Album Review: All Time Low - Nothing Personal
There are reviews done for the love, and then there are reviews written because someone has to carry the shovel behind the elephant. When you name your band All Time Low and play pop punk, you most likely represent the elephant. I’m putting on my elbow length gloves and heading for the tool shed as we speak…
Fifteen seconds into Nothing Personal, it’s clear Dylan Thomas and Robert Frost aren’t writing the lyrics: “I wanna feel weightless, and that should be enough, but I’m stuck in a fucking rut.” Its wondrous “wings” and “soaring” aren’t also up for discussion. Using the word “fuck” in the first verse of the first song so the kiddies’ll listen: check. (But only say it once!) Add a drum machine and muted picking before the guitars come in. Don’t forget to add a couple of pick slides down the neck, and make sure to sing through your nose. Yes, yes, and yes. With lines like “Maybe it’s not my weekend, but it’s gonna be my year,” where do you start? These nuggets of wisdom are for the crowd pissed that their mom won’t give them the keys to the Land Rover for the show. Lame, mom! Nothing Personal includes more “Oh’s” than a bowl of Cheerio’s and more “Uh’s” than a pinup photo shoot. When writer’s block hits All Time Low they grunt and moan and call it lyrics.
Just running down the track list, we get pearls like “Damned if I Do Ya (Damned if I Don’t)”, “Break Your Little Heart”, “Keep the Change, You Filthy Animal”, and “A Party Song (The Walk of Shame)”. Calling copulation “doing ya” screams class. “What should we call our song about breaking a heart?” No need to be creative. On “Keep the Change, You Filthy Animal”, we get the literate allusion to Macauley Culkin’s magnum opus – and are never told exactly why that’s relevant to a song about sabotaging a relationship. And “Party Song”, with the ridiculous aside “(The Walk of Shame)”, extols the importance of one night stands. That All Time Low writes anything that doesn’t involve their penises deserves a round of applause.
If All Time Low had made Nothing Personal in 1994 when Dookie broke pop punk to the masses, it would be worth noting, but after hundreds of interchangeable pop punk albums since, does 2009 really need one more? Why am I even asking this question? The answer is no! Here’s a pocketful of advice for guitarists: if the extent of your talent is power chords and a major scale or two, you’d be well served to take notes in calculus and finish your homework. Unless of course, you have your sights set on Hopeless Records which is clearly okay with putting out any album about banging teenage girls and getting drunk. (High school is way complicated and stuff!) All Time Low graduated high school in 2006, and that makes Nothing Personal creepy. You wonder about their web browser history. Maybe they’re talking about shallow, meaningless sex with college girls. That raises the bar. I guess that’s kind of punk rock - if Gene Simmons hadn’t been doing that since ‘72.
Nothing Personal represents — I avoided a pun as long as possible — an all time low for the band. So Wrong, It’s Right and The Party Scene weren’t brain surgery but at least they kept the lack of talent quiet. Nothing Personal showcases the void. The slick veneer of Nothing Personal can’t hide the lack of substance. Oh wait, is that a member of All Time Low giving the double-flick salute in promotional material? You so hard. Look we’ve got a regular Johnny Cash on our hands. My bad.
NoFx, MxPx, Propaghandi, and a stable of pop punk standbys continue to release records worth listening to for pop punk aficionados. Innovation isn’t an issue in this line of work (which is fine by me). Credibility is. The subject matter undertaken by these bands (particularly MxPx) has changed over the years. Yeah, women are still “chicks”, but politics and the like are on the table now – and at least NoFx knows how to tell a joke.
The unspoken golden rule of music consumption is that you aren’t responsible for what you listen to as a minor; however, when you turn legal, you better have enough sense to eBay that junk. Nothing Personal (judging by the comments on All Time Low’s Pure Volume page) will be protected under the aforementioned bylaw for almost everyone that listens to it. That doesn’t mean it isn’t worth warning people off of All Time Low. Do you stand by and watch a toddler grab a hot poker from the fire? Okay, maybe you do. But at least you have the decency to bandage the hand afterward. Nothing personal, All Time Low, but your album sucks.
Rating: 
Check Out:
“Break Your Little Heart”
Buy:
Nothing Personal
I came across this review when I was looking up an ATL tour date.
I have to agree with you on ONE note- yes, they do write some songs to target a certain audience: the classic 15yr old girl, weightless was the first song they heard AFTER seeing a picture of the crew and theyre only at the show for ATL and have no idea who the other bands are. on that note, yes, you are right.
