Big Time Rush is back with their third album since becoming a group in 2009. The album is the follow up to 2011's Elevate, which peaked at #12 on the Billboard 200. With this album, the band goes back to what they did on their 2010 debut album, BTR, where the songs were designed to go along with each episode of their Nickelodeon television series. The standard version of the album features 10 tracks, most of which are written or co-written by one or more of the boys. So, does Big Time Rush's third album have what it takes to bring the band mainstream success? Here's Hit Zone's track-by-track review. |
1.) 24/Seven
This song is the best way to open up the album and it's no question my favorite track on the album. I love everything about it from the beat & instrumentals to the lyrics like "try to knock us down, we'll get up every time. We can run this town, so let's do what we like." It could be me over-thinking it, but when I heard the lyrics of this song, I thought it's a perfect reflection of the media always being tough on the boys since the new wave of British boy bands came in and overshadowed them in the mainstream music market and how BTR just does their own thing and continue to be successful at it in their own way. If Big Time Rush decides to put a single out to radio again, I believe this would be a great choice.
This song is the best way to open up the album and it's no question my favorite track on the album. I love everything about it from the beat & instrumentals to the lyrics like "try to knock us down, we'll get up every time. We can run this town, so let's do what we like." It could be me over-thinking it, but when I heard the lyrics of this song, I thought it's a perfect reflection of the media always being tough on the boys since the new wave of British boy bands came in and overshadowed them in the mainstream music market and how BTR just does their own thing and continue to be successful at it in their own way. If Big Time Rush decides to put a single out to radio again, I believe this would be a great choice.
2.) Like Nobody's Around
I have to say the first time I heard this song back in March I wasn't fan, but upon a few more listens I learned to love it! It's by far one of my favorite songs on the album and kinda similar of what we've come to expect music-wise from the BTR boys. At this point in the album, these first two songs clearly have the message of living your own life and not caring what other people say/think. You'll see that they stay pretty true to that theme throughout. And the music video is great too, it's just a bummer it's short and cuts out James' amazing bridge...it's just not as great without it.
3.) Get Up
This song stands out from the other tracks on the album as it features DJ-like sounds in the beginning and in the chorus and then quickly changes into acoustic guitar for the rest of the song, combined they sound great together. It gives the song a overall cool vibe, not to mention the whole "get up, get up, ge-ge-get up" is pretty catchy.
4.) Song For You (feat. Karmin)
It's the first collaboration on the album (well the only one on the standard version), it starts out with a cool instrumental that reminds me of some other songs I've heard in the past. Karmin's rap is a great addition to the song and an unexpected one, who would've thought BTR & Karmin would do a song together? Not this guy.
It's the first collaboration on the album (well the only one on the standard version), it starts out with a cool instrumental that reminds me of some other songs I've heard in the past. Karmin's rap is a great addition to the song and an unexpected one, who would've thought BTR & Karmin would do a song together? Not this guy.
5.) Run Wild
Great message from this song as the boys sing about once again taking on the world with lyrics like "run wild and never look back, never look back, no hesitating. Stand up and don't shut up tonight is what we make it." Love it!
Great message from this song as the boys sing about once again taking on the world with lyrics like "run wild and never look back, never look back, no hesitating. Stand up and don't shut up tonight is what we make it." Love it!
6.) Crazy For U
Before I knew which one of the boys wrote this track, it was pretty obvious if you know the boys, as it opened opened with a nice reggae type feel at the start of the song, I got a Heffron Drive type vibe from this song. No surprise there as Kendall was the one who co-wrote this one. It's a good one and one of my favorites. Here's the shortened music video from "Big Time Tour Bus."
Before I knew which one of the boys wrote this track, it was pretty obvious if you know the boys, as it opened opened with a nice reggae type feel at the start of the song, I got a Heffron Drive type vibe from this song. No surprise there as Kendall was the one who co-wrote this one. It's a good one and one of my favorites. Here's the shortened music video from "Big Time Tour Bus."
7.) Picture This
This is a great boy band-ish song. It's simply upbeat, fun pop music that might be perfect for describing that summer crush or something like that. The boys all sound great in this one as well. Definitely another one of my favorites from the album
8.) Confetti Falling
Gonna be honest, not the biggest fan of this song, didn't really like when I first heard it used in a episode of the show and like it only slightly more after hearing the full thing. It's a bit of a love song and it's not for everyone I suppose. It serves its purpose though.
Gonna be honest, not the biggest fan of this song, didn't really like when I first heard it used in a episode of the show and like it only slightly more after hearing the full thing. It's a bit of a love song and it's not for everyone I suppose. It serves its purpose though.
9.) Amazing
With a title like a "Amazing," the song has to be pretty amazing, right? And well it is. It's another song about falling love with a awesome girl who makes them feel good. I wasn't sure how I felt about it at first, but upon a few more listens it's one of my favorites. And again if you know the boys it's obvious that James co-wrote this song especially with the use of the word "rad" in the lyrics.
With a title like a "Amazing," the song has to be pretty amazing, right? And well it is. It's another song about falling love with a awesome girl who makes them feel good. I wasn't sure how I felt about it at first, but upon a few more listens it's one of my favorites. And again if you know the boys it's obvious that James co-wrote this song especially with the use of the word "rad" in the lyrics.
10.) We Are
"We Are" is a good way to end the standard edition of the album. It wraps up the theme of love and living life on the album perfectly with lyrics like "Life’s too short to sit and wait for love to come our way. Light it up like fireworks, I wanna hear you say, we are we are.."
Final Verdict: 8/10 - As a Big Time Rush fan, upon first listen, I was disappointed and wasn't a big fan of the album as a whole. But I love BTR and I had to give them another chance so I listened again and I liked it more. For me, it's one of those albums that has songs that will just have to grow on you. However, because it was more similar to their debut album, BTR, I kinda feel like the guys took a step back musically with 24/Seven compared to Elevate. There wasn't much for subtitle mature references or the more R&B-ish sound like there was on Elevate, which was, personally, one of my favorite parts of that album. With that said, it's still an enjoyable album, just like their previous two. And what makes it even more special is that the guys contributing to the writing credits of all the songs. It's a good album for hanging out with your friends this summer.
24/Seven is out now and is available in standard and deluxe versions. The deluxe version features 5 additional tracks, including a collaboration with up and coming singer/rapper Jake Miller called "Lost in Love," one of my favorites. Believe me the deluxe version is well worth it because all 5 additional songs are A+. I highly recommend springing for it. Be sure to go support the boys and pick up or download a copy.
Posted By: Joe
24/Seven is out now and is available in standard and deluxe versions. The deluxe version features 5 additional tracks, including a collaboration with up and coming singer/rapper Jake Miller called "Lost in Love," one of my favorites. Believe me the deluxe version is well worth it because all 5 additional songs are A+. I highly recommend springing for it. Be sure to go support the boys and pick up or download a copy.
Posted By: Joe
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