Calling the World

by

Rooney

Edit

Seriously, it really is. I don't mince words or throw away terms like that without sincerely meaning it. When I heard that Rooney (the LA quintet named after the hilariously inept principal in "Ferris Bueller's Day Off"), scrapped 2 albums and took 4 years to follow up their great 2003 debut, I was slightly worried...who wouldn't be??? But, upon hearing their new 2007 release "Calling The World", all my worries were tossed aside...it's REALLY great...all 12 tunes are gems...with great melodies, harmonies, arrangements, guitar riffs, the works...even a mini-rock-opera!!! Tunefulness is tops here, and whether this record appeals to the O.C. fans they acquired with the debut, it's secondary to the melodic waterworks in evidence here.

Wow, this is really a great record...definitely a contender for best powerpop album of 2007...if not best album overall, definitely top 10.

No shortage of highlights here...from the danceable first single "Where Did Your Heart Go Missing", to the catchy, pining "Should Have Been After You", where singer/guitarist/brother of actor Jason Schwartzman, Robert Schwartzman regrets going after a gal pal who keeps setting him up with her girlfriends who are not as worthy...to the AMAZING "Paralyzed"...I recall loving this song when they did a free concert in NYC back in 2005...and the string-laden, epic ballad "Help Me Find My Way", the catchy opening title track, the mini-opera "Are You Afraid??" All songs here are great, and that could be the problem...finding a focus track as a single...but that doesn't matter, as it's such a great record overall.

As for the scrapped 2 albums...perhaps those songs will find their way through the underground and onto bootlegs...most scrapped albums and songs by great powerpop bands such as Rooney are just as good and an interesting listen...I'd love to hear those tunes.

Again, the wait was really worth it. And, cool, I'm the first reviewer here, aces!!

Many of the other customers have reviewed this album just as good as Rooney's self titled debut. I really disagree - I preferred many of their older songs because they were more raw and powerful. This album is heavily orchestrated and what I loved most about Rooney on their first album, the wicked guitar riffs and less polished vocals, is completely missing from "Calling the World." Also, many of the lyrics are somewhat cringeworthy and a bit immature. That isn't to say there aren't any good songs on here: Calling the World, When Did Your Heart Go Missing?, Paralyzed and Love Me or Leave Me are all fairly excellent songs and extremely catchy, but I feel overall this album is too much of a departure from the band's original sound, and what I liked most about them from the beginning. For first time listeners of Rooney, I would definitely reccomend their first album. For returning fans, I would have to say that this album might be better off overlooked.