Paper Walls

by

Yellowcard

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Not quite as poppy as "Ocean Avenue" but more fun than the dreadful follow-up "Lights and Sounds," Yellowcard's latest, "Paper Walls" delivers something for everyone. Witness the aggressive guitar intro to the track "Light Up the Sky" and it is evident that the traces of whiny emo-pop from "Lights and Sounds" are mostly gone. In its place are catchy but fast-paced melodies, riffs (yes, I said RIFFS) and harminies made complete with the occasional violin. This band seems to have remembered where they hid their guitars. Key's vocals are typically excellent, melodic with a little attitude, and most of the melodies are good. Some of the songs don't develop a catchy hook and about a third of the tracks drag a little, but when they are on their game, Yellowcard proves that they are more than just a one-hit wonder with this surprisingly solid release. The lyrics are also good, an added bonus, not to have to hear songs about breakups over and over again. Yellowcard is way more intriguing than Plain White T's, way less self-aware than FOB or My Chemical Romance, and just might score their biggest hit yet with "Paper Walls."

Amidst all the punk-pop that was dominating the airwaves in the early `00s (and still is) was Yellowcard, who created a classic album in Ocean Avenue. Their follow-up Lights and Sounds was also good but it appeared that the band was slowly trying to stray away from the emo sound. But it looks like they're going back to that sound on Paper Walls.

This is far from being a bad album, but the only song that really stands out is "Shadows and Regrets". The necessary acoustic songs "Dear Bobbie" and the title track are also good, though, as is "Cut Me, Mick" (the title obviously being a reference to the famous Rocky line, but the song not so much). The thing is, even though violinist Sean Mackin is still wholly present, Yellowcard somehow changed from a great band to "just another" emo band. Paper Walls is still a good album, but if you're not a big fan of Yellowcard, B.I.F.

Anthony Rupert