Plain White T’s

Big Bad World

[3/5]



Success has its consequences. Plain White T’s fourth full-length, Big Bad World, will enter this world under the still-looming shadow of “Hey There, Delilah,” the band’s breakthrough ballad off 2006’s Every Second Counts, which won the hearts of teenagers and Top 40 DJs everywhere. Needless to say, the T’s’ latest effort has some Delilah-sized shoes to fill.

With Big Bad World, Plain White T’s seem completely cognizant of the very real one-hit-wonder threat; so instead of trying to reinvent the wheel, the band look to classic sounds that will supply the “roll” provided that T’s bring the “rock.” The band’s emphasis on ingenuity is evidenced by the fact that there isn’t a single blatant “Delilah” knock-off to be found on the new album, and they’re to be applauded for resisting that temptation. Doo-wop-inspired harmonies lend a barbershop charm to the Chicago quintet’s earnest and energetic pop-punk sound, though the retro styling of World occasionally comes off as more tired than inspired. The T’s should, however, be given credit for their attention to detail and old-school authenticity. The opening title track hits all the right notes from the perfectly pitched harmonies to the catchy chorus hook.

From there, though, the album kicks and stutters like a ’57 Chevy that just can’t find the right gear. The play on words in “1, 2, 3, 4” is just that–playful, but lacking any real lyrical ingenuity. The song succeeds in being timeless in that it doesn’t sound entirely new or old, but that’s probably not what the band were going for.

Clearly, Plain White T’s are growing up and moving into a simultaneously newer and older sound. This fall, the band will hit the road with the Rock Band Live Tour alongside fellow classic-pop revivalists Panic At The Disco, as well as Dashboard Confessional and the Cab-and that’s when the real test for Big Bad World will begin. (HOLLYWOOD/FEARLESS) Jennifer Grathwol