Yellowcard
When You're Through Thinking, Say Yes

If someone were to ask me which Yellowcard album most closely aligns with the "new" Pop-punk melodies introduced by "Ocean Avenue," I would certainly answer: "When You're Through Thinking, Say Yes," their seventh studio album and the fifth since Ryan Key officially joined the band, released on March 22, eight years later.

The fact that Yellowcard no longer write songs just to stay "at the height of their fame" and avoid a commercial "flop" like they almost did with "Lights And Sounds" can be gleaned from the fact that this album was released four years after the previous "Paper Walls," the longest gap in the band's history between albums.

The album's title is inspired by a message Ryan Key sent to his girlfriend, and in total, it consists of 10 tracks plus two bonus tracks.

Like other Yellowcard albums, the CD opens rapid and energetic with "The Sound of You and Me" and continues that way to the end, except for the two ballads "Hang You Up" and "Sing For Me"; every song could, (as usual), be a potential "Hit" thanks to the catchy and very melodic choruses, and all the lyrics are very good though they never tackle overly important themes, staying within realms like love, friendship, autobiographical stories, and so on. If I had to choose three songs to adequately summarize this latest work, I would probably say "Life Of Leaving Home," "Soundtrack" and "See Me Smiling."

In conclusion, if "Ocean Avenue" delighted you or piqued your curiosity but "Lights And Sounds" or "Paper Walls" didn't satisfy you, I recommend listening to something, just to get an idea. The album remains, on the whole, pleasant and of a good compositional level, so... 3.5!