I've said it before and I'll say it again. Lifetime is one of my favorite bands and this here blog is a reference to a quote from The Outsiders and (more specifically) to its inclusion in the Lifetime song "Ostrichsized" from their album Hello Bastards. I was excited when the band reunited last year and seeing them live made me feel like I was 17 again.
I was also extremely excited to learn that the band was working on a new full-length album, which (not coincidentally) was released yesterday. My first reaction to the band's signing with Pete Wentz's Decaydance label was that it was a bad move and that somehow Fall Out Boy's suckage would infect the new Lifetime record. I'm happy to report that it didn't. This album marks the triumphant return of New Jersey's legendary Lifetime.
Lifetime is full of melodic hardcore (okay lets just call it pop-punk) that is more melodic than it is hardcore. Its not a significant change from their earlier material, but on my first listen all I noticed were the differences. Ari's vocals are more prominent in the mix and are a bit "smoother" than on Lifetime's previous releases and (yes) it is a bit poppier. I guess I just wanted Lifetime circa 1997 to just reappear.
After a few more listens I realized that there was almost no way that this album was going to match what Jersey's Best Dancers and Hello Bastards have become to fans. Listening to those albums for over ten years now, I have all sorts of emotional ties to those songs that I don't have with this new record. That kind of love and reverence takes time to grow. Lifetime is still fast and furious and snotty and romantic. It is familiar but the band has aged (just as we all have) and I think it shows.
Some "punks" are crying sellout and saying the band did it for the money, but I think it is highly unlikely that we'll see them on MTV anytime soon. Whatever the motive, I'm selfishly loving every minute of this. Do yourself a favor and buy this album today.
MP3 | Lifetime - Haircuts & T-Shirts S/T
MP3 | Lifetime - All Night Long S/T
2 Comments ↓
This is a pretty good album.
I really like the two songs you posted.
Definitly going to have to check out the whole thing
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