Man Overboard - Heart Attack (Album Review)

I feel like Man Overboard has a lot to prove with this album. They were one of the biggest pop/punk bands in the scene a few years ago and since then the rise of groups like The Wonder Years and The Story So Far have given them a lot of competition which steered some of people's focus away from Man Overboard. Their competition has released big albums that have been met with warm praise this year. With this album Man Overboard is certain to put their hat in the race.

When the album artwork for Heart Attack was first released it was impossible not to know it was a Man Overboard album. The trademark guns and heart logo has become one of the more recognizable logos of the newer pop/punk generation. It serves as a reminder of the group and the music they've made. I've heard positive and negative criticism over the artwork. I actually think it fits the album pretty nicely.

After receiving Heart Attack for review I listened to it a few times to try and really gather an opinion. I thought about it in terms of previous Man Overboard albums. I also compared it to some of the much talked about pop/punk albums that have been released this year. After a few listens I found that Man Overboard have created a fairly solid album with Heart Attack. It is a pop/punk album through and through. Lyrically and vocally the band shows that they can do it better than most. It's catchy and well written. This album is definitely a good summer album. "Where I Left You" is a prime example of a really good summer song. It's catchy and just feels like a good song to listen to on a summer day. "Wide Awake" ends the album and it might be the best song on the album. It's a slower song but I like the way the vocals were done-I like it lyrically-and the tone of the song ends the album nicely. The band definitely has their formula refined on this album and they fire on all cylinders. The drums and guitar work sound great. Vocally the performance is fairly strong. Singers Zac Eisenstein and Nik Bruzzese aren't quite as abrasive as singers like Dan Campell (The Wonder Years) or Parker Cannon (The Story So Far).

To me the biggest downfall of the album may be that overall Man Overboard does a good job sticking with the pack, but they don't stick out from the pack quite as much as I would have liked on this album. That's not to say they aren't better than most of the pop/punk bands around. They are in a league with some of the bigger bands of the pop/punk scene. Every album they release has some hefty comparisons and competition. I'm also not necessarily saying any of this is a bad thing. Many people have said the same thing about Set Your Goals Burning At Both Ends and I still enjoy that album (sometimes that is the album I listen to the most by that band). Having room to grow isn't necessarily a bad thing. Basically I'm saying the group is headed in the right direction. I just don't think they've written their best album yet or reached their full potential as a band. With albums from The Wonder Years and The Story So Far being such dominate albums this year it's impossible for everyone to come in at number one.

What Man Overboard has accomplished with Heart Attack is writing a good album. This album has some really great tracks on it and it's well worth the listen. If you're a big fan of pop/punk you should enjoy this album. It may not be a better album than The Wonder Years The Greatest Generation, but in my opinion it is a stronger album than Man Overboard's previous album. Don't let my comparison to The Wonder Years dissuade you too much. Heart Attack is a good accomplishment for this band. After the first few listens I think this album might have some of the best Man Overboard songs the band has written to date. It has an instant catchiness that I really like.

Overall Heart Attack may not stand out quite as much as new releases by The Wonder Years or The Story So Far, but it's a well written album and is probably better than most of the pop/punk albums you'll hear this summer. The production fits the music perfectly and it sounds crisp. If you are a fan of pop/punk or alternative rock music I'd recommend checking this album out. Based on your own personal taste you might like this better than The Wonder Years or The Story So Far (like any review the music is ultimately up to the listener to decide on). Any comparisons aside I know this is an album I will listen to a lot this summer and it might end up growing to be my favorite Man Overboard album over time.