The Chemistry

The Chemistry tend to fall into the glut of power pop or emo-punk bands in the vein of Jimmy Eat World or Taking Back Sunday. With the opening "From Within," the gloss and polish of a radio-friendly tune is ever present, but there are enough twists and turns to keep you interested. The middle portion, though, veers briefly into the "screamo" domain, something Alexisonfire is more experienced with. The musicianship is quite solid, especially on the darker groove running through "About You," although its chorus is far too sappy. Unfortunately, they seem rather bland and prepackaged on the limp "Deja Vous," which is very déjà vu. "The Same" has a bit more urgency yet doesn't pass the bar, although the high harmonies and melody do have some strength. The group nails "Hopeless," although some might consider it a throwaway filler track. Slower and a tad softer, the band's full talents are on display, relying on the songwriting more than the hook to drive the neo-power ballad home. "At a Glance" tends to disappoint, resembling Simple Plan if they were doing a Spin Doctors cover. The Chemistry then opt for a string-laden winding ditty entitled "Jones," which is adequate but far from spectacular. "Still Alive," however, veers into rock territory that groups like Incubus previously mined, with added crowd vocals on the chorus during this quasi-political rant. The theme of this album seems to be good but rather safe at the same time, especially on "Fear of Falling," which is perfect Vans Warped Tour material. The tender, Extreme-ish ballad "Last Impression" is a surprisingly good tune. Overall, this is a good album, but one where nothing smacks of greatness.