However, you have to give ATL some credit. They’ve worked their butts off for a while to get to the top of the Bamboozle and Warped Tour line up. Alex Gaskarth does deserve recognition for his talented voice (personally, I dont think he sings through his nose) and the two power chord thing was a little messed up. I think Nothing Personal has the most diverse set of songs yet. Of course their old stuff (circles, lullabies, and my paradise) are memorable too. Also, their energy at their live shows is nothing short of infectious. They are able to replicate what they do on their album while still incorporating some “live only” stuff into their songs. Everyone can’t help but dance, sing and bop their heads to the beat of each song.
I understand that you dislike All Time Low and this album greatly, but you don’t have to write false, extremely harsh stuff about a band who greatly deserves their success- nothing personal.
fuck you.
luke, you’re pretty low. all time low is an amazing band. their songs aren’t about their dicks, they all have meaning.
you really need to learn to shut the fuck up because everything you wrote here is un true. jack, the guitarist, is amazing- and doesn’t play the same 2 chords for every song. maybe try LISTENING to more then one song before you go and post this bull shit. all if it is just fucking ridiculous.
the first song, weightless, DOES have the word fuck in it. ITS NOT THE ONLY SONG THAT SAYS FUCK IN IT. maybe if you listened to the whole album you would hear the other songs that say fuck in it. (again, my point on listening to the whole thing before you say dumb shit like this)
I think you guys should go grow some balls. Just because you don’t like this music doesn’t mean other people don’t either. There music is great, and its NOT just about alcohol and sex- there are meanings behind every song.
Ever heard the song “Lullabies” by All Time Low? It’s about (Alex) the lead singers brother, who commited suicide. Any mention of having sex or their penises in that song? NO.
You can’t go and say that their songs aren’t about anything but sex. Yes, i agree, maybe one or two is about sex and partying- but the 10 out of 12 songs that aren’t about that have real meaning.
All Time Low’s album is GREAT. trust me, the 70,000 people out there who bought this album agree with me. So do every person attenting their SOLD OUT shows across america.
Thanks, but this review was completely unnecessary. Seriously, grow a pair and stop complaining.
You kids have no common sense that this band ,Writes cookie cutter material and lyrics not because they suck but because they see it as the easy way to market themselves and make easy money off of you.Hey maybe i should start a band again because its way too easy.Hmmm im gono just write songs about how much booze i can drink and how many chicks ive slept with.Yea if i was that despereate for attention maybe.But i know you guys will be stupid enought to do it.Pop punk should be fun,fast and catchy put it needs some variety for human sake these days!
But again any shitty cookie cutter carbon copy band gets signed to a label nowadays.Without standards anyone who sets foot on stage is talented now? I mean seriously sports,dance and acting have standards so should music..
Luke that was a hilarious review!
Dont listen to these conformist followers.
I cant take them seriously one bit they start listening to a band in 2007 or after and think they know everything.
well nearly the 70,000 people who bought the album disagree lolzz
when was the last time any of those lame ass 90s pop punk bands charted??
lol thanks good game
i think the authorr is just stuck in the 90s trying to compare whats popular today to some garbage from when he was a teenager lolzzzzz pwned
70,000 isnt shit Most succesful major label bands sell over 500,000 copies.your just a fucking follower..Nice username Douche ,your sooo brootal.
pwned? wow you kids thse days are retarted.
Im not stuck in the 90’s and i think more than half the bands now suck. the Pop punk scene now is full of shitty generic boy band Poseurs that pick up guitars as an excuse to fit in.
Bands like Blink 182,Fall out boy,the Starting Line ,Taking back sunday did it well. I have not heard of one new band that has wrote nething besides girls,heartbreak,and parties.It doesnt take much to write shitty generic music for you kids to cream over.
WTF ARE YOU ON ABOUT!?! ALL TIME LO RULE A**HOLES!
So there are people who like a band and people who don’t. I don’t understand why everyone has to get up in arms about it. Chances are that the author wrote this critique as an opinionated piece meant to inform people who haven’t listened to ATL. As fiery as his critique is (I would have preferred to see a more professional critique that didn’t involve so much bashing, there are better ways of expressing your feelings about a song) he has a right to give his opinion and all the ATL fans who are offended by reviews like this don’t have to read them. There is no reason for this big string of angry posts.
Wow… Personally I am a big fan of ATL, but when I got the new cd I hated. But since I am in a band that does ATL covers songs from time to time, I knew I had to give it a try. In couple days it grew on me…. I still like the older ATL stuff better…
I have no idea who Max is, but I’m glad he’s writing post scripts!
