When recording tracks for the next installment of their
Weekend EP series, the guys in
Forever the Sickest Kids were so happy with the songs they were laying down that they decided to chuck the concept and just go ahead and record a full album instead. When you listen to the resulting self-titled record, you can hear why they felt that way, as the songs are the most fully realized of their short career. The pop songs are unapologetically catchy and simple, the ballads are heart-on-the-sleeve emotional, and the sound of the record is shiny, slick (in a good way), and arena-ready.
Jonathan Cook's vocals sound more assured and punchy (and less Auto-Tuned this time out); his impassioned yelping on the rockers and his twee crooning on the ballads are album highlights. ~ Tim Sendra