22-06-2010, 00:11
released June 22nd, 2010
![[Image: n91695ypaka.jpg]](http://image.allmusic.com/00/amg/cov200/drn900/n916/n91695ypaka.jpg)
from the album - Dance Forever
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zt8oyRrOaUQ
from all music
The emo-pop quartet Allstar Weekend were formed in 2007 by Zachary Porter (vocals), Nathan Darmody (guitar), Cameron Quiseng (bass), and Michael Martinez (drums) in San Diego, CA while they were still in high school. Inspired by local heroes blink-182 and classic rock icons like Queen and Elton John, Allstar Weekend began writing songs and playing shows around their hometown. While they were building their local fan base, the bandmembers also wrote and recorded songs for their MySpace page. These early tracks caught the ear of the duo behind Drive-Thru Records, Richard and Stefanie Reines, who became their managers. The next step was national attention, and Allstar Weekend got plenty when they were picked for Radio Disneyâs Next Big Thing promotion in 2008 and did so well that Hollywood Records signed them. The first single released by the band, âA Different Side of Me,â reached the top of Radio Disneyâs Top 30 Countdown and sold over 100,000 copies. Meanwhile, their YouTube videos (for the aforementioned single and âJourney to the End of My Lifeâ) racked up an impressive amount of viewings (over a million total). In June of 2010 their debut mini-album, Suddenly, was released. Produced by a set of proven producers (Howard Benson, John Feldmann, and S*A*M & Sluggo), the record showcased the bandâs youthful exuberance and knack for a catchy chorus. The band spent the rest of the year on the road playing a mix of venues that included Army bases, childrenâs museums, theme parks, and concert halls.
album review
The members of the San Diego quartet Allstar Weekend met when they were in high school, and after a few years of gigging and making their debut EP, they still sound like they are in high school. The sunny, breezy emo pop sound of Suddenly is geared for teenagers who want something a little more punk that the Jonas Brothers but not punk enough to muss up anyoneâs carefully styled hair. The group writes very catchy songs with very teenage concerns: songs about identity, crushes, painful breakups, how awesome weekends are, and how rad it would be to suddenly become a rock star. Zachary Porter delivers the words in a sweet and innocent style, the band provides some energy, and the production team (which features big names like Howard Benson and S*A*M & Sluggo) covers the basic rock setup of guitar, bass, and drums with all kinds of keyboards, effects, and modern production tricks. Itâs a very slick presentation thatâs perfect for radio, destined for mall stores and â unfortunately for the band â utterly generic and forgettable. Itâs all style with no substance, all trimmings with no main course. A little bit of dirt in the production, a little less bombast in the stadium-friendly choruses, or some semblance of a unique perspective would have gone a long way in making this something more than just another in a long line of records that sound exactly like this. Itâs too bad, because the band has some talent beneath all the layers of paint. Perhaps if they had been given a chance to develop their own sound before they were swallowed by the machine, this record would be worth hearing. As it stands, though, if you are in the mood for some emo pop you can do much better elsewhere.
Track Listing
1 Hey, Princess Darmody, Hollander, Katz ... 3:18
2 A Different Side of Me Darmody, Norris, Porter 3:09
3 Dance Forever Darmody, Norris, Porter 3:42
4 Clock Runs Out Darmody, Feldmann, Norris ... 3:23
5 Amy Darmody, Feldmann, Porter 3:46
6 Journey to the End of My Life Bourne, Darmody, Norris ... 2:52
7 The Weekend Darmody, Feldmann, Porter 3:20
from the album - Dance Forever
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zt8oyRrOaUQ
from all music
The emo-pop quartet Allstar Weekend were formed in 2007 by Zachary Porter (vocals), Nathan Darmody (guitar), Cameron Quiseng (bass), and Michael Martinez (drums) in San Diego, CA while they were still in high school. Inspired by local heroes blink-182 and classic rock icons like Queen and Elton John, Allstar Weekend began writing songs and playing shows around their hometown. While they were building their local fan base, the bandmembers also wrote and recorded songs for their MySpace page. These early tracks caught the ear of the duo behind Drive-Thru Records, Richard and Stefanie Reines, who became their managers. The next step was national attention, and Allstar Weekend got plenty when they were picked for Radio Disneyâs Next Big Thing promotion in 2008 and did so well that Hollywood Records signed them. The first single released by the band, âA Different Side of Me,â reached the top of Radio Disneyâs Top 30 Countdown and sold over 100,000 copies. Meanwhile, their YouTube videos (for the aforementioned single and âJourney to the End of My Lifeâ) racked up an impressive amount of viewings (over a million total). In June of 2010 their debut mini-album, Suddenly, was released. Produced by a set of proven producers (Howard Benson, John Feldmann, and S*A*M & Sluggo), the record showcased the bandâs youthful exuberance and knack for a catchy chorus. The band spent the rest of the year on the road playing a mix of venues that included Army bases, childrenâs museums, theme parks, and concert halls.
album review
The members of the San Diego quartet Allstar Weekend met when they were in high school, and after a few years of gigging and making their debut EP, they still sound like they are in high school. The sunny, breezy emo pop sound of Suddenly is geared for teenagers who want something a little more punk that the Jonas Brothers but not punk enough to muss up anyoneâs carefully styled hair. The group writes very catchy songs with very teenage concerns: songs about identity, crushes, painful breakups, how awesome weekends are, and how rad it would be to suddenly become a rock star. Zachary Porter delivers the words in a sweet and innocent style, the band provides some energy, and the production team (which features big names like Howard Benson and S*A*M & Sluggo) covers the basic rock setup of guitar, bass, and drums with all kinds of keyboards, effects, and modern production tricks. Itâs a very slick presentation thatâs perfect for radio, destined for mall stores and â unfortunately for the band â utterly generic and forgettable. Itâs all style with no substance, all trimmings with no main course. A little bit of dirt in the production, a little less bombast in the stadium-friendly choruses, or some semblance of a unique perspective would have gone a long way in making this something more than just another in a long line of records that sound exactly like this. Itâs too bad, because the band has some talent beneath all the layers of paint. Perhaps if they had been given a chance to develop their own sound before they were swallowed by the machine, this record would be worth hearing. As it stands, though, if you are in the mood for some emo pop you can do much better elsewhere.
Track Listing
1 Hey, Princess Darmody, Hollander, Katz ... 3:18
2 A Different Side of Me Darmody, Norris, Porter 3:09
3 Dance Forever Darmody, Norris, Porter 3:42
4 Clock Runs Out Darmody, Feldmann, Norris ... 3:23
5 Amy Darmody, Feldmann, Porter 3:46
6 Journey to the End of My Life Bourne, Darmody, Norris ... 2:52
7 The Weekend Darmody, Feldmann, Porter 3:20