Step Outside Yourself

Over It have nailed it on their Virgin debut — Step Outside Yourself is how pop-punk should be done. The band isn't ridiculously self-aware or full of self-importance; they're not an overly emotional, maudlin mess; they're not relying on in-your-face hooks to catch their audience's attention; they're not just ripping off every other decent band that's come before them. The guitar-driven Step Outside Yourself brims with pure emotion, super clean playing, excellent production, strong vocals, and interesting, multi-layered songs that demand multiple spins. This isn't a shiny and watered-down major-label unveiling that practically begs for commercial acceptance; instead listeners are treated to a mature band that knows how to make a cohesive-sounding record that can speak for itself. Over It don't hit listeners over the head so much as they let their album progressively unfold itself further with each listen. Acoustic guitar strumming briefly opens "Think Against the Grain" and goes on to appear almost as much as its electric counterpart, as in the excellent "Too Much Information" or the ominous brilliance of "Lost," standing strong in the mix with ease. This contrast works well, and sets an example for other components (backing vocals, piano, strings) to fit like puzzle pieces in each well-arranged track, the band needing no direct spotlight on any specific one to carry songs through memorably. The empowered "Where the Sky Begins" is ready for car trip singalongs, while "Come Out with Your Hands Up" even has a slight Latin feel. Though it certainly doesn't hurt that Over It are adept musicians who actually have something thoughtful to say, the guys simply play with their hearts — something that's surprisingly becoming harder to come by nowadays. Finally, pop-punk in the 2000s that is well thought-out and fun.