On “We Don’t Stand A Chance” the band mixes energetic, sometimes angsty punk-influenced rock & roll songs with more a more gentle approach sometimes. Unlike many bands in a similar genre they don’t come out with crappy cliché’s. The lyrics are strong and sometimes even profound and they are very much in tune with the musical arrangements, which themselves are filled with variety, intensity and excitement. Adam Krier’s vocals remind me of Springsteen at times, with the same mature, experienced sound to them.
The band currently joined the Warped Tour and the might very well become THE revelation of this year’s edition. The songs are extremely fit for energetic, enthusiastic live performances and this band sure knows how to deliver it. You just can’t help but get pumped by songs like Dead Street, Fed Up and Paper Covers Rock. The duet with Company of Thieves singer Genevieve Schatz, Maydays & Rosaries is probably the strongest track on the album, but another song that you should point your attention to is Reckless Ways which would make a kickass live song, but the reason I mention this song is because of the perfect timing that the band showcases in this song.
“We Don’t Stand A Chance” may very well end up in my year’s end list as it is one of the most surprising, exciting releases of 2010 so far. It’s energetic and fast-paced for the most part and it never gets boring. It doesn’t drag along by doing the same thing over and over again, it doesn’t get into cliché’s (musically, lyrically or otherwise) and the progression of the songs throughout the album has a very natural flow. For a debut album, this is very, very well done.