Albums

CD Review: Mayday Parade - Anywhere But Here

I first heard the band Mayday Parade with their 2007 debut album A Lesson in Romantics. I feel like so much of an album relies on the opening track and once I heard “Jamie All Over”, I was instantly hooked. Again, on their recently released sophomore album Anywhere But Here, Mayday Parade fails to disappoint from the start. The first profound drum beats of track one, “Kids in Love” acted as the sounding of an alarm to ready myself for the musical party that was about to blare from my speakers. The song reeled me in and the rest of this intoxicating compilation was never able to spit me out.

There is something for everyone including vivacious songs like “Anywhere But Here”, about a love that must be hidden from the rest of the world and “Get Up”, an ode to life on the road and connecting with fans in various U.S. cities. The album is also forcefully held together by ballads like “The Silence”, the album’s first single, and “I Swear This Time I Mean It”, an acoustic guitar driven love song.

Since the release of A Lesson in Romantics, The band has taken a turn from alternative/pop tunes to a more upbeat pop/rock style and Anywhere But Here is proof. This time around, they worked with David Bendeth who produced albums for Underoath and Paramore and it’s impossible not to feel that energy oozing from every song. Also this is the band’s first full album without co-frontman Jason Lancaster who is no longer part of the band. For fans of Mayday Parade, don’t let the change in direction and band members hinder you from purchasing this new album. Anywhere But Here is refreshing and just as powerful and engaging as what you’re used to, if not more so.

Grade: 8/10
Tracks to check out: “Kids in Love”, “The Silence“, “Get Up” and “The End”

Review by Genevieve Jacko

For more on Mayday Parade, go to www.myspace.com/maydayparade. Pick up Anywhere But Here on iTunes, Amazon MP3, or on CD.

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Tags: Mayday Parade