The Dollyrots – A Little Messed Up

The Dollyrots have always been a secret love affair of mine (well, maybe not so secret since I wore one of their t-shirts until their design pretty much faded into oblivion). Their energetic pop-punk topped off with Kelly Ogden’s energetic vocals captivated me in a way that always made me smile. Songs like Because I’m Awesome, My Best Friend’s Hot, Brand New Key, Cat Calling, Kick Me To The Curb,Jackie Chan and Valentine’s Day always found its way into my CD player or iPod playlist due to their energetic nature and light-hearted lyrical content.

Because of that, their third album  – and second Blackheart Records release – A Little Messed Up, was an anticipated release for me and I can’t help but feel slightly disappointed.

There’s really no reason to feel that way because A Little Messed Up isn’t that far removed from any of the bands’ previous materials. There’s still catchy pop-punk song one after another. They punch it up onBig Mouth, creating one of the punkier songs the band has ever released, and slow it down on the half-french Pour Tous Jours – and both styles deliver songs worthy of repeated listens.

As I listen to it now, intently for reviewing purposes, I’m feeling everything I once felt for the band. The songs are fun, light-hearted, catchy pop-punk with Ogden’s vocals being strong and memorable. Songs likeCalifornia, Rollercoaster, A Little Messed Up and Some Girls jump out of the speaker making you sing along.

Hell, just now Coming After You started playing and I’m loving the song. It’s fast, snotty and in your face; but somehow this is the first time I’ve ever really noticed the song. I’ve listened to the album over a dozen times and not once have I noticed the track. It’s sad because it’s a good song but I have to be actively listening to it to truly enjoy it – and that, in a nutshell, is the fundamental problem of A Little Messed Up.

It never truly jumps out and captures your ears the way Because I’m Awesome did. Instead, A Little Messed Up lives in the background all too often – never forcing you to stop what you’re doing to listen to it. Maybe it’s because it starts off horribly with a faded intro into Rock Control and from that point on, The Dollyrots are never able to pull you back into their gritty pop-punk song. Rather, you have to force yourself to dive in; when you do, you’ll be pleasantly surprised but, sadly, it will never fully captivate you.