Music lovers rejoice — the long-awaited album, “Dirty Work,” has arrived just in time for your speakers to rock the sound waves of summer.
Named “Most Anticipated Music of 2011” by Alternative Press Magazine, All Time Low’s third full-length album is charged with the spirit of its trademark allure — fun, parties and some more fun. “Dirty Work” is the band’s first release with Interscope Records, and it presents a radio-friendly collection of songs that will appeal to a wide range of audiences.
This label change causes the core sounds of “Dirty Work” to lean heavily toward the pop end of the scale, leaving little room for the word “punk” to fit into the mix. Pop-infused songs like “Just The Way I’m Not” and “That Girl” may be a bit sweet for the band’s nostalgic fans, which may take some getting used to.
All Time Low’s current music has evolved from the original sounds of the band’s EP, “Put Up or Shut Up,” with the help of a team of co-producers. But this doesn’t mean the band has completely lost its unique charm that made All Time Low famous to begin with.
“Dirty Work” begins with “Do You Want Me (Dead?),” a cheerful and melodic anthem that invites you to dance and sing along at the top of your lungs. The band’s fun-loving attitude sparks at every riff and chorus, reminding fans of what they love most about this crazy pop/punk quartet.
The band has no limits when it comes to making jokes about topics such as the music industry, which is highlighted in the single “I Feel Like Dancin’.” While the band is comfortable poking fun at other musical artists, the members are also more than happy to make themselves part of the joke.
Although the single is aimed toward mainstream music with its Ke$ha reference and Lady Gaga imitation in its music video, the comedy proves to be yet another reason why “Dirty Work” is so entertaining.
This fearless humor is also accompanied by blunt lyrics that are relatable to the band’s fans. This aspect of the album is highlighted in other notable tracks including “Under a Paper Moon” and “A Daydream Away.” These songs include more of the loved elements found in the previous albums “So Wrong, It’s Right” and “Nothing Personal.”
Also, a few refreshing instrumental changes are presented in the style of “Return The Favor.” A Spanish-sounding guitar introduces the number, while melodic piano chords end the song with a dramatic twist.
“Dirty Work” reflects the fun and adventurous spirit of its musicians despite its lack of the punk edge found in previous records. Through the glossy, sugar-coated pop songs, two things are clear — All Time Low can make super catchy and nearly addicting music while having fun during every minute of it.