After removing four songs from a potential full-length album, Hey Monday’s camp has decided on releasing Beneath It All as an EP.
With the constant turnover of music and bands coming and going, Columbia Records opted to put its latest project out as an EP at the end of the summer of 2010, with plans for a full length in March 2011.
“We just figured that with the way that everything is right now in the industry, you have to keep putting things out to stay on top,” said Mike Gentile, lead guitarist for Hey Monday.We just felt like if we were to put out a full-length at the end of the summer it just, it wouldn’t be as beneficial to our fans and the band as if we were to just kind of split it up”, said lead guitarist Mike Gentile.
If these are the best six songs that were selected from the original lineup, whatever got left on the studio floor would be rough on the ears. Cassadee Pope’s voice is front and center on this lackluster effort, trailing behind the standard that was set on 2008’s debut Hold on Tight. Although her range is present, the ability to push through the noise of the album and shine is missing. The lyrics for pop-punk songs are not usually the strong point, although “Mr. Pushover” and “Hangover” seem particularly contrived; fans may even find themselves bobbing their head ever so slightly. The choruses show a lot of promise, but are sandwiched between weak bridges that seem to serve as lead-ins, much like run-of-the-mill pop songs that populate top 40 radio.
“I Don’t Wanna Dance” is the first single and the only song on the EP that can hang with a majority of the tracks on the full length. This West Palm Beach pop-punk quartet is known for a dynamic live show and showed a lot of promise on its 2008 album, but this is categorically a ‘sophomore slump’ and it is unfortunate that the overall energy of Beneath It All cannot compare to Hold on Tight. (2.5/5.0)
Fans can pre-order the new Hey Monday album on iTunes.
jamie – i never write to these things but i know a little. You are completely wrong. Are you a musician?? Do you know production?? Do you know how to record?? Are you over 20 years old?? Do you understand the industry?? Do you write music and if so is it on the charts?? Do you know music theory?? Have you studied music since you were 12 years old?? Have you played every club underage from palm beaxh to broward counties?? Can you play an instrument?? Have you ever been signed with Columbia Records or any other label and traveled the world?? Do you do commercials for Sony?? What are your credentials child?? I've known this band a very long time. Three went to school together here locally, the 4th recorded here and is a local as well. You watch how wrong you are on your immature unknowledgable "critic". And I am Alex Lipshaw's mom. Dont piss me off again.
Sincerely,
Monica Kallas
jamie – i never write to these things but i know a little. You are completely wrong. Are you a musician?? Do you know production?? Do you know how to record?? Are you over 20 years old?? Do you understand the industry?? Do you write music and if so is it on the charts?? Do you know music theory?? Have you studied music since you were 12 years old?? Have you played every club underage from palm beaxh to broward counties?? Can you play an instrument?? Have you ever been signed with Columbia Records or any other label and traveled the world?? Do you do commercials for Sony?? What are your credentials child?? I’ve known this band a very long time. Three went to school together here locally, the 4th recorded here and is a local as well. You watch how wrong you are on your immature unknowledgable “critic”. And I am Alex Lipshaw’s mom. Dont piss me off again.
Sincerely,
Monica Kallas
you should read mike gentile's twitter right now – perfect for you. Learn your trade little boy.
love you always
monica
you should read mike gentile’s twitter right now – perfect for you. Learn your trade little boy.
love you always
monica
gee jamie, beneath it all just dropped a few hours ago and its top 5 on itunes. yeah it's a real sophmore slump.
monica
gee jamie, beneath it all just dropped a few hours ago and its top 5 on itunes. yeah it’s a real sophmore slump.
monica
Also, FYI. A woman such as yourself should know proper grammar and such, capitalization and correct spelling will look much better when trying to make fun of someone; it shows intelligence (notice the proper usage of a semicolon, not many people get those right)
Agree to disagree. All the best to the band.
"Mommy,"
What are your credentials? Of course you are going to a fan of your sons band, but to come out and attack someone that gave their album a poor review is just sad. I've known Jamie for a couple of years now and have discussed music with him at length many a time. He listens to a lot of great bands, and a fair amount of shitty ones, so when he gives an album a less than favorable review, I generally listen to it.
If your sons band needs you trolling the internet, attacking anyone that writes a bad review, they are never going to make it the "industry." Let them play their music and deal with the criticism that comes with it. It's the only way they will grow as musicians and people, and please, grow up.
Nate
http://www.noiselens.net
Hey Monica, it's called an opinion dip stick. Not everyone's is the same. Everyone is entitled to his or her own opinion, it's what critics do, not everyone has to agree with them. @"Don't piss me off again", what are you going to do, come to his house and verbally abuse him because he thinks differently than you? Real mature. Grow up old lady
Hey Monica, it’s called an opinion dip stick. Not everyone’s is the same. Everyone is entitled to his or her own opinion, it’s what critics do, not everyone has to agree with them. @”Don’t piss me off again”, what are you going to do, come to his house and verbally abuse him because he thinks differently than you? Real mature. Grow up old lady
Also, FYI. A woman such as yourself should know proper grammar and such, capitalization and correct spelling will look much better when trying to make fun of someone; it shows intelligence (notice the proper usage of a semicolon, not many people get those right)
Agree to disagree. All the best to the band.
