It was little over fifteen years ago when Seattle grunge rockers Nirvana changed the world of rock music. Their rock anthem, “Smells like Teen Spirit”, signaled the death of both glam and heavy metal with the groups’ woefully cynical lyrics and powerful take on three chord rock music.
Now there’s a resurgence of bubblegum, the sweet, innocent rock which features a virtual love fest full of all things sweet and innocent. It’s the kind of music your parents hope you’re listening to while taking doses of Ritalin and Prozac and memorizing abstinence vows.
Everybody Else is the newest group forging this genre, and their self titled debut is a particularly chewy, gooey example, harkening back to the sounds of ‘60’s bands the group is too young to remember.
If Nirvana made its reputation by pushing out the inside of rock’s tiny musical envelope, Everybody Else’s sound keeps that envelope firmly in tact for the Disney set. Vocalist Carrick Gerety uses a plaintive whine through much of the album, never straying too far from the main harmony. Gerety’s guitar is similarly generic, with no chops, no virtuosity, just endless rhythm. Bassist Austin Williams and drummer Mikey McCormack pound out an utterly danceable four/four beat, but I have a feeling the only dance this album will be heard at are father/daughter ‘purity balls’. Musically, the group sounds a tad like very, very early Beatles (“I Wanna Hold Your Hand” early) and the nearly extinct 1910 Fruit Gum Company. If Tony Orlando needs an opening act for upcoming shows in Laughlin, Nevada, Everybody Else should definitely audition for the slot.
Everybody Else provides a perfect soundtrack for virginal tweeny girls, whose deepest concerns are whether their latest fantasy cutey-boy will attempt to slide his hand underneath her training bra in the midst of an adolescent wet-dream. It’s all “I love you. I can’t live without you. You’re the greatest thing that’s ever happened to me and now that you’re gone I’m feeling so blue," kind of schmaltz. There’s nothing wrong with this kind of thing, but ultimately, it’s disposable, as listeners grow up and face the real world.
Article comments
1 - Swifty
I'm very opinionated, so this might come across as rude, but hey, whatever.
Alright, first off, I'm 12, so I would be considered a "Tweeny Girl", as you say. But, uhm, my deepest concerns aren't even CLOSE to what you said, thank you very much. The same goes for my friends. If any boy tried to "slide his hand" NEAR us, we'd kick him in between the legs, spit in his face, and run away.
Two, when Everybody Else opened for the Hanson concert, my dad, and my two sisters, ages 21 and 16, said they liked them. In fact, the 16-year-old bought their CD. So are you saying that the 48-year-old man hasn't faced the real world yet?
" “I love you. I can’t live without you. You’re the greatest thing that’s ever happened to me and now that you’re gone I’m feeling so blue," kind of schmaltz. There’s nothing wrong with this kind of thing, but ultimately, it’s disposable, as listeners grow up and face the real world."
That's what you said. But uhm, no, my 21-year-old sis and my dad have definitely faced the real world, yet they like Everybody Else.
Three. You said they were Disney-soundingish or whatever. Well most kids ages 10 and older would consider that an insult. If they have much common sense, kids realize that Disney bands suck... a lot. And Everybody Else is much, much better than the freakin' Jonas Brothers or Demi Lavato or whatever.
This may sound rude. This may sound mean. But I CAN'T TAKE when people write things like this. I'm just speaking my mind.
2 - Ciera
I enjoyed reading your review, I enjoy listening to this band and well i happend to be the listening teenager you have describe. (maybe a bit older) thanks for the review!