swear the
god boys if you don't stop with your cryptic bullshit)…I'll write a little
review of my favourite All time low album, which is a CD, because I was never
lucky enough to get any of their albums on vinyl. Living in the middle of nowhere will do
that to you.
Future hearts is the sixth album that came out in April
of 2015 and which I literally by mistake happened to stumble upon in our
capital city while being on another either errand or concert and browsing
through a media store when I had some time to kill. Aint that crazy? Also I was
too happy to have it. First single off of this one was ''Something's gotta
give'' and you guys? I loved it first moment I heard it and I still love it
now. The video is so brilliant, I mean not ''November Rain by GN'R'' kinda
brilliant but brilliant in it's own way. And the whole zombie thing…I mean
shoot me now it's just too good. Censored on our MTV of course but still…and
was I obsessed with zombie Jack? You can bet I was…
Future hearts debuted number 2 on the Billboard 200 and
sold 75,000 copies in it's first week which made it the band's biggest selling
and higest charting album. And you look at the number and it doesn't seem that
big but really for a little band that isn't Bon Jovi big this are very good
numbers. The critics weren't completely happy again as per usual. I did say
several times that critics are assholes didn't I? Wait a second, in a way I'm a
critic too aren't I? Concert and album reviews? Shit. Well if the shoe fit as I
always say…what bothered the critics here was that the album wasn't
''cohesive'' enough. Like really? Really?? How about pointing out the great
influences of other songwriters that also worked on songs for this album? Or the
change of musical direction in general? God forbid right.
What I found so extremely creative was that every album
contained a set of five collectible ''polaroid'' pictures, together 20 so there
were different ones to collect. And I thought that was just such a nice touch
to add, and of course the pictures are just awesome, just super silly, and
cute, and fun.
You guys! When ''Kids in the dark'' came out…oh my god. I
love that song so much, still today. It's such a great song. Literally my nails
were painted with splattering paint for weeks, inspired by the song. The video
was something completely different than what we were used to from them, the
girl shielding herself from her parents arguing, doesn't that hit home I
wonder. And there's a note thrown in her mail slot on the doors, I think it
says ''The kids in the dark invite you to escape, find us at the old iron
works''. She finds those kids in her pajamas and slippers, dark room and the
only light is neon paint splattered all over those kids. There's a message
there you know, no matter what kinda shit you're going through, no matter the
hardships, the hell, you're never alone, there's always an escape, there's
always other people that understand, people that are there to help you. And that one moment in the video ''They left
us alone, kids in the dark, to burn out forever or light up a spark'', the
sparks! Alex! Too cool. And also, the metion of self harm with ''what a shame,
what a shame, beautiful scars on critical veins'' and making it clear that
there is help out there, that you're not alone and that you are strong enough
to get over it in ''we'll never surrender, the kids in the dark''. The song it self is just a perfect mix of
''dancy'' and punkish so you know Billie Joe wouldn't burst into tears if he
caught you listening to it in public.
Missing you is another such song. And if you think I
didn't cry the entire length of the video when it was released you are SO
wrong. The song is beautiful as is but the video, in which the band shows their
gratitude to their fans, the ''hustlers'' who had supported them for the
begining. The video is set in London, Alex is wandering around the streets,
looking amazing may I add. Boy! That style. Some scenes are with the other boys
as well, and in between you see the band talking to the fans via Skype or
whatever else. OH MY GOD. Can you like…omg. How do they breathe? I think I'd
die on the spot. Die! The fans then got to tell the band how grateful they are
for their music, well how grateful we are for their music, for all they do for
us. Very emotional video indeed. The very same second the video starts and you
hear that very first ''oh my god''…well you can't help but smile. It's really
nice to see a band have such a close connection to their fans. And I won't even
touch the lyrics, they are beautiful, hopefull, they made me feel better so
many times in the past, ''don't lose your fight kid''. Yeah.
It's funny how cocky the sticker on the cover actually
is. It says ''features your new favourite songs'' which you know…very ballsy. But
super on point. It does in fact feature my favourite songs. They were then and
they still are now. So safe to say they really backed that statement up. Another
song I really loved is also Tidal Waves, my god it's a beautiful song, so
mature, so serious in a way, so full of passion and emotion and well serious
and mature is not something you usually would put down for All time low,
especially with Jacks constant dick jokes (I still love you babe). It also
features the ultimate punk dad Mr. Mark Hoppus himself and we all know I adore
that dork. The lyrics are real nice on
this one as well, Alex has such a wonderfull voice, soothing one and on slower
songs, ballad type songs, it just comes through so nicely and really, he is
just SO underrated as an artist, as a singer, as a lyricist. Another big musical guest whos influence is
also obvious in the song is Joel Madden. Huge old Good Charlotte vibes there. It's
kinda really cool and also kinda funny to have them both appear on the album,
funny because you just know that bands like Blink and Charlotte are huge
influence on the band and without them I am confident in saying there wouldn't
be no All time low either and also really cool because hell, just look at how
good the boys are doing, started out in Jacks basement and now they're here.
''Just give them ten more years and see what time can do for hopeless
dreamers''. Shit. Respect boys. But then again, there was no way for you to go
anywhere but up.
Other songs on this album are also Satellite, which is
good but not something I'd allert the press about. There's also Dancing with a
wolf which is a bit darker but also really nice. There's also Kicking &
screaming, Runaways, Cinderblock garden, Don't you go, Bail me out (the one
with Madden), The edge of tonight which makes me shiver all over when he sings
''You keep me alive, on the edge of tonight, chasing tomorrow with fire in my
eyes, you're like a siren in the dark, you're like a beat playing in my heart,
you keep me alive, on the edge of tonight''. Beautiful. Meaningful. And also
another very precious memory. Last song is Old scars / future hearts. Very nice
song to close the album to.
In general this is an amazing album, it's serious, it
shows growth, it shows that the band is not just some random pop punk or emo or
whatever else people call them band but actual amazing musicians that are
capable of serious and meaningful topics, while still staying true to their
roots and still have that true connection with their fans. This is why we love
them. A bit less right now though with their cryptic social media bullshit. Seriously
boys! Stop! I am not sane enough for decoding this crap.
Alright then here's to the band I love even when it
drives me crazy, and to the band who is the reason that at least some of my art
(drawings inspired by their lyrics) got some serious attention on tumblr. 4000
+ notes and some 2000 + notes, no joke, fame at last. If you want to give a
different but very good music a try then pick this one up, it really is amazing
I promise.
So enjoy the weekend guys, I know I won't. A lot of work
to catch up to. Ugh. Where are those weekends when I could just sleep 48 hours
straight. Hell. Word of advice. Don't ever grow up.
