All Time Low: For Baltimore (single)

As I write this review, Carly and I are still arguing about it. We both dig it pretty hard, which is good either way. But each of us only knows All Time Low from their 2009 single “Weightless,” a song from their third studio album Nothing Personal. This makes “For Baltimore” only the second All Time Low song we’ve ever heard. The second single from their latest album, Don’t Panic (due to release October 9), “For Baltimore” sounds remarkably different to me from “Weightless.” Carly vehemently disagrees.

“Weightless” is a really jazzed-up synth-pop song. It’s high energy, but in a non-threatening sort of way. It does turn into a more traditional modern rock song around the chorus, but still, it never really explodes or takes on a forward tone. Think of it as the difference between watching hysterical stand-up comedy and watching a nail-biter of a football game.

By contrast, this new single is pure, unadulterated punk. It’s full of the whiny vocals of punk music, combined with scratchy guitars, repetitive lyrics, and references to the band’s hometown.

I think I probably preferred the less aggressive single, but still, All Time Low is solid an skilled, if not particularly innovative in this outing.

“For Baltimore” is way punchy. In spite of its more aggressive attitude, though, it really is a kind of innocent and adorable love song. “I don’t wanna say goodnight/The city comes alive when we’re together/Why can’t Thursday last forever?…/Just do it for the memory/Do it for Baltimore.” It’s the synthesis of the musical itch and the lyrical soothing that makes “For Baltimore” a really successful, fun punk song.

Carly insists it’s not that different, saying that she can totally tell it’s the same band and that the songs are pretty darn consistent. To me, it’s the fact that I sense such a difference that really makes me excited about Don’t Panic. Clearly All Time Low is a musically diverse band, and I’m curious to see what their latest full album sounds like when it drops in October.

In the meantime, “For Baltimore,” along with Don’t Panic‘s first single, “the Reckless and the Brave,” is available on Spotify.