Come Undone
Release Date: February 27, 2007
Barsuk Records | buy now

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Jackson Waters, the alternative rock band hailing from Siloam Springs, Arkansas first broke out onto the Christian music scene in 2004. The band is made up of lead vocalist David Leonard on guitar and keyboards, backed by Brian Meek on bass, Ryan Hawk on drums and both Jesse Lafave and Toby Firsen on guitar. With their second album, Come Undone, Jackson Waters deliver a refreshing sound of sculpted guitars, melodic piano pieces and intense vocals.

One of my favorite songs on the record, "One More Day," which was co-written by two of the members, Leonard and Hawk, is irresistible from start to finish. The opening soft piano notes instantly grab your attention, while the lyrics are thought-provoking and encouraging. "Life can be so unkind. I’ve given up asking why. You can’t escape the way the world cracks and breaks, but hold on. It’s gonna be one more day, the clouds will roll away." It’s rare to find songs lately that are as lyrically inspiring as this, and so I found myself listening to it quite a few times.

Between the steady drum slicks, and the beautiful, even agonizing vocals of Leonard on "Center of Attention", it manages to seep through your speakers and into your soul as he calls out "I would wait a lifetime and I would wait for you." The song was highly buzzed about among television viewers after being heard on the hugely popular drama, the CW’s One Tree Hill, and so in the following season, the show went on to use another of their tunes, the soulful title track, "Come Undone".

Having been compared to Switchfoot, who gained popularity and drew in listeners of all genres during their crossover from the Christian music charts into mainstream radio, we feel after hearing this record that Jackson Waters have the potential and ability to the do the same.

Standout Tracks: "Come Undone," "Center of Attention," "One More Day," and "Different".

- Courtney Justice

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V
Release Date: September 26, 2006
Hollywood Records | buy now

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"Ya’ll need to get ready to hear the unbelievable, indescribable, Vanessa Hudgens."

Teenage singer/actress Vanessa Hudgens debut album is introduced as such over the violin lead-in on the opening track "Baby Come Back." On the album, simply titled V, the star of the popular Disney Channel hit original movie, High School Musical, seems ready to embark on a successful music career, showing the vocal potential that was evident in the made for cable movie and its subsequent soundtrack. Similar to other teenage sensations, Hudgens balances teenage angst over unrequited love with more mature concepts. An example would be the semi-feminist themed "Never Underestimate A Girl" which declares the power a determined woman has.

Her style early on is very similar to that of the teenage R&B superstar, Chris Brown, with simplistic, yet relatable songs and dance-inspiring beats that are likely to be heard in heavy rotation at clubs and house parties alike. This formula is evident throughout the first five tracks on her album, after which Hudgens channels her inner-Pop princess, beginning with what is one of the strongest tracks of the album in "Drive." With comparisons to Hilary Duff inevitable, seeing the Disney Channel actress turned pop star connection, Hudgens seems to defy being defined by any particular genre as her Pop tracks are just as strong as her Hip-Hop tracks as evidenced by the style shift that takes place in the middle of the album.

With her success starring in High School Musical, and the upcoming sequel where she will reprise her role as Gabriella Montes, Vanessa Hudgens’ star is on the rise and it would only be fitting to expect big things from the young star. The impressive display of diversity, on what is an equally impressive debut offering, shows that she is fully capable of being more than a typecast artist, regardless of where you may recognize her from.

Standout Tracks: "Baby Come Back", "Let Go", "Drive", "Afraid".

- Christopher Griffin

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One of the hottest, dare I say it "trends" in the music world have been pop/rock bands. About 60% of them all sound like each other but I think we here at Fanvasion have found one that’s quite different that we can truly enjoy listening to. The name of the band is The Summer Obsession and their debut album "This is Where You Belong" hits record stores August 29th. I got a chance to hear the album already so I thought I’d give you a little bit of my thoughts on The Summer Obsession. The band includes lead singer – Lucien Walker, guitarist – Fin, bassist – Christ and former Good Charlotte drummer, Chris Wilson.

