AWOLNATION Brings Some Explosive Passion To The Forefront

Even if all I had to go on was the video for AWOLNATION's new single "Passion" I'd already be amazed. This song makes you scratch your head quizzically but it's a riddle you'll have fun unraveling. I can't even do the ending any justice because it's so milk out the nose funny. Metal does bombast really well so hearing an alt rock act emulate the sexual promiscuity is a nifty trick. Vocalist Aaron Bruno's the ringmaster for this circus. All the bandmates and actors in the video have to do is follow his lead. As the title indicates passion's a really big deal that cuts across race and color lines. Zach Irons struts his substantial stuff on lead guitar. Isaac Carpenter bangs away at the skins, a definite two points in the name of masculinity and deeper exploration of the title's meaning. Marc Walloch bass brings heftier doses of adrenaline. Not that "Passion" needs it that much but every drop works in AWOLNATION'S favor. The song has lyrics your grandmother would blush over. For example "I found a potion for fixing passion. Go tell your homegirls, get their reaction. Out on the ocean for satisfaction. Go tell your homegirls, what's their reaction? The chorus puts us in high silliness mode. It's a pleasure to watch it unfurl though. And when you thought the final chapter had been written on the song, up pops multi-part harmony followed by the actors hamming it up with glee. Lots of hair flicking plus bicep action. The song isn't your standard alt tune. It's actually a tour de force journey to the center of a man's mind. Although to be fair there are women going for gusto here too. As a unit AWOLNATION has this cohesion that allows them to stand out in a crowd. "Passion" doesn't lack passion one bit. The gear shift stays locked in fourth throughout and we reap the rewards. Not once does AWOLNATION rest on its laurels. Change-ups are quite common. You're not lulled to sleep by a one trick outfit. By the time the fade out descends upon us we have to come up for air because we're making ourselves sick from laughing so hard. "Passion" leaves sweat all over the sheets and we can only shake our heads in obvious amusement.