Strike one against this band: with the name Zombies! Aliens! Vampires! Dinosaurs!, I was looking for songs about zombies, aliens, vampires or dinosaurs. In what could be described as blatant false advertising, you don't get any of that.
Happy Music For Happy People
What you do get is an instant dance party; synthesizers and dance beats as the band rolls through track after track of upbeat love songs. Remember the poppy club songs from Depeche Mode, New Order and Sunscreem? Or more recently the synth pop songs by Reggie and The Full Effect? This is what hellogoodbye does. And they do it well.
Much of the album is loaded with synthesized tracks like "All of Your Love" and "Here (In Your Arms)". The songs are perfectly produced; crisp artificially produced beats and melodies that can force the crustiest punk to tap his toes.
Occasionally they break from the synth pop sound to add some guitar riffs, like on "Stuck To You", and "Oh, It Is Love", a loungesque crooner of a song accompanied by a banjo. It's a break from the band's synthesized music that still holds true to their themes. While these songs are also very good, ithey might be a bit too organic. They lacks the tight, manufactured sound that is hellogoodbye's greatest strength.
If you're happily in love, you'll find the songs sweet. If you're the cynical type, you might find the songs on Zombies! Aliens! Vampires! Dinosaurs! to be a bit too syrupy, but either way, if you like to dance, you'll find this album addictive.
And emo kids beware - it's definitely impossible to be moody or melodramatic when you're listening to these guys.
