A Change of Pace Album: “Prepare the Masses”

A Change of Pace's Prepare for the Masses feels like one of the most incredibly manufactured discs I've ever heard. With a sound that might remind you of a heavier mallpunk band, such as Fall Out Boy or Motion City Soundtrack, and lyrics that on the political songs are like a bad grass roots anti war movement(with "controversial" titles such as "How to Rape a Country"), and on the love songs just seem incredibly mundane.

You listen to the album, and start to wonder... "is this a joke? a parody?" But as you get through, you realize something. This is produced in an extremely slick package. You'll be humming along with the stuff, not even realizing it. As a pop album, even with the attempts to be cutting edge, it works incredibly well, especially on the electronic tinged "I'm Alive", the drum-heavy sexy "War in Your Bedroom", and quite possibly the strongest song on the album "I Wanna Be Your Rock-n-Roll", and it hits you.

It's an incredibly fun listen. It's short, clocking in at 42 minutes, but at the length it's at, it just works. And that's what I'd say about the album as a whole. It's got many, many flaws. It borders on mundane lyrically, the musicianship doesn't feel anything special, and the sound is extremely manufactured, but as you listen to this, you can't help but like it. So with that in mind, even though my brain is telling me to tell you to ignore this album, my gut is telling you to give it a listen and enjoy it... just don't expect anything revolutionary.

This CD is radio friendly, and should be listened to from start to finish letting the context of the music along with the lyrics take you to the special place inside your head. In other words, a person should give this CD a listen, and you will see not only are you dancing in your seat but you are actually enjoying the tunes. This is a young band who are just finding their space in the musical spectrum, and they have grown tremendously since their first album. This is the kind of group you can grow with and not out of in time. Check it out.

To all of the haters of this band and CD, please remember that this band is made up of a group of teenagers. For their young ages, this is quite an impressive effort. The opening track, along with "Take Care" and "Shoot From the Hip" are the strongest tracks, the rest falling between emo and pop-punk. This CD is quite mainstream and radio-friendly, but that dosen't mean it dosen't have its share of moments. And it does offer a lion's share of huge hooks and catchy riffs. Only thing is the relative similarity of many of the tracks...but if you like the sound, then that's just fine. This may not be the big breakout CD from this band just yet, but they have time to grow. It is a step in the right direction, especially lyrically. If these guys put it all together the next time out, look out.

finaly i can get a cd that i can listen the whole way through and not skip songs, i love every song on this cd. I would recommend you buying it, i listen to this cd probly everyday. The kid things for 13 year-olds but im 15. and i dont have an account here.

ACOP's second full length offering "prepare the masses" is anything but a "change" from the corporate faux post-hardcore trash we're subjected to on a daily basis by taking back sunday and so they say. If you're expecting something catchy, you'll be letdown. If you're expecting something heavy, you'll be letdown. If you're expecting something original...forget about it!

Aside from a small handful of radio singles, there is almost nothing memorable about "prepare the masses". It is what it is; generic post-hardcore. If you're a diehard fan of 'so they say' or 'taking back sunday' (post-tell all your friends), you may want to give this a shot. Anyone else, stay away!