All Time Low - Future Hearts (Album Review)
All Time Low are back once again with another heart-filled, feel good album that doesn’t have one bad song on it. Their sixth album Future Hearts is an eclectic mix of pop and punk, with an edge of a techno beat. With two feature vocalists Mark Hoppus (“Tidal Waves”) and Joel Madden (“Bail Me Out”), this album was anticipated within the alt rock realm. The overall sound is laced with an up beat attitude, but also mellowed out with a couple songs that are more for breakups or a rainy day.
Starting off the record, “Satellite” is a song very similar to what Green Day would have done, but sounds good with ATL. The slow build and strong, hyped ending is energetic and a good choice as the opener of the album. “Kicking and Screaming” puts the old-school flare of nostalgia. Reminiscent to their previous albums, the song gives a touch of the old days as five-piece expands their sound as they grow. “Somethings Gotta Give” and “Runaways” are songs that live for radio, with their catchy and stimulating beats. They give off the imagery of driving in the summer, windows down and blaring these songs through speakers. This feel-good album doesn’t exclude those songs that express angry feelings that come with life, and “Dancing With A Wolf” pointedly brings out those feelings. The deep techno beat along with the low tempo fits perfectly into a vengeful breakup song, alongside “Old Scars/Future Hearts”, that theme fits perfectly between the two songs. They are similar in meaning but different in feeling and sound. The mix of happiness, sadness, and vengefulness go together seamlessly.
Overall, I would rate this album a 5/5 as All Time Low killed it once again with another album akin to their previous ones, but also immeasurable to them.
