All Time Low, Wake Up, Sunshine | Album Review 💿

Alex Gaskarth and All Time Low deliver an enjoyable, totally respectable eighth album with Wake Up, Sunshine. 

Alex Gaskarth, the front man of All Time Low, is 32 years old. The once youthful alternative rock, pop-punk collective has certainly aged.  That said, even though ATL has matured from their pop-punk heyday (Last Young Renegade being a prime example), they still possess an edge and energy. “Some Kind of Disaster”, the promo single from their eighth album, Wake Up, Sunshine, was a prime example of a band who’s ‘still got it.’ The follow-up single, “Sleeping In”, provided further confirmation.  All in all, Wake Up, Sunshine is an enjoyable, totally respectable effort, particularly the front half of the album.

“Some Kind of Disaster” 

On opener ✓ “Some Kind of Disaster”, Alex Gaskarth, reminds us he is still an incredible vocalist, sounding clear and commanding.  Revealing his cards with the chorus, which appears at the top of the song, the tone is certainly established early own.

“I’m a liar, I’m a cynic
I’m a sinner, I’m a saint
I’m a loser, I’m a critic
I’m the ghost of my mistakes
And it’s all my fault that I’m still the one you want
So, what are you after?
Some kind of disaster.”

Reflect on those lyrics, and thirty-something Alex parallels his much younger self. Ah, self-deprecation! Following the first iteration of the chorus, All Time Low puts the pedal to the metal.  The guitars are ripe, the lyrics reminiscent and honest (“I woke up from a never-ending dream / I shut my eyes at 17”), and everything feels locked in.  One of the best sections of “Some Kind of Disaster” arrives via the bridge, which is reminiscent, once more, and reflective.  Ultimately, on “Some Kind of Disaster,” Gaskarth remains sharp, the band remains aggressive, and those of us who were fans of the band in their heyday – now older ourselves – remain tuned in.

From the jump, ✓ “Sleeping In” cooks. Gaskarth is locked-in, singing about his desires to, well, sleep in with his babe. “Can we stay all day? Lay low in our lazy luxury,” he sings on the first verse, continuing, “Sex in a rosé daze / All day, it’s a real good thing.”  The lighthearted lyrics continue onto the pre-chorus (“There you go, making it hard to stay on track / Got shit to do, you got work…), and shine brightest on the infectious, double-time chorus.  Pretty sexy, right? Adding to the excellence is an energetic backdrop comprised of rhythmic guitars, punchy drums, and a robust, sliding bass line. Clearly, All Time Low still wanna have some fun, particularly hot, electrifying sex.  The bed is calling, and no sleeping appears to be going down.

“Getaway Green” 

Post-advance singles, Wake Up, Sunshine yields a number of strong, high-energy records. It all begins with the bright, major-key standout ✓ “Getaway Green,” which features excellent guitar riffs and an infectious, anthemic chorus.  Alex Gaskarth sounds particularly ripe throughout, keeping the youthful vibes alive and well.  Besides the chorus, one of the sections that stands out is the bridge, which closes with the lyrics, “Weekend wonderful a dizzy dream / A colorful lie, we made one hell of a team.” “Getaway Green” encompasses friendship, a relationship, and post-relationship. ✓ “Melancholy Kaleidoscope” keeps the momentum rolling, with its lightning quick tempo, driving guitars, and pummeling drums. Gaskarth exhibits plenty of control on this cut, particularly the verses, but he ‘brings it on home’ on the chorus, where the band’s ‘bread continues to be buttered.’ Like “Getaway Green,” the key remains firmly planted in major, despite the utterance of melancholy. 

There is no letdown on ✓ “Trouble Is,” which features one of the more compelling grooves of Wake Up, Sunshine.  The drums are one of the selling points, particularly the effects, mix, and of course, the hard-hitting, pummeling, rhythmic anchor they provide.  But it’s not all about the drums! The bass and guitars continue to electrify, while Alex Gaskarth continues to take a victory lap, five songs in. ✓ “Wake Up Sunshine” only amplifies the awesomeness, with another top-rate chorus, more kick ass riffs, and those potent pipes of Alex.  Eliminating any semblance of predictability, the bridge is a stark contrast (more than usual), slackening the pace and opting for a moodier sound.  It’s still positive vibes though:

“Everyone wants to be somebody
I just want you to see how good you are
You don’t have to lean on the crutch of a daydream
To see that you shine like a star.”

