Reviewed by Andy Shaw

It has been a long time coming but, after three years, FM Static finally release their follow up to their 2006 offering 'Critically Ashamed'. You can't really blame them for taking their time though, this is after all the side project of Thousand Foot Krutch's Trevor McNevan and Steve Augustine. The band are officially a two-piece with session musicians filling in the other parts. This album sees more of the same catchy, light-hearted pop punk very much in the style of the likes of New Found Glory or Relient K. Musically there is nothing groundbreaking here but it is in the lyrics where this album starts to get interesting. 'Dear Diary' is a concept album telling the story of a boy through a series of diary entries. The story takes us on this boy's journey of self-discovery through his experiences of friendship ("Boy Meets Girl (And Vice Versa)"), tragedy ("Her Father's Song") and ultimately leading to a deeper understanding of who God is. The music starts out with the traditional catchy hooks and grinding guitars synonymous with pop punk. A slight departure is thrown into the mix with the hip-hop influenced "Man Watcha Doin?" before the tragedy strikes in the boy's life and the music becomes much more contemplative. Tracks such as "Take Me As I Am" show the softer and altogether more serious side of FM Static offering good contrast across the album. The mood is then lifted again through the chorus of "Dear God" before ending as the album started with the eminently danceable closer "The Shindig (Off To College)". In a genre where so often bands are churning out the same tired material over and over again FM Static manage to inject something a bit different which really brings the album to life. A must have for any punk pop fan who is struggling to find something which isn't hamstrung by cliché.

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