CD Review-Anywhere But Here Mayday Parade

By Shanda Block/entertainment editor

Nothing bad can be said about Mayday Parade’s new album, Anywhere But Here.

Mayday Parade provides its own version of indie, pop punk, emo and alternative rock to the audiences that like those genres.

Each of the five members all had the bright idea to pursue the oh-so-common dream of starting a band, so they quit their jobs and put all their efforts into the music industry.

Fortunately for them, they made it big.

This Florida band has now produced three albums, Anywhere But Here being the latest. This album has the band really sounding like Boys Like Girls in some songs. Since that’s also a good band, it works for them.

The album overall is about the usual “emo” topics — love, heartbreak, loneliness — but lead singer Derek Sanders still brings a bouncy, easy-to-love sound to the audience. The members basically have a cutesy, new-boy-band sound, not like ’N Sync per se, but a “scene kid” kind of cutesy.

It’s hard to pick a favorite from this album, but the song “Anywhere But Here” is relatable to everyone at some point in their lives.

“Secret love, are you there? Will you answer my prayer? Please take me anywhere but here.”

At times, we all want to be anywhere but where we currently reside.

“The Silence” has a touching sound and a beat that makes you take it seriously and like it a lot. It’s about a girl who’s had a hard life and the guy singing believes his love can help her. “Say you love me and the silence will set her free.”

The guitar introduction is good in the song “If You Can’t Live Without Me, Why Aren’t You Dead Yet?”

“What’s holding me back is the thought of time we never had…when you hear this chorus do you miss the way the world was spinning for us?”

Mayday Parade mainly captures the attention of younger audiences with its meaningful lyrics with catchy beats.