I’m going to jump right in and talk about one of my favorite tracks, "Disappear." The lyrics express the feelings of entrapment in a world where everything is so predictable, fake, unrealistic and full of hatred. You’re basically existing and not really living so you try to hide and fade into the background hoping someone or something will rescue you so you can discover there’s really more to life.

What I found important about the track is that the band, unlike lots of them out there don’t talk about dwelling in your self-pity by turning to drugs, or drinking so you can be blind to what’s going on in your life — but, to just try your best to wake yourself up and find something to focus on to make your life more enjoyable. That’s what really sticks out to me whenever I play that song.

While the lyrics make you think, the music is upbeat and can sometimes distract you. It also doesn’t depress you and who wants to listen to a depressing song?

On a lighter track such as "Down For Whatever" let your summer go out with a bang and just pop this CD in your car while you cruise with your friends. Sometimes the best times you can have can be just hanging out with your friends whether you’re just going for a drive, talking and reminiscing about good times, hanging out at the beach or going to a concert to listen to a great band… like The Summer Obsession. This is a great tune, I love how, to most, the lyrics and pop hooks would seem so "pointless" but actually it shows you can have fun doing "pointless" things. Or enjoy a song that really tells you just to have fun doing "whatever" even if it’s not partying or finding some spectacular way to spend your Friday night.

The album is very positive, and the band takes attention and touches on popular situations and subjects that are going on in the world and in the life of pretty much everybody growing up in this generation. "I Miss You" describes a relationship where only one of you moves on and you’re forced to deal with the others new life and who they’re sharing it with. Whereas on the opening song "8AM" in which the relationship turns to the ‘let’s stay friends’ deal. But can that ever really work?

The album is inspirational and spotlights issues such as: love, loss, boredom, fun and even trying to get away from a dysfunctional family lifestyle like in the bands first single off the album, "Do You Remember?" about a young girl who is abused by her father. Walker says the song was actually inspired by emails from fans he received. "One person was getting abused by her dad and she would write me these crazy, long emails. So, I imagined I could make things better by writing a song where someone takes her out of the situation," he said.

The final song of the album, which is also the title track "Where You Belong" which is about living in the moment. The song soars until the ending, which closes the album out great. I think they chose the best song as the records finale.

On parts of the album the sound is a bit repetitive, but not in a bad or even an annoying way. The songs are infused with just enough pop beats, piano-inflected notes, melodic rock chords and emotion to make it easy to listen, rock out to or sing-a-long with — you know what, it’s just a fun record. Check it out, pass it along to your friends or listen together — hopefully you’ll see or shall I say, ‘hear’ what I did.

Standout Tracks: "8AM," "Disappear," "Death Said," "Melt The Sugar," "Do You Remember," and "Where You Belong".

- Courtney Justice

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The Rise And Fall of… Butch Walker & The Lets-Go-Out-Tonites
Release Date: July 11, 2006
EPIC/Red Ink Records | buy now

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The name Butch Walker may be a familiar one for fans who read the album credits of their favorite artist or band. As a songwriter/producer, he has worked with big time acts such as Avril Lavigne, Hot Hot Heat, The All-American Rejects, and Lindsay Lohan. However, as a singer/songwriter, he has had several solid releases that have gone under the radar despite the continued growth that is evident with each new album. The follow-up to 2004′s impressive Letters has Butch enlist a band to back him, leading to the appropriately named album title:The Rise And Fall of… Butch Walker And The-Lets-Go-Out-Tonites. What follows is a phenomenal album that takes a different approach from previous efforts.

