“I think we sold out a really long time ago,” All Time Low guitarist Jack Barakat admits.
He’s able to joke about it because melodramatic sellout accusations are something the Maryland band has grown accustomed to since breaking out with its debut single “Dear Maria, Count Me In” in 2008. “It’s kind of a dumb conversation,” says frontman Alex Gaskarth. “We’ve never been this super-cred, indie-all-the-way, we-have-something-to-prove-to-anyone kind of band. We’ve always just made music that made us happy -- whether it was more punk, more rock, more pop, whatever.”
On their new album, All Time Low’s will to experiment serves it well. Last Young Renegade (released June 2 on Fueled by Ramen) swaps the band’s straight-ahead pop-punk for alt-pop crooning, glistening guitars and a synth-rock banger featuring Tegan and Sara. No, it won’t get the approval of every member of ATL’s fervent fanbase, but it’s a savory summer album well worth the listen. It’s almost as enjoyable as listening to these good-natured goofballs talk about making it.