by Kendra Germany
Staff writer
Oklahoma rockers the All-American Rejects released their fourth album “Kids in the Streets” on March 26, failing to capture the raw rock ‘n’ roll attitude of past records.
It has been almost five years since the boys from Stillwater’s last album “When the World Comes Down” was released.
The All-American Rejects blew onto the scene in 2003 with the hit song “Swing, Swing” that was an anthem for angst-driven teens in love in the early 2000s.
But it wasn’t until the release of the band’s sophomore album “Move Along” that the band received mainstream success.
After songs like “Swing, Swing,” “Move Along,” “Dirty Little Secret” and “Gives You Hell,” there were high hopes that their new album “Kids in the Streets” would hold just as many hits as the past three.
However, the newest installment fails to catch that distinct vibe that the band is famous for. Many of the songs, though lyrically well-written, sound overproduced on “Kids in the Street.”
The raw sound and emotion that was poured into the early albums is what made most fans fall in love with the All-American Rejects.
On the new album, the true talent of the band gets lost in the sound.
With that being said, there are a few songs on the album that shine through the noise.
One song in particular that is truly a breath of fresh air is “The Beekeeper’s Daughter.” The song has both an infectious beat and catchy lyrics that make it easy to listen too.
The lyrics are provocative yet adorable. “You’re a pretty little flower, I’m a busy little bee. Honey that’s all you need to see,” croons lead singer Tyson Ritter in his trademark scratchy yet sophisticated voice.
Even though the album is not up to par with the past albums released by the band, there are songs that save the album from being a total loss.
However, instead of buying the whole album, buying the singles on iTunes would be a better option.