The opening track, "Hot Girls in Good Moods," has a very 70′s hard-rock feel to it. The combination of provocative lyrics over hard-riffing electric guitars proves successful as the party track is a solid opener for what is a high-powered offering early on. Maintaining this formula, "Ladies & Gentlemen… ‘The Let’s Go Out Tonites’" is basically a "day in the life of a rock star" story. One of the more entertaining tracks of the album, the song makes direct references to drugs, sex, and other late-night adventures, all while providing a catchy chorus that tells the listener to "just follow along, there is no right or wrong way for certain, make up your own version, sing along."

Likewise, despite being a straight dance-romp, "Paid To Get Excited" is one of the more powerful tracks of the album as it boldly challenges all kinds of accepted social norms, exposing the hypocrisy both in politics and entertainment-media. Another fun track that has pretty dark lyrical underlying, yet inspirational content, "Bethamphehtamine (Pretty Pretty)" is an eye-opener that focuses on a troubled girl who can’t seem to find what she wants so instead she settles for what’s there. "We’re All Going Down," by far its darkest offering, is also the first slower track of the album, taking an alternate, more somber look at the rock-star lifestyle.

However, the strongest ballad on The Rise And Fall of…," "Dominoes," is not so much dark as it is perhaps one of the most creative love songs ever written. An inspiring, heartfelt, and tragic love story being told of an older man who loses his memory and shortly after loses his wife, Grace. While his condition puts a strain on his happiness, he at times finds himself remembering her while playing dominoes, hearing her words as a reminder of the love they shared. The chorus of "Everybody knows, memories will keep you alive, some of them can’t be erased. If I remember one today, let it be of Grace" is incredibly insightful and earnest.

Butch Walker seems to have no bounds on The Rise And Fall of… as he displays great versatility throughout the album. There are dance tracks, edgy-rock tracks, slow, acoustic/piano based tracks, and even a country offering in "Rich People Die Unhappy." An awesome solo act who has so often found greater success as a producer, the addition of The-Lets-Go-Out-Tonites may be what pushes Butch into the mainstream attention that has long escaped him as an artist.

Standout Tracks: "We’re All Going Down", "Dominoes", "Paid To Get Excited", "Hot Girls in Good Moods", "Ladies & Gentlemen… "The Let’s Go Out Tonites," "Bethampehtamine (Pretty Pretty)".

- Christopher Griffin

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Dusk & Summer
Release Date: June 27, 2006
Vagrant Records | buy now

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It’s been three years since Dashboard Confessional’s gold-release of A Mark, A Mission, A Brand, A Scar, and the long-awaited follow-up, Dusk & Summer, dually produced by Don Gilmore (Linkin Park, Avril Lavigne) and Daniel Lanois (U2, Bob Dylan), is a well put-together collection that matches, and at times exceeds the excellency of the band’s previous works and in the process, only makes one wonder why the wait was so long.

The album opens with the inspirational and anthemic "Don’t Wait," which offers much of the intensity that fans of the band have come to not only appreciate, but also expect. The message here is a clear one: Do not wait for opportunity to arrive as it may never show itself, as waiting for "the right moment" may have such opportunity come to pass. Rather, cease the day, as the moment may in fact be now. While the second track of the album, "Reason To Believe," maintains this feeling of optimism that seems to be far more common on this effort than in any of the band’s previous releases, "The Secret’s In The Telling," dealing with the struggle one must face when involved in a love that is as forbidden as it is desirable, is perhaps the strongest of the three opening tracks.

Where the opening tracks all have a very "Vindicated" sound to it, the title track of the album will easily be an instant favorite for those who have spent countless nights longing to hear Chris Carrabba on his acoustic guitar concerned with nothing more than "what could have been." This song is exactly that, and it would be shameful to not appreciate such a work as this track is easily one of the most emotional, heartfelt songs Carrabba has thus far written, and that is surely saying something incredible.

