Picture Perfect - Rose (Album Review)

Picture Perfect's new album Rose is another one in a big list of good albums that have been released so far this year. The artwork for this album was very eye catching to me and was one of the reasons I decided to check this out. I gave it more than a couple listens before deciding exactly what I would say about it.

It borders a sound that balances between bands like Somos, The Audition and Armor For Sleep. While Rose may not be the most original sounding album, I like the sound of the album and it's good lyrically. I would say the title track really reminds me of some of the elements Armor For Sleep used to use. "Voodoo" is a really good track and is a little heavier. I like the vocals and it has some of my favorite lyrics on the album. Odd enough the song uses the words "dead wrong" a lot (which also reminded me of Somos as they have a new song on their album titled "Dead Wrong"). In truth quite a few tracks remind me in sound of the recent Somos album. However, the Somos comparison is definitely a compliment. "Cycle" is another good song. I really dig the guitar riffs and the overall sound of the song musically. It might possibly be my favorite track. I really like how the track builds into this awesome pop/punk drum beat that when paired with the way the vocals were done makes the song a huge success for the band. "Carved Into The Bridge" has a really cool kind of 90's alternative rock vibe.

The only real drawbacks to the album are that a lot of bands are going for this sound and the way it was produced. The sound doesn't bother me. It may cause the band to get lost in the shuffle with some listeners. I think the lyrics and overall song writing keep it interesting enough to make the music enjoyable. I think the lyrics might help the band stick out from the others some. This definitely has a little bit more of a gritty sound production wise. I tend to like the production-at least it works for this band and album-but for anyone looking for a super polished sound this album doesn't have that.

This is definitely an album I could see myself listening to a lot and it definitely grows on me with repeated listens. I guess I would consider this an alternative punk album in terms of sound. The band takes some time to experiment around with sounds and it keeps the listening experience fresh. It's really worth your time to check out. It's chocked full of songs that I enjoy.

Purchase the album from Mutant League Records bandcamp page here:

http://mutantleaguerecords.bandcamp.com/