CD Review: The Audition - Champion

What exactly are they auditioning for? I mean, they already have the record deal! Hey, aren't I funny? No? You're right, but I had to try something to break the ice with regards to listening to the latest from the band. Has to make one wonder where the name came from, I am sure there is an amusing story or anecdote to set up where the spark of inspiration came from. I'm not making fun of the name, but it seems slightly uninspired, but hey, whatever works, right? When it comes right down to it, it matters not what the band name is but how good the music is. It always has to come back to the music because without it, there is no reason for the band to exist and therefore would have no use for a name. In the case of The Audition, the music is awfully infectious, but not terribly memorable.

The band was formed in 2003 in Chicago, Illinois, and released their debut album called Controversey Loves Company on Victory Records back in 2005. Now here we are, three years later and they have just released their follow-up, Champion, also on Victory Records. Their brand of music would be easiest classified as pop-punk. It is ready made for the radio, but there they may be exposed as being near indistinguishable from the other pop-punk acts that clog the airwaves. Well, that could just be my natural aversion to the current radio scene, perhaps they would stand out. In fact, I feel rather confident that they would thrive in that environment.

Anyway, when I first pressed play, I was greeted by a sound that was well within the parameters of my expectations. This is neither a good nor a bad observation, it just is. Rather, it confirmed my need to conciously keep my mind open. This is not a style of music that typically attracts me, meaning I will not likely be revisiting it all that often. That said, there are many reasons that a positive experience can be gleaned from a one or two time affair (ha, that works on a few levels). I mean, I watch a lot of movies, some are good and some are bad, and some are quite good but are not terribly conducive to repeated viewings, sometimes music can be the same way. I will say the ratio is much lower in the realm of music, and more often than not the musical victim will be merely mediocre.

In the defense of The Audition, my listening was bound to be a losing battle. While I kept my mind open, after the first few measures it was readily apparent that I would not be interested in revisiting them all that often. Fear not, fans of the band, while I was not won over to becoming a card carrying member of the fan club all is not lost. I can easily see the appeal of this style of music and I am even able to recognize the worth of The Audition.

Champion kicks off with the upbeat "Basbhat," effectively setting up the rest of the album, all while not giving away the best material. The song has a nice, melodic groove that should be a hit with the kids dancing in the pits. That leads into one of my favorite tracks, which also happens to be the first single, "Warm Me Up." I cannot say that it treads any new ground, lyrically, but there is something that is completely catchy.

Each song distinguishes it from the one prior, leading to an experience that does not feel too reptitious. Now that is something that always seems to infect the bands of this genre, after a while everything begins to sound the same. The Audition does a decent job of varying the songs' tempos while never straying to far from the instantly recognizable genre stylings.

Bottomline. Not bad. I cannot call it anything great, but there is definitely a place for it on the musical landscape. Plus, it didn't have me lunging for the stop button, that has to count for something, right? Anyway, I doubt I will want to listen to it that often, but it is undeniably catchy and kind of fun. If you are a fan of the genre, Champion is an album you are going to want to get your hands on.

Mildly Recommended.