Pop-punkers Forever The Sickest Kids are now on their third full length with ‘J.A.C.K.’, a somewhat predictable album from these Texan boys. While they are able to produce some catchy and creative songs, most are expected and overdone.
This album is all over the place. There are strange moments and random snatches of sounds, and some songs can’t decide what they are. This ADD album starts off with ‘Chin Up Kid’. Weird, vintage sounding classical music is played under a weird, ethereal chorus before pausing and turning into a completely different and disconnected song. While it could be seen as an intro, it isn’t presented that way. The rest of this first song doesn’t quite recover from that weird intro, and manages to be watered down pop with trite lyrics and conventional sound.
Most of the tracks on ‘J.A.C.K.’ follow suit. ‘Don’t Let Me Go’, ‘Nice To Meet You,’ and ‘Nikki’ are all very safe and boring. They’re not quite catchy enough to stand out, and are lacking that punk edge that could really put them over the top. The melodies are repetitive and simple, and the instruments lack that punch you want with pop-punk.
‘Count On Me (For Nothing)’ is schizophrenic, starting out with acoustic guitars under cool electronic beats with punchy, excited vocals and a fast rhythm. Then, however, the chorus comes in and kills whatever they had going for them with cheesy claps with harmonies, much like a late 80s pop song that would do well in a teen movie. It switches back to the much more modern sound, but breaks in again with just plain weird, out-of-place and out-of-date sounds.
While there are many missteps, there are a few shining stars in this album. ‘Ritalin’ absolutely breaks through the pack with a capella harmonies to start, with sarcastic lyrics and the melodic creativity you expect (or crave) from pop-punk. There’s fast paced drums, driving guitars and dynamic, multi-layered effects mixed in. Ending with just instruments – piano and electronic beats – echoy vocals ease you out. ‘La La Lainey’ is a fun, catchy, trendy song that is one of those tracks that keep you coming back for more. ‘Playing With Fire’ is extremely dynamic, with much more heartfelt lyrics that wavers back and forth between a soft acoustic track and electro-pop.
Forever The Sickest Kids didn’t completely fail with ‘J.A.C.K.’, but it surely isn’t a smashing success. It seems like they phoned it in for the majority of the songs, keeping them radio-friendly and run-of-the-mill, even though it is clear they are capable of creating unique music.
2/5
‘J.A.C.K.’ by Forever The Sickest Kids is released on 24th June on Fearless Records.
Forever The Sickest Kids links: Website|Facebook|Twitter
Words by Jenny Gagas (@Jenny_herself)