NOthing personal was amazing get over it
P.S IM MAX 
No matter what your opinion of the band is, by listening to them, and complaining about them, you are telling people about them. Your adding fuel to the fire that you highly dislike.
If someone says a band is THAT bad, then most people would go and see for themselves, and like it.
Many people love All Time Low. Are you forgetting that teens can choose their own music and dont just listen for the hope that the song is about them? Or watch the videos to stare at the band members? People like you ruin things for the rest of us. Fair enough, you dont like it, but do you really have to go at it like a kid disecting a mouse in biology class? (not a pretty sight)
Ill wait for the day you write a review which isnt full of shit.
AND I QUOTE: “Calling copulation “doing ya” screams class.”
Ok, when have you actually heard the word ‘Copulation’ being used in a song written this century? Never? Thought so. What would the lyrics be if it were up to you? ‘Damned if i engage in copulation with you, damned if I don’t’ …?
Thought not.
…Fool.
Luke -
The main issue I have with this album is that a good portion of it was essentially ghostwritten by 4 other people besides the band, which lends little credibility to it. The kid can sing, no doubt, and I can’t say they aren’t a talented band. Their first EP is actually pretty impressive lyrically for a band of this genre. Check it out. Here, though, they’re clearly just playing to their target crowd and you can’t fault them for that, at that level of the music BUSINESS that’s what you do as a band. That being said, on its own merits, I’ll agree that the album is “Nothing Special.” To be your counterpoint, I will say that singing about politics and such isn’t the only way to be a “credible” band…but in agreement, having 4 other people write your album lends you no cred. That’s just my two cents. I don’t love or hate them, it’s just not my bag. Definitely an amusing review nonetheless, though, and the reactions from the defenders are always priceless.
Patrick Connors, that was some jab. You must have felt pretty bad ass typing it. Oh, go get yourself a Budweiser, you!
Fuck you. I’m pretty sure theycan play a lot more than a few power chords. Have you heard the song Rembering Sunday? Your acting like they just woke up one day and were famous. They actually worked hard to get where they are today. Just cus you can’t play an instrument or get a girlfriend doesn’t mean you have to to hate on them.
Your a faggot- Nothing Personal
I completely agree with SSxx and Cruz.
And I can’t stand people who make assumptions, like tyler and Mike, and think they’re so cool because they put down someone else they know nothing about.
Guess what? I’m 24. I found this accidentally, and only know the band because my boyfriend showed them to me. They’re okay, but nothing that special. I mean, NOT EVERY DAMN BAND has to be innovative. And guess what? From listening to a batch of songs, you can’t define their talent. How do you know they just didn’t have anywhere to include it?!
Listen to Cruz, go listen to Remembering Sunday. That’s the main reason I like this band; I know that they can put stuff out like that.
Last time I heard, they were younger than I was. They still have plenty of time. And how the hell does being in the music industry have to do with wanting to be a rock god? They’re either teenage or a little older, of course that’s what they’re going to sing about. That’s the target audience.
Like it’s been said, if you want to be taken seriously as a reviewer, don’t insult the people making the music. They never did anything to you, try critiquing the actual music.
haha, stumbled across this review/site as I was googling random stuff.
Teenage girls are coming down on you like a freaking pack of wolves for saying anything negative about their favorite band of hottiez.
To the author, please don’t be discouraged from critiquing releases in the future because an army of 16 year old, estrogen enraged girls with little grasp over the english language type up a paragraph of run-on sentences and “ur musik taste sux cuz all time low wuldnt b famouz if they wernt gud” insults because you dared to point out some flaws in their favorite boy band.
I thought it was a pretty accurate and funny review. Is All Time Low catchy? Yeah, I suppose in some ways they are. Are the songs and band formula simple? Yes it is.
Not good. Not Bad.
I agree with this review wholeheartedly. I’m tired of teen age boys who took a guitar class in high school thinking they can be the biggest rock gods ever by talking about their love life.
Gay jokes. Witty AND classy.