The subliminally sensual "Rooftops and Invitations" offers insight to the capabilities of a girl who is the crush of a hopeful admirer. As is the reality of such a situation, there is the feared instance that the feelings may not be reciprocated; however, the possibility that these feelings will be mutual is reason enough to hold out hope as that could lead to what may be among the greatest emotions ever felt. These conflicting impulses are brilliantly explored in the song’s chorus: "And she just might get you lost / And she just might leave you torn / But she just might save your soul / If she gets you when she gets you any closer."

"So Long, So Long," a duet with Counting Crows frontman Adam Durwitz, is arguably THE standout track of the album. The song, with the underlying theme at hand being the seemingly impossible "letting go process" that is experienced once a relationship has ended, may seem contradictory for an artist who once made claim (On The Places You Have Come To Fear The Most‘s "The Brilliant Dance") that "[T]he plaster dented from your fist in the hall where you had your first kiss reminds you that the memories will fade." However, the ease that such faded memories can reappear, and the longing for the feeling felt at the time of which these memories were created, is as real as can be when pertaining to the letting go of someone that has for so long held a set place in one’s heart.

One of the band’s most unconventional songs, "Slow Decay," is easily one of Dusk & Summer’s more creative songs. The troubled relationship portrayed here has a father questioning why his son, who recently has returned from war, seems so troubled. There is a legit internal conflict of morals being dealt with here, exploring the traumatic experiences that come with serving in a war, particularly how the son’s friends have not made it home, or how he killed people in battle whom he did not feel hatred for.

The aforementioned "Vindicated," along with a new track, "Write It Out," are two "hidden" tracks that can only by heard by rewinding the CD from the beginning of "Don’t Wait" to -9:24. This is an added, while tricky bonus for those who feel that 10 tracks aren’t enough. There seems to be a healthy balance on display here, and while Dusk & Summer is simply the next stage in the evolution of Dashboard Confessional, there is hardly the sense that the band has strayed from their roots. Overall, this is an awe-inspiring effort that sees the continued growth of a band so loved and adored by its fans, and will ultimately leave listeners to at least consider whether Chris Carrabba is perhaps the most introspective songwriter of his time.

Standout Tracks: "Don’t Wait," "So Long, So Long," "Dusk & Summer," "The Secret’s In The Telling," "Reason To Believe".

- Christopher Griffin

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Strays Don’t Sleep

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Strays Don’t Sleep, which is comprised of Matthew Ryan (vocals, guitars, keys), Neilson Hubbard (vocals, guitars, synth), Brian Bequette (guitar, loops and keys), Billy Mercer (bass guitar) and Steve Latanation (drums), offer on their untitled debut album a soulful collection of efforts that make for quite the easy-listening experience.

One of the most heartfelt songs, and perhaps the hopeless romantic track of the album, "Pretty Girl" focuses on a guy who finds a girl he does not know, yet has caught his eye, paying just as much attention to him as he is to her. Whether staring back at him at first, or smiling back at him later on, this song is truly about falling in love at first sight, and it captures that feeling perfectly as, not knowing if the two will ever cross paths again, the helpless pleas of "Please don’t change the way you changed me today, please don’t take this away" is offered only to be followed up with the chorus of "I’ll take her and make her so happy. So don’t take her. Don’t make her happy to be without me." Rarely can this feeling ever be placed so accurately, yet here it is, offered as such.

"For Blue Skies," which has been featured on the teen drama One Tree Hill, and was previously released earlier this year as part of the One Tree Hill, Volume 2: Friends With Benefit soundtrack, is not only the longest track of the album, but it is in fact, the epic-love track. With a heavy focus on forgiveness, the song tells a story of a love that has fallen apart over time, while never having been actually let go of. Holding on to the memories, there is a hope that remains. This hope is for blue skies, a brighter day, with such an outcome being the result of one learning to forgive.

"Cars and History" is arguably the album’s gem. The song, which takes place just before the turn of the new year, tells a story so compelling, with a long-sought after love finally being attained. Perhaps the perfect way to ring in the new year, having finally been able to win the heart of the one held so close for so long. While there is an underlying focus on war and the fear that presents itself here, this is possibly a metaphor for the present fear of losing such love.

