Straight Up Random

CD Review: Anywhere But Here by Mayday Parade

The Band: Mayday Parade

The Album: Anywhere But Here

Stand Out Tracks: “Bruised and Scarred,” “Save Your Heart,” and “Get Up”

The Review: Anywhere But Here may be the second album for Florida-based band Mayday Parade, but it represents the first of many things for the band. It is their first major label debut album on Atlantic records, and it is also the first time that their songs have vocalist Derek Sanders as the sole lead singer of the band after the departure of their former guitarist/vocalist Jason Lancaster who sang alongside Sanders on their first album.

Mayday Parade’s sophomore album seemed to be a natural progression for the band from their first album A Lesson In Romantics. There were hints on their last album of the more musically mature direction Anywhere But Here seemed to take, however. The lyrics still deal with the same matters of relationships (“Kids In Love”), heartbreak (“Bruised And Scarred,”), and life’s struggles (“Still Breathing”.

The songs on Anywhere But Here are anything but bubbly, and the band showcases the raw talent they have as musicians with the absence of synthesizers and vocoders. They manage to build up to big sing-along choruses and Sanders voice fits the tone of each song perfectly.

Tracks like “If You Can’t Live Without Me, Why Aren’t You Dead Yet?” and “Get Up,” lighten up the album from its darker undertones with their fast-tempo hooks and upbeat guitar work, and their song “I Swear I Meant It,” tries to rival their previous ballad “Miserable At Best,” with an acoustic guitar rather than a piano. Vocalist Sanders sings all of the tracks with a lot of heart and emotion that translate well live too.

Overall, Anywhere But Here can be considered anything but a sophomore slump for Mayday Parade. The band has found their niche in an oversaturated industry, and has managed to create a sound that is unique to them.

The Rating: 4 out of 5