Every Avenue - Shh...Just Go With It

Band: Every Avenue

Album: Shh...Just Go With It

Genre: Pop-rock/emo

Label: Fearless

Tracks:

1. Days of The Old

2. This One's A Cheap Shot

3. Where Were You?

4. Think of You Later

5. A Story To Tell Your Friends

6. Boys Will Be Boys

7. Take A Step Back

8. Trading Heartbeats

9. Freak Out

10. Between You and I

11. Chasing The Night

Michigan's own Every Avenue, after years of hard work, finally achieved their dreams last year by signing to a label, Fearless Records to be exact. They first released the, "AH!" ep which then led to months of endless touring while we all sat awaiting the full length. Here it is almost a year to the date after they signed and we finally get the full length, "Shh..Just Go With It," which boasts soaring chorus and some of the catchiest pop punk in recent memory, but still the question remains: is it good enough to position them atop the scene? Let's find out...

Shh... starts out strong with the catchy, "Days of the Old," which begins with almost arena rock tom hits followed by a catchy riff and lyrics that seem autobiographical about the band. In fact, a lot of the album reads like a journal. It is filled with tales of wanting to be famous, lost love, etc., etc. Vocalist, David Ryan has crafted songs that you begin to sing along with before the first spin ends. It's infectiously catchy and the guitar work matched with a simply, but catchy bass line make you want to start moving. The band adds keys to give some songs an extra touch and even venture into the occasional ballad-like track. The re-appearance of, "Where Were You," is welcomed with open arms as the band has added to the already catchy track with additional drum work that screams top 40 radio. Another recycled song is the fan favorite, "Chasing The Night," which closes the album and works as if to say they're not only chasing the night, but rather chasing a long run in this ever evolving industry.

Now, with every album, this one is not without faults. Ryan's lyrics seem to go be repetitive [how many songs about "making it" can you fit on one album?] and the words themselves get borderline too cheesy, even for pop punk. Also, as mentioned with Secondhand Serenade, making people pay for an album with old songs on it they already paid for just doesn't sit well with me. Finally, the "ballad," "Between You and I," seems very forced and as a result, sticks out as a strong weak spot for the album. Don't get me wrong, the album is quite good, especially for a debut, but there is work to be done here. However, if Every Avenue stays on this path, I see no reason why they can't be like fellow label mates The Plain White T's and eventually burst from emo scene to the American pop radio platform.

GRADE: 7.5/10