All Time Low - Nothing Personal

[notfallingapart]

All Time Low - Nothing Personal
Record Label: Hopeless Records
Release Date: July 7, 2009

So Wrong, It’s Right was undoubtedly one of the best pop-punk albums to be released in recent years. It was fast, energetic and there wasn’t a single track any pop fan would skip. All Time Low return with Nothing Personal, now with a lot more to prove. I have no problem in saying Nothing Personal is a fantastic album, with twelve solid pop-punk songs and a lot of attitude and honest lyrics. Right away from the beginning, you can notice the overall mood of the album. ATL doesn’t intend to make a masterpiece here, but just a fun album to listen throughout the Summer.

"Maybe it’s not my weekend, but it’s gonna be my year" is a sentence that proves how uplifting and pure ATL lyrics are. Still, this album also marks a departure on the writing, as ATL search for new moods. "Break Your Little Heart" is a simple pop-punk song with fantastic lyrics about breaking-up and not regretting it. It’s a fresh change from the usual lyrics about falling in love. "Therapy" is a somewhat depressing song that takes some time to grow on you, but makes up for it with trully therapeutic lyrics for the more depressed.

Musically, ATL also achieved a whole new level of catchiness. "Damned If I Do Ya (Damned If I Don’t)" has Butch Walker written all over it. Why? It has a chorus that gets stuck in your brain and absolutely refuses to go out, no matter what. "Oh oh oh, how was I suppose to know that you were / Oh, oh, over me I think that I should go" will be in your head for days. "Stella" is the best song of the album. Again, it shows off a fantastic chorus, along with great lyrics and outstanding vocal delivery. Unfortunately, ATL fall into the mistake of using different producers. "Too Much," produced by The-Dream, ends up being too disco to be a good song, and like the title implies, ends up being too much. Aside from that song, all the other songs sound great. "Lost In Stereo" has some great metaphors and enough energy to be a Summer hit. "Keep The Change, You Filthy Animal" will be a fan-favorite for many years and "A Party Song (The Walk Of Shame)" represents better than any song the mood of a party gone wrong.

Aside from a few mistakes, ATL made one of the best pop-punk albums of this decade, almost as good as So Wrong, It’s Right. They can still do better if they focus a little more, but for now, Nothing Personal is everything a pop listener could ask for.

[DoubleAW]

Very good review. Down to earth. Can't really find anything to disagree with.

[MattRM]

"Come One, Come All" was atrocious. Other than that, I agree with you about SWIR being a good album.

But there's no way this is one of the best pop-punk albums of the decade. It's hardly even pop-punk, it's just pop.

[symbiote28]

yup .. don't agree on the best pop-punk album of the decade part. but it's still a good album.

[zack-182]

I really can't agree with So Wrong, It's Right being one of the better pop-punk albums in even the last 5 years..

[blimpcityhero11]

"Come One, Come All" was atrocious. Other than that, I agree with you about SWIR being a good album.

But there's no way this is one of the best pop-punk albums of the decade. It's hardly even pop-punk, it's just pop.
Seriously... Whether you want to classify them as pop-punk or not, this probably wouldn't even be the best pop-punk album of the year.

[birtcho]

weightless and damned if i do ya aside, this album is nothing compared to so wrong its right

[socoxshelby]

Fairly solid review. Although I disagree with ATL making one the of the best pop-punk albums of the decade.

Also, you should spice up your next adventures in reviewing/writing. Your words are bland (be on the lookout for powerful adjectives, they really ignite a review), and your sentence structure is "ehh".

[sweetfootaction]

...ATL made one of the best pop-punk albums of this decade...
So many things wrong with this statement.

And above an 8 for lyrics... You've got to be kidding.

[Croggs]

Not sure about Stella being the best song on the album

[Dr.LoveTrain]

why does no one ever mention the song Walls? its by far my favorite on the album.

and whether or not all time low is pop punk anymore is irrelevant. They write really good pop. While i do love the ep this new one is really good to. The pop nature of them does give them much less of a lasting enjoyment though,

[Spenny]

Stella is tied for worst song with Too Much for me.
Other than that, good review.

[starynightsky]

i agree mostly. except i dont think its the best of the decade. it was just alright. only one dud on the whole cd. but none that were perticularilly outstanding.

