Army of Freshmen - Above the Atmosphere

Can this really be? Yet another meagre, completely unimaginative heap of steaming, power-pop pap? Unfortunately this is what California’s Army of Freshmen are treating us to - for the fourth time no less - with new album Above the Atmosphere. Hyped up on all-American sunshine and straight off the Get Happy Tour (which they unashamedly co-founded with fellow cheese heads Bowling For Soup) these fellas are perky enough to meddle with sickly boyband melodies yet keep it “real n’ rockin”. See also the Bon Jovi-like swooning solos and choruses of totally psyched “woah-ohs”. Wow indeed! Life really is great for these guys, as their tales of perfect days and dreams coming true demonstrate. Like a huge, fake, toothy grin, this is Prozac pop-punk at its most processed and synthetic, which can only leave kids over 7 feeling cold and uneasy. [Emma Smith]