ALL TIME LOW PROVIDES YOUR DAILY DOSE OF SUNSHINE WITH THEIR NEW ALBUM, 'WAKE UP, SUNSHINE'
During a time of such uncertainty for so many, it makes sense for people to find solace in music. The release of new music from one’s favorite artist can provide a bit of sunshine in an otherwise dreary reality. Luckily for fans of pop-punk, All Time Low has a new 15-track album out by the name of Wake Up, Sunshine, which was released on April 3rd. In a video clip posted to the band's social media in late March, frontman Alex Gaskarth said, “We made this record to make people feel good, and we hope that’s what it does.”
Despite not being able to proceed with their scheduled performance on Good Morning America or other typical release-week events like record signings, they chose not to push back the release and opted, instead, to get the music into the hands of their fans as soon as possible. This is no surprise coming from a band like All Time Low who has always cared more about the connection they have with their fans than anything else, even if it means their chart figures may be affected.
As a long-time All Time Low fan, Wake Up Sunshine feels like quintessential All Time Low to me. I can imagine nearly all of these songs translating beautifully to the live show, which is arguably the most important aspect of All Time Low. There are times that you can really hear the influence of bands like Blink-182 and Green Day, but in each instance, the songs come back around to still being undoubtedly All Time Low.
The album kicks off with the first single, “Some Kind of Disaster” which contains the incredibly catchy lyrics
“I’m a liar, I’m a cynic / I’m a sinner, I’m a saint / I’m a loser, I’m a critic / I’m the ghost of my mistakes”.
When the vocals in the chorus kick in, there’s a strong Billie Joe Armstrong vibe, which I personally love. This song is one that I’ve already experienced first-hand live, and it’s a real banger; a very strong start to the album.
As the album progresses, fans are brought for a ride with songs that feel very fitting for summer singalongs with a hint of nostalgia. Track two, “Sleeping In”, has a fun, dance-y feel complete with a Britney Spears reference. “Getaway Green”, “Melancholy Kaleidoscope”, and “Trouble Is” all make me picture driving around with windows down on a warm summer day by the beach (“Melancholy Kaleidoscope” is one of my favorites). Later in the album, “January Gloom”, followed three tracks later by “Summer Daze”, discuss longing for the summer, and then not wanting the days to ever end once it arrives.
One of the songs that stands out the most to me is “Monsters (Feat. blackbear)”. This song comes in so strong and immediately makes me want to open up a mosh pit. Having blackbear featured on the song for the second verse brings a fresh feel to it that I really enjoy. In some ways, it feels like nothing else in All Time Low’s catalog, but it still fits. If I had to pick a favorite on the album, “Monsters” would be it.
Another song that really stands out to me is “Safe”. The lyrics are empowering and really do give across the feeling that everything is going to be alright. All Time Low fans tend to really cling to songs that have a strong meaning like this, so I think “Safe” will quickly become another emotionally-charged fan favorite.
My opinion may be biased, but there aren’t many tracks on the album that I find skip-worthy. Interestingly enough, my least favorite song is actually the title track, “Wake Up, Sunshine”. It’s a very cute song with a positive message -
“Wake up, sunshine / Somebody loves you for yourself”
- and it makes for a great album title, but it’s a bit too bubblegum-pop for me. It fits in well with the album as its title track, but I wouldn’t go out of my way to play it on its own.
The other tracks on the album include: “Pretty Venom” which is a beautifully unique Interlude; “Favorite Place” which is a fun love-song featuring The Band CAMINO; “Clumsy”, which feels like a classic All Time Low banger that I cannot wait to hear live; and “Glitter & Crimson”, which is beautiful but a little slower and, truthfully, fades into the background for me a bit on such a strong album.
The album concludes in a song absolutely filled to the brim with nostalgia, “Basement Noise”. The song alludes to All Time Low getting their start in drummer Rian’s parents’ basement. I got chills the first time I heard this song, as I feel a real sense of pride over All Time Low after having been a fan for so many years now. It’s the perfect closer to what I feel to be one of the strongest albums they’ve ever released.