All Smiles – Oh For The Getting And Not Letting Go

After a week of listening to Oh For The Getting And Not Letting Go by All Smiles I can only remember 2 or 3 things. The album tends to be rather monotone. Mostly due to emotionally weak vocals and the trite songwriting formula. I do like the Doo-Wop/Beach Boys feel of the choruses in I Was Never The One and Brother I Know My Way. But the drumming is the highlight throughout the album. It’s smart and fits every song. It carries The Brightest Beyond and Our Final Roles As Birds, which has the most notable melody of all the songs.

After several listens I just feel like I’ve heard this before. But somewhere else. By someone else. Some more effort on the guitar parts would have helped. But the biggest boost to this album would have been some harmonies. The vocals and melodies really lacked and would have helped enhance some otherwise forgettable songs. It’s not a terrible record, it’s just unmemorable.