Personal review of their new album! If you’re going to bitch at me for listening to it early, go suck a dick, but otherwise enjoy! (Note: Not all the songs on the official album are here, because not all of them were leaked.)
Do You Want Me (Dead) (3.5/5)
“I let it ride on a bad bet,
I doubled down on a sinking ship,
I need a second to catch my breath
Do you want me?
Or do you want me dead?”I love the intro to this song, it’s got a really strong fuse between All Time Low style guitar and a little twang of pop. The verse lyrics are really strong and especially the opening reminds me a lot of the older music Alex used to write. I’m not entirely thrilled with the sound effects they used, I think halfway through the song they getting a little overused and almost cartoon-ish. It’s going to be a great song to hear live, it’s strong all the way through. It’s not the most profound and different song I’ve ever heard from them, but it’s fun and enjoyable.
I Feel Like Dancing (4/5)
“Everybody getting kind of crunk,
I think some dude just grabbed my junk
Now I know how Ke$ha must be feelin’
Bros tryna turn me upside down,
Put a keg top to my mouth
But that’s okay, I’m dancin’ on the ceiling.”
First off, let me just say to everyone who doesn’t “get” this song, it’s not meant to be serious. There’s a reason All Time Low’s least lyrically impressive and beat-consumed song was released as their first single. It’s meant to be a joke. That being said, if you don’t take it too seriously, it’s a fun song to just dance to. Personally, it’s obvious that the boys really enjoy playing it live (after seeing them in Boston a few weeks back) and it’s not the strongest song on the album but it’s enjoyable as long as you’re not looking for more than it is.
Forget About It (4.5/5)
“You are a handful or roses,
Thorns in a cheap bouquet.
It’s true, I’m a walking disaster,
They told you to stay away.
It seems like I’m making a deal with the devil,
Who’s whispering softly to me.
Are you sure that she’s the one?”One of my favorites on the album so far. It’s very All Time Low. There’s still that hardness of their old sound with a little bit more of a pop fusion. The guitar is really interesting in this song and Rian kills it on drums (per usual.) Alex’s lyrics really shine through here, definitely deeper than the previous two songs on the album. I think the bridge is incredible, nothing but Alex giving a short monologue and it breaks up the song really well. It’s nice to hear everyone on the last few rounds of the chorus, I think it ties it all together really well and will be incredible to hear live.
Time Bomb (4.75/5)
“From the get-go I knew this was hard to hold
Like a crash the whole thing spun out of control
Oh, on a wire we were dancing, two kids no consequences
Pull the trigger without thinking there’s only one way down this road.”Incredible live. Like Alex said, it’s a great bridge between Dirty Work and Nothing Personal. It’s been out for a while so it’s hard to review because I’m biased. It’s definitely grown on me and I’ve always loved the lyrics, especially the pre-chorus. Absolutely fantastic. Classic All Time Low.
Guts (3.5/5)
“We’re shooting for the stars;
desperately reaching for something in the dark.
Pictures of memories, buried in my heart
Lie awake and dream of the endless possibilities,
catch my breath and go for it.”Guts doesn’t really hit me right from the get-go. I was hoping for a little more from Maja Ivarrsson (You might notice a girl backing Alex up, yeah that’s her.) I think the lyrics are fantastic and the beat is good, but it doesn’t really strike me as a song I’d blast in the car. Maybe in my room when I’m upset. I could totally see that. I love the guitar in the bridge, and Alex’s voice sounds fantastic with Maja. The song definitely picks up then, right after the bridge. The guitar solo’s pretty neat.
Just The Way I’m Not (4/5)
“When it hurts, it hurts,
Wonder if it’s worth it.
When it works, it works
And when it’s broke it’s perfect.”Definitely a different sound than what we’ve heard from All Time Low. It still sounds like them, but definitely a little more pop, especially with the constant “whoa-ing” and the repetitive chorus. It’s a cute concept for a song, seems like a little bit of a shot at Bruno Mars which is neat. Once again, I really like how the whole band comes on singing the bridge. I think it makes the album sound really fun, and all I can think about is how great of a live performance this song would make. I’ll have to say that this is one of my guilty pleasure songs on the album. (Much like Break Your Little Heart on Nothing Personal.)
