The Sandspur

Issue date: 11/20/09 Section: Arts & Entertainment

Media Credit: MCT Campus CLUCKING AROUND: Mayday Parade poses with the infamous.

Fans of pop-punk rejoice; Mayday Parade, the kings of catchy lines and up-beat melodies, are back. Oct. 6 saw the release of "Anywhere but Here," the band's second studio album. The follow up to their popular album "A Lesson in Romantics" brings back the sounds that everyone has come to love. After two years of solid touring, including appearances with All Time Low and The Maine, and on the Vans Warped Tour, the five piece band reentered the studio to record songs they had written on the road.

This album, sadly, has a lineup change from their earlier release. Fans who purchase this album expecting to hear the docile tones of Jason Lancaster are going to be disappointed. Shortly after the release of their first full length album, Lancaster departed, citing differences with the band. According to an Absolutepunk.com interview, Lancaster said, "Mayday was a big part of my life but ask them next time who wrote the album, I bet my name doesn't come up."

Lancaster has been replaced by Derek Sanders on the new album, who fans will recognize from backing vocals in such songs as "Miserable at Best" and "Jamie All Over." If you've seen Mayday Parade on tour these past two years, Sanders is the man that you saw on vocals. His vocals are slightly deeper than Lancaster's, but his talent is equal to that of his predecessor. Old and new fans alike will be drawn to the new voice of Mayday Parade.

Though the band lost their main vocalist and songwriter, the quality of the songs has stayed the same. They contain the same style of catchy choruses and tunes, and after just one listen, the lyrics of "Kids in Love" will be stuck in your head. The beat of the music will make you tap your toe in rhythm; it is impossible to fight. Their spirit and energy, embodied in "Lesson," has carried them into the new direction, allowing the band to grow while maintaining the parts that everyone loves.

"Anywhere but Here" is a wonderful album, though a slight departure from their earlier release. This album contains heavier keyboard use, as it permeates through the fast paced guitars and heavy drums. Their use of acoustic guitars comes off as experimental in the new album, for the sound went unused in their first album. An acoustic intro to "Still Breathing" helps set a slower mood in the song before the electric guitars kick in. The entirely acoustic "I Swear This Time I Mean It" holds similar patterns to "Miserable at Best" from the first album, only missing the keyboard quality. Their acoustic route shows a slightly more mature style of pop-punk, proving that Mayday Parade is not afraid to branch out and try something new.

However, the thing that sets Mayday Parade aside more than anything is their lyrics. Mayday Parade is known for having stronger lyrics than most of their pop-punk brethren, and lyrics such as "It's hard to be a man, but I'm doing all I can" and "Florida, please be still tonight" show the creative side of the band. These words say much more than song s about broken hearts, which most pop-punk bands center themselves around. The song "If You Can't Live Without Me, Why Aren't You Dead Yet" seems to comment on Jason Lancaster's departure, with such lines as "When you hear this chorus, do you miss the way the world was spinning for us" being an obvious attack. But you can judge for yourself.

Mayday Parade have earned their place among the pop-punk elite. Their trial-by-fire touring and album release just goes to show that they have what it takes, and "Anywhere but Here" does not disappoint. I give this album an 8 out of 10 and urge any fan of pop-punk to pick it up.

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