What Separates Me From You

On November 16th, 2010, Ocala, Florida-based band, A Day To Remember, released their fourth full-length album. The album stampedes through ten songs in just over thirty minutes, leaving little to no room for filler songs. Luckily, they do not disappoint.

Sticks & Bricks is the power-packed opener, assuring A Day To Remember fans that they are still the same band they've always been. Jeremy McKinnon's screams are reminiscent of those off of For Those Who Have Heart, and a melodic chorus like those off of Homesick is evident as well. This song is likely to be a hit when played live.

All I Want is a nice cool down from the first track, but it still packs its own punch. Backed by heavy guitar parts, it's not easy to forget when McKinnon drills "keep your hopes up high and your head down low," into your head over and again. The catchy tone is most likely the reason that that track is the first single off of the album.

It's Complicated is the letdown of the album, if you will. While not entirely disappointing, it still fails to match the high caliber of the other nine songs on the album. The only redeeming qualities are the bridge, where "I won’t sleep till the break of dawn," is growled, and immediately after, when the chorus is sung in a beautiful, melodic tone.

This Is The House That Doubt Built starts out with a haunting guitar part that leads straight into some of the most powerfully delivered lyrics on the record. Purely melodic, this song is a perfect example of the band's overall growth. When McKinnon sings "in the end it's all about where you want to go and the roads you take to help you get there," chills literally run down my spine. This track is a big kick in the face to all those who have ever doubted the songwriting capabilities of the band.

2nd Sucks features a sample from Mortal Kombat. That alone gives it some serious credibility, along with heavy guitar parts and angry lyrics that are reminiscent of For Those Who Have Heart. Clocking in at two and a half minutes, it's the shortest track on the album, but it's also easily the heaviest track.

Better Off This Way starts out with powerful lyrics and drifts into a perfectly melodic chorus that makes you want to dance around. The bridge is catchy and is sure to get stuck in your head with its repetition. This track has a good balance of both screams and clean vocals, showing the side of A Day To Remember that fans are used to seeing.

All Signs Point To Lauderdale is my own personal favorite. Of all the songs on the album, this one is most similar to the songs off of Homesick. During the bridge, a drop-out creates the most beautifully melodic tone that leads into a section with hand claps and fun gang vocals that entice listeners to sing along.

You Be Tails, I'll Be Sonic is another heavy track, with screams and a melodic, yet angry chorus that every fan of the band longs for. The bridge is arguably the best part, where McKinnon growls "all the things you love are all the things I hate," in true A Day To Remember fashion, blending pop and hardcore seamlessly.

Out Of Time ventures more into the pop-punk realm. Despite the dark lyrical content, the chorus is catchy and urges fans to sing alongside McKinnon. With a backbeat, double-bass rolls and hand claps, it's sure to be a fan favorite when played live.

If I Leave is something really new and different for A Day To Remember. It drips a pop-punk sound, especially that of New Found Glory. Contrasting greatly to the closer song off of Homesick, "If It means A Lot To You," this track has an upbeat tone that leaves the record on a much needed high note.

All in all, this album is a huge triumph for the band. It shows the massive the growth that A Day To Remember has made both musically and lyrically since their last album, and it does so in a near perfect fashion.