All Time Low: Put Up or Shut Up EP

I usually avoid EPs at all cost. Paying for a full CD when you only get a few songs doesn't make much sense to me, but I was recently in my local Best Buy when I spotted All Time Lows EP "Put Up or Shut Up" on the shelf. It was seven dollars for seven songs, which isn't a bad deal, and Id heard a few of the songs on Pure Volume while surfing the web and decided to take a leap of faith and buy their debut album.

I read some reviews that put them up with The Academy Is… or Cartel, and all though I wouldn't go as far as comparing the bands, they do remind me of the latter. It has a strong, energetic beat, mixed with more melodic lows. Its not so powerful that it gives you a headache when you listen to it at normal volume though. The CD starts with Coffee Shop Soundtrack, which is a great song, with a great hook, and decent riffs, its one of those songs that really catches you on the first listen.

The lead singer's voice is decent but seems a bit strained at times, like he's trying just a bit too hard, but it's not bad. The first few times I listened to it through, it got a bit repetitive and boring. A few days later I listened to it through a few times again, and really started to enjoy the other songs as well. A few of the songs sound a bit too main stream, but the last three tracks, really stand out as being unique and very catchy.

All Time Low does seem to have their roots in other bands, but they found a way to write some catchy songs in their own style. Their style is such a mix; you can't really relate them to any one band. I wasn't impressed the first few times, so you really have to give it a chance. It picks up though, and it really shows what their capable of. You really can't confuse an EP for a full length LP. It's really only there to give you a sort of "preview" of what their planning, and lets them experiment with their style.

With this EP All Time Low hasn't gone out and done anything revolutionary, but they have given a good preview of what's to come. The album may have not been impressive, but it shows what they can do, and knowing how similar bands evolve and how they've started, when their LP is released it will be a much more complete, desirable CD.

The majority of the songs are really good, and like any band, there will be a few that you wont like. Listen to a few of their songs on purevolume.com. If you really like them all, go and get the EP. If you think its "ok" then preview a few songs and download the ones you like and save yourself a few dollars.