Forever The Sickest Kids Possess an Undeniable Vigor Throughout "J.A.C.K."

For the most part Forever The Sickest Kids are busting out all over with in the pink vitality. "J.A.C.K." is a convincing testimonial. The only track that sounds like the band got lazy is "Life of the Party". As the sequence of songs unfolds this third track, when compared to "Keep On Bringing Me Down" (Track 1) and "I Guess You Can Say Things Are Getting Pretty Serious" (Track 2) is a marked lapse into fake drums, overplayed synth harmonies, and a curious decision to abandon authentic band intensity for a style phoned in before the guys even took their places in the studio. Not only that but main vocalist Jonathan Cook kind of maxes out on the number of ways he can salute the wonder and beauty of the opposite sex. She turns heads like the pages of a magazine. She's the mainstream, sour and sweet. Even a mashed up, techno punk dancing queen. There's no true balance between bragging about the greatness of woman and a sound that isn't engulfed in studio smoke and mirrors. Thankfully that's the exception in quality for an 11 track collection of songs that does plenty to boost Forever The Sickest Kids stock as a pop punk outfit that doesn't skimp on enthusiasm, candor of lyric, or group cohesion. Despite a lyrical backdrop heavy on "How this cruel world brings me down no matter what I do to alter the course of destiny", the pace of "Keep On Bringing Me Down" is steady and true. There's this determination to shine no matter what outside forces are conjuring up. Regardless of which chamber of the human heart these guys are exploring their commendable honesty rises to the top. "I Guess You Can Say Things Are Getting Pretty Serious" is classic relationship at the crossroads drama but the boys' hot licks punch through a running theme that could easily have threatened to be downer city all the way. You know the story, or at least are friends with someone who's living it right now. He's still stuck in some phase of adolescence. She's finding her footing in maturity. What ever will they do since they aren't growing together? Skip forward to "Robots & Aliens" (Track 4). I don't know if lyrics such as, "Like my favorite song I'll put you on repeat" are unique to the younger set but the charm can't be ignored. Something eternally innocent about it that makes you, as a somewhat mature jaded adult swat aside the rhetorical question "Was I ever that young?" This chorus is a fun ride through the world of two souls who obviously crave being intertwined. The mixture of bounciness and optimism that is the calling card of "King for a Day" signals the necessity of unabashed rooting value. Drummer Kyle Burns leads the charge. He's the head horse for this purposeful cavalry. Jonathan's laundry list of promises, a series of bread crumbs supposedly leading to the doorway which opens to a better life is remarkably rife with sweetness. When he tells his girl she's beautiful and deserves more you'll want to rail against the injustice that imprisons her too. "Good Life" may roll around in superficiality of character but you've gotta be impressed with the stars Jonathan's reaching for. Remember Sinead O'Connor's 1990 CD declaration "I Do Not Want What I Haven't Got?" Well, Jon covets the cosmic ice cream sundae, cherries on top. Girls, fortune, fame, spotlights, you name it. Again, between Austin Bello's brisk bass playing, Caleb Turman's solid rhythm guitar, and Jonathan cluing us into the many items found on his life wish list, Forever The Sickest Kids doesn't bust out the jams in half-hearted fashion. "Same Dumb Excuse (Nothing to Lose)" shows Jon playing the vulnerability card, namely by insisting that putting all his cards on the table before a girl is harder than jumping off a cliff or swimming with sharks. It takes bravery to utter sentiments like these. "Bipolar Baby" is saved by the mini labyrinthine chord combo which shifts into fifth gear at just past the 2-minute mark. Now we know why this girl's impossible to live with. Right on cue "Summer Song" lays down just the freshly scrubbed youth enthusiasm that's added luster to summers for as long as anyone can remember. Is there anyone out there who hasn't found that song of the summer which signified what made the summer worth participating in? Look out. "Forever Girl" returns us to sensitive man territory. Out go the amps. In comes a naked acoustic guitar. Of chief importance is the message that Jon and the unknown main squeeze have the "it" quality that will allow their relationship to withstand Time's slings and arrows. At the end of this pop punk rainbow of shininess we have "What Happened to Emotion? (Killing Me)". Kyle's percussion introduction sets the stage for the saga of two youths feeling the pressure, unsure how to proceed, where to turn, what to think. The repetition of verse possesses the knack of beating a path to your brain cells quickly. For that matter the clever hooks and ingratiating spunk will as well. Forever The Sickest Kids is very much alive here. Whatever boost of credibility this release gives them is highly deserved.