Track Listing

1. My Paper Heart
2. Your Star
3. Swing, Swing
4. Time Stands Still
5. One More Sad Song
6. Why Worry
7. Don't Leave Me
8. Too Far Gone
9. Drive Away
10. Happy Endings
11. The Last Song

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #11943 in Music
• Brand: DreamWorks
• Released on: 2003-02-04
• Number of discs: 1
• Format: Enhanced

Amazon.com
While comparisons to nerd-rock dandies Weezer are probably inevitable for the fabulously named All-American Rejects, discerning listeners will note that where the cheeky lyrics about painfully awkward love end, the group's rhythmic force picks up, positioning the Oklahoma crew more as a geeky Green Day than the above-named preppy pop dabblers. No shame in that--on their major label debut, the All-American Rejects marry punk and pop with a clear sense of purpose and no particular loyalty to either form, cherry-picking the best of each and arriving at a spiky, effervescent middle ground. Singer Tyson Ritter is especially convincing in his role as hapless lover. But on tracks like the muscular "Too Far Gone" and the vaguely orchestral "The Last Song," Ritter's comrades drive the whole shebang home with instrumental freight. And you'd have to be pretty hard-hearted not to find yourself echoing the sing-singy strains of "Swing Swing" and "My Paper Heart." Fans of ironic pop--Box Car Racer, Fountains of Wayne, and their ilk--get crackin'. --Kim Hughes

Customer Reviews

Can't reject the Rejects!
A few months ago, I heard "Swing, Swing" for the first time and knew I had to buy this album. Though I had never heard of the All-American Rejects before, the adept songwriting and melodic punk-pop sound of "Swing, Swing" somehow had me knowing (after only one listen) that this would be a great album.

My instincts were right. The All-American Rejects' debut simply cannot be rejected. Ever since I bought this CD a couple of months ago, it has been a regular spin on my CD player.

This album consists entirely of songs with memorable hooks, up-tempo rhythms, melodic punk-pop choruses, and infectious lyrics. The album has been well-produced, enhancing the overall packaging of each song. More importantly, it's remarkable that such a young band has demonstrated these sophisticated pop sensibilities in their songwriting. The album contains eleven laudable songs, each of which is a worthy listen in its own right. Lead singer Tyson Ritter never misses a note, even transitioning in and out of falsetto, and the band adroitly blends hard driving guitars with keyboards and even orchestral arrangements. What's not to like?

With this debut album, the All-American Rejects have demonstrated they have sharp musical senses. Their music compares favorably with any emo-type artist you hear on today's radio. Between the band's natural musical talent and its alignment with today's hottest commercial sound, it wouldn't surprise me to hear more from the All-American Rejects. This young band is poised to make it big.

Never would have thought...
If anyone would have told me that I would end up buying The All-American Rejects' album, I probably would have laughed in their face. I mean, I loved "Swing, Swing" and all, but owning the whole album? Not likely. Who are these guys anyway?

Well, something happened and I decided I was in need of some new music, so I decided to buy it. Turns out, I was happily surprised to find out that I just adore every song on the album (pretty much equally). The lead singer's voice is just very captivating, melodic, and powerful. Each song is very catchy and gut-wrenching at the same time...a GREAT driving record, in my opinion. It's definitely not an album that will be making history any time soon, but if you are looking for something to just listen to all the way through and enjoy, buy this. It's really worth a try...at least.

Pure Energy.
Praise: For a debut this is solid material. The band puts their sweat and energy into this cd making it an enjoyable ride. Start to finish there isn't a clunker on this disc. They should have many more hits from here aside from "Swing, Swing". Standout tracks include "My Paper Heart", "Swing, Swing", "Time Stands Still", "One More Sad Song", "The Last Song".

Criticism: All American Rejects strongly resemble Blink 182, Green Day, and other modern punk bands of today. They also don't stray too far from their formula, leaving the songs to blur from one to the other.

Conclusion: Buy this cd. It's enjoyable to listen to when you compare it to all the dull music out right now. It's not the best this band can do, but it's a great start. All American Rejects caught my attention because they reminded me of old school new wave/punk like The Cars, The Cure, New Order.