This might possibly be
Pop Unknown's best album, a solid pop album, the kind that most bands only wish they could make. The easiest way to describe the sound on
The August Division is to imagine the sound of what would happen if
Depeche Mode or
the Cure met up with
the Liar's Academy or
the Get up Kids. Vocalist
Tim Lasater has a major brooding, British tone in his voice, while the pop music, although occasionally upbeat, remains tinged with darkness for the majority of the album. There is more coherency than on previous works and the album is diverse without losing its fluidity. When so many bands are trying to be pop-oriented and end up sounding entirely unoriginal and flat, it's nice to see a group succeed at pulling off the whole pop package: hooks, memorable choruses, and well-placed guitar lines.