Other standout tracks include "Night Is Still," which draws you in immediately with its soft, enchanting sound that is heard echoing throughout the track, and "I’m Falling Asleep With You," the last listed track of the album, concluding that while there is so much going on, nothing else matters in the world once in the arms and by the side of one so deeply loved, making it such a fittingly perfect ending.

There are two "hidden" tracks at the end of the album. The first one, "You Belong To Me," is a cover song that fits well with the tempo and style of the collection of tracks it follows. "Stay," an uncharacteristically up-tempo track that feels somewhat out of place, but is actually a nice final track for the album.

This solid debut effort is generally about hope. Hoping for that first love. Hoping for that love at first sight. Hoping for a second chance by means of forgiveness. Regardless of the message, the hope remains. Melodic, yet with lyrics so endearing there is reason for such hope to exist.

DVD EXTRA - The album comes with a bonus DVD that features 10 short films which each tell a story for each of the tracks listed, with (one track, "Pretty Girl") having two short films dedicated to it. The "films" for each of the songs are relatively simplistic in nature, focusing on specific objects and environments, such as the fire burning from a lighter in the video for "Martin Luther Ave" or a night tour around a city for "Night Is Still." Both of the films for "Pretty Girl" focus heavily on women who are applying make-up, with the first, main film having a greater artistic approach to the act than the bonus version of the film. While there really aren’t any storylines portrayed in these music videos, there is a distinct symbolism in each of the films hinting at something far greater than the obvious. However, for certain songs, such as "For Blue Skies" and "Cars & History," there is greater depth displayed.

"For Blue Skies" has a man who seems greatly troubled, with ever present facial expressions of regret, looking out at the world in despair, by means of a television set. Interestingly, it is unclear what the character is being haunted by throughout the video, with the only present clues being the words written on the white t-shirts displayed throughout the film and the television scenes that seem to have him so captivated. The end result seems to be a letting go of himself, with him finally shutting off the television, packing up and walking out the door.

Like the audio CD itself, the film for "Cars & History" stands out among all others with its story being told differently than any of the other films on the DVD. One aspect that separates it from the others is the use of written text appearing on-screen during the film. The messages read throughout the film give further insight to the main character of the film, portrayed by actress Jessica Bohl. At first portraying her character as rebellious, and later having her come off as rather lonesome and on edge because of it. The latter message is accurately read by means of piecing together the words that make up the question: "How far would you go to feel less alone?"

While this collection of short films for each of the listed tracks were made on a low-budget and weren’t meant to be a collection of actual music-videos, there are stories being told here. This is an excellent bonus and while the content may leave something left to be desired, the artistic approach to creating such films definitely will not.

Standout Tracks: "For Blue Skies", "Night Is Still", "Cars and History", "Pretty Girl".

- Christopher Griffin

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"Everyone, everyone will listen, even if it hurts sometimes. If you will come and hear the message. Everyone wants to learn to love again." The opening lines of "Valkyrie Mission," the introductory track of the debut album, We Don’t Need To Whisper, by Angels & Airwaves, offers a short summary of what exactly this new band, led by Tom DeLonge of blink-182 fame, has sought to accomplish. While the introductory track offers insight into the band’s intent to assist listeners in finding love, "The Adventure," which is the first single off of Whisper, offers even further insight into what this band, and album, is all about, which is gaining that sense of feeling when you know that you are alive and living, with Delonge having gone through a sort of rebirth himself with this new endeavor.

While much of the material on Whisper can be viewed as uncharacteristic to blink-182 and Box Car Racer fans, it works for Delonge, who wrote and produced the entire album. However, it often seems quite evident at times that he is subliminally directing songs such as "It Hurts," "Good Day," and "Start The Machine" to the seemingly-defunct blink-182. Whether or not there is truth to this theory, these "dedications" are in no way detrimental to Whisper as the metaphors used in such tracks allow for multiple meanings to be considered.

