OMGZ! For whatever reason I really love this album. I mean, like, despite my better judgment I like this a whole fucking lot! First, the album is ridiculously titled Throw Up Your Hands For One Night Stands courtesy of Atlanta, Georgia’s Freshman 15. They are one of those nu-pop-punk (or just call it pop-core) bands with overly-cheesy and cliched lyrics about loving and missing girls, broken hearts, and all those things. Yes, some (if not all) of the lyrics are cringe-worthy, but these guys seem sincere and I can certainly remember being in their shoes when I was younger (see Allister’s Dead Ends And Girlfriends as an example) even if their promo photos make ‘em look like complete douchebags. Wasn’t it all about the music once? Am I showing my age? Fuck.

Anyhow, the vocals sound a lot like the singer from Coheed & Cambria while the music isn’t complicated but sounds like a cross between New Found Glory and old Fall Out Boy (did I just say that?) It’s well-produced but not crazy slick. It really doesn’t sound terribly different from most of the pop-core being played today (like Hit The Lights, Bangarang, etc…) but something intangible just “feels” different; more like the pop-punk I loved in the mid 90’s. Well, not really, but I’m going to give Freshman 15 the benefit of the doubt here and (possibly) pretend that they aren’t just in it for the scene. I dunno. I really REALLY shouldn’t like this as much as I do but Throw Up Your Hands For One Night Stands speaks to my inner fifteen year old. The album is out now on Standby Records

MP3:
Freshman 15 - Phoenix Can Keep You
Freshman 15 - Our California Song

Related posts:

1. Review: The Hands – The Hands
2. Review: The Shaking Hands – The Shaking Hands
3. Modern Skirts – All Of Us In Our Night
4. Review: The Night Marchers – See You In Magic
5. Caleb Lionheart – Think Hardcore, Play Pop Punk