Making The Tight Jean Brigade Dance
It’s all too easy to dismiss Cute Is What We Aim For as just another pop punk meets emo band vying for the love and adoration of teens worldwide. For starters there’s the overly long, does-what-its-says-on-the-tin name that instantly screams emo even before the band show any sign of actually living up to it (and yes these guys really do seem to be aiming for the cute vote, lacking only the cuddly bunny prop). On top of this they’re signed to Fueled By Ramen, a label continually linked to Pete Wentz, and an instant hint at their music styling. But forget labels, forget associations and forget stereotypes, CIWWAF are a band that are on their second album, surely an indication that there’s more to them than a paint by numbers emo punk attack? Well not exactly as ‘Rotation’ proves but sometimes a chunk of run of the mill hook driven punk swimming with a bloody emo heart isn’t always a bad thing.
From the get go ‘Rotation’ blasts all with a bombardment of hooks welded to angst fuelled lyrics that are impossible to resist. ‘Practice Makes Perfect’ radiates with pure unadulterated emo rock, rigidly sticking to the genre’s blueprint which usually might seem mundane but weirdly comes across well curtsey of CIWWAM. Its ‘Doctor’ that really sees the four piece pick up their stride though as the infectiousness levels are completely ripped up, refusing to budge until every foot is tapping along as before ‘Navigate Me’ skulks in to recite tales of every teenagers sexual troubles. And this is the basic concept of the album. Track after track lashes out with contagious beats that dance with an uplifting blend of bounce pulled together with angst filled lyrics that mask their woes behind the chirpy bounce of the tracks and whilst it may not be a new concept it works. ‘Hollywood’ attempts to mix things up slightly with a dash of latin style bristling amongst a blend of horns that mingle with lyrics about the history of Hollywood but the band quickly retreat back to their more trusted styling but even if its only for a brief moment we get to see a deeper side to the band who have clearly matured since their first offering.
For parents everywhere, CIWWAF provide the perfect soundtrack to teenagers’ lives. Safe, catchy and overtly chipper, ‘Rotation’ is on the surface promiscuous free rock that won’t fill the kids’ heads with thoughts of sex, drugs and rock and roll. Sure, scratch the surface and actually look at the lyrics and this isn’t the entire picture but geniusly CIWWAF have hidden behind their name and snuck in to become the band your parents will happily let you listen to, whether that’s what the kids really want is another story. For now just take the quartet for what they are; a band that deliver killer hooks weaved amongst angst ridden lyrics that snare all into their upbeat world that is skulking in the shadows ready to pounce. It’s nothing new, it won’t challenge your music world but it will have your feet tapping and may even entice the floppy fringe brigade to attempt some dance moves, tight jeans permitting that is.