Hey luke ur a faggett i mean get a life if u dont like the album thn dont listen to it and dont blog about it,go talk it over with ur butt buddy, just because the band wont date you doesnt mean you have trash talk there album, you suck……..weiner -nothing personal
Honestly, I think the “fag” that wrote this review, probably got no girls to date/sleep with him during high school, and he feels salty that some punk kids that can play power chords and a major scale or two can go out and write a few dozen songs, and bang more chicks that this guy will ever bang in his life. Listen to “Remembering Sunday”, that has at least 3 different chords. Actual chords, not power chords. I respect the fact that you have your own opinion, but like the other people said before, why insult the guys writing it? It makes them happy, it makes their fans happy, and that’s what matters. Do you think Metallica wrote their songs trying to impress Dr Dre fans, or Eminem wrote his songs trying to impress Blink 182 fans? Probably not…. there is such a thing as a target audience, and there is such a thing as playing in a band, and enjoying what you do, and having fun while doing it, and still getting PAID an ass load of money doing it. I’m sure All Time Low has a ways to go to be Fall Out Boy status…but, they’ll get there at some point. This music is taking off again, with bands like Boys Like Girls, Cartel, and Plain White T’s helping out along the way. That’s why bands like Blink 182, Jimmy Eats World and others are not really in the mix anymore…the kids ran them outta their homes.
Besides, what’s wrong with partying, and having fun, and getting laid? That’s a good time in my book…
Good review! Its normal for a bands fans to be defensive if someones telling them that they thought the album wasn’t up to snuff.
Whoa, whoa, whoa!
Yes, selling well DOES mean they have talent. They’ve had a steady decline since then, but they still have that loyal fanbase.
Saying Paula Abdul and Hannah Montana sold lots of albums too? I am not a fan of either, but there’s a reason that they’ve gotten this far. They connect with their targeted fanbase. Marketing can only go so far, let’s look at Soulja Boy; he had a huge song and even a dance to go with it that everybody tried to learn. Has he made any kind of impact since? Very, very minor. Honestly, no one likes him.
I don’t care if you like the album, I don’t think relentless touring means a band is good, or anything.
But you went too far when you insulted the actual people. There’s no way you can shoot some wanna-be witty comeback in response, because no matter how much you defend yourself, it’s still being a dirtbag.
To the one who claimed Fall Out Boy didn’t sell out their own Chicago-they have a few times, they’re not going to sell out every date they go on. They’ve played sold out arenas plenty of times and even snagged a Grammy nom, and still get nominations to just about every kind of music award. Every album is either gold or platinum, they’ve had #1 debuts, everyone knows who they are, they don’t get to where they are with absolutely no talent, and still have loyal fans.
And don’t give me any “I’m-not-biased!” BS. Keep an open mind, think of their targeted fanbase, and next time you write a review, tell what your opinion of the MUSIC is and not make assumptions or insult the people making it.
“So Wrong, It’s Right and The Party Scene weren’t brain surgery but at least they kept the lack of talent quiet. Nothing Personal showcases the void.”
Ha, so true! It all is… and you said it perfectly. It baffled me that I hadn’t read a review like this sooner. But I’m glad I got to read this! Definitely made my day. Two thumbs up.
ok i bought the album. i thought it was like amazzing! i love like the whole thing. i mean i think i loved So right its wrong more but like nothing personal was really good. like i think this review was a little unfair. listen to the album a little closer next time fag. it has a little more meaning then you give credit for.
I think a lot of this review is unfair, however I think it’s more unfair to cause such a huge reaction over one review.
As we can all see, a lot of people like the album and there are always going to be people who don’t like the album.
But everyone is allowed and opinion and so is this author.
However I do question that you claim you don’t like pop punk, yet you are reviewing a pop punk band, surely this isn’t going to be a fair review if you don’t enjoy the genre? Maybe in future next time get someone who’s a fan of pop punk to give their opinion on the album. And you can sit at home listening to whatever you like.
Hope I’ve given a fair analysis from both sides
To all the people who are bashing this guy’s review, calm down. Everybody has different opinions on albums. He’s just giving his honest review on what he thought. I love NP, but that’s just me. If he wants to write a review about how much he hates this album, then so be it.
hi, i’m sure the person that wrote this has no more talent then all time low does, so i’d shut up. (: thank you. now i’ve been an all time low fan for 2 years, meaning i know all their songs, from old to new. but they worked hard on this album, & to just trash it, not even giving some credit? r u serious? reality check: their a good band, that actually worked to get where they r, they started out in a freaking VAN. their image might be a little crazy, but who is anyone to judge.
i like this album, just as much as i love “so wrong, it’s rigth” & if u don’t like the album, & have nothing nice to say, then don’t say it. i’m an atl fan, & i support them with whatever they do.
u need a life if ur going to sit there on a computer & complain on & on about a talented, hard-working band that will probably never even know u wrote this. -nothing personal.
By the way, thanks for the comments. It keeps me on my toes.
