“Hey there Delilah, what’s it like to be wanted by a one-hit wonder?”
That’s what people will ask the inspiration for Plain White T’s 2005 hit when they hear the band’s latest album, Big Bad World.
The band’s first big song, “Hey There Delilah,” did so well with international audiences because it was heartfelt and relatable. Tom Higgenson wrote the tune for a real person, sang it with only an acoustic guitar to back him and his voice was heartbreakingly honest: a winning combination. But everything about the new album – with its backup singers, generic choruses and constantly meandering pace – feels contrived and stale.
It also seems the simple lyrics that made “Hey There Delilah” and the other songs from All That We Needed so endearing aren’t as great the second time around, especially when paired with boring, repetitive melodies.
“Big Bad World,” for instance, sounds like a hokey song from a children’s show that’s meant to parlay a message about sharing or obeying your parents. But Higgenson recites even more shallow lyrics: “I can fill up the driest river/ With all the tears falling off of my face/ And even though we try to learn/ From each other’s mistakes/ We’ll do it again.”
The next few songs are slow and comprised mostly of predictable, boring choruses. There isn’t much in the way of lyrical development. When this is the case, a song should be catchy and memorable, but these are throwaway tracks that only muddle the first half of the album.
Aside from the album’s simplistic lyrics, the most disappointing aspect of Big Bad World is the band’s turn toward an emo sound – similar to Jimmy Eat World or Dashboard Confessional – rather than the folksy vibe it embraced on its last effort. Higgenson’s voice is naturally whiny and the instrumental and lyrical aid only worsen the effects.
“1, 2, 3, 4” provides a short break from the emo sound, but the acoustic ballad is too much like “Delilah” to make anyone pay attention to this only average version. Plus, there’s no soul behind these corny lyrics: “There’s only one thing/ Two do/ Three words/ Four you/ I love you.” Get it?
“That Girl” is the only song that stands out from the mediocrity. It’s as if Buddy Holly has come back to life, only with much louder instruments. Higgenson is doo-wopping all over the place, and it’s the only time the backup singing actually complements his voice. It’s also the first time the album pace picks up above a slow crawl. The song starts out with a hearty “Doo doo doo, ba ba ba,” and moseys into a catchy chorus about falling in lust.
“Do do do you wanna be on top/ Or on the ba ba bottom, don’t make me stop,” the band sings in slutty synchronicity. It’s a far cry from “Delilah,” but it may just be the band’s only chance for a second, especially since the album has only 10 songs and is a scant 30 minutes long. An album this short should be full of bold, engaging tracks. If the few tracks that made it on the album are this uninspired and boring, imagine the ones that didn’t.
Sometimes one song is just so good there’s no room for another hit in a band’s repertoire. With “Hey There Delilah” reaching the No. 1 spot on top 100 lists worldwide, the Plain White T’s may have to settle for living off the song’s profits for a few years before hitting the infamous one-hit-wonder state-fair circuit. Either that, or one of the members will make it onto a VH1 reality show.
courtney.pomeroy@yahoo.com
RATING: 1 out of 5 stars
