Mayday Parade – ‘A Lesson In Romantics’ 10th Anniversary Edition

Another album has turned ten years old and another unnecessary anniversary version has been released. Sometimes the past is best left in the past, and Mayday Parade’s ‘A Lesson In Romantics’ is a perfect example for the argument. A scene kid’s dream in 2007, the album sounds just as it did back then: exciting and fun, flirtatious and romantic. It never needed a reboot, however, with the nostalgia of the existing songs more than enough on its own.

‘Jamie All Over’ is the most recognisable song on the release. Remaining a staple of alternative club nights, the opening line, “I had a dream last night we / Drove out to see Las Vegas” is still sung up and down the country a decade later. Its staying power isn’t surprising given the formulaic pop rock set up. ‘When I Get Home You’re So Dead’ is packed full of Myspace-era clichés, and the catchy chorus hook and high, but not shrill, vocals imitate other bands of the time.

Although labelled as one of the newer generation emo bands, ‘Jersey’ steers towards a pop punk sound as the upbeat melody and simple lyrics make for an accessible and enjoyable track. ‘If You Wanted A Song Written About You, All You Had To Do Was Ask’ is a more mid-tempo effort, with a repetitive, powerful bridge and layered, emotive ending.

The demos on the end of this new release (all album tracks aside from the new ‘Coming Back With Winter’) don’t add anything to what’s already a well-loved album. The joy Mayday Parade bring is based on the songs we already know and love, whether that’s the cutesy ballad ‘Miserable At Best’ or the bouncing ‘Black Cat’ for which the band have released a new video. For former emo kids of the noughties, that’s more than enough.

KATHRYN BLACK