Move Along (CD - 2005)

Personnel: Tyson Ritter (vocals, Theremin, background vocals); Nick Wheeler (guitar, classical guitar, banjo, electric sitar, keyboards, programming); Mike Kennerty (guitar); Jamie Muhoberac (piano); Howard Benson, Paul DeCarli (keyboards, programming); Chris Gaylor (drums, percussion); Lenny Castro (percussion).

Additional personnel: Lenny Castro.

Audio Mixer: Chris Lord-Alge.

Recording information: Bay 7 Studios, Valley Village, CA; Casey Stone, Sunset Sound, Hollywood, CA; Sparky Dark, Calabasas, CA.

Photographer: Chapman Baehler.

The All-American Rejects' effervescent 2003 hit "Swing Swing" sounded like a pop-punk adaptation of Better Than Ezra, and their sophomore effort makes this mix even more apparent. The earnest racket of an outfit like the Get Up Kids is also a component in Move Along's sound. But the Rejects blend and sculpt those influences with keyboards, choirs, pianos -- there's even a classical guitar on "Top of the World" -- and the result is superficial midrange pop with appeal for a general audience of casual listeners. (Fans of Wakefield, Something Corporate, Switchfoot, and American Hi-Fi should take note.) The Rejects rock out a little on "Night Drive," "Dirty Little Secret," and "I'm Waiting" -- the guitars crackle anxiously, and Tyson Ritter and Nick Wheeler's breathy harmonies soar like they mean it. There's also distortion somewhere in "Stab My Back," but it's buried under acoustic guitars, vocal overdubs, and mournful keyboards. Move Along has some memorable hooks, such as those on the title track or "Change Your Mind" -- and, living up to its title, it moves along efficiently, usually keeping the pace at a snappy midtempo. The songs are also impeccably arranged, even if they're relentlessly processed and some of the instrumentation seems like overkill. (A children's choir? Come on....) In other words, it's easy to like the All-American Rejects if you're looking for 21st century mainstream rock that takes very, very few chances but does offer solid melodies and easy to swallow take/break and night/flight rhyme schemes. ~ Johnny Loftus

Hampered for some time by the implosion of their label Dreamworks, Oklahoma's All-American Rejects finally followed up their self-titled 2002 debut three years later. Happily, MOVE ALONG sounds like almost no time at all had passed between outings. Kicking off with the brash punk-pop of the first single, "Dirty Little Secret" (which features a killer distorted guitar riff), MOVE ALONG keeps things lively. The songs are short and the choruses are tailor-made for shouting along with, as people undoubtedly will. As before, co-leader Nick Wheeler decorates the songs with more odd touches than one would expect from an otherwise straightforward pop-punk band, layering sitar, banjo, theremin and hip-hop-flavored electronic beats into songs that otherwise sound little different from the likes of Blink-182 or Good Charlotte. Highlights include the sneering "Stab My Back," and the flamenco-inflected rocker "Top of the World." minimize