Search - Cute Is What We Aim for :: Rotation

Practice Makes Perfect.

Sirius | Sacramento, CA, USA | 06/30/2008

(4 out of 5 stars)

"This highly anticipated sophomore effort from Buffalo pop-punk outfit is both a step forward and step backward for the band. Lyrically, "Rotation" is much better than "Same Old Blood Rush With A New Touch." Not a single song contains the word "gent," which in and of itself is a major improvement. They no longer seem like they are trying to hard to be clever and their songs carry more meaning because of this. While many of the songs, most notably "Navigate Me," are still blatantly sexual, the band seems to have reached a new level of maturity. On the first single, "Practice Makes Perfect," lead singer Shaant acknowledges "I've become what a mother wouldn't want in a son," s sign that while these guys are far from grown-up, they are more self-aware than before. In "Hollywood," Shaant sings "the way we're living makes no sense/take me back to the age of our innocence." A line like that would not have fit on their first album.

Musically, Cute Is what We Aim For seem to have lost a little of the cuteness they were aiming for. There is no tune here that is as catchy as "Curse of the Curves" or "Newport Living." The second track, and likely the second single, "Doctor," probably comes closest. However, the melodies on "Rotation" are a little less generic, which means the band is pushing themselves in the right direction. Other highlights include "Safe Ride," "Marriage to Millions" and "Time."

There are some missteps, like the awful "Miss Sobriety," which is lacking any sort of structure or hook, but overall, "Rotation" is a solid sophomore effort. While by no means a masterpiece, it certainly makes me wonder what this band will do next. They already know that praactice makes perfect, they just need a little more of it."

It's not bad, but...

J. Casey | 06/25/2008

(3 out of 5 stars)

"they are starting to sound a lot like other bands, such as Blink 182, Academy Is, and frankly, Cartel. And even The Used on song "Doctor" which disturbed me. This is not a good situation, I thought they were very unique on their debut album. These new songs are all listenable, and there are standouts such as "Practice" and "Navigate Me," but there is something under the surface that is disappointing about this endeavor. It seems any band could have put these songs out, I suppose it just sounds very wooden."

Not the Same Old Blood Rush With a New Touch

Future Youth | California | 11/10/2008

(4 out of 5 stars)

"In Cute Is What We Aim For's second album there are some excellent songs to listen to, but there are also some songs that are bland. The best tracks are "Navigate Me" and "Doctor". The real problem that I have with the CD is that right when I am really enjoying it a song comes along that completely ruins the flow of the album. Another album that does this is Hawthorne Height's "The Silence in Black and White" because there are four amazing tracks on that CD that are in between spurts of mediocracy. Even though the bad songs on this CD are terrible the good songs are abosolutely amazing and they really hold the CD together."