Album Review: The Other Side by Tonight Alive

On their sophomore effort, Australia's Tonight Alive make a move to step out of the shadow of Paramore with an album that finds the band returning with a newfound sense of confidence. Pairing a heavier sound with more positive lyrics, The Other Side feels, at times, liberating. There's a self-assuredness not only to Tonight Alive's songwriting, but also to their performance, which gives the feeling that they are starting to find their groove and come into their own as a band.

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This is the record that proves Tonight Alive are a world class act... By all rights, ‘The Other Side’ should make Tonight Alive inescapable. Immeasurably more convincing than its predecessor, the Sydney band’s leaner, sharper second album confirms them as a truly world class outfit, with Jenna McDougall a bona fide star. While the Paramore comparisons remain valid, TA have certainly found their feet as songwriters here; ‘Lonely Girl’ and ‘The Ocean’ are anthems in the making, while ‘The Fire’ ushers in a glorious sugar rush of melody.

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I remember reviewing Punk Goes Pop 4 and Tonight Alive's rendition of "Little Lion Man" was one of the few bright spots on an otherwise tragic record. Before jumping into The Other Side, I rewinded to see what their 2012 release What Are You So Scared Of? offered and came away impressed. However, there were specks of potential. Sad to say, this follow-up lacks a lot, music-wise and heart-wise, and apart from one or two decent interjections, leaves a lot to be desired.There isn't that much pop-punk on the album.

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