Album- Crazy World
Artist- Boys Like
Girls
After a hiatus of a couple of years and the departure of
their bassist, Boys Like Girls returned in 2012 with their third studio album
that showed a departure from the pop punk and alternative rock style in favour
of more prominent country and pop influences. However, as this record has not
yielded a hot 100 hitting song and only reached 134 on the Billboard 200, the
question is whether this new sound actually works for the group, whether some
new people need to start becoming fans, or whether they should just altogether
throw in the towel.
Track 1- The First
Time
Track 1 is the only song on the record to be written solely
by frontman Martin Johnson. Opening with fast paced synth beats that act as the
base of the song, the track finds Johnson reminiscing about the first time that
he met this girl as he sees this person again after quite a while, and time has
basically changed things, with the chorus focusing on how you don’t get a
second chance in life with people. It’s a simple lyrical message that is strong
in terms of its universal appeal, as people can reminisce about different
people with this song, whether that’s just an ex or a former, really close
friend. Johnson has a light vocal tone that is undeniably appealing, with the
song working well in the way the verses are softer and more understated whilst
the chorus has a bit of grit to it, making for a catchy sound. The pop rock
elements are there with the drums and nice guitar riffs, and the way the song
fades out along with the piano is a nice touch of softness, but coupled with
that sound is the cool use of electronic tones that shows the group moving in a
different direction but sticking true to past material, and the synths are also
really good as they just elevate the lightness of the songs tone and enhance
the catchy quality.
3.5/5
Track 2- Life of the
Party
Opening with a few “yeahs” and handclapping beats, from the
outset you know that this is a light affair that would work perfectly as a
summer single. The song’s lyrics are designed to get the party started with
references to dj’s and drinking, and although clichéd, the ‘na na na’ hook is
catchy, and the song is given a light feel through the vocal tone of Johnson,
who exudes this youthful sense of vibrancy. The song also is great in showing
off the singers falsetto, with the way the song builds towards this punchy
chorus where you have to get your friends together being a happy, just enjoy
life moment. The songs production keeps a handclapping, have fun rhythm going
with the clattering drumbeats and cool guitar riffs that exude a sense of
warmth. The song has a familiar tone to some other pop country tunes and so for
some people this might just be a throwaway song, but when the group have
created such a well-rounded tune that is pop at its best, you should just
really appreciate the music.
4/5
Track 3- Crazy World
The title track keeps the light and happy tone going with a
whistling and melody and toe tapping beats that give a chilled but at the same
time snappy rhythm. Lyrically the song finds Johnson singing to his girl about
how there are obstacles in life cause the world is crazy, and he just wants to
slow down and cherish her. The singer has a charismatic and light vocal tone
that gives the song a breezy quality that makes it ideal as a little more a
chilled summer jam, but the chorus still has a bit of kick to be a vibrant song
for a part. The vocal performance is also nice in the chorus in terms of the way
that the singer stresses the lyrics vocally, creating a slower tone that works
well with the ideology of the track. The production has a light quality that is
a bit generic but still has a fun quality that is infectious, with the snappy
background vocals making the song a nice tune to dance along to, whilst the use
of harmonica makes for a strong finish that is made even greater by the use of
a number of chorus for a crowd singing together effect.
3.5/5
Track 4- Be Your
Everything
The only single so far released from the album, Be Your
Everything brings a change in energy to the track, as this is a more
emotionally loaded tune that finds the group in a more intense state of love,
with Johnson showing a little bit insecurity but ultimately being strong and
confident, telling his girl that in every way here will be there for. The song
nicely employs the singers range in the chorus with the use of falsetto, and
the change in vocal levels throughout the song give a passionate quality within
the song. The production is also nice and dramatic, with simple guitar riffs
and drumbeats that are not too heavy but still convey enough of the songs
emotional energy. The problem with this track is that it comes across a bit too
generic, with some of the lyrics being really hindered by clichéd ideologies,
and the electronic vocal stuttering used towards the end of the chorus is just
annoying rather than appealing.
3/5
Track 5- Stuck in the
Middle
Things are kept on more of an emotionally deeper level both
in sound and lyrical content with this track that features Johnson giving us
quite a delicate vocal performance that once again employs the singers higher
elements of his vocal range very nicely, giving the song a touching and pure
quality that conveys the songs lyrical sentiment more powerfully. The song
finds the singer holding out for a time when things will be perfect, despite
being in a bad state at the present. The lyrics have a positive quality, and
although the chorus could be a bit more catchy and powerful, the sentiment of
the track has a sweetness and honesty that is relatable within a range of
situations. The production is strong in giving the song more of an emotional
connection, with the simple guitar strumming and potent use of strings really
allowing us to listen to the lyrical content, even if the sound is slightly
typical of this sort of track.
