never shout never. :: "What Is Love?"

There’s not much to say about emo/pop act never shout never. because they’re a fairly new act. Falling along the lines of The Rocket Summer and Owl City, never shout never. follows the same happy-go-lucky formula to make cutesie music. This genre is very polarizing and very popular right now so there’s no surprise that there are imitators. What Is Love? is the Missouri band’s debut album and though it’s nothing spectacular, never shout never. makes a valiant effort.

The opening track, “Love is Our Weapon,” is a great introduction to the album because you get what you hear in this album. No real surprises. First of all, I love the music! The poppy acoustic guitars and bass line are very catchy, but the songwriting is so very elementary. This is what kills the album in my opinion. The kid is only 18 and you can tell he listens to a boat-load of emo so he has much to learn and a lot of growing to do, when it comes to his songwriting.

“The Past” is another song that shows that lead singer/primary songwriter Christofer Drew Ingle has some growing to do. The lyrics are very literal (which I’m not too much a fan of) and cheesy. The musical arrangement, once again, is beautiful. Acoustic guitars accompanied by strings are pretty much always successful and this song contains pretty much nothing but that for the first half. Church organs, bigger drums and electric guitars then come in on top of everything else and really, it doesn’t sound bad! I just wish this kid’s songwriting matched his arranging skills. I mean, seriously? You’re 18 and you know best and you’re going to move away from your hell-hole of a home? We’ve all heard it, honey.

Now, “I Love You 5” is one of those songs that I am DEFINITELY ashamed of saying that I’m into. I can’t help it! The music is great and the lyrics are so cheesy but still cute. And who says “shoo-bee-do” anymore? “I Love You 5” is one of those songs that is meant for nothing more than to make some girl who is sick in love smile. You don’t really expect an 18 year old to make you think, do you? Well, sometimes they can …

The album’s title track and single is “What Is Love?” and it’s an okay track. The acoustic guitar is fast and reminds me of a Western song at first, especially when the bass drum “kicks” in (har har har). Who doesn’t ask that age old question of “what is love?” I think it’s all been said and done but everyone probably has a different definition. Ingle seems to be drawing from a personal experience from (the potential) divorce of his parents. If you’re from a Christian background (which Ingle is), divorce is not an option so you gotta stick it out: “Well Mama/I hope and dream/That you won’t leave/And I have a question/What is love?/Is it giving up?/Cuz that’s not how you raised me.” Though this album is pretty cheesy most of the time, you gotta admit that this song’s got a powerful message.

What Is Love? is an album that I’m sure will meet its fair share of negative criticism but I think this kid’s really got some potential. With the technology available to just about anyone these days, it’s easy to make great music but all never shout never. is missing is some writing skills. I give Ingle a couple of albums to really find himself and I hope in that time things really pick up for him! I’m a little embarrassed to say that I’m into this band, but really he just needs a little time and I hope you give it to him!

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