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 consciously 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.