Moneen: The World I Want to Leave Behind

When Moneen’s Kenny Bridges belts out, “You gotta be strong / You gotta believe in your own way” on its latest release, The World I Want to Leave Behind, one can’t help but wonder: What the hell is he talking about? After all, everything on his band’s fourth full-length release has been heard before from a laundry list of bands over the past 15 years that includes such weepy fellows as the Get Up Kids, Saves the Day, Good Charlotte, and Sense Field. That’s not to discredit the band’s passion and sincerity or its musical chops and knack for catchy hooks because Moneen certainly, if anything, trys awfully hard. However, what do you expect from a band who has songs titled, “Lighters” and “Waterfalls” (no, it’s not a TLC cover) on an album called The World I Want to Leave Behind? If you think over-the-top, highly emotional, generic pop ballads, then you have correctly described Moneen’s latest full-length. Despite a slightly more fleshed-out sound and a couple lineup changes, Moneen still doesn’t do much to warrant a second listen. It’s just too generic to get you reaching for your red cardigan and for your journal under the pillow.