The All-American Rejects – Review

The All-American Rejects

(Doghouse)
by Tim Den

This is the surprise winner of the season here at Lollipop. We were ready to dump the disc in the trash at first glance (young emo boys, “cred points” vintage Kiss t-shirt, sappy band name), but as soon as opener “My Paper Heart” kicked in, we knew we had misjudged a hit. Synth pop with innocent, adolescent melodies blooming like the first pubescent hormones stirring in your crotch, radiant vocals that display dazzling control of vibrato… these songs just won’t be denied!

And though I usually hate overly sentimental, junior high drama lyrics, The All-American Rejects have enough head-spinning sing-alongs to make me overlook what they’re crooning about. If I was 16, I’d probably be losing my virginity to this record. Straight-up infectious sweetness that makes me yearn for ye olde teenage years.
(PO Box 8946 Toledo, OH 43623)