In an album, the вЂњquietвЂќ song usually becomes that big, standout ballad (вЂњMiserable at BestвЂќ from A Lesson in Romantics or вЂњRemembering SundayвЂќ from So Wrong, ItвЂ™s Right in All Time LowвЂ™s case). The pacing isnвЂ™t a dealbreaker in this album, but this time, Sunnyland has four acoustic ballads, which is a first for Mayday Parade. If a record starts out with a hit like вЂњJamie All OverвЂќ, youвЂ™re setting high standards for the rest of the album, and if the record doesnвЂ™t keep up, youвЂ™re going to lose the listener by the first half. For instance, A Lesson For Romantics started out with banger after banger, and it feels like the album declined gradually with their ballads-likewise with Anywhere But Here and their self-titled. WEAKNESSES:ДЄlthough Sunnyland has the best album pacing so far, Mayday Parade has always been a little iffy with pacing in their records. Like any Mayday Parade album, of course, you might want a box of tissuesвЂ“ just in case. The heartfelt vocals are spot on and genuine as always, with just enough passion to shed an extra tear. The drumming is also very well-balanced, holding down a solid beat and incorporating more intricate rudiments for fills when necessary. The guitar work in this album is very orchestral, with every note weaving each other and making the best out of its intertwined synergy. Though most of the song is calm and collected, it has a catchy, emotional chorus with an outstanding melody. ItвЂ™s a Mayday Parade song that doesnвЂ™t really sound like Mayday Parade, but the emotional reach is just as intense. вЂњSatelliteвЂќ is perhaps the biggest highlight of the album. And obviously, вЂњItвЂ™s Hard to Be Religious When Certain People Are Never Incinerated by Bolts of LightningвЂќ is clearly a throwback to the lengthy song title trend of the 2000s pop-punk. вЂњHow Do You Like Me NowвЂќ sounds like a вЂњmatureвЂќ rendition of вЂњWhen You See Your FriendsвЂќ from their self-titled (especially the chorus), and вЂњIf I Were YouвЂќ is a fun, melodramatic banger with an incredibly infectious hook and a tasty guitar solo. Tracks like вЂњStay the SameвЂќ and вЂњLooks Red, Tastes BlueвЂќ can be straight out the second half of A Lesson in Romantics, even reminiscent of the whole Jason Lancaster vibe. вЂњIs NowhereвЂќ encapsulates a darker sound explored in Black Lines and perfects it in true Mayday Parade fashion. The band obviously takes advantage of their strengths-for both old and new fans. This is Mayday Parade moving along with the genre but also incorporating their own special touch. You can definitely hear that this track has more of a modern pop-punk sound (a little like Neck Deep or State Champs). As a Mayday Parade track, itвЂ™s quite refreshing to hear something happier. STRENGTHS:ДЄlthough Mayday Parade has never really been associated with the summery pop-punk vibe, the album starts out with a warm sunrise with вЂњNever SureвЂќ. You donвЂ™t come across a lot of strong comebacks in pop-punk too often today, but Sunnyland is an exception. Three years after Mayday Parade dabbled with darker, unprecedented styles in Black Lines, the Tallahassee romantics are back with their sixth LP and first release with Rise Records, Sunnyland.

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