Album Review: Hey Monday - Beneath It All

In a slight departure from their debut LP, Hey Monday’s ‘Beneath It All’ leans further towards the pop element of pop-punk than ‘Hold On Tight’ ever dared.

The main difference here lies in the production: the guitars have been pushed further back in the mix and an inoffensive sheen has been glossed over the entire EP. As a result, it feels like the tiny dose of punk spirit evident in their debut has been smothered. They may not be the most original band in the world, but their organic edge made Hey Monday, at the least, endearing. The production could be forgiven if the quality of the songs were at least equal to its predecessor, but none of the tracks shine as bright as previous singles ‘How You Love Me Now’ or ‘Homecoming’. Instead, ‘Beneath It All’ is largely made up of placid pop songs.