Tackling world issues with "Distraction" and the appropriately named "The War," the latter offering a hook that sounds very Coldplay-esque, Angels & Airwaves seem to know no limits in regards to subject matter. The heavily spiritual message at hand in "A Little’s Enough" would provide further proof here. The ballad has God, witnessing the internal problems being dealt with by his people, sympathetically offer to intervene and fix it all if only asked upon.

Regardless of whether his former band remains in his heart, with feelings of regret lingering, Tom DeLonge has surely taken a negative situation and crafted it into something amazingly positive, with his self-proclaimed ultimate intent to "change the world" through his music. While that may seem to be the impossible goal, We Don’t Need To Whisper consistently offers such hopefulness, and those who will come to "hear the message" may, in fact, find themselves inspired to "learn to love again." While the goal may be to reach the multitude, it seems fitting that, for one man, the achievement of such a goal may start by changing one life at a time.

Standout Tracks: "The Adventure", "Do It For Me Now", "Valkyrie Mission", "It Hurts", "Good Day".

- Christopher Griffin

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Eyes Open, Snow Patrol’s highly anticipated fourth album, follows up 2004′s double-platinum Final Straw with an incredible release that is, at times, a far deeper offering. The album, which consists of eleven solid tracks, hardly ever falters despite having what is seemingly a series of incredibly strong opening tracks.

The first two tracks of the album, "You’re All I Have" and "Hands Open" successfully provide fast-paced, enjoyable music that is likely to please the casual pop-rock fans, while also maintaining heartfelt, thought-provoking lyrics. Following this formula, "Shut Your Eyes" and "It’s Beginning To Get To Me" are also songs with great hit potential, sure to appease the MTV crowd.

While Eyes Open may have plenty to offer in regards to "radio-friendly" songs, there is also great depth provided with several slower-paced tracks on the album, such as "You Can Be Happy" and "Make This Go On Forever." Furthermore, "Set The Fire To The Third Bar," another ballad which is a cry for the redemption of a love that has been lost along the way, features Martha Wainwright, who adds such a dramatic effect as she sings in unison with Snow Patrol lead singer Gary Lightbody.

However, while each of these songs offer great insight, it is "Chasing Cars" that does so with such gracefulness and pertinence as it questions the meaning of a certain overused phrase: "I don’t quite know how to say how I feel. Those three words are said too much, they’re not enough." The anthem, which has been featured on popular television programs such as One Tree Hill and Grey’s Anatomy, is perhaps the album’s most defining track.

For those who consider Snow Patrol to simply be a commercialized rock band, it would best be advised to listen close because even in the many up-tempo tracks that are on display here, there are stories to be told. What separates Snow Patrol from other "radio-friendly" bands is the lyrics to the songs, as they are just as effective on these tracks as they are on the ballads. Eyes Open is an incredibly solid offering displaying great depth throughout, with the one certainty here being that, regardless of the pace or style used on any given track, there’s a lot of love to be felt here.

Standout Tracks: "You’re All I Have", "Hands Open", "Chasing Cars", "It’s Beginning To Get To Me", "Open Your Eyes".

- Christopher Griffin

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Underage Thinking

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On his debut CD, Underage Thinking, Teddy Geiger draws comparisons to several of pop-rock’s more recent big-named artists. For instance, on the album’s opener, "These Walls," there are immediate comparisons to Gavin DeGraw waiting to be made, both musically and vocally. He also seems to channel John Mayer on one of the album’s better offerings, "Try Too Hard," and to a lesser extent, on "Air Dry" there are hints of Maroon 5. By proving so versatile, you get the sense that Teddy Geiger, at 17 years of age, may soon be one of the youngest success stories the music industry has had in some time. After all, the teen sensation was discovered during his stint on VH1′s 2005 In Search of the New Partridge Family, and had a role on the short-lived CBS drama, Love Monkey, prior to the CD’s release.