The order is restored on the chorus.

“Monsters” 

“I’m wondering, why do all the monsters come out at night? / Why do we sleep where we want to hide / Why do I run back to you, like I don’t mind if you fuck up my life?” While I didn’t envision All Time Low and blackbear collaborating together, it works out satisfactorily on ✓ “Monsters.” I mean, isn’t all well in the world when Alex Gaskarth gets to drop the f-bomb? “Monsters” is a prime example of ATL exhibiting their edgy side, a place that the ever-coarse sounding blackbear excels at.  Gone is the major key, supplanted by minor. Still, “Monsters” possesses brightness, particularly the aforementioned stadium chorus.

“Pretty Venom (Interlude)” is actually a full-length song, despite carrying the label of interlude.  Slower than the rest of Wake Up, Sunshine, this stream of consciousness record is pretty sweet – a welcome contrast.  And again, we get f-words.  Follow-up “Favorite Place” brings the only other collaborator on the album, The Band CAMINO.  Alex sings the first verse and chorus, while The Band CAMINO serves up the contrast on the second verse. Another respectable record, the biggest selling point, unsurprisingly, is the chorus.

“Safe” 

At this point, Wake Up, Sunshine loses a bit of its sharpness, even at 46 minutes total. There’s nothing objectionable, but some of the songs merely aren’t as thrilling like the beginning of Wake Up, Sunshine. “Safe,” for example, is sound by all means, but also seems to match its title – it’s ‘safe.’ “January Gloom (Seasons, Pt. 1)” has some gritty, spirited guitars that bode in its favor, at least on certain parts of the song.  Like “Safe,” the consistency can’t be denied. I certainly appreciate Gaskarth’s energy and investment towards the end. Furthermore, glancing at the track list, you know there’s a second part to this particular record.

On “Clumsy,” Alex has been a poor person and poor lover, showcased through a variety of lyrics.  On the first verse, after flying “too close to the sun,” he admits, “I got too high on myself / Too young and stupid to tell.” On the pre-chorus, he goes on to say, “I was bound to make a mess of things /… Never meant to make you fall with me.” Ultimately, it all leads to his clumsiness – “With your heart again.” Riffs, a knocking groove, and solid vocals goes a long way on “Glitter & Crimson,” another record dabbling in matters of the heart.  On the chorus, Gaskarth asserts, “Hard to sit still when your head’s on fire /… ‘Cause I’m a supernova / And you’re my supernova.” Aside from the chorus, the bridge is among the best parts.

“January Gloom” marked the first of two ‘Seasons’ cut. The bass-heavy “Summer Daze (Seasons, Pt. 2)” arrives as the follow-up as the 14^th song on Wake Up, Sunshine. Here, Alex knows “Nothing gold can stay,” hence why he’s “Stuck in a sad summer daze.” On the verses, he shares his infatuation. “Basement Noise” caps off Wake up, Sunshine reflectively. Gaskarth reminisces on the band’s beginnings (“They’re just stupid boys making basement noise”).  It wouldn’t be the first time that the band has reflected back to the past.

Final Thoughts 

All in all, All Time Low deliver on their eighth studio album, Wake Up, Sunshine.  It’s most engaging at the top, losing a bit of its luster on the back half.  Even so, there’s nothing downright objectionable to be found at any point on the LP.  Alex Gaskarth remains a beast, and ATL remind us why we liked them so much back in their heyday.  No, the pendulum doesn’t swing here, but for those who were slightly less enthused about Last Young Renegade, they’re likely to dig Wake Up, Sunshine much more.

✓ Gems: “Some Kind of Disaster,” “Sleeping in,” “Getaway Green,” “Melancholy Kaleidoscope,” “Trouble Is,” Wake Up Sunshine” & “Monsters”

All Time Low • Wake Up Sunshine • Fueled by Ramen • Release: 4.3.20

Photo Credit: Fueled by Ramen