Since you didn’t graduate 8th grade, I took the liberty of editing your critique of the article.
Jamie – I never write to these things but I know a little.(Very little.) You are completely wrong. Are you a musician? Do you know production? Do you know how to record? Are you over 20 years old? Do you understand the industry? Do you write music and if so, is it on the charts? Do you know music theory? Have you studied music since you were 12 years old? Have you played every club underage from palm beach to broward counties?(What an accomplishment!) Can you play an instrument? Have you ever been signed with Columbia Records or any other label and traveled the world? Do you do commercials for Sony? What are your credentials, child? I’ve known this band for a very long time. Three of the members went to school together locally, the 4th recorded here and is a local as well. You watch how wrong you are on your immature, ignorant (Unknowledgable is not a word.) “critique”. I am Alex Lipshaw’s mom.(Never start a sentence with and!) Dont piss me off again.(Really?)
Sincerely,
Monica Kallas
You should read Mike Gentile’s twitter right now – perfect for you. Learn your trade little boy.(Because you know so much about his trade?)
Love you always,
Monica
Gee Jamie, ‘Beneath it all’ dropped a few hours ago and it’s top 5 on itunes. yeah it’s a real sophmore slump.
Monica
First of all, Mon, you have no idea what Jamie’s credentials are, so you have no place speaking about them. He made no personal jabs at the band. Keep the name-calling to yourself
Secondly, Contrary to what parents and teachers preach, practice does not make perfect. The amount of time your son has spent playing an instrument does not mean he has talent. You obviously don’t know what the job of a critic is, so leave the critiquing to the professionals… or at least practice correct grammar before embarrassing your son again.
“Love you always,”
Michelle
Since you didn't graduate 8th grade, I took the liberty of editing your critique of the article.
Jamie – I never write to these things but I know a little.(Very little.) You are completely wrong. Are you a musician? Do you know production? Do you know how to record? Are you over 20 years old? Do you understand the industry? Do you write music and if so, is it on the charts? Do you know music theory? Have you studied music since you were 12 years old? Have you played every club underage from palm beach to broward counties?(What an accomplishment!) Can you play an instrument? Have you ever been signed with Columbia Records or any other label and traveled the world? Do you do commercials for Sony? What are your credentials, child? I’ve known this band for a very long time. Three of the members went to school together locally, the 4th recorded here and is a local as well. You watch how wrong you are on your immature, ignorant (Unknowledgable is not a word.) “critique”. I am Alex Lipshaw’s mom.(Never start a sentence with and!) Dont piss me off again.(Really?)
Sincerely,
Monica Kallas
You should read Mike Gentile’s twitter right now – perfect for you. Learn your trade little boy.(Because you know so much about his trade?)
Love you always,
Monica
Gee Jamie, 'Beneath it all' dropped a few hours ago and it's top 5 on itunes. yeah it’s a real sophmore slump.
Monica
First of all, Mon, you have no idea what Jamie's credentials are, so you have no place speaking about them. He made no personal jabs at the band. Keep the name-calling to yourself
Secondly, Contrary to what parents and teachers preach, practice does not make perfect. The amount of time your son has spent playing an instrument does not mean he has talent. You obviously don't know what the job of a critic is, so leave the critiquing to the professionals… or at least practice correct grammar before embarrassing your son again.
"Love you always,"
Michelle
"Mommy,"
What are your credentials? Of course you are going to a fan of your sons band, but to come out and attack someone that gave their album a poor review is just sad. I've known Jamie for a couple of years now and have discussed music with him at length many a time. He listens to a lot of great bands, and a fair amount of shitty ones, so when he gives an album a less than favorable review, I generally listen to it.
If your sons band needs you trolling the internet, attacking anyone that writes a bad review, they are never going to make it the "industry." Let them play their music and deal with the criticism that comes with it. It's the only way they will grow as musicians and people, and please, grow up.
Nate
http://www.noiselens.net
You rock Jamie. Speak your mind. This is commercialized pop punk trash and it deserved the review it got. Frankly, I think you deserve a slow clap for even being able to listen to the whole thing.
Yea I agree they got more pop-inclined, I don’t blame them though. Apparently it’s their record company that turned their album into an EP, which I assume they got in the way of their creative realms as well. But this is fine, all bands go through this similar ‘pop-breakdown’, and look how All Time Low turned out. Their lyrics got deeper, the way their soundtrack is arranged just exemplifies their emotion to another level. Hey Monday should stay young, slowly mature, because I like it that way. If you’re looking for more edgy and less pop-inclined music just stick to Paramore. No I do not agree that they did not outplay their previous ‘Hold On Tight’. Change is good, as long as you do not epic fail like Motion City Soundtrack’s ‘My Dinosaur Life’, which they took a huge leap back with vocals and lyrics. Hey Monday is a young band, I love their catchy stuff, and I do look forward more than ever for a new, full album from them. Oh by the ways, ‘Wondergirl’ is something different from them, love it to death