[The Raine]

Stella is tied for worst song with Too Much for me.
Other than that, good review.
WHAT!?!

[boscorelli]

one of the best pop punk albums of the dacade? no. good album yes, but not that good.

[Carolina.Alex]

i pretty much agree, except that i think hello brooklyn is the worst song. too much grew on me a lot.
love this album, but i still think PUOSU is their best work.

[cscwell107]

NP>SWIR

This album is good but its nowhere near one of the best pop-punk records of the decade.

[dancox_]

I didn't like So Wrong, It's Right, but I gotta admit this album is catchy.

To say this is one of the BEST pop punk albums of the decade is arguable. Let's not forget about The Years Gone By's Forever Comes Too Soon.

[NickPeerSays]

I've given this album a few listens through. I can't get into it at all. Break Your Little Heart? Stella? I don't know... Weightless is a great track but So Wrong, It's Right was twice as good as this.

[c_rob2700]

Oh for fuck's sake.

[TreyForest]

this record would't even make top 10 pop records of the year

fucking decade, think before u say shit like that

[undonesweater93]

Enjoyable album. Nothing more.

[coolwithme19]

idk i just find this band boring. sorry

[John JD Dorian]

i dunno about y'all, but i kinda thought SWIR was rubbish.

i like nothing personal a lot more.

[donwagenblast]

I didn't really like So Wrong, It's Right, and I see this album as a step up from that. But two albums from the same band in the top ten releases of this decade? You're talking about Brand New, right?

[0s0]

Well written review.

Personally [no pun intended] I didn't dig this album. It was too hackneyed. Plus I'm not down for the whole, "Yeah everyone hates us, so we're going to soften the blow by making it look as if we don't care." Yawn...

[Dymytry Vance]

So many things wrong with this statement.

And above an 8 for lyrics... You've got to be kidding.
How was I supposed to know that your were oh oh over me...? Honestly that song is full of atrocious lyrics... Better than suk mii dik bitch though.

[keeplioving]

I liked this album but it's definitely not one of the best of the decade. I didn't even think SWIR was that good. this one was much better

[Akissforher]

"Come One, Come All" was atrocious. Other than that, I agree with you about SWIR being a good album.

But there's no way this is one of the best pop-punk albums of the decade. It's hardly even pop-punk, it's just pop.
i agree, more pop, more the same to me, i only ever listen to 'weightless'

[brenByah]

I absolutely HATED SWIR, still trying to get into this one, but not having much luck.

[Jaimehere]

the best pop punk album this year is NOT this album, probably Hit The Light's new one or Freshman 15's debut, well atleast thats my opinion :P

[providence36]

I agree with Stella being one of the best songs on the record. Its a pretty decent album, good for some summer weekends

[Until The Bombs]

Stop reading after the SWIR comment. That album was horrid.

[realt]

with the whole "one of the best pop-punk albums of the decade" i have 3 words New Found Glory. enough said

[timbedinosaur]

This is hogwash.

[benryan]

why does no one ever mention the song Walls? its by far my favorite on the album.

and whether or not all time low is pop punk anymore is irrelevant. They write really good pop. While i do love the ep this new one is really good to. The pop nature of them does give them much less of a lasting enjoyment though,
I totally agree. Where's the love for "Walls?"

[npmshah]

strong review, nice writing style
i absolutely adored this album, though i did agree with your opinions on some songs
oh well... thats the baeuty of music and opinions, hhaa

[poserscenemokid]

why do so amny people think this album is thier best work? it is a terrible album. one of the biggest disappointment i've ever had.
thier old stuff was sooo good (pre- SWIR)...but nothing personal just lacks the the emotion and feeling the other ones had....major sadness.

[tellxaxlove]

swir had a few catchy songs but overall not that good. although the lyrics were far better on it than on NP. np only has a few remarkable ones, but musically is better than swir. these guys do POP-punk well but definately no where near best album of the decade.

[mike'smannequin]

good review i like so wrong its right better though

[mike'smannequin]

with the whole "one of the best pop-punk albums of the decade" i have 3 words New Found Glory. enough said
i have to agree with nfg. Even though im not a huge huge nfg they def made some amazing albums

[cory-182]

I'd say this is the best pure pop punk (not pop punk/melodic hardcore) album since TYGB's Forever Comes Too Soon.

