Step Outside Yourself,
Over It
If, like me, you've been an Over It fan for quite some time, the band's move to a major label has certainly not come before time. If 'Silverstrand' didn't get you going, 'Timing Is Everything' certainly would have done - a record that is easily in my top 10 of all time. A move to Virgin subsequently came about and 'Step Outside Yourself' is Over It's first in the big leagues. Sadly it's a record written with the radio firmly in mind and while still a great record, older fans may find some of the sugary sweet hooks a little too hard to stomach.
I have to stress that this is still a very good album, but I don't feel it maintains the very high standards the band had previously set for themselves. The pace has gone, and this is probably the most noticeable thing for me. While 'Think Against The Grain' and 'Gunslinger' are fine songs, they don't break out the speed like 'Serial Kisser' did back in the day. The latter track is actually a beauty, but it doesn't kick in like the band did on previous albums and it leaves you feeling a little flat. 'Siren on the 101' makes a reappearance, probably as a forthcoming single, and it's one of the stronger tracks here. It does highlight how great a band Over It are mind; the three-way vocal harmonies are brilliant and that guitar riff is a bit of a classic.
There are a number of very good songs here. 'Too Much Information' has a huge, huge hook, while the jaunty 'The Energy' will stick in your head in a way that Over It have never previously managed to do. The songwriting has matured, there's no doubt about it, and as a group Over It sound like a bunch of musicians on the same wavelength. If I had a complaint at times the songs are a little too slick and a little too 'made-for-MTV', but I guess pop-punk bands need to be polished nowadays. There's no doubt 'Step Outside Yourself' will be a strong seller and undoubtedly it will raise the band's profile which must be a good thing. However, having listened to this for the first couple of spins I did go back and reach for the older records, which may not be the best benchmark for older fans. Still, if the band can reach new music lovers and get the credit their years of hard work deserve, surely that cannot be a bad thing?
» Official Website
» Listen on Myspace
