The ultimate goal of a debut album should be to set a band apart from its peers, but it appears that
Forever the Sickest Kids have missed that point with
Underdog Alma Mater. The album presents
Forever the Sickest Kids as decidedly average, with little that makes them stand out from fellow punk-pop/emo groups other than a slightly brighter sound. True, not every band can come out with groundbreaking works right out of the gate, but
Underdog Alma Mater has a paint-by-numbers feel that makes it seem like the bandmembers aren't sure how to set themselves apart. The most obvious example is lead singer
Jonathan Cook, who bases his delivery, intentionally or not, on that of
Panic at the Disco's
Brendon Urie -- what's to be gained if
Cook and the rest of the band are content to follow the lead of groups that have gone before without treading new ground or finding their own niche? It leads to songs like "She's a Lady," a bad relationship ditty that sounds like it could be an outtake from any number of groups, and "Coffee Break," a melodramatic tune that wrenches every last bit of angst from verses about over-connected youth ("I'm turning my cell off just to breathe/'Cause everyone I know just keeps calling me"), anxiety about growing up, and even the worry that "my mom hates my guts." Other times, as on "Breakdown," the group sounds unenthusiastic, although there are bright spots, like the light and bouncy "Uh Huh." ~ Katherine Fulton