YOU SAY PARTY! WE SAY DIE!
Lose All Time
Paper Bag
· On its sophomore album, YSP! WSD! takes itself far too seriously.
This energetic Abbotsford five-piece has always been at its best in the live arena, a fact smartly documented on its straightforward, largely overdub-free debut Hit The Floor! Unfortunately, with its more eclectic, ambitious and over-produced followup, the band simply can’t pull off sounding this serious.
The album launches into three successful, synthed-up rockers. The trio of "Five Year Plan," "Downtown Mayors Goodnight, Alley Kids Rule!" and the breathy, post-punk, guitar-driven "Opportunity" are easily the record’s high points.
Unfortunately, from this point forward the music takes a noticeable downturn. Becky Ninkovic’s lilting vocals and inane echoing of the words "just be my friend, yeah yeah" on "Teenage Hit Wonder" quickly become annoying, while "Monster" is a surprisingly obvious Metric rip-off. The band tries far too hard to re-create its best song, "The Gap (Between The Rich And The Poor)," with the chant-filled "Like I Give a Care," and the piano ballad "Dancefloor Destroyer" is an unpleasant and unnecessary inclusion.
Faster songs like "Poison," "Moon" and "You’re Almost There" showcase more of the band’s strengths, but overall Lose All Time lacks the spark, spontaneity and fun of their earlier efforts and live set. Next time, more party, less die?
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