The American Life – I Know, Right

23 June 2009, Joe @ 5:52 pm The American Life I Know, Right

The American Life sounds like your average powerpop band fused with the hypnotic waves of synthetic beats, but behind the magic is a seemingly large seven man cast. With the help of not one but two keyboardists they dish out energetic synths to spice up an otherwise decent powerpop band. While they don’t quite share the same spark as some of the bigger bands, they are definitely headed in the right direction as they embark to find their place in the powerpop genre.

While I cannot understand the need for seven members, I cannot complain with the finished product. I Know, Right is a solid EP with five tracks that show off quite nicely what The American Life is all about. While not one element of their sound is outstanding, the combination of high energy instruments makes for a dazzling performance. Perhaps the need for multiple guitarists and keyboardists comes from the frantic pace that the melodies seem to take. It is their knack for infectious and high energy melodies, mixed with their more lowly vocals that produce these catchy but sincere songs.

We Are Alive is no exception to this formula, the very first track shows off a ferocious melody with fast electronics and overdriven guitars. The vocals are surprisingly chill and the lyrics speak a story totally different from the melody. The vocals give off a sense of sincerity and meaning, while the beat is simply raw, fun and addictive. This puts the tracks on a multitude of levels, where listeners can enjoy the fast paced music or take in something a little deeper. I for one found the mix to be very nice, lacking neither the passion nor the charisma found in great powerpop artists.

Static, the second track, has another great electronic melody, upbeat and amazingly catchy. The song has a serious undertone, yet the synths keep everything on a level playing field. I love the chorus from Static, it’s simple and only encourages listeners to sing along. The song radiates a hopeful message, and is a great summertime track. With the upbeat electronics, heavy guitars, blazing drums and sincere vocals, there is just a whirl pool of sounds that find their place in the song. The American Life has all the right tools to be amazing, its tracks like this that really make me appreciate their catchy style.

A couple of gripes I had with The American Life, is there songs seem to overlap each other, with not one track being outstanding on its own. I saw glimpses of their ability to create pop oriented and catchy lines in their chorus’, but their verses seem to be lacking that same spark. Otherwise they have a great mix of sounds, and quite a full and vibrant one at that. If I had to compare them with another artist, I’d say they share similarities with Forever The Sickest Kids. However, The American Life feels a lot more sober and real. Their fusion of energetic beats and meaningful punch lines are what sets them apart from other bands. If they ever take it to the next level, they’ll be a force in the powerpop world, for sure.

AWmusic