The Audition: Champion

From the same stomping ground as Fall Out Boy and Panic! at the Disco, The Audition perfect that same dance-rock meets power-pop on the catchy, radio-friendly “Warm Me Up”. This is revisited often but perhaps sounds best on “Make it Rain”. However, they’re not afraid to look back with the retro-tinged “Edinboro” but keep things rather safe and secure with “Hell to Sell” which is led by a rather intricate, tight bass line. Fans of The Academy Is… and even Maroon 5 to a lesser extent would lap up this material for the most part. The only problem being nothing really jumps out and grabs you by the throat, relying instead on well-worn structures that have been done before as found in the mid-tempo, gear-shifting “Ether” or the ‘80s-soaked “What Gets You Through the Night” that sounds if The Audition were listening to Spandau Ballet one too many times. A few songs definitely hit a wall, especially “Shady Business” which is average at best despite the occasional musical twist or turn.