Jacaranda 94.2 - Hit Play: Every Second Counts

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7.73

14.15

11.37

jhb
27°

pta
30°

ct
16°

dbn
27°

Plain White T’s – Every Second Counts

Track Listing

1	Our Time Now
2	Come Back To Me
3	Hate (I Really Don't Like You)
4	You And Me
5	Friends Dont Let Friends Dial Drunk
6	Making A Memory
7	So Damn Clever
8	Tearin' Us Apart
9	Write You A Song
10	Gimme A Chance
11	Figure It Out
12	Let Me Take You There
13	Hey There Delilah - (bonus track)

The songs are finely polished and lively, while the lyrics, performed by a strong, talented vocalist, compliment each composition; creating an exuberant and catchy album.
Every Second Counts is the most fun you can have with a CD player.

Review

The pop-punk/pop-rock genre has been flooded by many bands who try, but few of them really can and very few of them really bring something original to the table. I don’t know if Plain White T’s bring something original, but damn, they’re good at it. This is one of the better albums from the genre I have heard and that includes some of the albums from the pioneers. Every Second Counts, is the PWT’s first major label album and could very easily become one of those life-soundtracks or at the very least something to play (really loudly) on a road trip.

All of that being said, the PWT’s single that everybody is talking about, “Hey There Delilah”, is not really a reflection of the band’s sound, but it has hit number one on the charts and became the number one most downloaded song on iTunes. The “Hey There Delilah” currently burning up the charts is a re-release from the band’s 2005 album All That We Needed and yes, she’s a real person. Delilah DiCrescenzo, is a Columbia University graduate, aspiring actress and steeplechase runner, training for the 2008 Olympics. Tom Higgerson (PWT’s vocalist) met Delilah through a mutual friend and although they’ve never had a relationship, she inspired Tom to write “Hey There Delilah”.

The rest of the album is however quite a contrast to the single, songs like “Our Time Now”, “Figure It Out” and “So Damn Clever” are far more punchy, fun anthems, loaded with energy. I love, love, love, love the lukewarm sarcasm of starting a song called “Hate (I Really Don’t Like You)” with the word ‘love’. This was originally the first single from the album and will give you a better feel of PWT’s than “Hey There Delilah”. “Hate” doesn’t sport very complicated riffs or fancy hooks, but its simplicity makes it a powerful pop-punk anthem.

“You and Me”, is such a cute song, and is one of the songs where the lyrics carry the song better than the music; don’t get me wrong, the music is perfect, but with lyrics like ‘You and me, we like the same kind of music. That’s why we make a good you and me’, it will make you smile and maybe even remember a high school sweetheart.
“Let Me Take You There” is a nice surprise, hidden away at the end of the album. Tom harmonises beautifully with the musical composition and although not the pop-punk-rockish sound of the rest of the album and not the ballad that “Hey There Delilah” is, “Let Me Take You There” is a stunning song which beautifully illustrates the band’s diversity.

There really isn’t a song on this album that I don’t like. The songs are finely polished and lively, while the lyrics, performed by a strong, talented vocalist, compliment each composition; creating an exuberant and catchy album.
The musical arrangement is what makes the album and although it covers every angle of relationship drama, it does it in a catchy and head-bobbing way which does not become monotonous. This is an album that you put on to sing along to while jumping around – Every Second Counts is the most fun you can have with a CD player.