As It Is
Never Happy, Ever After

The love/hate relationship between the American and British music scenes has been well-known for some time now, after all, we are talking about the two most receptive music markets with a global focus on each of the products they respectively produce. The problem currently facing British soil seems to be finding worthy rivals to All Time Low (fresh off their excellent “Future Hearts” which topped charts worldwide), a task that's not easy, to be honest. Fearless Records has tried to tackle this by launching the As It Is band with bold titles—a pop-rock/punk band that in “Never Happy, Ever After” has certainly proven to play its cards well, appealing primarily to a predominantly teen audience. In Great Britain, the band is constantly on the covers of major music mags, with frontman—Patty Walters—who, in addition to boasting good vocal qualities, also has that clean/trendy image that the female audience loves. But let's get to the essence, which is “Never Happy, Ever After”: the comparison with All Time Low can only be made if referred to the beginnings of the American quartet. In this case, As It Is are less “alternative oriented,” instead showing more attention to a song form that has much to do with chart pop-rock. The Brighton group has the undeniable quality of being able to churn out potential radio hits, just think of examples like “Speak Soft,” “Cheap Shots & Setbacks,” “Dial Tones,” and “Concrete,” three of which have already been presented as singles. Simple and effective tracks, with a great vibe and two singers who, when united, manage to give even more potential to the project. Though enjoyable, “Never Happy, Ever After” cannot, however, be described as a classic throwaway album; it contains elements that make As It Is a band of enormous potential: good taste in songwriting, multiple sonic solutions, never banal lyrics, and as previously mentioned the huge gift of knowing how to write singles. Compared to many names popular today, the English quintet seems to have opted for the best solution to cut their teeth: performing far and wide across the globe alongside already known outfits like Silverstein and Set It Off, an undoubtedly effective way to expand a continuously growing fanbase and to confront already established names. All in all, a great record, recommended to those who usually listen to pop-rock/punk.