3.5/5
Track 6- Cheated
Like the title would suggest, this is a very much an anger
fuelled track that lyrically focuses on Johnson telling this girl that they are
very much over as he knows that she has cheated on him. The lyrically
simplicity of the track is definitely one of it’s strength, with the chorus
being catchy with its ‘woah’ hook and declaration of cheating that will make
this a great song for those in the future who are unfortunately cheated on. The
song is also great in the way that vocally Johnson conveys a mixture of
emotions within the vocal performance; anger at this girl, hurt for the way he
now feels, and acceptance that this relationship is over. The track is also
good in the way that the production just follows a simple tone of the steady
(but still forceful) drumbeat, light guitar riffs and flourishes of electro pop
beats here and there that give the song that hit of bite but also still creates
this hurt level of emotion in sound, and makes the track feel that little bit
less stereotypical.
3.5/5
Track 7- Shoot
This track feels a little bit more country than the other
songs in terms of the level of the vocal that Johnson gives, and the song also
has slightly grittier and contemplative tone within the lyrical content. Here
we find Johnson singing about going through life and just working hard and
going through the emotions, but wishing to kind of escape the humdrum, and
really aiming high in the wish to just be at peace and have some fun. The song
is nice and Johnson has a charismatic quality in his vocal that makes the song
believable. However by this point the feeling of wishing for something better
is a little bit too familiar. As well as this, the production of the song is
just ok, creating a nice base for the singing that is filled with a snappy
drumbeat and nice guitar riffs, but yet having that quality of familiarity and
beginning to make the tracks start to blend into one another.
2.5/5
Track 8- Leaving
California
From the beginning of this track things becoming more
interesting within the album in terms of the way the song is produced. This
song is just great in really giving us a nice and powerful, mid tempo ballad
piece that feels emotional and also has slightly more of a rock edge that shows
the group haven’t completely transformed the sound that once made them popular.
The song finds Johnson being in a bad state as he as really tried in life, but
now he just needs to move on and has decided to leave where he lives and
hopefully find himself renewed. The song works well in the way that it could be
a heartbreak song but equally has a universal appeal of just wishing for
something but not getting there, and then just deciding to move on. Johnson is
strong vocally, giving the verses a nice delicacy and then giving a lilting,
powerful performance that stamps the fact that he is leaving very firmly. The
song is also nice in the way he hushly speaks in places, giving the song that
added vulnerability. The production of the song is grand and avoids being bland
through the simple use of a piano melody at first and then being joined by the
strings, drums and guitar, but this time things are a bit heavier in sound.
3.5/5
Track 9- Take Me Home
Another song that starts off in an intriguing way, when this
track was gearing up to the first chorus I was a bit worried that we were going
to have to back to back songs that were a bit to similar. However here things
are more vibrant and edging towards up tempo. The song finds Johnson in this
frame of mind where he is reportedly close to the edge, and so asks to be taken
home, supposedly because that is where he can save himself. The song works
nicely in conveying this sense of the importance of family and one’s roots, but
not being too obvious with that message. Johnson is good vocally as he shows a
delicacy in vocals that makes us believe he Is close to the edge, although his
voice perhaps becomes a little lost in the production. Production wise the song
is also great in maintaining a little bit more of a pop rock vibe and showing
that the band are still true to themselves, with light guitar riffs and
drumbeats that give the song a breezy and almost perhaps ethereal quality that
is quite nice, with the stop and start rhythms in the second verse being a
particular strong moment in the track.
3.5/5
Track 10- Red Cup,
Hands Up, Long Brown Hair
The band go back to a more carefree and vibrant sound with
this track that is another very summery jam. The song finds Johnson telling us
about this girl who is a bit crazy, but who he really loves and is happy to
call his girl. The very fast paced quality of the track makes this a feisty
kind of number to just lose yourself and dance crazily to, whilst the Johnson
brings us a cool charisma in his vocal performance and just really sounds like
a youthful person in love, whilst the vocal performance is also helped by the
use of background vocals that give the track this crowd singing together feel.
The production is punchy and full of vitality, featuring a strong mix of rock
guitar riffs and light synths with tinny (almost country) percussion.
3.5/5
Track 11- Hey You
Things end on a delicate note with this track that starts
off as kind of a simple love song but also becomes more of a universal song
about how everyone just falls in love. The song ends the album on more of a pop
rock sound and finds Johnson saying hello to this person who he has fallen in
love with, whilst conveying the sentiment that falling in love is a simple
thing. The vocal performance is powerful and shows the range of the singer
nicely, although it is perhaps a little too vocally layered. The song utilises
piano, strings and simple rock guitar and drums within the production, giving
the song a great build in sound that feels powerful, although the final two
minute of simple instrumentation that builds to this heavy rock sound is nice
but maybe a little bit too much.
3/5
Final Review
Boys Like Girls have definitely shown a change of sound with
this record, but there is still some songs on here that feel a little bit more
like there old selves. I think that the progression shown on this record is
something that some fans will not like, but yet the sound is light and
appealing and should bring the group some new fans. The album could have a few
less slower emotional songs and a couple more party tunes, but as a whole this
is a strong record that features strong, catchy hooks, charismatic vocals from
Martin Johnson, and a cool mix of country/pop/rock that is nice and (although a
little typical of the genre) vibrant.
7.5/10
Best Track- Life of
the Party
Worst Track- Shoot
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