Better Luck Next Time-Start From Skratch
World Records
April 15, 2008

One look at the cover, a cartoonish drawing of a lonely kid in a messy room with a sad looking girl staring in his window, lets the potential listener know what type of music that will be featured in the album. This is summer flavored pop punk; a band full of catchy hooks with that bouncy Warped Tour feel of ten years ago (though they would have been considered too soft at that time). They're not too far removed from bands like Blink 182, MXPX or New Found Glory, but with laces of subtle keyboards.

My favorite part of the album are the vocals of Brian Bortoli. His voice isn't too whiny, but fits in so well with the type of music that they are slaying. The music bounces along at a nice pace, usually mid tempo with some traces of faster beats, and he is able to fit his vocals in perfectly. The keyboard playing of Joseph John adds something a little unique to this style of pop punk. Its not overbearing, but a nice suppliment to everything else that is going on.

Better Luck Next Time are a pick me up band. Their songs are happy sounding; geared to put people in a good mood. These are the types of songs that I picture being blasted from stereos on the way to the beach on a nice day, or at least am hoping (even though I won't be going to the beach much, or at all, this summer).

Written by: RF
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