Released 17 years ago this October
Anywhere but Here
Mayday Parade · 2009
38 min · 11 tracks · pop rock
A vibrant blend of pop-punk energy and emotional storytelling, capturing youthful angst and romantic turmoil.
Top tracks — play these first
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Kids in Love — This opening track sets the tone with its upbeat tempo and relatable themes of youthful love and excitement, encapsulating the band's signature sound.
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If You Can't Live Without Me, Why Aren't You Dead Yet? — With its catchy chorus and clever wordplay, this song highlights the band's knack for blending humor with poignant reflections on relationships.
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I Swear This Time I Mean It — This emotionally charged ballad showcases the band's ability to convey vulnerability and regret, making it a standout moment on the album.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
The album showcases solid songwriting and production but doesn't significantly stand out in the pop-punk genre.
What we noticed
- The first three tracks maintain a high energy level with driving guitar riffs and upbeat tempos, while the fourth track introduces a slower, more reflective tone.
- Several songs feature dual vocal lines that alternate between verses, enhancing the emotional storytelling.
- The album includes multiple tracks that end with unresolved chords, creating a sense of longing and unfinished business.
- Composition 25% of the score
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6/10
- Craft 20% of the score
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7/10
- Durability 25% of the score
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5/10
- Distinctiveness 18% of the score
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5/10
- Sequencing 12% of the score
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6/10
the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics
production, performance, arrangement
whether it rewards returning to it
whether it sounds like itself
running order, pacing, length
Known within its scene. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.
Is this for you?
Good fit if you like
- steady, consistent energy levels
- short, immersive listening sessions
- emotional narrative exploration
- reflective moments of nostalgia
Where this album fits
- Career context
- Anywhere but Here is Mayday Parade's second studio album, released in 2009, following their successful debut A Lesson in Romantics. At this point in their career, the band was solidifying their presence in the pop-punk scene and building a dedicated fanbase both through touring and online engagement.
- Stylistic neighbors
- The Maine· We the Kings· All Time Low
Moments worth listening for
Where the writing does something specific.
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I Swear This Time I Mean It
The bridge shifts to a raw confession of deep remorse specifically addressing a past mistake that haunts the narrator.
This moment starkly contrasts with earlier verses, emphasizing growth and self-awareness while breaking from the narrative structure.
Tracklist
Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.
- 1 Kids in Love 3:36
- 2 Anywhere but Here 3:10
- 3 The Silence 3:35
- 4 Still Breathing 3:52
- 5 Bruised and Scarred 3:23
- 6 If You Can't Live Without Me, Why Aren't You Dead Yet? 3:38
- 7 Save Your Heart 3:42
- 8 Get Up 3:03
- 9 Center of Attention 3:00
- 10 I Swear This Time I Mean It 4:01
- 11 The End 3:37
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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