The Latest Fashion

While it’s easy to confuse Attack! Attack! with Ohio’s Attack Attack! (notice the difference in exclamation points), the U.K. act has very little in common with the heavy screamo act from the States. The specialty of the Cardiff-based band is glossy emo-pop and friendly, grunge-influenced alt-rock. Jimmy Eat World and Foo Fighters are similar buzz bands, and Attack! Attack!’s music is similarly apt for a festival or big arena stage. Latest Fashion focuses on building dynamic songs for mega venues and leans toward a more anthemic sound, with producer Romesh Dodangoda (Funeral for a Friend, Kids in Glass Houses) adding some sonic weight. The fact that this album's cover resembles Electric Light Orchestra's Out of the Blue is telling, since, like a Jeff Lynne production, the recording sounds as thickly layered as possible. This new degree of sheen leaves Attack! Attack! sounding like a completely different band than they did on their debut. Still, they maintain a degree of muscle on rockers “No Excuses,” “Seen Me Lately,” and "Latest Fashion." Meanwhile, on the flip side, the power ballad “Best Mistake” finds the band setting its sights on a radio single. The crossover material leaves the album sounding a little stiff, and “No Tomorrow” seems manufactured to the point of feeling artificial, but if Attack! Attack! were aiming for commercially viable pop-punk, they hit the nail on the head with this one.