A couple of questions for anyone interested: What should I base my review on if not for the band (including their entire career), their lyrics, and their music? It is indeed hard to make it in the music industry, but does that alone mean a band has talent? What did I write that makes people keep assuming I only like/listen to music made in the 90s?
@Cassie: I have no problem admitting I’m wrong, but someone has to give me evidence of why I’m wrong. Other than saying you don’t like this particular review, what are you basing that statement on? The first thing you’ll need to do if you are serious about knocking me off my soapbox is explain why this album is great (other than the band made three albums and some EPs and sold records). Remember Paula Abdul, Hannah Montana, and The Wiggles have sold a lot of records too and made it in the record biz.
No, I never said lie. But don’t try and trash their whole career.
but thanx for trying to make me look like an idiot.
Nice try. =)
Cassie, this statement bothered me, “You may not like the album, but that gives you no right to critisize the band.”
So, what should we do? If we’re not a fan of the album, we don’t like it, and we feel it’s underwhelming, or, god forbid, bad… should we write fiction and lie? Total mind blower.
Jay and David, just because it was a ballsy review doesn’t mean anything. Frankly, most ‘balsy’ people are looking for attention. You may not like the album, but that gives you no right to critisize the band. It’s hard to make it in the music idustry, so they obviously have talent or they wouldn’t still be around. I agree that there are many good pop punk bands from the 90’s, but we are no longer in the 90’s; stop dwelling! Times change, and so does everything with it.
So ballsy review, yes.
Stupid review, yes.
Should you continue writing reviews, no. Why? you obviously have no decent taste in music from this decade.
kaythanx BYE!
P.S. Nothing Personal =)
Points and views accepted…
However opinions may vary when considering what an ‘exciting’ line-up is; for me personally, to see All Time Low and perhaps other bands such as You Me At Six, I would be ecstatic.
Nevertheless, Fall Out Boy are still a great band, and have proven this with a number of great albums.
And that may be one of the reasons they reformed, but lets be honest, if Blink are reforming… whose to argue about their reasoning?
The point is, to criticise All Time Low on their musical ability and their songs’ lyrics/subjects/stories is absurd, when quite clearly they are one of the most up and coming bands to date. I am sure numerous fans would back me up.
Sam, sorry to comment, but this was too good to pass on…
they are playing events such as Vans Warped! Tour>>>
When was the last time this festival put out a relevant and exciting line up? Maybe it’s because they usually come to Chicago when Lollapalooza is here, but I can’t remember them having a line up that caught my eye since maybe 2001. Then again, I was a teenager.
supporting bands like Fall Out Boy>>>
The same Fall Out Boy that couldn’t sell out their own Chicago dates?
and writing songs with Mark Hoppus (Blink-182)>>>
You got me there, I guess, but isn’t he reforming Blink after a quasi-failed attempt at going left field with +44?
Your witness.
How could you possibly say this album sucks? This is by far their best work and an awesome album, at least. This is one of the fastest growing bands and have been for the past few years; they are playing events such as Vans Warped! Tour, supporting bands like Fall Out Boy and writing songs with Mark Hoppus (Blink-182) and yet you have the audacity to state there is a “lack of talent” and “lack of substance”. So really, it’s your review that deserves 1/2 a star.
@MiKeey and @Lindsey: One thing to clear up: I don’t only listen to music made in the 90s. I like stuff that’s released in 2009. (Check my other reviews.) Also - and this is an honest question - does selling well give an album artistic merit? I say no, but I’d like to hear other thoughts on this.
Love this review! So ballsy! Good work Luke.
well, i think you have no clue what your talking about
i mean just because YOU dont like it doesnt mean that the album sucks and the band has no talent.
i mean i would love to see what 90s crap you call music after reading this.
and take note HOW MANY PEOPLE ACTUALLY BOUGHT NOTHING PERSONAL and you still think it sucks?
your review is a load of shit
-nothing personal.
well nearly the 70,000 people who bought the album disagree lolzz
when was the last time any of those lame ass 90s pop punk bands charted??
lol thanks good game
i think the authorr is just stuck in the 90s trying to compare whats popular today to some garbage from when he was a teenager lolzzzzz pwned
This is by far a priceless pop punk album review! Genius, my friend. It’s refreshing to note that there is a difference between good and bad pop punk albums, even as interchangeable as some of them might be.
I’m all for pop punk as long as the release doesn’t feel so diluted that I can’t distinguish the band from everyone else on radio.
Cheers to you, Luke! Ballsy review, I like it.