[cory-182]

with the whole "one of the best pop-punk albums of the decade" i have 3 words New Found Glory. enough said

NWAF is a solid album, but there aren't any songs that particularly stand out in my opinion.

Top 4 albums of 2009:

Homesick (A Day to Remember)
This Will be the Death of Us (Set Your Goals)
Nothing Personal (All Time Low)
Not Without a Fight (New Found Glory)

[denissuxx]

Good review.

[Spenny]

WHAT!?!
I think I overexaggerated a bit. I tend to do that. :-|

[inthemidst]

I'm very disappointed with this release, but not at all surprised. ATL chose to write catchy tunes to appease their fans instead of stretching any kind of artistic limbs. I'm always down for a good pop-punk record, but one that has substance. There was probably only one decent song on this album. The rest of it shows that ATL was either trying too hard, or not trying hard enough. Either way, most disappointing album released this year so far to me.

[ashleyy398]

nothing personal is a great album. i love it. but for all time low, it's not the best they can do. nothing personal really doesn't compare to put up or shut up, the party scene, and so wrong it's right. jasey rae is SUCH a good song. and the only song that could even begin to compare to those lyrics on nothing personal is therapy. nothing like remembering sunday, break out! breakout! and lullabies. all time low is my favorite band, but nothing personal just seemed too generic. there was nothing orginal about the song lost in stereo. i've been a fan of all time low for a few years and i had higher expectations for nothing personal. there's nothing pop punk about it. it's flat out pop now.

and did i see something about come one, come all up there? yeah that song blows. nothing personal.

[katya22]

"Come One, Come All" was atrocious. Other than that, I agree with you about SWIR being a good album.

But there's no way this is one of the best pop-punk albums of the decade. It's hardly even pop-punk, it's just pop.
I sort of agree with you. Though, no matter what you want to call it, pop, punk-pop, or whatever, it's catchy. I personally would say it's pop too, but whatever. The catchiness is gonna pull in more fans, whether it means they're selling out or not.

[malloryy24]

Wouldn't say it's the best pop-punk album of the decade. Good review, though, not much to disagree with. Hopefully ATL will put some focus on the next album.

[vale93kotor]

one of the best pop-punk albums of this decade, almost as good as So Wrong, It’s Right.
I Agree really a good album

[punkroc7894]

great band

[Tdelonge88]

Great review mate. I thoroughly enjoyed it. This album is so good. Hello, Brooklyn was the first song i heard from it and it was super catchy and really stuck out for me. Great lyrics!

"This city, so pretty
All the moon-lit skies will be hanging like a cigarette
So stunning, start running
Tonights like a knife which she cut me with her kiss"

"This city, was your city
Heels on the sidewalk begging for a backbeat
Don't worry, I fight dirty
Tonights like a right hook, knock you off your feet"

Very very very good!

[OhSnapItsSummer]

I think SWIR was the best album. It was more pop-punk. This one is more poppy. Though, All of the songs are very catchy. Therapy is amazing. The lyrics are good. All Time Low has potential of making one of the greatest pop-punk albums. I do NOT agree that they're boring at all. They're actually very uplifting and have great summer songs. I heard a few previews of the new album thats coming out in January 2011 and it very much reminds me of the old Blink 182. I think the next album is gonna be a hit.

[UnderclasHero]

I think SWIR was the best album. It was more pop-punk. This one is more poppy. Though, All of the songs are very catchy. Therapy is amazing. The lyrics are good. All Time Low has potential of making one of the greatest pop-punk albums. I do NOT agree that they're boring at all. They're actually very uplifting and have great summer songs. I heard a few previews of the new album thats coming out in January 2011 and it very much reminds me of the old Blink 182. I think the next album is gonna be a hit.
THANK YOU. I totally agree, and it seems like you and me are the ones who think that. Even though NP was good, and PUOSU was great, I think SWIR's the best one. Because I think it almost defines them of who they are, its like they're original sound (and hopefully the sound on the upcoming record). And not to mention its got all the best songs on it.. (Dear Maria, 6 Feet Under The Stars, Poppin Champagne).