I saw this one coming, it happens to a lot of bands trying to push the boundaries of their fan base and crossover to more marketable means. This can bring about good things, for instance P.O.D’s initial crossover from christian to mainstream markets, thanks to a little push from the events of 9/11, or the critically and heavily acclaimed self titled disc from Blink 182. Outside of few shifts in styles and substance, there haven’t been many great transitional records, and even some long time mainstays in the Underground found it harder to gain more fans after some dismal records.

The Starting Line released a new record, with a lot of marketing behind it. But when the album dropped, and sales didn’t seem to match the fan base that was once behind the pop-punk powerhouse, they’ve seemed to stall a little.

Overall this album is not that good, and it has many major problems. From a lack of clear direction, and a lesser than expected movement into more than three or four chords, this album has huge gaping holes that can not be filled with one hit or two hits.

One song that I do think is well placed is the song “Island”

The song is catchy, and portrays the bands new direction quite well, leaving a lot of good feelings, but it’s sandwiched between a couple of tracks that are not anything like this and if you manage to make it to this part of the album, you’ll most likely be jaded, and won’t care.

The Starting Line began the transition into a more rock pace with their last album, and I don’t think that it has hit home with a lot of long time fans. Their first record, “Say It Like You Mean It” broke some barriers and gained a large audience for them, but I don’t think they can continue to grow with poor song writing, and style changes that leave the punk prowess that they were exhibiting in the beginning.

Contrast the track, Best of Me, with the latest single from their record, and you can see a major change in style and hair style….(a lesser evil)

I don’t care about looks, but a cool concept video, a good live performance and some catchy lyrics about getting a chick to like you plays with my teenage memories, making The Starting Line not so bad at times.

However, when I shake myself out of my teenage doldrums, I realize that as an adult with a wife and a mediocre career, this album just doesn’t feel right. Had this album been somewhat traditional in the realms of pop-punk or at least somewhat reminiscent to their initial break through release, I would have enjoyed it a lot more.
Instead, this album suffers from that transitional stage where bands decide to not be so “punk” and be more rock instead. It didn’t work for Ghoti Hook, it won’t work for The Starting Line in this disappointment of a record.

I suggest Say It Like You Mean it, if you’re into pop-punk, or liked the video for Best of Me.