All Time Low - Dirty Work

Mon 27th Jun, 2011 in Music Reviews

Since their start with 2005’s The Party Scene, All Time Low have since put out three albums and played extensively on the live circuit, touring both the U.S and here in Australia. This latest addition Dirty Work is an ambitious collection of pop recordings testament to their abilities to create likeable, energetic songs. I Feel Like Dancin’ has a pop culture reference to Kesha, but aside from that, its an upbeat attraction that’ll make fans want to groove along and revel in the choruses. Essentially, this is a very well rounded pop rock record that translates well enough to articulate itself as a contender in its genre.

With a love for partying, this band have translated their inclination to revel and rave onto the airwaves, and as an example Forget About It solidifies this album as a collection of eagerly determined party anthems. Top songs include the power ballad Time Bomb, Just The Way I’m Not and the catchy and pop hooks of Under A Paper Moon. No Idea is a gem that hits the spot melodically and emotively and A Daydream Away is a nostalgic acoustic number that looks back at fond memories. Certainly the most inventive and top notch songs on the record are That Girl, which along with with its change in tempo shows the band at their catchy best, while My Only One possesses all the qualities a good song should with tasty melodies, strong lyrics, a hot beat and wonderfully large sound similar to an Anberlin hit.

Heroes has a really pop-punk feel that fails in terms of the like-factor, contrasting to many other involving songs on this album. Get Down On Your Knees And Tell Me You Love Me is a funky number that also remains true to the band’s pop-rock stamp of familiarity. Merry Christmas, Kiss My Ass has the boys seemingly channelling their 2007 album So Wrong It’s Right, a tongue-in-cheeky track that could have been lifted from the album’s reject list. Time Bomb (acoustic version) is both a bonus track and fittingly, a great way to end the album, reiterating this sure-to-be hit via a mellow rendition to ease out the record nicely.