American Authors Script A Tune That's Decidedly One Note

Is the trend right now among young bands to comment on how short life is? Not exactly new news. American Authors throw in their two cents worth, albeit to a rollicking clap along sound. The drums are put to fine use here. Vocally you know these guys are speaking from an earnest place. The window dressing is stylish but I wish we could get material that hasn't been beaten twelve feet under. I admire the video which radiates light, adventure, and imagination. You want to go on an adventure with the guys. Thankfully "Go Big Or Go Home" doesn't take much time to get to its well-traveled point. Making more with less certainly benefits the foursome. Zac Barnett has a crystal clear vocal range. All the better to play pied piper for the kindred spirits eager to walk the walk he's walking. James Adam Shelley plies a mean banjo, Buck Owens/Roy Clark Hee Haw band mean. But, returning to my original gist, we KNOW life is short. We KNOW the time to act is now. You can add as many layers of production values as you want. That's not going to successfully hide the notion we've been given the urgency of now message too many times to count. Health experts would frown on Zac's suggestion that he doesn't need sleep. He'll sleep when he's dead. They'd say you're pushing yourself closer to that by making such a caution to the wind statement. Whiskey Zach? Why sure. That's excellent fuel for what trouble Zach's looking to get into. Life boils down to a giant roll of the dice for him. Such is the way Lady Luck rides. Since musicianship surely is the high selling point here I can tell you the pieces make for a pleasing whole. The musicians have synchronicity down pat. If only the material weren't sound alike. The video showcases a playful side to the band, one you'd love to get a larger glimpse of. "Go Big Or Go Home" sits small in the saddle and adds nothing huge to the conversation we haven't been privy to before. Matt Sanchez drums with authority. Dave Rublin booms on bass. American Authors would do themselves a service by trying out a different playbook.