Zebrahead: Get Nice! (2011)

It's the refreshing sounds of bands from my college years. I have always had a soft spot for the mix of pop-punk and rap-rock that Zebrahead trades in but ever since original singer Justin Mauriello left and was replaced by Matty Lewis after MFZB I just haven't found them that interesting. Part if it is that Lewis' voice sounds like a 15 year old. Combine that with the increasingly sing-songy choruses the band presents and their songs often transcend catchy to become full out annoying. This is no more apparent than on jokey tracks like terrible hair metal referencing "She Don't Wanna Rock." There's a fine line between fun and lame "She Don't Wanna Rock" goes way beyond that line. While there's nothing else as awful as that song on Get Nice! there's nothing too fantastic either. "Nothing To Lose" has a chorus that is made for sing-a-longs even if the song goes on for a bit too long, lead single "Ricky Bobby" is a good attempt to incorporate hardcore into the mix and rapper Ali Tabatabee is in fine form throughout the album. Zebrahead is still a band with energy and enthusiasm to spare and their hardcore fans probably wont be disappointed in Get Nice! but the band has made much more interesting, fun and exciting records in their career.

Rating: 2.5

Track Listing:

1. "Blackout" (3:45)
2. "Nothing to Lose" (3:53)
3. "She Don't Wanna Rock" (3:09)
4. "Ricky Bobby" (2:42)
5. "Get Nice!" (3:23)
6. "The Joke's on You" (3:03)
7. "Nudist Priest" (3:08)
8. "Galileo Was Wrong" (3:15)
9. "Truck Stops and Tail Lights" (3:22)
10. "I'm Definitely Not Gonna Miss You" (3:48)
11. "Too Bored to Bleed" (3:58)
12. "Kiss Your Ass Goodbye" (4:10)
13. "This Is Gonna Hurt You Way More Than It's Gonna Hurt Me" (4:03)
14. "Demon Days" (3:05)