My Dear

It's lucky for New Years Day that they have the commanding vocal presence of lead singer Ashley at the helm of their sugary pop/rock exploits, since without her they'd be just another band waiting for a turn on the Warped Tour's main stage. Sure, they have ex-Home Grown bassist Adam Lohrbach in their ranks, but its doubtful anyone still spinning Act Your Age will be interested in New Years Day's debut, My Dear. But that's just fine, since there's a whole new generation of pop-punk fans happy to take their place and pump this record like there's no tomorrow. And really, why shouldn't they? My Dear is the perfect southern California record overflowing with youthful energy, super sticky hooks, swirling guitars, soaring choruses, and emotional vocals. Most every song could be a hit single, or at least included in no less than 50 MTV reality shows — try the girl empowering "You'll Only Make It Worse" or bright yet brooding "Sunrise Sunset." The album's lead track, "I Was Right," effectively trades off Ashley's sweet, pleading vocals with backing ones from her male counterparts all atop steadily crashing drums, making it like a sassier, poppier version of Taking Back Sunday. "Razor" throws in some dark dramatics, while a relative curve ball is thrown with the standout rockabilly-infused "My Sweet Unvalentine." It's no secret that the Warped crowd is a boy's club, so it is nice to hear the usual breakup topics coming from a different perspective, ensuring that the guys aren't always getting in the last word. But besides the prettier face up front, New Years Day are not doing anything distinctive from everyone else on the scene who can put together a catchy pop/rock song and then produce it until it's practically gleaming from across the room. There's not much depth and no real grit at all, but My Dear has enough singalong choruses that you can be sure this album is the band's launching pad to the big leagues, which seems to be the point here anyway. Panic! at the Disco best watch their backs.