"For You I Will (Confidence)" is undeniably the track that stands out the most in this debut effort. The concept explored here is a familiar one for anyone who has ever crushed on someone while lacking the confidence (hence the name) to express the feelings due to personal insecurities. This inferiority complex is at hand here as Geiger makes the claim, "You always want what you can’t have, but I’ve got to try. I’m gonna muster every ounce of confidence I have, for you I will." "Night Air" is also a feel good song that has the young artist simply express what is felt when he is around the one his heart aches for. For one of the first true pop songs on the album, this is well done and the lyrical content, over the piano-led track can be credited for this.

Underage Thinking may mean that Teddy Geiger can be far more introspective than most 17 years old, and this quality is emphatically portrayed on "Look Where We Are Now," the coming of age song where Geiger tells of his determinance to fulfill his dreams, despite the hard work and dedication required to achieve such goals. However, if "Look Where We Are Now" shows his maturity, then "Thinking Underage," another coming of age offering, shows the talented musician/singer/songwriter’s age. With the second verse’s focus on how awesome life will be afterwards obtaining a license, it really caters to the teenage demographic that the pop genre is expected to appeal to. However, it works as he expresses such honest discontentment with the constraints of young adulthood.

While showcasing his ability to come off as one much older than he actually is on "For You I Will (Confidence)" and "Love Is A Marathon," he also, for better or worse, shows his age and young personality on other tracks. A multi-talented musician, Geiger plays guitar, piano, bass, and percussion. Oftentimes throughout Underage Thinking, the sincerity offered in his music is heavily influential and is really what makes this such a noteworthy twelve-track collection.

Standout Tracks: "For You I Will (Confidence)", "Night Air", "Look Where We Are Now", "Try Too Hard", "Love Is A Marathon".

- Christopher Griffin

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The Secret Life Of…
Release Date: February 14, 2006
Sire Records | buy now

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Australian pop/rock sister act, Jess and Lisa Origliasso AKA The Veronica’s deliver a blend of edgy powerpop mixed with a whole lot of emotion. Their refreshing debut album The Secret Life Of.. is compiled of infectious hits after hits. The 20-year-old identical twins collaborated with Britney Spears hit maker Max Martin, Don Gilmore (Linkin Park), Billy Steinberg (Madonna), Dr. Luke (Kelly Clarkson), Toby Gad (Enrique Iglesias) and Clif Magness (Avril Lavigne) to deliver quite possibly.. and it’s not too early to say this, the best teen pop album of the year.

The Veronica’s, who just finished up touring with singer, Ryan Cabrera and fellow powerpop band The Click Five are ready to take the world on one note at a time.

You immediately think chart-topper on every lyric of "4Ever," the albums first single. It’s one of those party songs you feel the need to get up and dance with your friends to, or even the theme song to a perfect summer.

Secret’s out! The 12 song disc is filled with everything from angry chick rock like on the albums closing song "Mother Mother," to heart broken ballads like you hear with "Heavily Broken", and just feel good pop/rock that is awesomely displayed on the stand-out track "Secret."

One of my favorite songs would have to be "When It All Falls Apart." It’s definitely a second single contender, partially because it’s catchy so you’ll be singing it for hours to come. So, don’t be shocked if you see it on TRL.

The downside of the album is that many of the songs sound alike, so you really don’t notice when one song ends and another begins. But, the girls make up for it considering each one is better than the before.

My advice to you is to go out and buy The Veronica’s "The Secret Life Of…" on Valentine’s Day! Whether you have a special someone or not.. treat yourself. You’ll be glad you did!

Standout Tracks: "4Ever", "Leave Me Alone", "Revolution," and "When It All Falls Apart."

- Courtney Justice

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