Matthew Morgis

Quietdrive is band that has had many ups and downs in its career. It had a Top 25 radio hit when it covered Cyndi Lauper’s “Time After Time,” then hit a few bumps in the road since that 2007 success. Now, Quietdrive is back with a new sound, a new lineup and a new self-titled album.

Quietdrive dropped the emo tag and turned into more of a pop-rock band on most of the album. The exception is opening track “American Jeans.” It can be considered hip-hop with its fun backbeat that frontman Kevin Truckenmiller belts out his love for music to.

“Way Out” is where guitar player Justin Bonhiver’s guitar riffs really start to grab your attention. With a punching lick underneath the chorus, Truckenmiller is able to make his lyrics of wanting out of his life fit just perfectly.

The real gem on the album comes midway with “C’est la Vie.” This tune is a radio-friendly, modern-rock driven anthem that tells the story of a couple trying to survive while one chases their dreams. You may find yourself singing along as Truckenmiller sings, “If we’re going down now, then we’re going down together.”

The band then slows things down with an acoustic track that changes pace with a female duet. “Birthday” and “It Says A Lot,” two of the shorter songs on the album, are good window-down, summer songs that are fast paced and perfect to bop your head with.

Overall the album captures a slightly different feel to Quietdrive’s past recording, and it’s for the better. Fans old and new will have no problem finding a track to get their heart racing.

Rating: W W W 1/2