This Forsaken Recordings reissue of
Alli With an I's debut full-length reissues the band's 2001 self-release. The mix remains unchanged, which leads to some rough patches. But
Long Story Short is a definite must for anyone learning about
Alli from the more recent
I Learned It by Watching You. The combo never stray very far from the emo/pop-punk template, offering a mix of rousing rockers and plaintive chord change balladic moments, accentuated with pleading harmonies and meaningful stabs from the usual two-guitar lineup. "3-Words" and "Mixed Emotion" are the representative anthems, while "Let You Down" and "This Summer" mix it up with slow-to-fast progressions.
Alli With an I are indebted to the familiar genre timeline, from
Superchunk to
Get Up Kids to
Taking Back Sunday. But they pull off the sound with an exuberant mix of precision ruckus and pointed heartbreak, making
Long Story Short the perfect option for anyone getting tired of all those New Jersey bands on Drive-Thru. ~ Johnny Loftus