Under A Paper Moon (5/5)
“Baby, don’t yell,
You’re tearing a hole right through
the walls of everything we used to know,
I’m building a place, something amazing,
Just for the sake of saving us,
From under the sun,
Two plastic hearts with nowhere to run,
We’re rolling the dice on whatever’s left,
’cause God only knows that we could use the rest.”A standout for me. Definitely. The lyrics are absolutely fantastic, and Alex’s voice is a lot stronger here. It sounds more comfortable and a great mix between their old sound and the new directions they’re heading for. The guitar sounds great and the overall sound itself is just really interesting. I’m not sure how to explain it. I love the breakdown into the chorus and then the piano really adds something else. I honestly can’t find anything bad to say about this song. Clear front runner for my favorite track.
Return The Favor (4/5)
“Oh no, look what you’ve done,
Left me the victim of a hit and run.
Picked up and let down,
You were never as you led on.
You said just friends, no strings,
But that leaves loose ends for all things.
Get back to old days and old ways.”The beginning is really interesting with the guitar picking, then the pick-up into a stronger, more powerful, sound. I love the way the drums shine though, Rian is kicking ass once again. I can definitely appreciate the tambourine on the chorus and I really love the way it breaks down. It’s really interesting to see a band take the chorus slowly and then speed up on the verses. It’s definitely a different twist and I think it works for them, really well. The guitar is absolutely great. Really cool backup vocals on the bridge, Alex sounds great. LOVE THE PIANO AT THE END. I think it adds something a little more personal to the track and a really interesting way to end it. Definitely different.
No Idea (3.5/5)
“I was dreaming we were running from a city burning,
Down, down, down.
Made a break, a new escape, and let the world crash,
Down, down, down.”This song’s strength is definitely it’s lyrics. I’m not entirely sure how I feel about it. It’s definitely more mellow than a lot of the other songs. Very relate-able. There’s no real standout here. The drums are pretty simple, there’s no killer guitar, and Alex’s voice just really just seems to blend in with the rest of the band. I almost like the bridge with just a guitar better than any other part of this song. I feel like this would’ve been better as a slower song than the awkwardly upbeat song it is.
Daydream Away (5/5)
“We would go out on the weekend,
To escape our busy lives.
We’d laugh at all the douchebag guys,
Chasing down their desperate wives.
I would drink a little too much,
You would offer me a ride.
And I would offer you a t-shirt,
And you would stay another night.”The infamous acoustic song that shows up on every album. Following footsteps of Therapy and Remembering Sunday is a little difficult, but honestly—I think this song holds its own. The lyrics are beautiful and well-delivered by Alex. It’s such a cute love song and the little accordion is just a really good addition to the track. I love the way they used the percussion. I love the build up from the bridge. It’s really well done, and I just love this track for everything it is. Very cute. Nice to hear a softer more romantic side from Alex.
That Girl (4.5/5)
“No kid, not tonight,
You’re not that good and I’m not that type,
She’s beautiful but she’s cold as ice,
And that keeps me hanging on.”This song is so fun. That’s really the only thing I can say. It’s very poppy, a little bit of a Jason Mraz twang with the guitar at the beginning. Definitely a summer song to blast on the beach. The lyrics are straight, to the point, and just fun. A bitchy song for a day out. That’s what this song is. I won’t even say anything about it because I love it and can’t wait to jam out to it.
Heroes (4.75/5)
“You’re not a hero, you’re a liar.
You’re not a saviour, you’re a vampire.
Sucking the life out of all the friends you’ve ever known.
You’re just a train-wreck, not a winner,
Up on your soapbox, preaching down to the sinners
Saints without a cause, we’re not listening
We’re not listening.”THIS. This is old school All Time Low. It’s definitely the most pop-punk song on the album. The lyrics are hard-hitting and the guitar is powerful especially on the verses. Reminds me a lot of Blink 182, which is never a bad thing. It’s just a great song to listen to and remember that All Time Low doesn’t forget their roots and are just growing. I’ll give this song a high five and let it be as is without any deep analysis.
Overall: 51/60
Overall, Dirty Work is an incredible album. Leaps and bounds better than Nothing Personal, and it really shows that the band is trying out new sounds and going places that having a new record label allows. Not a single one of these songs is “bad” although I might not have rated them very highly. I would listen to this album (and have) over and over again. It’s just fun and really cohesive considering all the different sounds that they incorporated. I think the entire album will be incredible live and I wish I was seeing them when they come back to Boston in August. That being said, bravo boys. Welcome to the big leagues.
