Many were disheartened to discover that Forever the Sickest Kids had been left without a recording contract in 2011 after Universal Motown Records shut down, especially after listening to their strong debut album Underdog Alma Mater. A whole year went by before they got picked up by indie rock label Fearless Records, but they immediately began work on their third studio album J.A.C.K. Their latest record signifies the importance of each members influence on the overall sound, most evidently reflected in naming the album with each person's first initial. This time around the four-piece has attempted to return to the music that brought them to the stage of a worldwide audience, however, it falls short of expectations.
Naturally, the focus is alternative rock where the highlights are "Count on Me," a larger than life track featuring a sing along gospel-influenced chorus, "Nikki" a cleverly crafted song with a set of lyrics that owe its mysticism to co-writer and lead vocalist Patrick Stump of Fall Out Boy, and "La La Lainey," the album frontrunner, which ops for an electronic centered sound to compliment the playful lyrics of loving an overly wild girl. These songs show exactly how Forever the Sickest Kids can continually build upon the musical foundation they started in their first album in order to create something meaningful, catchy and fresh.
The rest of the album is primarily composed of songs that lack purpose while many also seem to suffer from an inability to grab the listeners attention. "Chin Up Kid" starts off with a strikingly infectious chorus, yet it fails to sound cohesive with embellished electronic elements that only deter the listener to the track. "Ritalin" not only shares its name with ADHD medication, but it also describes the over the top subject matter discussed throughout the same named song. Among the issues tackled is the dark, deep rooted topic of school shootings, which leaves people to contemplate if Forever the Sickest Kids are qualified to be addressing such ideas is this manner. "My Friends Save Me" again speaks about intertwined social matters experienced in our daily lives, however, the acoustic track doesn't offer much thats sonically pleasant.
Overall, the songs on J.A.C.K can be entertaining and fun with some even offering a glimpse into the next possible course of Forever the Sickest Kids music. The album is perfectly adequate at making a good first impression, but after awhile many of the songs fail to stick and leave you wanting the band to maximize their full potential.
Grade: C
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